X-Treme X-Training: Skinny Bitch Fitness Boot Camp

Are you sick and tired of being FAT? The exercise DVD that needs no introduction!

Right off the bat I knew this was going to be a fun date! "Are you sick and tired of being FAT? Good. If you can't take one more day of self-loathing, you're ready to get buff."

While I'm not really a fan of DVD workouts, I read the Skinny Bitch Cookbook last year and then saw this spin-off video production. Now I've had great advanced aerobic sessions at Gold's Gym that were very high intensity. This has none of that making it well suited for beginners who need a little motivation to get off the couch.

That having been said, I do like the format of the Boot Camp Circuit which starts with the obligatory 5 minute warm up but then move into the 25 minute Interval Based Boot Camp. I did the combined 30 minutes and it did raise my heart-rate. I think the only extra gear you'll need is a pair of small hand weights and a floor mat for the 10 minute ab routine that follows. Other than that, you're ready to go.

A screen shot from an interval in the 25 minute Boot Camp

Former Junk Food Junkies
The hosts, Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin have great chemistry and admit to being former couch potatoes and junk food junkies. You'd never know it by looking at them now but I think this allows them to reach out to people who have given up getting rid of bad eating habits and learning to exercise daily.

It is very true that it can take months to begin acquiring a taste for healthy foods. The point that they make is you need to workout along with a healthy diet. Cutting calories alone won't sculpt your body the way you want.

Overall Skinny Bitch Boot Camp is upbeat and fun. The core 25 minute Interval Program offers an regular and modified demonstration so you can pick which one is most comfortable. An added bonus is the 5 by 5's: Five 5-Minute Quick Fix Workouts. I'm not too sure about anything getting fixed quick but I will say after learning these moves, you'll have no excuse to take a day off from exercising.

Want some variety? Once the weather warms up, take your workout OUTside!

A video like this is a great motivator to get you out and take a Zumba, Jazz, Hip Hop or even Ball Room Dancing class. A lot in this video reminds me of the old Jazzercise classes in the 80's combined with the newer military-inspired workout many people are doing. The reason why I mention dance based classes is that they tend to be less structured (more choreographed though) and more about having fun. Dance classes also tend to be very kind to your joints as most good studios have floating wood floors. I like to wear lighter leather dance shoes. Heavily padded aerobic shoes are not necessary and can actually throw off your groove! Dancing is the sort of exercise activity you may tend to stick with but Skinny Bitch Fitness Boot Camp is a great cure for cabin fever.