workout review: bob harper (beginner's weight loss transformation)

Going to the gym has never really been my thing. Though there was a time when I went fairly regularly with a friend of mine (she loved using the heavy weights and resistance machines, but I was more of a treadmill kind of person) it is simply not my preferred way to exercise. The gym involved a coordination of schedules, transportation time, and of course, exercising around all sorts of people. No thanks! As a lover of at-home workout DVDs, there are all sorts of routines that make it possible to burn calories in the privacy of your own home. Not only are there fun ones to do, but workout videos can also be really affordable. There are tons on YouTube for free (I have a weakness for 80s and 90s exercise videos and love to find all sorts of random ones there) or for low prices in stores and online. One of the more recent additions to my workout DVD collection is from Bob Harper. It was a thrift store find that only cost me a couple of dollars. I have a few other videos from him in my collection and those are tough. I mean, really tough. So, it was an absolute thrill to find a DVD from him with the word "beginner" in it. I thought this would be a little more manageable. How very wrong I was. Keep reading for this workout DVD review.

How would I describe the Beginner's Weight Loss Transformation DVD? Not suitable for beginners. Despite the word "beginner" in the title...this is an absolutely brutal workout routine. As mentioned, I am familiar with a lot of workout DVDs and regularly burn a sweat with Richard Simmons, Jane Fonda, Jillian Michaels, and many others. Though I am no athlete, there is at least a certain familiarity with different exercises and whatnot. I would say the Beginner's Weight Loss Transformation is more accessible than some of his other workout DVDs, but the word beginner is wildly misleading. 

The main workout is 45 minutes and focuses on the entire body. Then there is a 10 Minute Beginner Abs workout as well. The 10 Minute Beginner Abs section is far more accessible. It is challenging (especially because I hate ab work) but doable. This is not something that I have been able to add onto the 45 minute workout, because I am too exhausted and sore by that point, but is good to do on days when my focus is aerobics or cardio. As for the Beginner's Weight Loss Transformation, it is a difficult workout. (As of writing this, it has been uploaded on YouTube. Check it out here if you are interested.) The warm up was straightforward enough and I fooled myself into thinking this was going to be smooth sailing. But once the squat thrusts and cross body mountain climbers started....it was all over. Those were difficult. As were the hand walks, push ups, and endless planks. There were certain moves that I needed to modify and some that I needed to reduce the repetitions on. I've done the workout several times since finding it at the thrift store, but it has not gotten any easier. Maybe one day. At this point, I can only handle it once or twice a week, because it leaves me so sore, but I suppose that is a sign that I am working hard. 

What I like about the Beginner's Weight Loss Transformation DVD from Bob Harper is the timer countdown in the bottom corner and the training from Bob. He is encouraging and motivating. I've been a fan of his work for many years now. What I do not like about the DVD is the fact that the workout is definitely not a beginner level routine. All that said, I am glad that it is part of my collection. It has been pushing me out of my comfort zone a bit and encouraging me to try new things. Even if those things make me sore and tired! Who knows? Maybe one day, this Bob Harper DVD will feel a whole lot easier. 

How have you been staying active this winter? Do you like workout DVDs?