Breathless Body 3: HIIT It Big

Amy Dixon
Year Released: 2013

Categories: Circuit Training (cardio and weights)


Title: Breathless Body 3: HIIT It Big
Instructor: Amy Dixon
Time: 60 Minutes
Level of Difficulty: Advanced
DVD menu: Play workout
Production quality: High
Equipment used: None

A little about me: I consider myself to be an advanced exerciser and use workouts such as Dream Body and Tonique consistently (less frequently Horizontal Conditioning and Zuzka ZCut cardio). During a sale I picked up Breathless Body 3 (don’t have 1 or 2 to compare) because it looked like a fun HIIT workout and I liked the variety of exercises. I was hoping with my Zuzka experience I would find the workout to be somewhat doable. I did find it to be challenging, but doable, and it was a very enjoyable workout!

Debbie already broke down the workout so I’ll just add my opinions. It is a simple format-just eight exercises then combine all eight at the end as a finisher-but I wasn’t bored at all. The actual cardio was about 45 minutes before going to the floor for abs. I enjoy drill style cardio, find it really gets my heart rate up and burns out the muscles a little too. Between each exercise Amy goes to each of her backgrounders (a woman to the viewer’s left provides easier modifications, and a man to the viewer’s right provides more advanced modifications) and has them demonstrate the move, then she demonstrates the intermediate. She was very clear in her instruction and there wasn’t too much downtime. I liked that there were a couple of horizontal circuits in there mixed in with the standing work. I thought Drill #6 (boxing) was too easy, even trying to up the intensity, to be considered “HIIT” although it was a refreshing breather for someone working themselves up to an advanced workout.

On the whole I think it is a great cardio workout and it seemed balanced enough so that for an hour long HIIT workout it didn’t leave me spent, but energized. I will say that even half that time with Zuzka is probably more intense, due to less rest time, longer circuits, and less lower intensity exercises mixed in, but not every single day I am up for a Zuzka workout. The ab portion was four exercises performed for 60 seconds, then repeat. The choice of exercises was challenging, but not killer. Overall I enjoyed the cardio workout and will definitely incorporate it into my routine. More intermediate exercisers can follow the beginner modifier, and advanced exercisers can the most out of the workout by following the advanced modifier.

Instructor Comments:
Years ago I had tried Amy’s “Give Me 10” workout and I really didn’t enjoy the workout or her as an instructor. I liked her a lot of better in this workout, she gave good form pointers and the workout was much easier to follow. While I don’t desire to revisit her strength workouts again, I would be tempted to pick up the other Breathless Body workouts if I were to get them on sale.

Emily B.

08/01/2014