By: Jen Mueller, SparkPeople Blogger
11/5/2010 6:44 AM   :  51 comments   :  22,306 Views

See More: fitness, workout video, DVD, home workouts, strength training, product review,

As a busy mom, my free time is limited and very valuable. So if I’m going to spend it exercising, I want the workout to be something that really challenges me. I love running, so that’s my primary form of cardio. But at the beginning of this year, I made a real commitment to focus on strength training. Even though I’m a personal trainer and know what kind of exercises to do, I prefer to strength train using videos that tell me what to do and when to do it so that I don’t have to think about it too much.

One of my biggest pet peeves about videos is when the packaging says it’s a 40-minute workout, but it really ends up being closer to 50 minutes, not including a warm up or cool down. That’s usually longer than I prefer to spend on a video, which is why I was excited to try Jackie Warner’s new "Xtreme Timesaver Training" DVD. It’s a 30-minute strength and cardio workout in one. But could it really live up to its claims?

Coach Nicole reviewed Jackie’s first DVD, saying it was one of the best that she’d tried in a long time. This is the third one she’s done, and I’d have to say the same thing. I thought it was a great strength and cardio workout, and it really is just 30-minutes!

You’ll need a pair of dumbbells and a mat (if you aren’t exercising on a cushioned surface) for the workout. I’d recommend being conservative with the amount of weight you choose, since she does tend to do high reps and each exercise lasts for one minute. All of the exercises are compound movements, meaning that something is always going on with your arms and your legs at the same time. This keeps your heart rate up and gives you a full body workout more quickly. Jackie demonstrates all of the exercises at first, but then two other people show beginner and advanced versions of the exercises while she explains how to use proper form. I thought her explanations were very thorough, especially since a few of the exercises get a little complicated. It’s also nice that you can start with the beginner version, and then move to the more advanced moves as time goes on.

It was nice to see new variations of exercises that I hadn’t seen before. Instead of the same old lateral raises, she does kneeling, leaning lateral raises to work your obliques at the same time. If you’re used to a lot of high intensity cardio, this might not be enough of a cardio workout for you. But it’s nice for days that you’re pressed for time or just looking to mix things up.

Overall, I would not consider this workout to be appropriate for those who are new to exercise. But as you become more accustomed to regular strength training and are looking for a challenge, this might be a nice addition to your workout routine. The video sells for $9.99 on Amazon.

Is this a video you’d consider trying? Why or why not?