Camper English reviews fitness DVDs so you don’t have to

GET RIPPED 1000 (2006)

The Program: The DVD is a one-hour workout with short warm-up and cool-down segments. There’s an option to show less strenuous aerobic exercises on the side during those segments. Bonus features include motivational tips and interviews with success story program participants, and a feature on the science of metabolism.

Equipment needed: You’ll want to have two sets of dumbbells for this at the minimum. (Use less weight than you think you’d normally need.) Many exercises use a step, and to get the maximum out of this you’ll want one. The first few times doing this you’ll be struggling just to keep up and won’t need it, so you can wait to buy one or bust it out after you’ve tried the video a few times.

Instructors: Jari Love has a perky face and hairstyle like Loni Anderson atop a muscled body like Sigourney Weaver in Aliens. There are three backup exercisers, one man and two women, all of whom are also extremely ripped. It’s a little daunting.

Pacing: This video consists of many short segments done back-to-back with very little rest time in between. The exercises switch between aerobic and muscle-building routines. As the moves are all relatively simple, it’s very easy to follow along without getting lost – but not at all easy to keep up with her!

Doin’ It: This video has a lot of features I haven’t seen elsewhere. At the beginning of each small segment, there’s a pop-up box telling you how many calories it burns per minute on average, and at maximum. (The “1000” in the title refers to you being able to burn up to 1000 calories during the workout.) They also display how much weight each of the exercisers is carrying on their dumbbells. Furthermore, as Love demonstrates one way to do each of the exercises, one or two of the back-up people do a modified version for those not using a step, or needing a less-intense option. Sometimes one person faces sideways so that you can see both the front and side view of each routine. These are all incredibly helpful.

The routines are very simple, and some are only about a minute or two long. They vary from push-ups to sit-ups to weight muscle moves like lunges, squats, and dead-lifts. The music is fast-paced and so are the exercises – there isn’t time to get bored doing this video as you’re continually changing positions and body parts. (I was relieved at times, and had to stop and take notes. It’s a butt-kicker.)

Love manages to be encouraging without being overly perky, “Tighten that beautiful body of yours!” But then as you’re gasping for breath and trying to keep up later, her support starts to sound almost ominous. “You’re invited to a push-up party!” “Did you do it without falling? Extra stars if you did!” That just adds to the entertainment value of the workout.

Verdict: This video combines fast aerobics, adaptable muscle building (just add more weight), doesn’t seem like it will get boring, and burns a heck of a lot of calories. It’s one of the best fitness DVDs I’ve reviewed.

More Info: www.jarilove.com