Firstly I will say I love Davina’s workout DVDs. I’ve owned them all over the years and look forward to the new instalment each year. I said last year that Ultimate Target would be hard to beat and although Intense is still a great workout and a fresh approach to exercise, Ultimate Target is still my favourite. (See edit below!)
This DVD is split into 5 sections, warm up, intense cardio box, intense toning, intense abs and cool down.
The idea of this DVD is to keep you at an intense level with your heart rate up for a period of time before having a rest period and then another intense level of exercise. I’ve never really been a fan of high impact exercise but this is managable for me and I think with practice I’ll be able to keep up!
One of the great things about this DVD is that it is all quite self contained in terms of space, you don’t need a massive space to do the workout. You will need a mat or towel, some water and a pair of weights(or bottles of water)
Warm Up:
Led by Jackie, A very good warm up, fun at the beginning and then harder than the previous dvds and definitely gets your heart rate up with the usual stretches afterwards. I love the stretches, if only to see Mark trying to balance yet again! His shimmy is also something you don’t want to miss! 🙂 The warm up is harder I assume as the workout is also quite hard so it prepares you for that.
Intense Cardio Box:
Led by Jackie this is some of the usual boxing moves done on the previous dvds but much faster. Jackie prepares you before each section to tell you what the moves will be. There are also 2 minute breaks between each workout section, which might annoy some people who can keep going but for me I need that break. I found it quite hard to keep up with Davina and Mark, but as you are working to a period of time (30 seconds on most) you just do what you can.
Intense Toning:
Led by Mark, again some of the old moves you have seen on previous DVDs but much faster. Again I couldn’t really keep up, but hopefully after a few attempts I will be able to. At only 11 weeks post partum I’m a little out of practice! I did this yesterday and I am aching today, in a good way! Again you have slightly longer rest periods between the exercises.
Intense Abs:
Led by Jackie, it starts with some standing ab exercises which again get your heart rate going, there is no easy part of this DVD, so don’t expect an easy ride. It is then followed by some laying moves which are again very good and I am aching today on my abs.
Cool Down:
Led by Mark, A usual Davina workout cool down, lots of nice stretches to relax you after the madness!
All in all, I’d recommend you try this DVD, especially if you already love the Davina workouts. If you are very new to exercise it may be a little hard at first, but Jackie always does the easier workout and you can work your way up.
Again I’d say Ultimate Target for me is probably the best DVD they have done. I found that working at a slightly reduced level for a longer period of time without the longer breaks is what I prefer along with the targeted sections that DVD offers. However, I think that Intense combined with Ultimate Target is all the workouts I’ll need to get back in my pre-pregnancy shape. It must be so hard for them to come up with a new DVD each year and to keep it fresh and they don’t disappoint.
I wanted to edit this review to also mention the Davina Fitness app which is available. It runs alongside this DVD and is free to download, although there is a personal trainer section you can download for £1.49. I wanted to just mention the App because it is actually genius. You can basically workout anywhere you take your phone and it also has a running buddy if you want to go for a jog and log it.
It has lots of different exercise routines that you can pick from a Cardio Tone and Sculpt list which target specific body areas such as ‘muffin top gone’ ‘Kick box extreme’, also broken down to beginner, occasional and experienced, so you can go at your own pace depending on your ability. Every time you do a workout you get a heart. The workouts are not video based, it just tells you what exercise to do for that minute or 30 seconds, although there are video tutorials you can use.
You can make your own playlist on your phone and play this alongside the workout which is great. Another great aspect is that all the workouts are self-contained and only 20-25 minutes long so for those of you who don’t have time to do the full DVD workout you can do the app and the workouts include a short warmup and cooldown stretches. I’ve done it three times in the last two days and I’m still aching!
***Ok I had to edit this review again. I said that in my first time reviewing that this wasn’t my favourite, but I have to say that after a few weeks…
I am a HUGE fan of Davina, Jackie and Mark’s and have loved working out with them over the years, their approach, variety and intensity of exercises ever increasing with each DVD, always with a little humour thrown in.
I work out 6 days a week and need the variety of workouts this trio provide, I alternate between Body Buff, High Energy 5, Davina Fit and Ultimate Target, after doing this DVD earlier I will now be adding this to the mix!
I loved doing this workout, it’s fast and really gets your heart rate soaring. Obviously, you only get out of a workout what you put into it, put 110% in and you will really feel the benefit!
I have given a brief description below of the format:
The warm up does what it says, it’s a different approach to her other DVD’s, there is a short gentle few minutes (a bit of a fun dance and shimmey!), then a more faster paced few minutes (think star jumps, twists, high knees), followed by lovely stretching.
Intense Cardio box – This is fast paced 30 second intervals – there are 4 sets of 3 minutes with a 2 minute active recovery inbetween each, which gives you chance to get some water and lower your heart rate for the next burst. (high knees, lunges, a variety of punches, knee raises, kick backs, kicks, squats, the list is very long!)
Intense Toning – Again fast paced intervals this time using hand weights, it’s advisable not to use the size of hand weight you would normally use as the speed of the toning intervals is quite fast. There are cardio burst intervals following the toning and then active recovery as with the Cardio Box. There is also a short floor section prior to the last cardio interval where you work arms and abs.
Intense Abs – You start with a standing ab section which is great, as if you are following one of the previous sections your heart rate will still be elevated, then move to the floor for more intense toning. Again this follows the principle of 30 second intervals.
Stretch – LOVELY – The usual mix of basic plus dynamic stretching with Mark.
Thanks again you lovely, lovely trio you have not disappointed. xx
**Update**
I have now been doing this workout twice a week in combination with the other DVD’s previously stated and WOW, I have noticed a major improvement in my stamina and strength levels when doing the other DVD’s. I always use a heart rate monitor, and upon reading other reviews of comments on the 2 minute active rest being too long I thought I would let you know my readings as an indication of why the rest periods are so important. (As a guide I exercise 6 times a week for up to 2 hours, I consider myself to be very fit and healthy).
In the Cardio Box my heart rate elevated to 170-178 at the end of each section, at the end of the 2 minute rest periods it never went below 124.
In the Intense Tone my heart rate elevated to 160-170 at the end of each section, at the end of the 2 minute rest periods it never went below 130.
Even in the Intense Abs it never went below 100 which is quite high considering you are lying down!
I hope this gives and indication of why the 2 minute recovery is SO important. xx
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
I’ve got a few of Davina’s other DVDs so was excited to get a new one as it’s nice to get some variety. The basis of this one is short bursts of high intensity exercise with rest periods in between- I’ve only done the cardio box so far but it was worth buying just for that. There are also toning and abs sections. The only thing that slightly disappointed me was that from the description I thought the whole workout process would be shorter and so useful for fitting in a workout when I’ve not got a lot of time. But actually by the time you add in the warm up and cool down it’s around 30-40 minutes from start to finish.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
You can’t go wrong with Davina…wasn’t my favourite but now becoming an ‘intense’ convert!,
Firstly I will say I love Davina’s workout DVDs. I’ve owned them all over the years and look forward to the new instalment each year. I said last year that Ultimate Target would be hard to beat and although Intense is still a great workout and a fresh approach to exercise, Ultimate Target is still my favourite. (See edit below!)
This DVD is split into 5 sections, warm up, intense cardio box, intense toning, intense abs and cool down.
The idea of this DVD is to keep you at an intense level with your heart rate up for a period of time before having a rest period and then another intense level of exercise. I’ve never really been a fan of high impact exercise but this is managable for me and I think with practice I’ll be able to keep up!
One of the great things about this DVD is that it is all quite self contained in terms of space, you don’t need a massive space to do the workout. You will need a mat or towel, some water and a pair of weights(or bottles of water)
Warm Up:
Led by Jackie, A very good warm up, fun at the beginning and then harder than the previous dvds and definitely gets your heart rate up with the usual stretches afterwards. I love the stretches, if only to see Mark trying to balance yet again! His shimmy is also something you don’t want to miss! 🙂 The warm up is harder I assume as the workout is also quite hard so it prepares you for that.
Intense Cardio Box:
Led by Jackie this is some of the usual boxing moves done on the previous dvds but much faster. Jackie prepares you before each section to tell you what the moves will be. There are also 2 minute breaks between each workout section, which might annoy some people who can keep going but for me I need that break. I found it quite hard to keep up with Davina and Mark, but as you are working to a period of time (30 seconds on most) you just do what you can.
Intense Toning:
Led by Mark, again some of the old moves you have seen on previous DVDs but much faster. Again I couldn’t really keep up, but hopefully after a few attempts I will be able to. At only 11 weeks post partum I’m a little out of practice! I did this yesterday and I am aching today, in a good way! Again you have slightly longer rest periods between the exercises.
Intense Abs:
Led by Jackie, it starts with some standing ab exercises which again get your heart rate going, there is no easy part of this DVD, so don’t expect an easy ride. It is then followed by some laying moves which are again very good and I am aching today on my abs.
Cool Down:
Led by Mark, A usual Davina workout cool down, lots of nice stretches to relax you after the madness!
All in all, I’d recommend you try this DVD, especially if you already love the Davina workouts. If you are very new to exercise it may be a little hard at first, but Jackie always does the easier workout and you can work your way up.
Again I’d say Ultimate Target for me is probably the best DVD they have done. I found that working at a slightly reduced level for a longer period of time without the longer breaks is what I prefer along with the targeted sections that DVD offers. However, I think that Intense combined with Ultimate Target is all the workouts I’ll need to get back in my pre-pregnancy shape. It must be so hard for them to come up with a new DVD each year and to keep it fresh and they don’t disappoint.
I wanted to edit this review to also mention the Davina Fitness app which is available. It runs alongside this DVD and is free to download, although there is a personal trainer section you can download for £1.49. I wanted to just mention the App because it is actually genius. You can basically workout anywhere you take your phone and it also has a running buddy if you want to go for a jog and log it.
It has lots of different exercise routines that you can pick from a Cardio Tone and Sculpt list which target specific body areas such as ‘muffin top gone’ ‘Kick box extreme’, also broken down to beginner, occasional and experienced, so you can go at your own pace depending on your ability. Every time you do a workout you get a heart. The workouts are not video based, it just tells you what exercise to do for that minute or 30 seconds, although there are video tutorials you can use.
You can make your own playlist on your phone and play this alongside the workout which is great. Another great aspect is that all the workouts are self-contained and only 20-25 minutes long so for those of you who don’t have time to do the full DVD workout you can do the app and the workouts include a short warmup and cooldown stretches. I’ve done it three times in the last two days and I’m still aching!
***Ok I had to edit this review again. I said that in my first time reviewing that this wasn’t my favourite, but I have to say that after a few weeks…
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Was this review helpful to you?
|Love it… Update (still love it!)…,
I am a HUGE fan of Davina, Jackie and Mark’s and have loved working out with them over the years, their approach, variety and intensity of exercises ever increasing with each DVD, always with a little humour thrown in.
I work out 6 days a week and need the variety of workouts this trio provide, I alternate between Body Buff, High Energy 5, Davina Fit and Ultimate Target, after doing this DVD earlier I will now be adding this to the mix!
I loved doing this workout, it’s fast and really gets your heart rate soaring. Obviously, you only get out of a workout what you put into it, put 110% in and you will really feel the benefit!
I have given a brief description below of the format:
The warm up does what it says, it’s a different approach to her other DVD’s, there is a short gentle few minutes (a bit of a fun dance and shimmey!), then a more faster paced few minutes (think star jumps, twists, high knees), followed by lovely stretching.
Intense Cardio box – This is fast paced 30 second intervals – there are 4 sets of 3 minutes with a 2 minute active recovery inbetween each, which gives you chance to get some water and lower your heart rate for the next burst. (high knees, lunges, a variety of punches, knee raises, kick backs, kicks, squats, the list is very long!)
Intense Toning – Again fast paced intervals this time using hand weights, it’s advisable not to use the size of hand weight you would normally use as the speed of the toning intervals is quite fast. There are cardio burst intervals following the toning and then active recovery as with the Cardio Box. There is also a short floor section prior to the last cardio interval where you work arms and abs.
Intense Abs – You start with a standing ab section which is great, as if you are following one of the previous sections your heart rate will still be elevated, then move to the floor for more intense toning. Again this follows the principle of 30 second intervals.
Stretch – LOVELY – The usual mix of basic plus dynamic stretching with Mark.
Thanks again you lovely, lovely trio you have not disappointed. xx
**Update**
I have now been doing this workout twice a week in combination with the other DVD’s previously stated and WOW, I have noticed a major improvement in my stamina and strength levels when doing the other DVD’s. I always use a heart rate monitor, and upon reading other reviews of comments on the 2 minute active rest being too long I thought I would let you know my readings as an indication of why the rest periods are so important. (As a guide I exercise 6 times a week for up to 2 hours, I consider myself to be very fit and healthy).
In the Cardio Box my heart rate elevated to 170-178 at the end of each section, at the end of the 2 minute rest periods it never went below 124.
In the Intense Tone my heart rate elevated to 160-170 at the end of each section, at the end of the 2 minute rest periods it never went below 130.
Even in the Intense Abs it never went below 100 which is quite high considering you are lying down!
I hope this gives and indication of why the 2 minute recovery is SO important. xx
Was this review helpful to you?
|Great Workout,
I’ve got a few of Davina’s other DVDs so was excited to get a new one as it’s nice to get some variety. The basis of this one is short bursts of high intensity exercise with rest periods in between- I’ve only done the cardio box so far but it was worth buying just for that. There are also toning and abs sections.
The only thing that slightly disappointed me was that from the description I thought the whole workout process would be shorter and so useful for fitting in a workout when I’ve not got a lot of time. But actually by the time you add in the warm up and cool down it’s around 30-40 minutes from start to finish.
Was this review helpful to you?
|