Crunch - Fat Burning Pilates

I know everyone wants something different in a workout, but I wanted to write that this is my favorite workout DVD. I've tried others, but no other has truly stuck as much as this one has over the years. I first purchased it when I was 22 (a hard copy), and I'm 32 now and own the digital version. I guess I love it so much I bought it twice. :) Although I try to mix it up, I feel best when I do this workout at least once a week. Ellen does a great job of explaining things simply but effectively, so much so I believe anyone can follow and get it the first time through, and even improve after a few more. I love that this feels like both a workout and a stretching session, which relieves tension rather than creates more. Lots of squats and the arms are always very active in every element. Contrary to other reviews, I do break a sweat every time!..even as my fitness level has gradually improved over the years. The moves are basic and may even fool you into thinking they are "easy" and not worth your time the first time around. I have to humbly disagree. I have been able to maintain definition in my abs and arms, and I don't do much besides walking on the treadmill in addition to this. For reference, I would say I have an average level of fitness; I'm on my feet a lot but don't naturally get more than 4,000 steps per day unless I make a concerted effort. (For further reference, I trained for a 5K a few short months ago for the first time and ran it in 31 minutes.) I'm 5'5" and fluctuate between 122-125 pounds. My least fit area has always been my core, and this workout targets it in practically every move. I'm also a terrible breather (hence the 10 minute miles?), so I appreciate the focus on the breath in this workout. I'm so glad I discovered this DVD ten years ago and am grateful it continues to be a workout staple for me. Thanks for a true gem, Ellen/Crunch!

I have been collecting some of Ellen's older DVDs and was really pleasantly surprised by this one. Typically I feel Ellen's workouts are a bit easy on the legs, but this one worked the lower body nicely. It seemed faster paced than some of her other cardio DVDs, which I really liked as well. I am 55 and had no trouble following along without need for modification with one exception (Pilates single leg switch which I always do with the upper leg bent). I consider myself intermediate fitness.

I'm new to Pilates, and to working out in general. I'm not quite overweight - I'm 5'4" and started at 145lbs about a month ago, now I'm down 7lbs due to doing this video most days of the week and counting calories. I'm eating a healthy amount of calories with the goal of losing 1-2lbs a week, but I was finding it was hard to stick to my calorie level without exercise. Doing this workout, and sometimes adding in about 20 minutes of some extra low impact cardio, like hula hooping while watching TV, allows me to eat a bit more and still lose weight. This is a GREAT workout! I was NOT fit at all when I started using this video - the first few times I did not make it all the way through at all. There are quite a bit of squats that just exhausted my legs. But my body quickly adapted, and my muscles got stronger after only a few times of doing the workout. The cardio is good - it's not so strenuous that I felt like I needed to take a break at the beginning, but I most certainly break a sweat, even a month later, and I do this video at least 5 times a week now. I also feel my abs getting stronger - I love that the ab moves have enough repetitions to have an effect, but just when you start to feel like you're about to give up, it's over and you're onto the next move that doesn't feel as challenging, until you reach the end of the reps again. There's someone on the video who modifies a few of the mat work exercises, and I definitely modified in the beginning, but now I don't need to. I think this is a wonderful workout - the moves are fluid, there's little repetition, some of the moves allow for rest/recovery, which makes the workout feel easier to do. I've done other workouts that are only 20 minutes long (see: Jillian Michaels) and I found those harder to stick with long-term because the moves were much more strenuous. And hey, if you're pressed for time, go ahead and give those condensed workouts a try. But I found that doing a less strenuous workout for longer let me keep up with it. I'm an Ellen convert and am now buying a bunch more of her DVDs, only because I'm getting a little bored with this one. That doesn't take away from what a great video it is though!! I am looking forward to more Ellen Barrett!

After so many high impact and high intensity workouts, I have been searching for lower impact workouts that still pack a punch for calorie burn and fat loss. I discovered Ellen Barrett via my cable company's on demand fitness channel with her Grace and Gusto workout. I really enjoyed it and was curious as to what else she had available. After reading many reviews of her DVDs, I decided to buy this one. It was indeed a good purchase. This is low impact but still offers enough of a challenge to work up a bit of sweat. I absolutely love the fusion of different types of workouts (pilates, yoga, ballet). Straight cardio can be pretty boring but the fusion aspect makes it much more enjoyable and fun. None of the moves/steps are difficult but the movements are large enough to get the heart pumping. The mat work at the end is core/ab focused. Many ab exercises tend to irritate my lower back, but I didn't find this to be the case; most likely because the segment is pretty short. I actually like this one so much I went ahead and bought two other Ellen DVDs! This one is my second favorite from the ones I now have (my favorite is Burn and Firm Pilates).

Fantastic workout! I lost my 45lbs of baby weight using this workout. I can now quote it word for word. The cardio in conjunction with Pilates truly does lengthen. I have a tendency, as a former gymnast (tumbler), to bulk up when I work out. This workout keeps my muscles stretched and leans me out rather than strengthening workouts like P90X or Insanity.I'm on my third disk. When I scratch or overuse this, I buy it again. I first bought it in 2003. I still use it regularly today. I never tire of mixing this workout into my running routine, etc.

I've recently started doing pilates after years of yoga. I love the feeling you get from streching your muscles and 'zipping'up your 'powerhouse' during a workout but this workout was too easy even for a pilates newbie like me. I save this one for rest days. Glad I only spent a couple of £s on it.

The instructor is friendly and uses simple language and imagery to explain body alignment and encourage you to stretch and elongate your muscles and you progress through this workout.The first part of the workout is a mixture of standing pilates and ballet inspired moves. You will definately be sweating my the time the warm-up is finished. Even though it is not high impact it is high intensity as you will be using the large muscle groups in your legs and arms simultaneously. Moves include legs extension, plies, releves and wide leg squats.The second part of the workout is entirely matwork and includes single and double leg circles, the hundred and crunchs.Throughout both sections there is a modifier to show easier exercises.The music is fitness club-style music with a live drummer on set to motivate and emphasise the beat.Overall this is a good cardio, light toning workout by an able instructor that would be suited to beginner-intermediates or intermediate exercisers.

Using both these DVD's have helped tone and shape my body in the process of losing my last 15 pounds

本格的なピラティスはやったことないけど、クランチ流にアレンジしてるんだろうなと思います。クランチは、スタイル良くするための運動ははずさないので、ピラティスをやりたいというよりは、痩せたい人や引き締めたい人にいいと思います。このビデオとスポットピラティスとラテンを交互に毎日続けて、9日間でウェストにくびれができました。思ったよりきつかったので、それなりに効果はあると思います。