Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is a good, fun workout program with the production quality you would expect from a Beachbody product (note: I am NOT a BB coach, so have nothing to sell you, I'm just giving my opinion). This program is neither Insanity nor Asylum. It's about as intense as Insanity without all of the crazy plyometrics but with a little of the additional strength and agility from Asylum, but I wouldn't say it has the same focus as Asylum. Asylum is really geared more toward the very serious athlete, while T25 is more geared toward the very serious fitness enthusiast. To be honest, most of us aren't training for a professional level sport, so this is not a problem and you get an amazing workout in just 25 minutes. And it doesn't require all of the equipment of an Asylum-type workout, just a mat and the included band or some weights if you have them. There's a Shakeology commercial before each workout, which is really annoying, but the discs are programmed so that you can fast forward through them. BOTTOM LINE Good, quick workout. You get a lot of workout in a little time with less impact than Insanity. If you want to shape up but don't have hours a day, this is an excellent choice. It's not a fitness program for a professional athlete. If that's what you are looking for, maybe Asylum 1 and 2 might work for you, but most professionals really need personal professional coaching and much more than 25 minutes a day, not a mass-market DVD program. LATEX WARNING My box contained a strength band. The band is made of latex and is NOT wrapped separately, so if you have a bad latex allergy, you need to be aware of this. MODIFICATIONS Each workout has a modified option. If you have done other Shaun T workouts, you'll remember Tanya. Tanya shows the modifications in these videos (she's not as obnoxious as in Insanity, and actually does a very nice job as the modifying fitness model). The modifications are mostly low-impact choices, which are nice if you have any joint issues. Although I didn't get injured doing Insanity or Asylum, I did have some pretty bad knee pain by the end of each program and had to take a break from working out. You can still get a pretty intense workout doing the modifications if you really put effort into it. I like this addition because it allows for more people to do this workout if they are at different levels, or it allows for me to take do a week of lower impact in the middle if I want to give my joints a break without having to take a whole week off. The modifier is also nice for people who want to easy into a program or have joint issues or other problems. It allows more people to have access to a great workout program. I really commend BB for putting this in and hope they include it in all of their future programs. HOW THE PROGRAM IS ORGANIZED T25 has you working out five days a week, with a double workout on the fifth day. Then you rest completely for a day, and stretch the second "off" day (there's a stretch DVD). Like the title implies, each workout is 25 minutes. Another reviewer said she didn't think this program was as intense as other Shaun T programs, but I think that if you want to push yourself, you can certainly get a great workout. If you are already in great shape, you may want to jump right to the Beta phase for the harder workouts. There are virtually no breaks in these workouts. There may be "rest" exercises, but you will be working the whole 25 minutes, not even a water break. Warmups are short, and the cooldowns are an extra 2-3 minutes after your 25 minute workout. The workouts have what Shaun T calls "progressions." Most exercises start with a piece of the final exercise, and you build on that first movement until you have the whole final movement. Please don't think that means you will work any less. The first move of a progression is still quite a workout and the closes thing you will get to a break in your 25 minutes. You can take it easy, or really keep pushing. Then there are periodic "burnouts" where you do the final movement hard and fast. Separated into two segments: Alpha and Beta. You can turn off the music, or have it play normally or, if you already know the workout, you can set it to play loud but still hear Shaun T a little through the music. Each exercise is noted on the screen, with a countdown timer for the whole workout. There's also a moving thermometer-type bar to let you know how much of each exercise you've done and how much is left. The next exercise will start to flash five seconds before so you know it's time to switch. ALPHA (month 1) This is a month of foundational fitness. If you already have excellent base fitness, you may want to think about moving straight to Beta, or just doing a week of Alpha before moving to Beta. It's relatively analogous to the first month of Insanity. * Cardio. Typical Shaun T cardio, but not as high impact as some of the Insanity workouts. That doesn't mean an easy workout, just one that is easier on your joints. * Speed 1.0. A faster-paced cardio work out that I would consider to be more "traditional" Shaun T. Lots of fun with really upbeat music. * Total Body Circuit. Some cardio with lots of bodyweight exercises. If you've done insanity, you will recognize a lot of these, but some are new. * Ab intervals. Lots of abs work, usually on the floor. Don't laugh much the next day, you will feel it. * Lower Focus. Bodyweight exercises for the lower body. Of course, it's serious cardio, too. Killer. * Stretch. Lots of stretching in lunge position. Not my favorite. Some of these stretches seem to stress my knees. I think there are better stretching routines, and I think a light yoga workout might have been a nice alternative. For some reason there's a wrinkle cream commercial at the end of this one. Of all the DVDs in the set, this is my least favorite. BETA (month 2) Beta steps it up a level, with lots more core work. If you are coming off of Insanity, Asylum, P90X or other similar programs, you may want to jump right to Beta and just do this for two months instead of Alpha 1 month and Beta for another month. * Core Cardio. Fast cardio workout, your "rest" is often in plank position, not an easy workout. * Speed 2.0. Very fast, intense cardio workout. Probably my favorite in the set, but I really like hard cardio. * Rip'T Circuit. Cardio plus upper and lower body strength, so lots of body weight exercises while doing cardio plus lots of core work. You will need dumbbells or a strength band for many of the exercises. I much prefer the dumbbells. * Dynamic Core. Crazy core work, both standing and on the floor. * Upper Focus. Pretty intense upper body workout. You'll need dumbbells or the stretch band for this. * Core Speed. This is a fast agility workout. Lots of fun if you like speed work. The program comes with a workout calendar, and you check off the box for the workout and you can even note if you did well that day or not. I like this for extra motivation and accountability to myself.