This is one of the three DVDs in the Your Body Breakthru series put out by Michelle Dozois in 2007. It’s already been well broken down so I’m just going to add my opinions. What a comprehensive, high quality workout! This one has maintained a pretty high regard on the VF Forum and I can see why, it is well organized, has an express option, is reasonably priced (especially now if you pick it up used), has some interesting functional moves and variety of exercises, and Michelle is the greatest. I also have her YBB Slim, Strong, and Sexy Body Sculpt which is a strength only split routine, and use it on an occasional basis. But I prefer total body and circuit workouts, so YBBC was right up my alley.

Because Michelle offers modifications (and there’s a beginner and low impact modifier) it is easy to put as much or as little intensity into this as you’d like. She moves fairly slowly on the strength moves, allowing you to heavy up, although the functional aspect keeps you from going very heavy. She also uses a band for several workouts, which I think really benefit the muscles with the essentric movements. The 58 minute total workout is pretty tough – I’d say it has the intensity of an older Firm workout (it sort of reminded me of Firm BSS2, Complete Aerobics and Weight Training, without the step). I know I’ll be feeling it in my upper body tomorrow (the chest and back were worked particularly hard) but the legs get a lot of attention in the cardio (such as plyo lunges and pulsing plie squats) and a long squat/lunge section towards the end of the workout.

Like SSBS, YBBC is set in a brownish, somewhat dim large room, and I’m glad she dumped this set in her newer workouts (2009 and beyond). I am not too much of a stickler but I definitely don’t like the brown. The music wasn’t exceptional, just the regular instrumental stuff you find in a lot of 10MS or Gaiam workouts. I appreciated that all of the women backgrounders were success stories who had lost weight with the YBB program. They were certainly all an inspiration to look at, and had a variety of body shapes.

I am an intermediate exerciser (slowly sneaking into advanced workouts as my strength and endurance improve) and was able to use 15, 12, and 10 # bells as well as a moderate band for the workouts – and got a GREAT caloric burn. I followed the high intensity modifications for the cardio (which was easy to follow, no confusing choreography here, YAY!) and what a great, challenging workout! I would say this workout is high intermediate, but can be modified to lower intermediate easily by using lighter poundage and keeping it low impact. An hour long circuit workout might be a bit overwhelming for a true beginner, but Michelle is very inviting and non intimidating. I would recommend this to those who enjoy circuit or AWT workouts, functional fitness, and are Michelle Dozois fans. Highly recommended and Grade A+!

Instructor Comments:
I intensely enjoy Michelle and have two of her YBB workouts along with her Ultimate Workout. She gives thorough instruction, mirror cuing and always giving you helpful form pointers. She is encouraging without being overly cheerful. I’m definitely planning to get her Peak 10 series once they smooth out some of the scratched DVD issues. I really like that she includes a lot of functional strength into her workouts.

Emily B.