I bought myself a copy of The Body Coach Workout dvd ages ago, but I barely even looked at it; it seemed a bit too scary for me! At thebeginning of this year, having mostly healed from my umbilical hernia operation I am able to exercise a bit more, so I actually started using the dvd properly… and I actually love it! It’s become one of my favourite videos to do, even if it does leave me walking like John Wayne for a few days afterwards.
Format
This dvd comprises the following sections:
- One warm-up routine
- Two 15-minute workouts
- Two 20-minute workouts
- Two 25-minute workouts
- One 30-minute workout
- One cool-down routine
- Joe’s Nutritional Top Tips
Anyone who has seen a Joe Wicks “Lean in 15” workout on TV or the Internet will be familiar with the format. These are really simple workouts that you can do anywhere, using your bodyweight for a quick, full-body HIIT workout. The workouts are listed on the dvd menu in order of fitness level – so you can work your way through the levels.
Wait, what’s a HIIT workout?
In case you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t heard of HIIT, it stands for High Intensity Interval Training. In a HIIT workout you perform intervals of exercise at high intensity, followed by a short rest. It’s been shown as a highly effective way of getting fit.
In the Body Coach Workout you exercise hard for 30 seconds, followed by 30 seconds of rest. That might sound easy – but only to those who have never tried to keep that up for fifteen minutes straight! The workouts I have done so far have involved simple movements which are easy to follow.
How Effective is it?
From what I’ve seen so far, this approach works really well. The idea is that you start at the beginning, and once you feel that you’ve improved you can move up to the next level. I certainly get out of breath doing the workouts, and I ache the next day – so it must be working!
Equipment
Possibly the best thing about this dvd is that you don’t need any equipment. The absence of heavy weights or resistance bands doesn’t mean you won’t ache though – instead you’re working your muscles using your body weight.
Extras
There is a short “Joe’s nutritional top tips” section which gives some basic guidance as to what to eat. It’s only a short section, so you’re not getting a comprehensive guide on the best food to eat for every meal – but it’s a good starting point, and using this alongside the workouts can only help.
Best Part
For me, the best part of these workouts is Joe Wicks’ attitude and encouragement. I’ve not really seen many of his workouts before, and to be honest I had been expecting some sort of shouting, sergeant major yelling at me about “no pain, no gain!” Instead he is very encouraging. For a start it’s encouraging to see someone as physically fit as him getting out of breath doing the exercises that are almost killing me! As well as this, he makes the point several times that if you keep at it, you’ll find the exercises easier and will be able to move onto the next level soon. He also stresses the importance of the warm-up and cool-down sections, which is nice to see.
Low Point
Literally my only low point on this dvd is the fact that all the workouts are filmed on a wooden deck on the beach in Abu Dhabi. In a way that’s better than the fake studios they usually use for workout dvds, but really – it’s not entirely relatable for those of us struggling to find space to side-step in our tiny, cramped living rooms on a grey day!
Final Thoughts
I’m actually pleasantly surprised by this dvd, and am enjoying doing the workouts. I like that the workouts are easy to follow and can be done in a small space without equipment – there’s basically no excuse for not getting on with it!
Also available: Joe Wicks Lean in 15 Workouts dvd I’m seriously considering buying this, having had such a positive experience with The Body Coach Workout dvd.
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