Core Secrets Training Camp

i just got this workout on Amazon, did it immediately, and wanted to add my thoughts to the 2 reviews already posted.

this is purely a dumbbell workout w/o any other equipment except a mat. the unusual moves that he does are lying flat on the floor, stomach down, arms parallel to your sides, palms facing the ceiling, and you lift dumbbells up towards the ceiling. he also does what would be considered kettlebell swings using a dumbbell. he does some weighted swings like standing woodchops (diagonal from shoulder height down to your calf, then switch sides).

music was light funky jazz/pop. no vocals.

the two cast members are Jennifer Galardi (love her), and Anita Bognar. i know i have seen Anita before. both women are very competent and show good form.

Instructor Comments:
very no-nonsense. people complain about his blandness and baggy clothes, but it doesn't bother me at all.

bzar

The length of the DVD is 32 minutes - about 5 minute warmup/stretch. The workout is mostly functional type moves that are different from traditional strength training, but not difficult to do -- all in all, a fun workout that hits most muscle groups. There is no stability ball used - I used 3 & 5lb dumbbells and got a good workout. He does 2 sets for each exercise - beginning standing and ending on the floor with crunches and side planks. There is a modifier and another person doing the workout in the background. Some of the moves I remember are: standing wood chops, bicep and hammer curls, one-side weighted squats (he calls them deadlifts!). The workout ends with a few stretches.
At 32 minutes, there is no dread factor, and I feel worked out for days when I'm short on time.

Instructor Comments:
He explains and demonstrates each move before doing it. Gunnar is low key and has a good sense of humor. I like that he wears a t-shirt and loose pants (I know a lot of complaints about his attire) - but I prefer it to male instructors in tight pants!

unknown

Length - 32 minutes
No use of stability ball.

General comments -

The good:
This is fun, and the time flies. Besides a few conventional moves like bicep curls and lunges, the rest are different moves that emphasise the core and functional fitness. Very fun.
He works thru each set of exercises twice. I love that you know what's coming and can sub if you like - because I'm like that!

The bad:

1) The warmup! Since when is stretching a warmup? After a few arm circles both ways, both DVDs move to a series of stretches. Very nice ones, but I don't feel good stretching a cold body. ( I handle this by boogying around my living room to something with a beat for a few minutes before)
2) The cool down - it's ok, but there aren't enough stretches for my taste. No problem really though, as I just do the beginning stretches again.

3)Floor abwork is basically crunches. I hate crunches. I subbed bicycles.
4)Every now and again he encourages the two girls to show some life. I don't moan or groan when I'm working out, and don't want to hear other peope doing so.

One strange thing though besides the WU - the deadlifts. I think of a deadlift as a straight leg bendover with a flat back. He does "deadlifts" combined with hammer curls but they look like squats. Bent knees down and up. ?

However! I may have a long list of bads, b ut I really like this and will use it often. I am using light weights for now - one kilo - till I get used to the moves. But I wouldn't use heavy ones for this kind of workout anyhow. And I don't use heavy weights anyway!

Instructor Comments:
He's good. Encouraging, gives sporadic form pointers, keeps it interesting. BUT - his clothes! More suited to a hiphop dance video. I want to see his form and positioning. It's true that his female cohorts are typically scantily dressed (not too much, don't get me wrong) and their form is pretty good - but I want to see the finer details of the pose on the pro.

Francesca