This was the first workout in fitness instructor Kelly Coffey-Meyer's new 30 Minutes to Fitness series. Like the other DVDs in this series, 30 Minutes to Fitness Weights offers two separate splits-style workouts; when combined with the warm-up, each of these workouts is approximately 30 minutes long, perfect if you are short on time. However, additional options allow you to create a longer workout as well as to add in lots of variety (described below).
Kelly works out with two background exercises, one of whom shows modifications for some of the exercises. The Main Menu of the DVD lists the Warm-Up, Workout 1, Workout 2, Workout Sections, and Premixes; there are also audio options for working out with music or with Kelly's voice only. In her introduction, Kelly explains that the workouts are designed for heavier lifting. She recommends that beginners use 5 lbs., intermediate 7 lbs., and advanced 10 lbs. (note that these weight amounts are different than what is is listed on the DVD menu). I found these amounts to be about right, as I consider myself to be high intermediate, and I used 8 lbs. through the majority of both workouts, sometimes pyramiding up to 10 lbs.
The basic 3-minute warm-up includes marches, taps with reaches, side steps, and hamstring curls. Without the warm-up, Workout #1, which focuses on Back, Legs, & Chest, is 29.5 minutes long, and Workout #2, concentrating on Biceps, Triceps, & Shoulders, is 27 minutes long. Both workouts follow the same general format: a single exercise consisting of 8 repetitions is performed for each of the three targeted body parts. This round is then repeated once, and then you take an "active rest." The active rests are 1-minute periods of standing ab work; these are fast-paced and hardly feel like a "rest," but they're a fun break from the strength work. Two more strength rounds and two more rest periods follow, and then there's just a few very brief stretches to finish. Kelly moves quickly from exercise to exercise in both workouts--don't be surprised if your heart rate stays up the whole time. As always, she adds a lot of unique twists to to the exercises, such as hesitation holds, deadlifts with a twist, and some challenging push-up/plank moves. She also manages to sneak in additional strength work during the so-called rests (ie, one of the rests includes plies to work the legs).
The Premixes on this DVD provide a great amount of variety to the workouts. The first four premixes feature the workouts exactly as above, with the only changes being to the active rest portions. For the first two premixes, the active rest portions in both workouts are replaced by 2 minutes of floor abdominal work (exercises include leaning rows with lifts, knee tuck crunches, full sit-ups with arm reaches, frog-leg crunches, and side leg crunches). For the next two premixes, the active rest portions in both workouts are replaced by low-cardio segments, including simple moves such as v-steps, knee repeaters, side-steps, hamstring pulls, toe taps, and lunges. Each of these premixes remains about 30 minutes in length.
There are also three additional premixes as follows:
Full Body--1 rotation of each exercise (38m)
Mixed Full Body Blast--no active rests (41m)
Time-Saver Full Body Blast--2 exercises each body part w/no rests (31m)
As with the other DVDs in her 30 Minutes to Fitness series, Kelly did a great job in this video, which provides users with plenty of workout options. Overall, I give this 4 1/2 stars! 30 Minutes To Fitness: Weights Workout with Kelly Coffey-Meyer
I use this as a warm-up before my morning run. (I know typically you'd do the cardio first, but I found I feel stronger on my runs and walks if I do this short strength routine first) The 30 minute - all body parts, no active rest routine is my favorite. Kelly is enthusiastic but not as sacharine or peppy as some of video instructors. I was using the 15 pound weights as she recommended for advanced audiences but found I was starting to bulk up, so dropped down to the 10 pound weights. The deadlifts and squats offer a good way to both stretch and strengthen.
This video convinced me that weights are the secret of changing your body.
When I first got this, it was impossible to do, but it set my goals high to get through it. I started out with 2 pound weights and all the modifications. My body got stronger immediately. I am progressing through heavier weights and using fewer modifications. My body is changing before my eyes. The ab workout is changing my stomach. I like the many different mixes avaiable to customize the workout to your available time and fitness level. I do mix it with a more moderate video I have to allow my body to rest/recover when needed.
After 45 years of neglecting self to care for others, it is very empowering to find a program that works. I now realize all the aerobics in the world will not change your body like weights will. I would definately buy it again if I could do it all over again.
I had been looking for a good weightlifting workout for a while and came across this DVD at another site with reviews and decided to give it a try. Well I was pleasantly surprised that this DVD actually is interesting and fun and it works you out. You can start out with beginner weight (5 lbs.) and move up to immediate or advanced. Kelly stresses that if you cannot feel it you should increase the weight because you want to exhaust your arms and if it's too easy without a lot of repatition the workout might not be as effective as it should. I started out on the beginner level the first day but moved to the 8 lbs. weights quickly.
I really like the instructions and that they show variations of the workout and at the pace you can keep up with. I'm using this DVD in combination with a Jillian Michaels DVD and pilates and yoga but I think this will be a staple in my exercise workout routine for a long time to come because it gets results. - Kelly Coffey - Weights - Fitness Dvd - Strength Training'
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