Sweat Summary: Breathless is right. High-energy instructor Amy Dixon will have you huffing and puffing 5 minutes into this tough 55-minute workout. She starts with four rounds of high-intensity interval training and ends with 6 minutes of threshold training. Sweat Factor: Extremely sweaty: you’ll need a towel Mood: Invigorating What We Liked: No weights, no mats, no stability balls. Just you, your sweat, and Amy Dixon’s words of encouragement! What We Didn’t Like: Legs and butt were super (super) sore the next day, leaving arms feeling a little neglected. Next time we’re hoping for more drills that integrate arm strength. Get more leg exercises [sidebar]Rating: Sweat it, 3 remotes
Rating System
Full Review: If you love pushing yourself to the limit, this workout is for you.After a brief warm-up (which feels like a mini-workout itself) the program is split into two parts. Up first is 27 minutes of high intensity interval training (HIIT) broken up into four circuits. Each circuit has three different calorie-burning moves like high knees, squat jacks, and plank tuck-ins (see below), which you’ll do for 30-second bursts followed by 15 seconds of recovery. You’ll repeat the circuit twice before moving to the next round of exercises. Make sure you’re pushing hard enough during the bursts; the goal is to push yourself to the point where you start to feel breathless. The second part of the workout is called the Edge Push. It incorporates threshold training, which means you’re exercising at a lower intensity level than HIIT, but no breaks allowed! You’ll take all 12 previous exercises and do them in a row for 6 minutes straight. “Threshold training makes you super-fit is because you have to maintain really challenging levels of intensity for a long period of time rather than just blowing it out and then recovering,” Dixon explains. Teetering the edge of anaerobic exercise (hence the name) helps improve performance. Feel free to blast Lady Gaga’s “Edge of Glory” at full volume as extra motivation! Dixon’s shouts of encouragements (“Keep fighting. This is all you.”), makes you want to push harder and keep you motivated during the toughest of cardio drills. If you’re worried that the workout will be too intense, rest assure knowing that people of all fitness levels can do this workout. One of the DVD’s best features is that each drill is demonstrated at beginner, medium, and advanced levels. No matter what your skill level is (newbie to serious athlete), you are guaranteed a great a workout for your ability. Available at www.amydixonfitness.com ($19.99). More from Prevention.com: Sweat It or Skip It: Scott Cole, Discover Tai Chi for Balance & Mobility[pagebreak] Favorite Move: Plank Tuck-Ins (advanced) 1. Start in plank/push-up position, elbows straight and shoulders directly over wrists (picture A). 2. Keeping arms still, jump both feet forward between hands (picture B). Then jump both feet back to plank position to complete 1 rep. 3. Continue for 30 seconds without stopping. Rest for 15 seconds. Repeat 2 more times.
Media Platforms Design TeamWhat To Wear: With this über sweaty workout, you’ll want to stay far away from loose fitting clothes that will sop up sweat. Instead, pick apparel with moisture-wicking fabric and a fitted cut. With all of the jumping and side-to-side movements, a pair of sneakers with good ankle support is a must! Editor’s pick: The Lap Short Athleta uses moisture-wicking fabric to help keep you dry while the super cute laser-cut details at the hem helps with ($49). The Scrunch Cami offers built-in support to help minimize bounce that comes with these killer moves ($64). Both available at atheta.com. Read another fitness DVD review: PranaVayu Yoga
