I just got to do this workout recently (although it's been in my non-opened fitness DVD pile for months, just too many workouts to do!). I got this as a freebie from Barry Love with a request that I post both positive and negative reviews about the workout. This workout is filmed at the Farm Sanctuary in NY and it's a pleasant setting since I like outdoor workouts. He works out with Shelly on a patio overlooking a green pasture and farm houses.The ab workouts are filmed in his FitQuest gym in PA. I can hardly hear the music which just fine with me because I would rather play my own music (that's what I like about the Beachbody/Tony Horton workouts). Since others have already provided detailed review of the exercises, I'll just include additional comments.

This circuit training workout is around 27 minutes and uses both the stability ball and dumbbells. There is a separate chapter for warm up which is around is 4 1/2 minutes and uses functional fitness type of moves using the medicine ball. The cooldown/stretch is 3 minutes. The ab workouts are 18 minutes total. There are 15 second breaks between segments. The entire workout is no-nonsense, basic, athletic, and solid intermediate to high intermediate. If you like Tom Holland and Tony Horton circuit training workouts then you will like this (although I do miss Tony's personality!). Barry is a serious instructor with very good cueing. He is not chatty at all but gives form pointers all throughout the workout. There is an onscreen counter to keep track of the reps. I like the fitness and nutrition tips provided during the 15 second breaks.

I really like the ab workouts but it is not chaptered. There are 3 segments and it would have been nice if these segments were chaptered. The first two segments is 6 minutes each and uses the stability ball. The third segment is only 4 minutes and uses the mat. I would consider the ab workouts to be intermediate to high intermediate as well..

Personally, I think this circuit training workout focuses more on upper body training rather than lower body. There are very few lower body workouts. I could only think of the squat and press with dumbbells and wide plie squat with dumbbell as the lower body workouts in the entire total body circuit training. I also think that the one minute cardio intervals are very short. The one minute cardio is running/jogging in place (or you can do jumping rope or jumping jacks for a change). I would have preferred longer 3-5 minute cardio intervals.

I plan to do this workout with at least 30 minute cardio and alternate this with a lower body workout on certain days.

In the end, I really like this workout and so I'm keeping it. I think this is Barry's second attempt to do a fitness DVD and it's good. I give it a B.

Instructor Comments:
Serious and no-nonsense. Gives very good form pointers.

A.R. Palacio