By: Jen Mueller, SparkPeople Blogger
5/21/2010 1:18 PM   :  32 comments   :  12,922 Views

See More: workout video, DVD, home workouts, strength training, product review, 10 minutes,

One of my fitness goals this year has been to incorporate more strength training into my routine. I've found that if I'm going to push myself, it doesn't happen with a bunch of exercises I just do on my own. I need a video to follow. So far this year I've tried some short and long ones, good and bad ones, and some that are more challenging than others. A few weeks ago, I tried one that was such a good balance of difficulty and length that I wanted to do a review of it.

Recently, we received a new package from the folks at 10 Minute Solution.(Coach Nicole reviewed some of their cardio DVDs last year.) When I read the packaging for the Ultimate Boot Camp DVD, I decided to give it a try. Would I really feel like I got a good workout in just 10 minutes? I was surprised at the result.

There are five segments to the DVD, each one lasting about 10 minutes: Fat Fighting Skills and Drills, Ultimate Upper, Lower and Total Body Training, and Six Pack Ab Attack. The videos use a mat and a set of hand weights. I tried the Upper and Lower Body workouts, as well as the Six Pack Ab Attack. What's so nice is that they are only 10-minutes long, so I could easily fit them into my day even if I didn't have 30 minutes all at once. I have young kids (ages 3 and 1), but could even keep them occupied for 10 minutes while I did one of them.

Jessica Smith is the instructor on this DVD, and it is obvious that she has a lot of experience leading fitness classes. She gives good instructions during the workout, and also mentions alternatives if you can't do the exercises like she demonstrates. She does a very short warm up at the beginning and stretch at the end of each workout, but I could see adding more exercises to make the warm up and stretch a little longer. (I understand that there's only so much you can do in 10 minutes.) I was pleasantly surprised at the intensity level of the workouts. I found myself counting the minutes until the ab workout was over because it was quite challenging. The upper and lower body workouts got my heart pumping enough to be considered a light cardio workout, too. For example, the lower body workout does squats and lunges while pumping the arms to keep your heart rate elevated.

I probably wouldn't use these videos as my only form of strength training for an extended period of time, especially since they are only 10 minutes long. But they have been a good addition to my DVD rotation, especially when I'm short on time and need an easy way to fit in a workout.

Have you tried any of the 10 Minute Solution DVDs? What kind of workouts do you like to do when you're short on time?