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Move over Amazon – we’ve tried a heap of fitness DVDs to bring you a rating chart of the best to the worst

Move over Amazon – we’ve got a fitness DVD chart that’s tried and tested. From the tops to the bottoms, each one has been put through and sorted by the Healthista mill then reviewed with brutal honesty.  So if you’re planning a slimmer, fitter 2014, here’s how to get it (and what to avoid…)

anna sofaDuring the 12 days of Christmas, our editor Anna Magee (left) tried 12 new fitness DVDs, one each day. The mission? To get you guys a real picture of what the 2014’s new get-fit-quick discs were really like (and force some of that turkey stuffing from setting up house on her hips).

She tried a different new DVD and did a long, detailed – and brutally honest – review each day. Here’s a round up of the surprising results (click on the top link to get to amazon to buy or the bottom link for each one to read the longer review). Tweet and share this post to be in with a chance to win all – yes, ALL – of them

JOINT FIRST : 

The secret behind Vicky Pattison weight loss - Vicky Pattison DVD 7-Day Slim
Vicky Pattison’s 7-Day Slim DVD

Vicky Pattison’s 7-Day Slim (£13.99 from Amazon)

PROS: You don’t need any equipment, it’s got options for all levels, it is short but intense, the set’s great, Robbie (Vicky’s trainer) is good eye candy. There’s plenty of variety in the moves which work lots of different muscle groups. Workouts are intense but over quickly.

CONS: It requires you working out every day (not really a con as it’s only a commitment of ten minutes a day).

Healthista rating: 5/5

 

Read the full review of Vicky Pattison’s 7-Day Slim here.

 

 

Natalie Cassidy The Perfect Ten DVD
Natalie Cassidy’s The Perfect Ten DVD

 

Natalie Cassidy The Perfect Ten £13 (from Amazon)

PROS: Great value as volume of content means you won’t get bored quickly.  Excellent instructions for safety and working right muscles. Good options for beginners or injured as well as intermediate and advanced (workouts 2-4). Heaps of lower body work and jumping will torch calories in a short time.

CONS: She doesn’t do any moves to the Eastenders theme. Just kidding, I seriously can’t think of any.

Healthista rating: 5/5

Read the full review of Natalie’s DVD here.

 

 

A CLOSE SECOND :

Davina McCall's Fit in 15 DVD
Davina McCall’s Fit in 15 DVD

Davina McCall’s Fit in 15 (£13.17 from Amazon)

PROS:  Great for anyone short of time who wants to squeeze in a workout but still feel like they’re getting results. Based on interval training to burn fat, moves work the whole body and there’s plenty of high impact moves to keep the heart rate up along with resistance to tone and strengthen. The music is motivating, Davina’s gags and the instructor banter make it go quickly. All four 15-minute sections can be put together to make one workout.

CONS: Might not be tough enough for someone wanting an advanced workout.

Healthista rating: 4.5/5

Read the full Fit in 15 review here. 

 

 

COMING IN JOINT THIRD :

Josie Gibson's 21 Day Fat Burn
Josie Gibson’s 21 Day Fat Burn DVD

Josie Gibson’s 21 Day Fat Burn (£13.75 from Amazon)

PROS Great workout if you want to get fit  and lose weight quickly, it balances strength training and cardio well. There’s a fitness test you can take weekly to help you keep challenging yourself to work harder. Good variety in the moves so you won’t get bored.

CONS There’s no modifications, easier or low impact options for beginners or people with ankle or knee problems who can’t jump or run.

Healthista rating: 4/5

See the review in detail here.

 

The Method for Beginners by Tracy Anderson
Tracy Anderson’s The Method for Beginners DVD

The Method for Beginners by Tracy Anderson (£7.20 from Amazon)

PROS: Works small, deep muscles that regular workouts often neglect to help sculpt a body that is small, lean and strong. Tracy gives clear instructions for each move and modifications. Feels achievable for people starting from scratch.

CONS: May not feel hard enough but it’s worth persevering to learn Tracy’s unique moves before progressing onto her harder DVDs.

Healthista rating: 4/5

See the full review of Tracy’s DVD here.

 

The Circuit Training Fat Burning Workout from Joey Bull
Joey Bull’s The Circuit Training Fat Burning Workout DVD

The Circuit Training Fat Burning Workout from Joey Bull (£8.79 from Amazon)

PROS: Results driven moves that work lots of different muscle groups. Great for beginners as four workouts start out easy and can be progressed through to harder versions. Joey knows her stuff and order and style of the moves are designed to burn maximum fat in shortest time.  If you’re time pressed and are happy to do one of these workouts each day, you’ll get results.

CONS: If you’re advanced it might not be quite tough enough and the workouts alone could be too short. If you have bad knees there’s a lot of jumping and one legged squat work that might aggravate them.

Healthista rating: 4/5

Read the full review of Joey Bull’s DVD here.

 

15 Minute Fast Fitness with Jenny Pacey and Wayne Gordon
15 Minute Fast Fitness DVD with Jenny Pacey and Wayne Gordon

15 Minute Fast Fitness with Jenny Pacey and Wayne Gordon (£11.26 from Amazon)

PROS: It’s only 15 minutes, you get advanced and intermediate options. The moves are high energy and work lots of different muscle groups in a short time. Based on the proven fat-burning concept of HIIT.

CONS: There’s no real option for a longer workout unless you go through the workout again.

Healthista rating: 4/5

 

See the full review of the 15 Minute Fast Fitness DVD here.

 

NOT QUITE MADE IT TO THE PODIUM :

Ramona Braganza's 3-2-1 Workout DVD
Ramona Braganza’s 3-2-1 Workout DVD

Ramona Braganza’s 3-2-1 Workout DVD (£17.89 from Amazon)

PROS: A great workout for building strength and sculpting the body, each move and the order of the programme are obviously created to get results. But you’ll get best results if you have a small home gym or can rip the DVD onto your tablet or phone and take it to the gym – that’s what I’ll be doing.

CONS: Cardio is done on a treadmill which most won’t have at home so have a skipping rope or use a stairway instead. You need dumbbells of various weights. No stretch section at the end.

Healthista rating: 3.5/5

Read the full review of Romana’s DVD here.

 

 

BRINGING UP THE REAR :
Tabata: The Official 4-Minute Workout
Tabata: The Official 4-Minute Workout

Tabata: The Official 4-Minute Workout (£14 from Amazon)

PROS: A tough workout for the advanced fit person. It’s short and over quickly. It has some science behind it. It will get you fit fast. There is sound diet advice at the end.

CONS: Could lead to injury as the moves are so hard (though there are ‘kinder’ versions, even these are really not for beginners). Doesn’t give you the mental feel good benefits of a longer workout. Not enough stretching or warm up for such a tough workout.

Healthista rating: 2.5/5

Read the full Tabata DVD review here.

 

Limited Edition Fitsteps DVD
Limited Edition Fitsteps DVD

Limited Edition Fitsteps DVD

PROS: Dancing feels like fun, and if you have some experience in Latin and ballroom would be a good way to practice. Dances come in high and low intensity versions.

CONS: Hardly any instruction/direction on moves so hard for beginners to know what they’re doing, to follow or know what’s coming next.  Not available to everyone on Amazon.  IMHO there’s little chance would burn 700 calories in one 40 minute workout as the cover states (my Nike Fuelband said I burned 150). Also IMHO, sound and colour weren’t great, camera kept cutting to instructors’ faces when I was trying to follow their feet and arms!

Healthista rating:  1.5/5

Read the full review for FitSteps here

WANT TO WIN THEM ALL? Just Tweet this story or share it on Facebook and be in with a chance 

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