Analogy time, let's say you go to a restaurant and you order of the menu exactly what you want the food comes out and everything looks great. Then you start to eat and it tastes good for awhile but something is missing you can't put your finger on it but something just isn't there. When you are done eating you then have this bad taste in your mouth that you can't get rid until you brush your teeth or eat something else. You may start to think you got ripped off and chose to never eat at that particular restaurant again. OK maybe I went a little overboard on that analogy but that sums up my feelings for phase 2 of delta fit. I was even hesitant to write a review and have been delaying it because I don't have much good to say about phase 2 and I am not one to just bash a product because I didn't like it. In fact this may be just what you are looking for in a workout but it is not for me. I am going to attempt to put in to words who this phase of workouts would be good for and who will hate it. Bear with me because like I said I have a bad taste in my mouth about it.
OK here goes, you've made it through phase 1 feeling pretty good about yourself that was tough but I'm strong and busted out the workouts harder than even BJ towards the end of my 4 weeks. Pop in phase 2 DVD and click on workout A: Mad Minute Meltdowns. this consists of sequences 3 back to back to back movements for 20 seconds each with a 60 second rest between each complex/sequence for 15 consecutive rounds to give you a 30 minutes workout. I want to start of saying this is my favorite and in my opinion the best workout I have completed of the series so far. It promises a good workout and delivers that but still leaves you wanting more at the end, feeling amped up starting to get tired but just not quite burned like you want to be after a highly metabolic workout. This trend will continue as the phase progresses. If I am sounding negative about this workout I don't mean to be quite yet. This workout is good and most moderately to even well trained individuals would enjoy it as a supplement to what they are already doing. Beginners may not so much and I will tell you why. The demonstration and explanation of the movements are horrible and rushed. During your 60 second rest BJ is wasting time yelling about how hard he is working, while this is good motivation, why are you not showing us what is coming up next, yet another trend that continues throughout the phase. Beginners to the gym will have a hard time performing all the movements the first few times they do the DVD and then while you are supposed to progressively adapt to the harder movements you may just spend more time figuring out the moves then actually working out. BUT, this first workout is A LOT better at demonstrating and explanation than future workouts trust me. Some example sequences are as follows. Spider Push up/Frog Push up/T-push up if you progressed well through phase 1 this should be a piece of cake and you have done all the movements in previous workouts. They stay similar to this with most the new moves being variations of all the previous workouts moves from phase 1.
Workout B: The Metabolic Matrix. After workout A you may be giddy with anticipation for what workout B has in store. This is where the workouts start getting frustrating. There is a suggestion for what size dumbbells to use but you notice that it has a round using 2 dumbbells and a round using 1 dumbbell. OK I can handle that one more dumbbell not a lot of added equipment...... Not likely if you are wanting to get the most out of the workout. My theory about this workout and future workouts is they thought people would up the reps in some movements and lower their reps in some so you can work with the same weight throughout the workout. Well this is not really howit works. BJ is using different weights throughout the workout so that reiterates the fact this is not intended. By the end of this workout I had used 4 different sets of dumbbells and 3-5 different sizes of single dumb bells. *disclaimer* I do the workout to get the absolute most out of it. Someone following the workout especially a beginner may be just fine using the same dumb bells for all and being on the lighter side might be just fine. Going in to the workout it is 6 movements 30 seconds each consecutively (which again means no good demonstration) with a minute rest between each cycle. 8 cycles total the first 4 cycles use 2 dumbbells and the second 4 cycles use 1 dumbbell. Round 1 or cycle 1-4 is the good part of this workout. The moves are simple although lots of weight changes are needed to make the workout difficult it is still in my opinion a good set of sequences and the oppurtunity to push the intensity is definitely there. Round 2 or cycle 5-8 is just not very good. I had to make a lot of weight changes and the technicality of a lot of the movements makes it hard to perform CORRECTLY without putting yourself in position for injury which instantly brings down the intensity or should. A lot of the moves would be hard for untrained individuals to perform with out adding changes and tweaks. For example the goblet pivoting squat while it gives you a core and leg workout in one you are putting your self in a risky position if you are using poor form, on top of that what weight do you use?. You can either make the squat worth while with a decently heavy weight or make the squat just a by product to the torso twisting action. I am not going to go through all of them but another example is the one-arm step-up+curl+press while this moves gets you off balance and challenges your equillibrium it does little to give you a decent workout. I think this type of workout has a purpose and a setting, for example with a trainer or under supervision of a trained professional who will properly cue you on the movement. The moves are starting to get to such a degree of technical difficulty that without a proper demonstration and good practice they become worthless to the moderately to low trained individual. The bones to a good workout are there it just doesn't deliver nice try BJ.
Workout C: Calorie Crushing Combos
Don't get those expectations up too quick. You will have to work with this one quite a bit to get the weights you want for each move. I used a different set for about every movement. 6 different weights in all if I remember correctly. This workout consists of combination exercises 10 in total that you do for 2 minutes each with 1 minute rest in between. The explanation of these fairly highly technical combinations are just plain crap and while bj has plenty of time to make a good explanation it is just wasted for the most part. The combinations do provide a good burn and you will most likely crush some calories if you can perform at a high intensity for the 2 minutes in it's entirety. Definitely not likely to happen your first few times doing the workout but when you get the hang of the combinations and how to perform them you will find you get a decent workout. I don't have much negative to say about this workout other than it will be a waste of time for true beginners. The only positive I will put in is that those highly trained individuals wanting to spice up the workout or just need a change will enjoy this one.
Phase 2 not much to say about it. I hate being over critical and too negative but these DVDs are getting worse as I go a long. I have gone through a few times and giving my self some time to really decide if Phase 2 was as bad as I initially thought...... It is. Understand one thing I am trying to think about this from the perspective of someone that does not have an athletic background, needs structure, has very little weight lifting/ exercise knowledge. When I do that I find these workouts to be a very bad place to start. The movements are overly technical for the 5th week in an exercise program and the technicality will most definitely bring down the intensity for those with lower coordination, strength and conditioning. To switch tones, those of you moderate to highly trained individual with knowledge of exercise technique and weight lifting execution may love these workouts. I loved the technical aspect personally but using 40 different sets of dumbbells and it looking like the free weights area of my wellness center just threw up was unappealing. This also makes it nearly impossible for more than one person to follow the video with out constantly picking up after yourself, believe me I attempted it more than once. Also unappealing, BJ expecting you to know every movement with little to no instruction. I will end on this note the workouts themselves are not bad. The presentation is poorly executed. I think I mentioned this before the bones are there for a potentially great thing in phase 2 but it is lacking the meat for me to recommend it to anyone. With that said I am not going to fully give up on this product it may still have some surprises in store. As a personal trainer I have found some of the new twists on old exercises getting me excited so who knows I may come back after Phase 3 with a rave review and tell the phase 2 me to sit back, shut up and enjoy the ride. So don't give up on Delta Fit as I have not. If you are reading this review and want an answer now. Do p90x and be happy with it......... Feel free to ask questions, comments and criticism are always welcome.
