Exercise 4 EveryBody Circuit Training Series 2

Disclaimer: I received this DVD free as a preview copy from the instructor, Barry Lovelace.

This DVD is somewhat over an hour long and consists of:

Introduction
10 Minute proper form segment (great for beginners)
35 minutes of circuit weight training
Stretch
20 minute abs workout

The DVD is well chaptered
Chapters include:

Full workout
Proper Form
Warm-up
Circuit Training (3 rounds)
Abs Segment
Website
Why Barry is a Vegan

Exercisers are Barry and Shelly.

The proper form segment is filmed at Barry's gym in Pennsylvania and consists of a run through of all the main exercises in the workout including those used in the warm-up. This is a great feature for those new to weight training. Barry is very thorough without being too chatty.

The warm-up and circuits are filmed on location at The Farm Sanctuary in New York which is a rescue farm for animals. They exercise on a deck overlooking a pasture and hills in the distance.

The warm-up is done with a medicine ball (I liked this simply because I have a really nice medicine ball and hardly anything to use it with!) and consists of:

Squat-curl-press
Chops
Lunge and reachs

2 sets of 10 reps each.

The main circuits require an exercise ball and consist of:

Bicep curl seated on the ball
Shoulder press seated on the ball
Flyes lying on the ball
Lying tricep press on the ball (skullcrushers)

Put the ball aside and then

Cardio --running in place 1 minute
Upright rows
Squat and press
Wide (plie) squats

end of the circuit and the circuit is repeated two more times

Reps consist of 8 regular, 3 pulse (3 step reps), 8 regular, 3 pulses, and 8 regular reps again. So this is a high rep workout. All of the above exercises are done for this amount of reps except the squat and press which is a straight 20 reps. Barry and Shelly use one size weight throughout. I'd have a couple different poundages handy to heavy up on the squats. I used 5's and 8's and with that amount of reps it was plenty although I could have used 12's on the lower body work.

The cooldown consists of basic shoulder, bicep, tricep, calf, quad and hamstring stretches.

An odd thing about this DVD is that the "Full Workout" selection does not take you right into the abs segment. You have to go back to the main menu and select it almost like it is a bonus chapter. The abs workout lasts about 20 min. and I have to admit I didn't complete it, I found it tough but abs are my least favorite part to work.

Abs Segment

Filmed in Barry's gym, you need an exercise ball for these

Round 1:

8 reps-3 sets of each
Crunch
Crunch with arms overhead
Crunch with arms outstretched
Oblique twists

Round 2:

3 sets of each
Same exercises with pulses for more intensity.

Round 3:

Abs on the floor
3 sets of these

Knee raised crunch
Upper and lower crunch
Upper crunch w. pulses
Upper and lower crunch
Lower Crunch w. pulses.

The film quality of the DVD is good and for each rest between circuits and during pauses in the workout fitness and nutrition tips come up which are fun to read and hear.

The chapter "Why Barry is a Vegan" consists of a little maybe minute long pitch for veganism and vegetarianism as Barry walks around "The Farm Sanctuary" and a prompt to have a look at the Farm's website.

Things you might like or dislike about this DVD:

Barry asks the background exerciser several times where she feels the work in the muscle.

There is no music whatsoever but you can hear the outdoor sounds of the birds singing on the farm.

The DVD case is a real DVD case with a picture cover, not a jewel case like his first workout.

You have to go back to the main menu for the abs segment.

The reps countdown with an onscreen counter.

Barry is not chatty but gives form pointers and encouragement throughout.

He includes the upright row exercise which I have read pro's and cons against.


I think if you like a get it on and get it done athletic, gym style weight lifting workout then you'll like this. If you like Tom Holland, the Abs Diet workouts, or Power 90, I think you would like this. Possibly even if you like the Slim Series, you might like this because of the high reps. You get three sets for each major muscle group in a compact timeframe. You can add abs or not depending on your schedule.

Several minor cover issues---nowhere does it state the length of the workout (I like a breakdown on the cover) and the DVD should state that a medicine ball, weights, and a stability/exercise ball are needed to perform this workout.

sandym

Instructor Comments:
Barry Lovelace is a certified personal trainer, fitness center owner, and co-host of CNN's Workout Wednesday's.
He can be contacted at www.wegetufit.com

sandym