Barry’s Bootcamp Fat Blaster “Lower Body Emphasis”

This has already been thoroughly broken down by Yogadad (thanks Yogadad!), so I am just going to add my impressions here. The Lower Body Emphasis workout DVD is blue (easily confused with the red colored upper body emphasis, the upper/lower text is very small) and also includes six Mission Specialist workouts: abs (beginner and advanced); upper (beginner and advanced); and lower (beginner and advanced). The DVD menu claims that the Lower Body Fat Blaster workout is 21 minutes; upon consideration, I believe they mean that the meat of the workout is 21 minutes, but with a 4 minute warm up and about 4 minute cool down, the entire workout is more like 30 minutes. There are 14 1-mintue intervals (one strength and one cardio) with a 30 second rest and setting up for the next exercise in between, which make up the 21 minute routine. Thanks to the 1 minute intervals, the workout flies by.

Like all Barry’s Bootcamp workouts, this uses the Transformer (the army green oblong stability ball) as well as bands. I used the lighter resistance green bands for this workout, as does everybody in the class except for the advanced modifier, who uses the thicker black band. There was one background male exerciser who used the booty band; I was surprised that they did not emphasize this more given the lower body emphasis. I was disappointed that the Transformer was not used more in this workout (as compared to UB), overall I did not feel the workout was as creative as the UB. However, understandably upper body exercises are more easily adaptable to the Transformer than lower. The workout did pack a punch and I can feel the DOMS setting into my glutes already. The cardio exercises were almost exclusively high intensity (although there is a beginner modifier who keeps it low) lots of jumping and plyometric moves. The strength moves were all squat and lunge variations, except for the final move which was bridges with feet on the Transformer.

Like UB FB, I was quite pleased at the intensity and am looking forward to growing with this workout. I followed Cindy, who did all moderate workouts, but I am excited to work up to the advanced modifier. Thanks to the short one minute intervals (Cindy and Barry often remind you that you can do anything for a minute) the workout felt very doable even with the intense exercises. Like I felt with the Upper Body FB, I think this system will help me push past my current plateau of intermediate into higher intermediate or lower advanced; I am able to do these more challenging exercises for a limited amount of time, and likewise for the short period of time, I will not develop a dread factor. The strength work is clearly endurance based, so this system will probably be best for those seeking weight loss, not those seeking muscle gains. I used this workout in conjunction with Firm BSS1 Lower Body Sculpt I, and I got a majorly intense one hour workout for the lower body. Beginners could follow along easily (the beginner modifications are excellent) but I think the very advanced (Insanity, P90X, Cathe users, etc.) will bore of this, or not get an intense enough workout for it to be worthwhile, especially if done standalone, as intended.

As I mentioned for the UB review, the music was great and well synchronized to the exercises. Very fun and bubbly, just like Cindy and Barry’s instruction. I will definitely be returning to Barry’s Bootcamp for the FUN factor. The 60 second countdown at each exercise was also helpful for me to push myself to the end, especially with some of the more intense plyometric cardio exercises. Well worth the money, especially for as cheap as it is now at Marshalls/Ross, and a great investment for those who are anywhere from beginner through low advanced level, and are looking for an endurance strength plus cardio interval routine. All of the exercises have fun names, which I think is really creative and different from pretty much any other workout video that I have tried (and I have and use over a hundred). Great bang for your buck! Grade A!

Instructor Comments:
I really enjoy Cindy and have now used her Results: 10 Days to a Better Body workout as well as a selection of her Barry’s Bootcamp workouts. She has clear cuing and her form is great. She smiles a lot and is very encouraging. She is more serious than Barry, but she makes sure we get things done. Barry is wildly quirky and funny and adds an entertainment value to the workout. He also talks about the diet component which is very important. If they ever came out with a follow up system or their own videos, I would be very very excited.

Emily B.