Quick Fit: Hips, Thighs & Buns

Just for background, I'm an intermediate with lower body strength training who has been on a quest for the perfect add on tape. I think I've found it. It's 20 minutes long, easily added onto a cardio session which is my preferred way to exercise. I've done the tape 3 times, and my inner thighs and buns have definitely felt it the next day. Most of the exercises are variations of squats and lunges, with a few others thrown in. If you're looking for a great add on, I highly recommend this tape.

I like all of the tapes in this set, though I do some more than others. There are 3 aerobic tapes, each with a different focus. The 1st is classic cardio, the 2nd is cardio strike/kickboxing, and the 3rd is a combination of the two. Overall I like all of the tapes, but in the tapes with a lot of the striking, it gets to be too slow at times because the focus is on the upper body. But as a whole, the tapes are effective and give you the opportunity to switch from one focus to another.

There are 4 strength training videos--abs/ arms and shoulders/ legs, hips, and buttocks/ and chest and back. The tapes I do the most are the arms and shoulders, and the legs, hips, and buttocks. Both are very quick, effective, and to the point. I tend to have to use lighter than usual weights on the arms video, because he does a large amount of repetition, so you can really feel the burn. The legs video is quick and effective as well, but does not involve much activity with weights--it focuses more on lunges and squats.

Overall, these tapes have added more variety to my workouts, and I really enjoy them.

This is a review of the production quality of the strength tapes only-I traded/sold the cardio tapes without doing them since his cardio is not my style. I placed the strength tapes on the exchange after doing them once. The camera man moves around all over the place and at many times tilts the lens so the ocean horizon is at an angle. It made my stomach queasy. Once there is a shot of Gilad at floor level where he stretches his arm out toward the lens and his arm looks 3 feet long! These seems like small quirks even as I type them, but I have a lot of videos, including Cathe's on DVD where I can get short "parts" workouts without being distracted or dizzy by the camera zooming all over the place. LeslieM

Gilad definitely packs a lot into this 20-minute lower body workout. All of it is standing work, except for about the last 6 minutes, when you do some glute lifts on the floor. The standing work includes several variations of squats and lunges. He does some really interesting squat variations -- for example, at one point, you stand pigeon-toed with your knees touching and squat from there. Gilad doesn't use weights except for during one lunge sequence. You can add them if you want to, but I didn't really find it necessary -- he keeps you moving along and there was no problem at all with it being "too easy." I really like this video because it's short and does the job. There's no time to be bored because he changes the moves frequently. The only thing I would like added is some floor work for inner/outer thighs -- and also a stretch at the end. Surprisingly, he doesn't include a stretch, which you really do need after this. Grade A.

This video is 20 minutes well spent. If your time is limited and you want to do a fast workout, this one might be for you.

There are the standard lunges, squats and side lifts. Gilad has added an interesting pigeon toe squat which I have never seen before. It was a bit difficult for me to execute only because I am slightly bow legged. There are some new leg combo's that add variety to what can be ho-hum lower body workouts.

If you are a beginning exercise, this is an excellent tape. For more advanced exercisers, I would recommend ankle weights be added for more intensity.

The music is typical Gilad...I might add at this point, he really should try to expand his choices of music. I am pretty sure it is the same music he used in a video from ten years ago.

The only negatives I could see in this video are the three beautiful bikini clad women who are doing this video in their bare feet. It appears they were thrown in as eye candy for some reason.

All in all, not a bad tape to add to your collection of lower body workouts.