This is the only video that I have by Jari Love, but it’s a great one. Ripped is an hi-rep lighter weight endurance workout that runs just under and hour. It is quite similar to the Bodypump workout or classes, which I personally have never seen but have heard they are alike. Jari is exercising along with 3 other exercisers which she refers to as the “Rippers”. You will need weights, dumbells and/or barbell, a step or a bench you will need for some of the seated exercises (they use the bench for the lying exercises but I just lie on the floor), a mat if you don’t have carpet and Jari also recommends a heart rate monitor. The setting is a bit dark and somewhat plain but didn’t bother me. The music is decent, techno would be the best way to describe it.

The warmup I found a little odd, not really your typical warm up, you just grab some weights and go from the start. You do some shoulder rolls while holding a barbell or weights, and then you will so some deadlifts, rows, deadrows, bicep curls, overhead presses and squats. These are all moves you will see in the workout but the weight should be much lighter than what you would normally use.

Then it’s on to the workout, Jari tells you what exercise is coming so you can prepare. They also display each exercisers “personal weight load” which I really liked, it gives you an idea of what weights to use which I found very helpful. You start out with squats, a pretty long set with varied counts, 4-4, 3-1. 2-2 and single count. After these you will do a brief set of plie squats before finishing out with another brief set of traditional squats. Chest work is next you will do a short set of pushups, followed by bench presses again with varied counts. Next are pullovers where just one dumbell is used, I usually think these are pretty easy especially in a workout like this where lighter weight is encouraged. My arms were on fire! Pullovers also target the triceps and that is where I really felt this one. Following pullovers is lying triceps extensions to fry the triceps a little more, then you will move into a close grip bench presses that also work the triceps. Towards the end of this set Jari will combine the two exercises.

Floor leg work is next, inner thighs are worked first with leg lifts, then you will work the outer thighs with more leg lifts, then knee ins with some pulses. Ankle weights can be used here or a dumbell for a little extra challenge. Then you will move onto deadlifts and rows. You will start with deadlifts, then rows, then you will combine the two for a deadrow where you will bend at the hips then row. Next are lunges, where you will step back and then lunge down and return to standing. I modified this one just a bit by doing a static lunge in a 2-2 count which I liked better and I will still on pace with Jari and friends.

You will finish out with biceps, shoulders and abs. The biceps and shoulders are two of the toughest sets in the workout. The biceps are done in varied counts and is a pretty long set. The shoulders consist of 4 sets total, you will do 2 sets of side lateral raises, then 2 sets of front raises. The ab work is pretty easy and short, you will do 3 exercises, reverse crunches, traditional crunches and oblique twists. Then it’s on to the cooldown and stretch. There is also stretching in between most of the exercises so the final stretch isn’t too long.

Overall I really liked this workout and give it 4 and a half stars. Jari is a very pleasant instructor and I liked her style, I would definitely buy more workouts from her. The DVD has a few extras, a testimonials section where people talk about why the love the Ripped program, and a techniques and modification section where Krista (one of the Rippers) shows how you can personalize the workout to your needs. I would rate this workout as intermediate, but it is suitable for all levels. I would advise viewing the video before doing so you can familiarize yourself with the different rep counts and tempos as most of the exercises have them. For those who like hi-rep endurance workouts, this one is a great choice. Well done Jari!

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I loved this DVD! I’ve been doing cardio for years and my weight hasn’t budged. As soon as I started Ripped I knew it was the workout for me! I felt so sore after the first time but did it again a few days later and felt sore but fantastic. It works all my muscles.

After doing it regularly for about 3 months (in addition to my usual cardio) I’ve lost 15 pounds and I feel toned! I thought that in my 30′s I’d have to just live with less muscle tone but not anymore.

Jari is a calm easy-to-listen-to instructor and the exercises are easy to follow. The workout covers all the muscles of the body. Its a pretty no-nonsense workout and is very sensible.

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