Cardio Abs DVD: HIIT Cardio Interval Training, Kickboxing, Sculpting, Tabata, Intermediate to Advanced Level Workouts for Home Exercise

I love this DVD. I have A LOT of workout DVDs, this is one of my favorites. It's hard to find a cardio workout I like that's not super-choreographed. I don't like the typical dance DVDs and it takes me a little bit to get any of the steps down, so I like that these workouts are easy to catch on to, but not as simple as just running in place or just jumping jacks. I also like that you use your upper body so much, really helps to keep the heart-rate up. I have trouble with incontinence from pregnancies (3 kids) and the only time I ever have to do the "low impact" version is the jumping (a type of jumping jack). My pelvic floor is improving, (gave birth 18 months ago) I hope to be able to do those jumps soon! I was already in decent shape, but was looking for some more cardio workouts that I can do from home outside of my elliptical. I do tabata on my own sometimes, but I liked the tabata bonus on this DVD because she does the timer for you and when I’m watching her do it with me, I think it motivates me to stay with it and really push thru those 20 second sprints. Jessica is in no way annoying and there's not a lot of extra talk..other than the instructions. On some of my other favorite DVDs (other instructors) you get tired to listening to the same "encouragement type talk" when you do the same workout multiple times. Maybe it's helpful to other people.. but I think that should be at the very end or in the introduction sections.. If we're doing this DVD over and over, we don't want to hear that same phrase over and over. Jessica keeps that type of talk very simple. The music is good too. Not in anyway annoying, and is upbeat enough to keep you moving. My favorite is when a workout DVDs have the option of turning off the music so you can play your own music. This music is good though.. it's not annoying.

This is my first review of anything -- ever -- that is how much I love this DVD! I do a LOT of at-home DVD workouts, and this is my definite favorite. Each workout is only 25 minutes long, meaning I can squeeze it in before work. The Cardio Abs routine is engaging, HARD cardio, which is really unusual for a workout DVD. There is some jumping, but I (1) have bad knees; and (2) workout in my apartment at 5:00am and the jumping isn't bad enough to hurt my knees or wake my neighbors. I'd say the jumps are more like a quick shuffle, anyway. The concentrated abs section is also HARD, but very effective ab training that is full of unique moves to really train your abs (and I work up a sweat doing this routine as well). The hardest workout is probably the Total Body Abs Transformer (...what does that title even mean?). This is basically three rounds of circuit training -- strength moves (which also get your heart pumping) followed by cardio (push-ups and mountain climbers, burpees, etc.). SO hard but so effective. The thing about each routine being only 25 minutes is that I feel like I can really push myself through the entire thing. Jessica is also really engaging, so I feel like I am working harder than I do with other workout DVDs. I end each session very sweaty and proud :) I didn't have 10 pounds to lose when starting these workouts but I've been doing them every week for about three months, and I am SO much stronger -- not just in my abs but also in my arms and shoulders -- and also have a noticeably tighter core. I STILL look forward to doing them when I get up in the morning, which is saying a lot at 5:00am when I've been working on these routines for months already! I've just bought two more Jessica Smith DVDs because her personality is down-to-earth and encouraging.

I've done a lot of Jessica Smith's workouts via her site. I really enjoy her personality and find her easy to watch; easy to follow and very encouraging. That said, this is one of those videos that will likely improve for you over time vs. being a favorite as soon as you put it in. This is just what worked for me, but I found warming up to be a good idea. Just a good five minute cardio warmup made all the difference for me in being able to follow this video. If you're new to exercise, I'd suggest going with a different DVD, but I like Jessica Smith enough that I'd recommend doing one of hers. She has really cardio walk DVDs for anyone just start out. This is, in my experience, going to be best suited to people who have been exercising regularly as it is. I'm in good shape and found the "concentrated abs" section to be the most challenging. My suggestion is to watch it through before attempting and again, warm up prior or you might find your leg muscles cramping in the first standing moves. But it's a great program. I love the Cardio Abs and do that one in combination with a different upper body routine. It's strenuous enough to work up a good sweat for me, but if I was just starting out, I imagine it would be pretty challenging and enough by itself. I'm in good shape and find it works really well in combination with either an upper or lower body workout. Jessica include low impact variations, while demonstrating the higher. The only reason I didn't give this five stars that there isn't a warmup included, which would really have helped. Also, my suggestion would be to go with light weights the first few times you do the Total Body Abs Transformers, just so you can learn the workout first. I can't say I'm personally a fan of the music, but I like Jessica Smith enough that the music wasn't the focus. Again, I'd classify this as an intermediate rather than beginner workout though.