Beachbody The Master's Hammer and Chisel Base Kit with Autumn Calabrese and Sagi Kalev, DVD Workout, 60 Day Fitness Plan, Resistance Training Workouts, Includes Portion Control Containers

My husband bought this for the two of us to do. He likes working out at the gym, but thought he might like this workout. I enjoy doing these types of home workouts and was just finishing up my Jillian Michaels workout and wanted to move on to something different. I'm a stay at home mom, so it's difficult to be able to get any kind of a workout in anytime after my baby is awake, let alone getting to the gym.I'm on my last week of this program. I didn't start following the diet until about a few days ago. I still noticed a lot of improvements in my body and I'm curious to see what I look like at the end of the week keeping a closer eye on my portions. I have been drinking a protein shake everyday, Optimum Nutrition Whey; my husband uses the same one.My husband did the first workout and felt like it wasn't challenging enough, so he stopped and just goes to the gym.The workout lengths vary anywhere from 26 min to 43 min and sometimes the 10 min ab video is added on, just depends, which makes the 43 min workout almost an hour long. Honestly I don't even notice the time. Each workout does have a countdown clock in the bottom corner, which is nice along with reps or timed sets.Autumn is a good trainer, I like that she explains the moves and doesn't add unnecessary commentary. Sagi, he's a little odd, he has some weird sayings, but I enjoy his workouts. I've never really done "weight lifting" I've used weights in other programs, but he incorporates true weight lifting strategies in his workouts, I've really been enjoying that aspect and I think it's why I've noticed so much improvement in my body.I started out with 3,5,6,8,10# dumbbells and a 20# kettle bell and an exercise mat. After working out I had to go up some weight in mostly the leg workouts so I guess about halfway through I ended up purchasing 15# dumb bells as well. Which was the best thing I could do, I could really tell that that's what I needed to increase my strength and I felt like I was getting a much better workout after I was done. As long as you keep that in mind and keep increasing then you'll get results. We already had a band system with a door attachment, so I used that for all of the pull-up moves and Sagi uses the band for every warm-up. They recommend using a bench or the ball, so we purchased an exercise ball, but we have an ottoman that is very sturdy that I've used the entire time without any problems but use the ball when they lie on the bench or use it at an incline. Plus, we're limited on space and I couldn't even imagine having a bench crammed into our living room, too.The calendar is obviously very useful, but it’s a nice size too, I have it up on the side of our fridge along with the rest of our important papers. The meals/recipes they have just don’t seem appealing to me. I’m also someone that gets overwhelmed when there are too many ingredients to a recipe. The layout of the foods and which containers they belong in is very easy to understand, along with figuring out how many calories you should be taking in. They also had some inserts for more beach body products like they’re shakes and supplements, but I think they are overpriced so I just stuck with my usual products.So when I started this workout I was about 128# I’m 5’4”, not a bad weight. Like I said I didn’t follow the meal plan so my weight did flux here and there, going up to 131# at one point. I weighed myself last Monday at 128# and started following the food system a little more closely about 5 days ago, and yesterday I weighed myself at 126.5. My goal was 126#, since we’re going on vacation a few days after I finish the program. I may just lose a few more pounds. We’ll see. I’m not hungry eating more veggies and less carbs, so that’s awesome and easier for me to get to my goal weight.I’m looking forward to starting this program up again after our vacation to see how much more I can improve upon myself. I definitely recommend it!!!

I have been doing this program for 2 weeks. Videos range from 25-45 minutes in avg. It is a great mix of cardio and strength traininig. Things you will need a bench, bands or a pullup bar, adjustable weights (highly recommended). It is tough for beginners but they do have modifications to the exercises. It also comes with a nutrition guide and several small containers to track food portions. This is huge because all you have to do is look at your gender m/f height/weight and it has a guide to how many containers you get every day. I also feel like the programming in this is better than other workout videos I have tried. Pretty basic moves and not a lot of crazy ones.Only negatives I can think of are some of the plyometric exercises (Jumping) are not for everyone

one of the disc don't work..

I love this program! I have used many Beachbody products and more than a dozen of their workout programs over the years and this is by far my favorite program so far. The weightlifting isn't too extreme for a woman and the cardio isn't to insane for someone who dreads cardio. There are so many different workouts (I believe 14 over 6 DVDs) and there is an additional DVD for the deluxe kit with 4 bonus workouts. Since there are so many workouts you don't re-do the same one over and over again so it never gets boring. Just a set of dumbbells or resistance bands and a yoga ball is all you need. Highly recommend this program!

Perfect workout for me as I'm trying to lose a few pounds left over from last round of BodyBeast.. I gained 20 lbs over 120 days (I extended the build and bulk phases) but was left with 5-8 lbs of unwanted weight (fat). I was almost thru (another) round of P90X3 but was happy to try something new. The only workout I don't care for is Chisel Agility, but then I don't really care for P90X3 agility either. Also, I don't really care too much for P90X3 pilates or yoga. I feel like I'm burning plenty of calories, and the workouts seem to stress the entire body while improving overall conditioning and strength, kinda like the original P90X only the workouts are generally shorter and tend to work the entire body. The workouts alternate between "Hammer" with Sagi and "Chisel" with Autumn with an option after the 60 days to do a "Hammer" program or "Chisel" program. I'm only through 2 weeks and have lost 4 pounds and feel stronger (eating better of course helps) than I did after my last round of Bodybeast.. This is not a program for beginners but is great if you are tired of the same P90X routines.**UPDATE 01/22/16 Just finished day 42 (Max Hammer Power). Currently weigh 184.6 lbs, started at 190 lbs, and it looks like all the extra (fat) weight I put on from Body Beast is gone. My abs are back, and I kept most of the lean (muscle) weight I got from the Beast. So I'm satisfied. As others have said, it's as easy or hard as you make it... If it's too easy, go lower, faster, or use more weight. Modify if it's too hard. Make sure you eat properly too. Keep pushing play!

I love this program! I have just started my 5th week and so far this is perfect for me. While, I haven't completely seen the results yet, my husband has commented already on my thinner face and flatter stomach, not to mention the muscle! I still have a while yet before I've got a bench body, but I have never had a program that has keep me as motivated and excited to get up the next day and workout. I know not every workout is for everyone, but I think I have found one that finally works for me!

Great workout series that gives you plenty of variety and definitely makes you sweat! Even though the workouts are on the shorter side, my hear rate always gets up and it always challenges me. The diet is also very easy to follow as well. I didn't have much weight to lose, but I had hit a plateau with my weight loss and this diet and workout series was just the ticket to get me started again!