30 Minute Express: Above the Belt & Below the Belt

These two workouts (which come on separate DVDs) are circuit type workouts using light-medium weights and/or resistance tubing. Above the Belt gives you the option of using either. Below the Belt is done with either no weights or dumbbells. I would rate them intermediate in intensity. Of course you could make them harder by upping the amount of weight.

Each video begins with 3-4 minutes of warm ups, which is mostly just gentle stretches. I was a bit irked that there wasn't at least a minute or two of marching in place or something just to get the blood flowing. Each video ends with 3-4 min. of stretching. Breakdowns of each are as follows.

Above the Belt - 1 minute of each exercise unless otherwise noted:

Pushups

Planks - hold 25 seconds, rest 10 second, hold 25 seconds

Pull Downs w/resistance band

Standing Ab Twist

Biceps Curls

Twisting Planks

Triceps Extensions - 30 seconds each arm (but you could easily do both arms at the same time for 60 seconds)

Crunches

Overhead Shoulder Presses

Rope Climbs

Bench Press

Side Planks - 25 seconds each side

Chest Rows w/resistance tubing

Side Bends

Hammer Curls

Boat Pose - held statically for 30 seconds and then with pulsing arms for 30 seconds

Triceps Kickbacks

Crunches w/knees up, feet off ground

Side Lateral Raises (for the shoulders)

Below the Belt - 1 minute of each exercise unless otherwise noted:

Squats

Side Bends w/weights

Front Lunges

Standing Ab Twists

Back Lunges

Standing Side Crunches

Plie' Squats

Crunches

Seated Inner Thigh Lifts

Pike - Hold for 1 minute in a pike position (this seemed really too easy)

Side to Side Squats w/power squat option last 10 seconds

Standing Crunches

Deadlifts

Calf Raises

Static Ab Hold - kind of like yoga's "boat pose," but Michelle didn't instruct to lift the feet off the ground

Seated Double Leg Lifts

Seated Twists

Crunches w/knees up and feet off floor

Pelvic Lifts

Below the Belt has somewhat of a cardio element to it. If you're a solid intermediate to advanced level exerciser, your heart rate will elevate, but it's not too intense, and it isn't ever elevated for any appreciable length of time. However, for an intermediate or beginner, it may be enough to give some light cardio benefit.

The set is a very non-descript workout area. Michelle has seven background exercisers. Music is pretty non-descript as well.

Other Thoughts:

The backgrounders do a variety of different levels, so it is easy to find someone who is modifying to your level. However, it is not always easy to tell who is doing a more beginner version and who is doing a more advanced version. They all seem to be doing whatever they feel like. For example, one woman will do the beginner level of one exercise, but for the next exercise, she seems to be doing the advanced level.

Most exercises on Above the Belt can be done with the resistance band or weights, which lends some versatility to the workout. You could vary between weights and tubing either during the workout or from workout to workout.

As noted in the instructor comments, Michelle is not consistent with her instruction/form tips, and some of the backgrounders have bad form. She moves quickly from exercise to exercise and usually gives her instruction and form tips while she's doing the exercise rather than teaching it in advance.

These are both thorough workouts, and I think Michelle packs decent decent, comprehensive workouts into a short time frame. With warm up and cool down, the videos actually take about 35 minutes.

Although the workouts would be a good, thorough weight session for a beginner (provided they were well schooed in form) or intermediate, I found both videos pretty dull. I think you can get more exciting workouts. Also, to me these are those workouts that aren't heavy lifting, but aren't really low weight, high rep either. Kind of an in between, although I guess that's what circuit type workouts generally are.