Exhale: Core Fusion / Bootcamp

I've been reviewing a lot of barre style dvds lately because I have become so enthusiastic about the results I'm getting in such a short period of time. I have collected just about all of the Exhale Core Fusion programs so I had to give this one a try because I still enjoy incorporating some short bursts of cardio into my exercise routine.This is not a barre workout as the last review stated, but it is a nice change of pace for those who like their cardio served at a higher intensity level. I have been doing a lot of high impact, super intense cardio over the last few years. It was nice to work up a nice sweat and raise my heart rate without doing round after round of power jumps!I won't give a breakdown of the program as the last reviewer already did that. I will agree though that I was also hesitant about doing burpees (jump backs) with only that playground ball for balance although I have had lots of previous experience with them. What I did instead was use a medicine ball for that move, it was much sturdier. The only problem with that option is my med ball is 12lbs so for the next moves I had to switch back to the playground ball because the 12lb ball became a bit heavy. Purchasing a lighter med ball could remedy that. That's the only reason I only gave the program 4 stars.So far I've used this twice. I felt more challenged on the 2nd round because I was more aware of the moves.As with all my experiences so far with the Exhale Core Fusion series, it was positive. It is a nice change of pace from what I've been used to because it involves more of a mind/body connection. If you're looking for something different that will give you an intense workout without lots of jumping and high impact moves give this one a try.

Let me start by agreeing that this is not a beginner workout DVD. Having said that, I want to add that I am a 3x P90X graduate, having done 2 full rounds of that program and continuing on with parts of P90X, Insanity and 1 on 1 with Tony Horton DVDs for cardio and strength training. I haven't found anything out there that in the strength/cardio realm of exercise DVDs that challenges me as much as P90X, etc, and that I enjoy. Until Bootcamp.I have several Core Fusion DVDs. Before I started P90X, Core Fusion Pilates Plus and Body Sculpt were in my regular exercise rotation and until getting Bootcamp, I would say that they were my favorites. I also own three other Core Fusion DVDs but didn't feel as positively about them. I was excited to read the pre-release reviews about Bootcamp and thought that this might be a nice change from the P90X style of training, adding Liz's more feminine strength building touch.I was not disappointed. As Yoga Girl said, I'll leave the details of each 10 minute section to the first reviewer. I did the entire workout with the addition of the 5 minute bonus boxing section, for a total of about 70 minutes. I used a 6 lb. medicine ball in lieu of a playground ball and can I say that this morning I am SO SORE in places that P90X doesn't get to? My booty is sore in new and wonderful places as are my intercostal muscles around my ribcage.This is a great workout! I burned over 500 calories doing the whole thing and considering that included 15 minutes of abs and 10 minutes of back strengthening, stretching and shavasana none of which are big calorie burners, that is a great total calorie burn!I too wondered about the sequencing of putting the back strengthening/stretch/shavasana bonus section BEFORE the 5 minute bonus abdominal section. It will be annoying to have to stop the DVD, skip a chapter and go back to skipped chapter to finish, but I'm not going to take away a star for it. I am a big grrl and I know how to use a remote control, so oh well.VERY nice change up from prior Core Fusion DVDs. I am very happy with this and plan on putting it into my rotation and doing it again...as soon as this sore wears off!

Of the seven Core Fusion DVDs currently available, Boot Camp is definitely the most difficult and will pump your heartrate up the hightest. I have every single Core Fusion DVD, and I love them all, although they are each a little different. Body Sculpt and Long and Lean are both full body workouts, the latter a little more challenging than the former. Both Arms and Abs and Thighs and Glutes are self-explanatory. Pilates Plus focuses on abs/core work. And the yoga Energy Flow and the Bootcamp DVDs are cardio workouts, the latter more challenging than the former, although both are quite rigorous and will make you sweat buckets. I have taken both Pilates Mat and Pilates Fusion classes for a few years, and these DVDs are a wonderful complement when I am not in class, and in my opinion, are sometimes even more challenging than what I get in my exercise classes. I have tried a number of different exercise DVDs over the years, and these are the only ones I have ever stuck with. They are very enjoyable, challenging (but not so challenging that you give up), invigorating, interesting (they do not get boring because there is so much variety built in), and I have noticed some subtle differences in my body from my work with both the DVDs and my classes. To really burn fat, though, you have to alter your diet. These DVDs will help with sculpting muscle (like a ballet dancer's body), but not so much with fat loss (at least I have always found that my weight loss occurs with diet and not with exercise, but that's just me.) In short, money well spent, and I highly recommend the series.