I'm an intermediate-to-advanced exerciser who recently discovered Jari Love's workouts. Her first workout, Get Ripped, became an immediate favorite, as it's a perfect match for my level. Although I also liked Ripped to the Core, I find the compound moves in this workout (ie, moving the upper body and the lower body at the same time) to be a bit more strenuous, meaning that I find the workout to be more tiring. In addition, some of the individual exercises are quite tough, which gives this workout a slight dread factor for me, at least in the very beginning (see below).

As with all of the Ripped workouts, there is no traditional warm-up; rather, she starts right in with the weight moves. I find that it takes me a bit of trial and error to figure out the right weights to use in Jari's workouts. Here, because the compound moves required more exertion, I found that I needed to go lighter than I did in Get Ripped, never using heavier than 8# dumbbells and often reaching for my 5# and even 3# ones (oddly enough, Jari states that you can actually go HEAVIER for compound moves because you are recruiting more muscles, but I did NOT find this to be the case for me). The great thing about all of the Ripped workouts is that Jari and her three background exercisers vary not only in the equipment they use--eg, Jari generally uses dumbbells here, with one background exerciser always using the barbell and others sometimes using just weight plates--but also in their individual weight loads, which are very helpfully shown on screen at the start of every new exercise.

As with Get Ripped, Jari varies the count of each exercise, using different temps such as 4-4, 3-1, 2-2, etc. But Ripped to the Core also adds compound moves: either you'll do a superset with an upper/lower body combination or you'll move both areas at the same time. Similar to Get Ripped, you will do a high number of repetitions for each body part, and you may need to go lower on your weights as mentioned above. The workout begins with a side squat/reverse lunge combo. Then it is down to the floor for a really tough move, the spider--this is a planking exercise where you go from a full plank, down to your elbows, then back up again, and it is super challenging! Jari makes it all the more difficult by doing push-ups inbetween spider sets (the male background exerciser continues the push-ups even during the stretch breaks--ouch!). I am always VERY glad when this section is over. You stay on the floor for a chest press combined with a pelvic raise (Jari and crew lie on their steps), then it's back to standing for a deadlift/bicep curl combo. Next comes a wide squat with an upright row, although there is a modification shown if you have shoulder issues. Sticking with the tough work for legs/shoulders, you'll do a side squat off the step (can be modified on the floor) adding a delt raise and also a knee lift. Following this, there is a VERY brief narrow squat set with front raises, again adding knee lifts (I believe only 8 total reps here).

The next series is MUCH more challenging than it looks. You start with a simple slow step climb, then add a shoulder press and do LOTS of reps. When I did this with my 5# dumbbells, I was dying by the end, so now I'm sticking with the 3#. Then it's back down to the floor on all fours for tricep kickbacks, adding a leg raise and then the leg in and out to work the core more. Abs work follows, and I really didn't like the how this section starts off. First of all, Jari uses the male background exerciser to display the most advanced modification, even though a message on screen says that most people should NOT attempt this exercise! Although the other two background exercisers show easier versions, the camera never focuses on them, so this segment is very hard to follow. Two exercises are performed, a plank with side leg lift and a superman, and I just sort of do my own thing for both of these. Then Jari moves on to more traditional abs work, which I liked much better, although it was pretty brief: she does a set moving each leg in and out and then a few sets of pulsing crunches. The workout, which comes right in at an hour, ends with a cool-down, first on the floor to stretch the hamstrings/hips and then moving to seated for upper body, finishing with some neck stretches.

Extras on this DVD include exercise demonstrations, interviews, and bloopers. I wasn't crazy about the music--it generally had a pumping, techno-type beat (with occasional vocals) similar to what you would hear in a club--but I found it to be less glaring/more tolerable than in the original Get Ripped. Jari herself comes across as a bit cool and reserved, and although some people might not click with her, I actually liked her no-nonsense style as well as her excellent form pointers and good cueing. She does try to be encouraging, frequently saying "fantastic!" (a change from "awesome!" in the original). I would say that this workout is most suited for high intermediate-to-advanced exercisers. It is probably doable for advanced beginners/low intermediates using VERY light weights, but I definitely would not recommend it for complete beginners, as I think that some of the exercises (such as the spider move) would be way too difficult, even in a modified form. Overall, I like that this workout provides me with a challenge, and I would definitely recommend it for experienced exercisers, especially those who enjoy compound moves.

Instructor Comments:
For some reason, I thought Jari was going to be a sort of celebrity instructor, but she's not like that at all. As mentioned above, she is quite low-key, which some people might find boring. Personally, I'll take understated rather than over-the-top enthusiasm any day! Her cueing is generally very good, and her constant form pointers are excellent.

Beth C (aka toaster)