There are 5 discs in this set that include separate weights and cardio workout sections; each DVD goes straight to the menu, which is chaptered into: weights, cardio and treadmill, with sub-chapters: weights chapter select and audio track select (instructions with or without music). Full Body DVD is the only DVD that doesn't include cardio options.

These DVDs were created to bring Barry's bootcamp workout experiences to the home exercisers. Barry has fitness studios in L.A., where these bootcamp workouts are taught.

Even though the initial description of Barry's Bootcamp DVD set on Barrysbootcamp.com were "the workouts are filmed in a sexy format, fast-paced exciting music video style", these are not sexy bootcamp workouts (no cleavage shots/skin flashes; eveyone wears a black Barry's Bootcamp t-shirt/tank top or cami tank top with pants). There aren't cutesy background exercisers or cute remarks made by instructors. I like all the instructors (especially Barry!) ;they aren't dry or obnoxious, and I found them to be motivating.

There's no mugging for the camera--the class participants are all working out hard and even though they are not always in sync, they are working out to their individual potential, strength-wise and endurance-wise. Except for the times when the class counts out loud (usually at the instructor's request), the class isn't audible. Like in a real gym class, some people had better form than others and some people were stronger/faster than others. This helped make the workouts seem more "real" than rehearsed/scripted. It was somewhat comforting to see that not everyone was doing "perfect" pushups, etc. and it felt okay to struggle alongside them. I modified as needed (ie. step height in Nadia's Butt & Legs DVD).

The music isn't as good as it is in the infomercial clip, but I love it! Yes, the music volume fluctuates during the workouts, but it's usually due to the instructor giving the main portion of the instructions--it's softer then and it usually gets louder afterwards, even though the instructor is counting reps, etc.

The workouts are presented in wide-screen format and the production quality isn't the best or the worst; the colors seem a little bland and washed out, to me. Production could stand to be clearer/crisper, too. The setting is a corner of the gym, next to a row of treadmills with runners on them and the class is crowded together.

Most of the exercises in the workouts aren't fancy or creative, but they're tried-and-true. Equipment needed are: step bench (a flat weight bench can be substituted, in most instances), various weighted dumbbells and towel/mat for cushioning.

The exercises in the "weights" section in this set are as follows:

Arms & Abs with Barry: approx. 30 min.

-Warm up
-Pushups & skullcrushers
-Bicep & tricep supersets
-One-arm skullcrushers
-Bicep curls with static hold
-Biceps 21's
-Abs with weights
-Tricep push backs
-Overhead triceps
-Cool down

Butt & Legs with Nadia: approx. 36 min.

-Warm up
-Lunges
-Reverse lunges
-Squats
-Deadlifts
-Calf lifts
-Right glute
-Left glute
-Power squats & jacks
-Cool down

Chest & Abs with Rich: approx. 40 min.

-Warm up
-Pushups
-Ab crunches
-Raised pushups (one arm pushups)
-Ab kicks & bicycles
-Chest press & weighted abs
-Chest flys & abs
-One-arm chest press & crunches
-Slow chest press & bicycle
-Cool down

Shoulders & Back with Joey: approx. 46 min.

-Warm up
-Shoulder burnout
-Back burnout
-Abs burnout
-Lateral & front raises
-Kneeling rows
-Upward rows & elbow raises
-Core on the floor
-Overhead lats
-Cuban press & dumbbell cross
-Dumbbell twist
-Standing abs
-Cool down

Full Body with Barry: approx. 44 min.

-Wall sit
-Jumping jacks & toe taps
-Tricep dips
-Pushups & planks
-Flunges & squats
-Tricep dips
-Shoulder burn
-Pushups & mountain climbers
-Burpees
-Toe taps
-Decline pushups
-Superman
-Glute kickbacks
-Abs on bench
-Core on floor
-Cool down

I love this set; great workouts! I bought it mostly for the strength training components. I steady state run for cardio and admit that I haven't used the cardio portions of the set. I love that the workouts are straightforward and that there's no soliticing on the DVDs about how great the workouts are or how much you're just gonna love them.

When actually exercising to these DVDs, I hardly noticed the fluctuation in music volume and that the class participants were not always in sync.

Instructor Comments:
Barry Jay is the creator of Barry's Bootcamp; he's loud, brash and motivating! He's relentless and he has a "go, go, go...push, push, push" attitude. I just love him!

I like all of the instructors; I found them to be motivating. Nadia's repeated verbal cueing of "left...right...left...right" might be annoying to some, but it didn't bother me.

Leslie (blue_hydrangea)