Review of Jillian Michaels' Body Revolution

Jillian Michaels' Body Revolution is a 90-day fitness program containing 15 effective workouts that shape and tone your entire body in just 30 minutes a day.

What you need to get started:

• A set of light, medium, and heavy hand weights (dumbbells) to suit your ability level.

What's included with Body Revolution:

• 15 Workout DVDs
• Resistance Cable
• Fitness Guide Book
• Fat Burning Meal Plan Book
• 7 Day Kick-Start Your Metabolism Plan Book
• 90 Day Journal
• Free 30 Day Web Club Access

In her Fat Burning Meal Plan, Jillian sets out specific recipes that you can mix and match to set a daily menu that fits into her recommended 1,200 calorie-a-day total. The recipes are simple yet tasty, and offer enough variety to satisfy. Jillian recommends limiting yourself to 400mg of caffeine a day, which is roughly two cups of strong coffee. She also offers a list of "yes foods" and "no foods" - which foods to eat and which to avoid.

The 15 workout DVDs are set up in three phases. Each phase consists of four strength/circuit training DVDs and a cardio DVD. If you follow along with Jillian's rotation calendars, you will alternate Workouts 1 and 2 for two weeks (completing each DVD four times) before switching to Workouts 3 and 4 for the next two weeks. The Cardio 1 DVD is completed twice a week for the full four weeks. Then, on to phase two, repeating the above with Workouts 5 and 6, 7 and 8, Cardio 2, and so on.

The Fat Burning Meal Plan has in it some great ideas for our family, yet I also must be practical toward my family life and the stage I am currently at as far as how many calories my body in particular needs to keep on ticking. I have done my research and calculations, and I choose to eat more than the 1,200 calorie limit Jillian sets. I record my food diary over on MyFitnessPal to keep track.

The workouts themselves are a good challenge, even at my current fitness level. For an absolute beginner, I would say you might wish to start out with her 30 Day Shred DVD before jumping headfirst into a 90-day program. However, Jillian does offer modifications to each exercise, making it either easier or harder, depending on your own personal fitness level. "No shame here," she promises in Workout 1.

I love that after two weeks I get to switch up strength/circuit workouts so I don't have time to get burned out on one workout before moving on. I love that the workouts are only 30 minutes long, yet they are intense enough that you know you're getting a good workout. Each DVD is progressively more challenging and continually pushes you to do your best. I love the team she put together to demonstrate each workout. Some familiar faces from her previous workout DVDs and some new talent as well!

Overall, I believe you get out of a workout what you put into it. Body Revolution is no exception. If you put in the work, push yourself 100%, not just going through the motions, the results are sure to follow!

I am currently working through my second round of Body Revolution.

• START DATE: Monday, February 4, 2013
• END DATE: Friday, May 3, 2013

My weight loss results (including weight, BFP, measurements and PHOTOS) will be posted here on or after May 3, 2013.

Join me on my Facebook page to follow my journey and to receive daily motivation and inspiration.

STAY TUNED!