I’m reviewing this workout after previewing and doing it once.

General workout breakdown: The previous reviewers have already broken this down and described it well. I’ll just add that this runs 66 min., with about 5 min. at the beginning for a warm-up and about 5 min. at the end for a final stretch.

Level: I’d recommend this to intermediates + through mid-advanced exercisers with previous weight lifting experience and some preexisting cardio and muscular endurance. You can lighten your weights to make it more intermediate, or you can increase them and even add equipment like a balance disc or Bosu to make this more advanced. I was probably at the mid-intermediate level when I tried this, and let me tell you that it nearly wiped me out!

Class: 2 women and 1 man join Jari. Often several different versions of the same exercise and/or at least one alternative will be shown.

Music: mostly instrumental upbeat stuff with a driving beat. I’ve heard a number of songs before.

Set: somewhat dark interior set with living room furniture off to one side and motivational words (e.g. “results”) on one wall and pictures of muscled body parts on another.

Production: clear picture and sound. The camera angles are usually helpful rather than distracting.

Equipment: Jari presents options both for those using barbells with plates and dumbbells. She and most of her crew use a full-sized step with 2 risers (primarily as a weight bench), but if you don’t have a step or don’t want to drag yours out, just do it all on the floor. You may want to have an exercise mat handy, too.

Space Requirements: You should be able to do lunges in each direction and lie down with arms and legs extended plus have room to set aside equipment for some of the exercises.

DVD Notes: See Beth’s (toaster) review.

Comments: If you found the original Ripped too easy, not enough reps, etc., then Slim & Lean is for you! I agree with Beth on why S&L is harder than the original, and I also agree about the lateness of the cuing and on-screen information. But then I’m just one of those who prefers the original Ripped to the rest (primarily because I like to lift a little heavier).
This one seems to have made more than a few knees cranky. I personally chose to do static reverse lunges instead of the in and out stuff, and that kept mine happy.

Instructor Comments:
I like Jari: she’s relatively low key (I’d rather have someone a little stilted than someone with too much caffeine in her system), and she believes in what she’s doing. At times she veers into motivational speaker territory, which isn’t my cup of tea, and she seems too focused on burning calories and especially carbs for my liking. But I applaud her for pushing weight training and putting out inexpensive DVDs of quality workouts. Anyway, Jari does include some form instruction and tips, and she mirror cues.

KathAL79