NOTE: I received a free copy of this DVD to review for the web site Metapsychology Online Reviews; please see that web site for a more detailed version of my review.

In this DVD, certified fitness instructor Lisa Kinder utilizes the HIIT style of training: each of the five workouts offers just eight moves, with Kinder performing the exercise for 20 seconds, resting for 10 seconds, repeating the move a second time, resting again, and then continuing on to the next exercise. Not only is this program "high intensity," but many of the moves are high impact as well. In addition, there are numerous plank-based exercises throughout the workouts. For most exercises, Kinder shows lower intensity modifications.

HIIT 101

In this first workout, Kinder introduces a range of HIIT moves, with a significant amount of going from standing to down to the floor. The eight exercises here are as follows: 1) lateral hops, 2) frog jumps, 3) low skier plank, 4) kicking crab, 5) bear crawls, 6) four corner hop, 7) jump over plank (hopping from side to side), 8) knee tuck (moving from kneeling to a jump). Kinder concludes with a quick stretch.

UPPER BODY HIIT

Here Kinder warms up with some chest hugs (arm swings). Many of the exercises in this section are floor-based plank moves. This is the sequence: 1) walk out to push-up, 2) body pendulum (plank with leg swings), 3) triceps dip with alternating leg kicks, 4) tipping frogs, 5) walking plank, 6) down dog with calf slap, 7) travelling push-ups, 8) rotational plank. I found that these moves were not sufficient to keep my heart rate elevated.

HIIT EXPLOSION

This segment contains more plyometric moves. Kinder warms up briefly with jumping jacks and then goes into the following eight exercisers: 1) high/low jogs, 2) double jump/shuffle, 3) single leg Burpee (performed twice), 4) single leg Burpee (second leg), 5) fast feet/knee tuck, 6) squat jack touch, 7) "suicide" shuffle touch, 8) donkey kick with "hot feet" (half handstand position). Again, there are quick stretches to finish.

ROCK BOTTOM HIIT

Kinder starts this routine with small squats for the warm-up. She then moves into a lower body focused series that includes plyometric moves. Here are the exercises: 1) skater jumps, 2) squat jumps with pendulum, 3) low lunge to hop (performed twice), 4) low lunge to hop (second leg), 5) alternating bridge kicks, 6) low single jacks, 7) squat with turbo kick, 8) side Burpee. Kinder briefly stretches the hamstrings to finish.

AB HIIT

To warm up, Kinder starts with torso rotations. As with the upper body section, this segment includes many plank exercise on the floor—and, similar to the previous section, I had difficulties keeping my heart rate up with these moves. The eight exercises are as follows: 1) high knee pull, 2) reptiles (plank with knee tuck), 3) reverse crunch, 4) ski abs (virtually the same as the "jump over plank" from the first workout), 5) hammer crunch, 6) plank rotations, 7) plank air tucks (dropping hips side to side), 8) plank punches. Another brief stretch concludes the workout.

I enjoy plyometric work and was looking forward to trying plyos within 10 Minute Solution's patented format. Unfortunately, I found the routines on this DVD to be disappointing. First, the small amount of plyo moves was well outweighed by the overwhelming number of plank-based exercises. Not only did I find that my heart rate dropped significantly when executing the plank work, but also I simply did not like constantly going down to the floor and getting back up again. (These moves would also make the workouts contraindicated for those with wrist issues and/or very low blood pressure.) I did enjoy the HIIT EXPLOSION and ROCK BOTTOM HIIT routines; had the entire DVD been similar to these segments, I would have recommended it more highly.

In the end, this DVD may hold appeal for young, healthy, experienced exercisers (i.e., those similar to the instructor) who are time-crunched yet still wanting to shake up their fitness routine, but my personal rating is 3 1/2 stars.

Instructor Comments:
Lisa was generally fine as an instructor, although to me (in my mid-40s), she comes across as very young. I also find it kind of odd that people seem to be making such a big deal of how she shows modifications. First, she did not do this for every exercise (many of which are high impact), and second, she often does not show the modification until you are halfway through the exercise, which I didn't find very helpful doing the workout for the first time.

Beth C (aka toaster)