Please recommend a good HIIT/Tabata DVD

August 2, 2013 7:02 AM

I seem to do better with the structure of watching a DVD to do an interval workout than just trying to do it on my own. I'm looking for DVDs that focus on HIIT or Tabata intervals that I can follow along to.

A few requirements:

- 15-20 minutes. No more than 20 minutes.

- I would really like one that devotes minimal work to weights/weight training. I am well aware of the benefits of weight training, but right now I want to work on increasing my stamina (so for example, I don't get winded going up a flight of stairs), and weight training hasn't done as much for my stamina in the past. I'm fine with weight bearing exercises if they also are good cardio workouts (e.g. burpees or tababta squats).

I looked at Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, but it looks like she incorporates strength training into it. Does anyone have any recommendations for good HIIT DVDs that focus primarily on cardio? Thanks.

posted by triggerfinger to Health & Fitness (5 answers total)

Zuzka Light is killer. She has a bunch of workouts online you can try before buying the DVDs, too.
posted by something something at 7:16 AM on August 2, 2013

Have you looked at the other Jillian Michaels DVDs? 6 Week Six-Pack and 6-Minute Fixes seem like they'd be closer to what you're looking for.
posted by joboe at 8:23 AM on August 2, 2013

It's on the expensive side, but Focus T25 sound pretty close to what you're looking for. It's pretty new, but getting good reviews so far. The workouts are 25 minutes long, but I think that you're not going to find many shorter dvds.

Jillian Michaels Banish Fat Boost Metabolism does not use weights, but it is about 50 minutes. The cardio dvds from her Body Revolution would suit you, but I don't think you'd want to buy the whole set for that.

You may want to ask your question at the forums on videofitness.com. Lots of knowledgeable people there.
posted by Kriesa at 9:07 AM on August 2, 2013

Response by poster: Thanks you guys. I have not looked at the other Jillian Michaels DVD - I just assumed that they would all be hour long (or whatever the standard is) ones. I'll check out all of these suggestions and mark a best answer of the one I settle on. Thank you as well for pointing me toward videofitness.com. I'll look through there for ideas this weekend.
posted by triggerfinger at 10:37 AM on August 3, 2013

I just popped in my Banish Fat Boost Metabolism dvd, and it might actually work for you, because it has a menu where you can choose to do individual circuits. Each circuit is 5 or 6 minutes long, so you could do the warm-up, a couple of circuits, and the cool-down and stay within your time limit. And you'd be able to switch it up each day.

By the way, a couple of great sources for workout dvd descriptions and reviews are Collage Video, and Total Fitness DVDs. They both also have short video clips from each workout so you can see if it looks like it's to your taste.
posted by Kriesa at 11:12 AM on August 4, 2013 [1 favorite]