Joel Harper's Fit Pack - Nine Short Workouts

These 9 short workouts work the whole body with no equipment needed. Many of the workouts have different intensity levels from easy to hard. One may work up from easier versions to more intense versions of exercises. I loved the abs & legs sections which are fairly intense. Note that the short cardio section is high impact with a lot of jumps and you may want to modify or set up your own low impact cardio program like walking outside or getting an indoor walking DVD. For many people, these workouts will add variety to your exercise program. Here's the breakdown for the 9 workouts. 1. Shoulders (about 20 minutes) beginner, intermediate, and advanced Exercises include arm & hand movements, planks, stretches, and so on. 2. Cardio (about 6 minutes) for all levels This very short cardio is high impact, meaning a lot of jumping. 3. Buns (about 10 minutes) for all levels All work is done on the ground (floor) as opposed to standing. 4. Abs (about 17 minutes) beginner and intermediate Probably more of an intermediate abs program, you do what you can do and build yourself up over time. This contains crunch variations, stretches, including work on the lower abs and the obliques (sides). 5. Abs (about 16 minutes) advanced This contains an unique twisting or rotating exercise which I have only seen on this workout. 6. Chest (about 15 minutes) beginner, intermediate, and advanced Exercises include arm & hand movements, pushup variations, and stretches. 7. Combo (about 30 minutes) beginner, intermediate, and advanced Exercises involve arm & hand movements, stretches, pushups, back movements, leg movements, crunches, and holding positions. 8. Back (about 22 minutes) beginner, intermediate, and advanced Exercises include back, arm & leg movements, along with holding positions and stretches. 9. Leg (about 29 minutes) beginner, intermediate, and advanced This one may be intense and it has balance work. It includes holding positions, leg movements, stretches, balance movements on one leg, squats, and calf raises. Here is a little more detail regarding the levels. Most workouts have a beginner, an intermediate, and an advanced version. The advanced version may involve balancing on one leg so it may be more appropriately called a more intense version of the intermediate workout. For example, lift one leg to make it more intense and lift it up higher for even more intensity. So, balance work is covered in some of these workouts. The upper body workouts are a bit different from other workouts and may involve circling the arms and other arm and hand movements. In addition, quite a few stretches are integrated throughout these workouts to aid you in getting more limber and flexible.

Joel Harper's Fit Pack - Nine Short Workouts What I was looking for was Joel Harper's workout with resist tubes that was featured on RealAge. The Fit-Pack was not it. I am certain the Fit Pack delivers what it promises for people looking for this type of workout. Joel's workouts are clearly represented and effective.

Excellent, excellent, excellent. I feel that these exercises do my body much more good than any kind of working out with weights or gym equipment would ever do. You have to remember that the goal of working out is to increase your strength, flexibility and endurance without *damaging* your body. The exercises here are pretty darn strenuous but without weights. There's one workout that's pretty much dedicated to pushups and the guy doing the "medium difficulty" - who I believe is an ex-Olympic athlete? - cannot keep up with Joel Harper at all. I've had this video for a couple years, I've done all the exercises except the cardio, because I get my carido from walking and hiking. But my athlete friend who does yoga says the cardio one is intense.

I ordered this video series based on viewing the challenging, yet effective, workouts which Joel Harper produced for the YOU series created by Dr. Oz. I figured I would get a DVD which permitted me to work out without a much equipment and a minimum of time. From what I have seen, this series does indeed provide such a workout. Unfortunately, I haven't seen much. In the first Fit Pack I ordered, both discs were defective. Disc Two skipped a lot, and Disc One would not play at all. So Amazon kindly permitted me to exchange it and, kudos to Amazon, I received a replacement in two days. The replacement is better since I can view most of the workouts, but one whole track on Disc Two will not play at all. So, back it goes. Based on the fact that another reviewer had the same problem, I believe this is no coincidence. Something about the manufacturing process for this particular DVD set is flawed. I would give this DVD a higher rating if I could, but it is impossible to separate the content from the delivery. You simply cannot benefit from a DVD you cannot play.

It's all true. You really can follow these routines with just a floor mat and bare feet, and they can be as easy or hard as you want. Most videos show three people - one doing beginner, one doing intermediate, and one doing the advanced version. Joel's instructions are clear, and he keeps you focused on essential body positions to get the most from each exercise. The two ab workouts in particular have very good body-position advice to help you get the most from each movement. The movements are not fancy, but that's good, and after only a few weeks I definitely see results. My only quibble is that the pack comes on 2 DVDs, so you have to juggle discs to get the workout you are looking for. I thought it should all fit on one, but maybe the overall number of minutes exceeded the capacity of one DVD?

I have at least 20 fitness videos, but wanted to get a couple on DVDs -- and I'm still looking, because this purchase was an expensive mistake. No doubt if someone persisted in following these exercises, they'd get fit -- but I need leaders with enthusiasm, music with a beat, and participants who at least pretend to be having fun. First exercise: hold your hands out in front of you and waive your fingers and hands back an forth, for - no kidding - 120 seconds. For excitement, stand on one leg, then switch to the other leg every 30 seconds or so. Not my idea of motivation. I'm going back to Denise Austin or "The Firm."

I have tried 3 of Joel's free online workouts. They are pretty good , but pretty much the same. I assumed that the DVD would be reasonably priced, but it is not. Some of the best workout DVDs ever created are less than half the price. On top of that is completely breaks with the ethos of "you on a diet" which encourages the free distribution the book based workout. I am not suggesting that Joel's DVD should be free, but $29.99 plus tax and shipping is more than I will part with. (keep in mind you can get 3 x 20 mins of Joel's workouts legally free online) Edit still a good work out and as I get older I am glad of it... (2012)

I'm an older exercisor and needed a regimen where you don't have to be a great dancer to perform. This DVD has it all and works great for me. You can follow the performer who you feel you match up best with. It hits all the areas of the body that need working. The 2 DVD set is also interestingly produced; done almost as an artform. It's well done and it has allowed me to advance my physical state beyond my expectations. I just love it.