Best Jillian Michaels Workouts to Get You Shredded Today!

Have you ever tried any Jillian Michaels workouts? Yes? Then, you will understand what I mean by saying that I  love and hate Jillian Michaels in equal proportions.

Here is how my fitness relationship with her works.  I love how much weight I have lost while using Jillian Michaels’ workouts and how at the end of each workout session I feel like I can do ANYTHING!

Then there’s this time during the second circuit of any of her grueling workout videos that just makes me feel like I will pass out any minute and then yells at me to keep going!

jillian michaels workouts

When the workout is all over, I switch gears and simply adore Jillian Michaels as a fitness trainer and declare that Jillian Michaels workouts are simply the best. It’s insane how one person can do this to you.

I will talk to you today about that relationship as well as the best Jillian Michaels workout videos.

But before I talk about that, I will ask again- have you done any of her videos? No? That is okay because this article is supposed to walk you through the Jillian Michaels fitness videos world and at the end of the day, help you decide which one of Jillian Michaels workout videos will suit you best.

You see, I have been doing her workouts for years now and own almost all of her programs, therefore, I feel I can point out which workouts are worth your time, and which ones you shouldn’t even give a second glance.  Let me just run you through what you should generally expect.

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What to Expect With Jillian Michaels Workouts

Jillian Michaels kicks butt. She means business when she tells you that her program will help you lose weight or that it will sculpt your body. She puts in the work in developing rock-solid fitness programs that drive results but after all, is said and done, she expects YOU to do the work.

You are what will drive results, no matter which one of her home workout DVDs you do. If you put in a 3, you will get a 3 as far as results go, however, if you put in 100%, you will get 100% back!

10 10 BEST JILLIAN MICHAEL WORKOUT videos

Jillian Michael’s workouts are for everyone. Beginners, intermediaries, advanced, and even those of us who do not know where we stand as far as fitness levels go.

Jillian Michaels workout videos are designed for working out at home, require minimum equipment, and are for both men and women.

Whatever your fitness level, America’s toughest trainer Jillian Michaels will beat you like you owe her money if you put in everything you have got. She might even beat you until you pass out or puke – I had seen her do that to contestants on the Biggest Loser.

What I am getting at is that Jillian is a great trainer and if you want to lose weight, you will. If you want to build muscle you will.

And yes I know some of us are waiting for me to mention that magic word that gets most women excited so I will. If you want to ‘just get toned’ (I am playing nice today) Jillian Michaels will help you achieve that too.

Equipment You Will Need To Do Jillian Michaels’ Workouts

Like I said earlier, Jillian Michaels workout videos do not require a whole load of equipment.  A bit of workout space, 2-3 sets of dumbbells, and a mat are usually all you need to exercise to Jillian Michaels’ videos.

Top 6 Jillian Michaels Workouts Review

1. 30 DAY SHRED

30 Day Shred is what I would term her claim to fame as far as Jillian Michaels’ workout videos for weight loss are concerned.

Yes, most of us know her from the popular TV show, The Biggest Loser, but 30 Day Shred is what made Jillian Michaels popular in terms of home fitness videos that are proven to produce impressive results, and it has a massive following.

30 Day Shred is a great place to start for beginners because, along with Beginner Shred, an entry-level program. The DVD is made up of 3 levels and each level is supposed to be done for 10 days (please rest between each level or you will cause your body more harm than good). 

30-Day Shred Workout Review

30 day shred before and after Jillian Michaels workout DVDs

The workouts are performed by Jillian, Natalie, who does the advanced moves, and Anita who does the beginner version of the workout. Each level starts off with a warm-up followed by 3 circuits and the workout ends with a quick cool down.

The total workout time for 30DS is about 25 minutes (including warm-up and cool-down), although it is marketed as a 30-minute workout program.

READ: Workout Motivation Tips- How to Motivate Yourself to Workout

30-Day Shred is based on the 3-2-1 concept, meaning,  for each circuit you perform 3 minutes of strength training, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs. The first week is fairly easy, but the intensity progresses with each level.

2. Ripped In 30

When I started out with Jillian’s workouts I did 30-Day Shred, then followed it up with Ripped in 30, as this sequence seems to be the norm among her fans. Ripped in 30 builds up the intensity from where 30-day Shred left off. Ripped in 30 contains four workouts (weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4). I found week 3 to be the hardest of all the weeks.

All the levels are full-body workouts and unlike 30-Day Shred, which tends to get tedious, you only do each level for 5-6 days, before moving on to the next.

The 3-2-1 concept is also used in Ripped in 30 but this time, the moves are more challenging and the total workout time is a bit longer than 30-Day Shred.

You also get one trainer doing beginner moves, while the other one does the advanced and this is standard in all of Jillian Michaels workout videos.

Although Ripped in 30 is so much similar to 30-Day Shred, the Ripped 30 trainers are not the same as in 30-Day Shred, so you get to have a whole different workout experience with Shirley and Basheera, with Natalie Jill standing in for Basheera in week 2.

3. Body Revolution

Body Revolution is a 3-month Jillian Michaels workouts program that delivers insane results, and as Jillian, herself says it aims at “progressing you from the couch to a bikini or speedo.”

Body Revolution starts fairly easy and progresses every 2 weeks. The workouts are split into three phases (months) and the workout calendar looks like this:

Body Revolution Jillian Michaels  Workouts Schedule

  • PHASE 1
  • WEEKS 1-2
  • Monday: workout 1
  • Tuesday: workout 2
  • Wednesday: cardio 1
  • Thursday: Workout 1
  • Friday: Workout 2
  • Saturday: cardio 1
  • Sunday: rest
  • WEEKS 3-4
  • Monday: Workout 3
  • Tuesday: Workout 4
  • Wednesday: cardio 1
  • Thursday: Workout 3
  • Friday: Workout 4
  • Saturday: cardio 1
  • Sunday: rest

 

The other two phases of Body Revolution follow the same sequence as phase 1. Workouts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 focus on the front of the body, while workouts 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 targets the back of the body muscle groups.

As stated earlier, Body Revolution is pretty easy from the beginning but the gears suddenly switch from week 5, and workouts 5 and 7 are the most challenging in my opinion.

I have repeated Body Revolution maybe 6 times since I first laid my hands on it in 2013, and each time, I always swear at Jillian Michaels whilst doing workouts 7 and 5.

Other than that, I find Body Revolution to be the best Jillian Michaels workout video that Jillian has ever created, out of all her fitness DVDs.

Even if you do not follow the Body Revolution diet plan, I can assure you that you will drop inches like crazy and see amazing results, way before the 90 days is even over.

My 30-day Shred, Ripped in 30, Body Revolution before and after

READ: How I Lost Weight (7 Weight Loss Tips That Work)

MY 30 DAY SHRED, RIPPED IN 30, BODY REVOLUTION BEFORE AND AFTER

4. Killer Buns and Thighs

If you want a rock hard butt that you can bounce a quarter off of or just lean legs, then Killer Buns & Thighs is the workout you must definitely DO.

This butt and thigh program consists of three levels and out of the three, level 2 is the hardest because of the many plyometric moves it has, while level 3 to me seems to be the easiest. How you proceed from one level to the next is entirely up to you.

Review: Jillian Michaels Killer Buns & Thighs

jillian michaels best workout

I would suggest that you do each level at a time, twice a week for a month, then move to the next level after 30 days or whenever you feel ready to, just don’t rush through the levels.

You can add Killer Body Upper Body or Killer Arms and Back to ensure you are getting a full-body workout.

READ: How To Tone Flabby Arms- Ultimate Arm Toning Exercises for Females

5. Kickbox FastFix

As the name suggests, Kickbox FastFix is just that- a fast fix of kickboxing which includes a warm-up, total body workout, and cool-down, all under 20 minutes.

This fitness DVD consists of three workouts: Workout 1- upper body, workout 2- lower body and workout number 3 which focuses on the core.

Kickbox FastFix is not a favorite with a lot of people because of the hard to follow moves that are involved. I’m however a huge fan of workout 1 and I breeze through it on days that I prefer quick fix of fun cardio or when I am just on a time crunch.

The other two levels are so-so for me and honestly, I have done workouts 2 and 3 much less than I have workout 1.

READ: HOW TO GET RID OF BELLY BLOAT USING QUICK AND EASY WAYS

Should you buy Kickbox FastFix? Yes and no.

Yes, if you absolutely love kickboxing and your coordination is on point or if you are patient enough to stick it out and learn the moves.

No, if you are impatient, and hate kickboxing.

More Reviews of the Best Jillian Michaels Workouts

6. BodyShred (BS)

BodyShred is by far the toughest workout program that Jillian Michaels has ever created.

It is 60 days, 30 minutes a day, program that utilises the 3-2-1 intervals just like 30 Day Shred and Ripped in 30, and follows the same calendar rotation as Body Revolution.

BodyShred is incredibly intense and I find some of the moves quite unreasonable. If you are not highly fit, BodyShred is probably not for you right now and I would suggest you start with either one of the best of Jillian Michaels workouts, that is, 30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30 and Body Revolution and only after that will you be ready to tackle BodyShred.

You will gain amazing strength and muscle mass by following the laid out 2 months of BodyShred. BS is the only one of Jillian Michaels’ workout DVDs that comes with a bonus workout, Opus. Opus is without a doubt the craziest, most difficult and extreme workout EVER.

Every time I psych myself up to attempt Opus, I always end up on my floor and just watch the whole thing like a movie.

I am not kidding-this has happened twice so far. Even the modified moves which are done by Zuzka Light are just too hard for me. If you have successfully finished Opus, please comment below, I would like to draw some inspiration from you.

Related:

Other Jillian Michaels workouts Worth Trying

7. Hardbody

Hard Body is a total body workout program by Jillian Michaels consisting of levels 1 and 2, which are 45 minutes each. Both levels are brutal but you will certainly see insane results if you commit to the program.

I like throwing in Hard Body once in a while when I want to switch things up a little or on Saturdays when I have a bit more time to do a longer than 30 minutes workout.

8. No More Trouble Zones (NMTZ)

No More Trouble Zones is a no cardio 50-minute full body strength training circuit workout.  If you hate cardio, NMTZ is the best Jillian Michaels workout for you and if you consistently dedicate your time to it and do it every other day, you will be in the best shape of your life.

9. Banish Fat Boost Metabolism (BFBM)

Banish Fat Boost Metabolism is a 50-minute body weight-only strength training workout video with a bit of cardio thrown in. The best part about BFBM is that apart from your workout mat, you do not need any equipment to do this workout.

Apart from the above best Jillian Michaels workout DVDs that I own, I also have the following videos (and I am hoping to get my hands on her latest workout Jillian Michaels Lift & Shred  ):

Final Thoughts on Jillian Michaels workouts

Of all these fitness videos, I think the only ones that will continue collecting dust on my shelf are Shred it with Weights, 6 weeks 6 pack, Yoga Meltdown, and Killer Abs, because I personally do not enjoy them.

Feel free to drop me a comment if you would like to know why I do not like Shred it with Weights, 6 weeks 6 pack, Yoga Meltdown, and Killer Abs.

Related post: 5-Day Workout Routine for Women That Guarantees Results

While I have my favorite and least favorite list of the Jillian Michaels workouts videos, I have to state that there’s NO one specific best of Jillian Michaels’ DVD that will give you results.

ALL of her workouts are effective in driving results, you just need to stay consistent, eat right and up your level of intensity whenever you get to work.

There is enough material in this article for you to go out and kick butt with whichever workout you decide to pick from my list of the best Jillian Michaels workout DVDs!

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29 thoughts on “Best Jillian Michaels Workouts to Get You Shredded Today!”

  1. I have the 30 Day Shred and it is so intense, I always feel like I’ve done a real workout after it. I didn’t realise she had released quite so many though

    Reply
  2. I don’t do workouts as I suffer awfully with my bones and joints but if I did I would love a DVD like this. I am
    So pleased you get so much out of working out x

    Reply
    • Hi Samantha. 30-day Shred has its own in-built cardio and you really do not need additional cardio to see results if you are also eating well. If you like to do additional cardio though, you can. You just have to be careful not to wear yourself out especially if you are just getting back or starting out with your fitness journey.

      Reply
  3. I have both 30DS and Ripped in 30. I really enjoy them both and have had great results when consistently doing them. I wanted to expand my collection so I can change out different workouts for different days of the week. I was thinking I’d get Yoga Infurno next and build off of it. After reading your article, I’m curious why this is not one of your go to workouts – I really appreciate your recommendations!

    Reply
    • Hi Andrea. I am not typically a yoga person but when I do yoga, I want to do proper yoga. Yoga Inferno is not yoga! It is too fast paced and too much cardio. Jillian has plenty of great workouts to get cardio and just overall resistance workouts from and this is not a workout to look for that from honestly. Zuzka Light has a great power yoga series if you are looking for something like that. She doesn’t rush through the workouts like Jillian does in Yoga Inferno.

      Reply
      • so glad to read this. I am buying some of her combo DVD’s and was thinking to add a yoga one. I have had an unpleasant experience with a fast paced yoga dvd. I prefer yoga to be more flexibility and core rather than cardio, the moves are already hard enough without elevating my heart rate.

        Reply
  4. I was introduced to jillian Micheals workouts by shoshana Sue
    .Have got some of the workouts mentioned and love everyone of them though an yet to finish a whole set.

    currently Restarted BR and looking forward to seeing results…over and all yep you can sale me jillian on any day

    Reply
  5. I bought the Get ripped in 30 three years ago, and I don’t want to lie, week 3 is tough. But the best thing is, you really get ripped

    Reply
  6. Thank you for your post. Would you recommend doing 2 of Jillian Michael’s workout in a day? Like mixing Body Revolution with NMTZ? Or is that a lot of high impact exercising for a day?

    Reply
    • Hi Jane yes you can combine the two but I would advise you to exclude the floor workouts in NMTZ so that at the end of the day you are left with a cardio workout and get the resistance part of it from Body Revolution.

      Reply
  7. I have a lot of these dvd but haven’t picked them up in a while. Not sure how to incorporate them into a week I like variety. I get bored easy. Thanks for sparking some motivation in getting them back out.

    Reply
  8. I am almost done with body revolution and it’s changed my life! Down 35 lbs! Down 3 pant sizes! Wondering where to go after I finish, might try the opus one?
    I love Jillian she is the best!
    (I also have lift and shred) it is my favorite, the moves are basic but has helped me with my form. Upper body definition has improved tremendously!

    Reply
    • Hi Amanda, I love Body Revolution and if you want to, you can have another go and at and just skip weeks 1 and 2 and start at week 3. The other option is BodyShred if you can handle it.

      Reply
  9. I stumbled across your website while researching Jillian Michaels workouts. I’ve done her workouts off and on for a long time, but got into the best shape of my life a couple of years ago with Body Revolution.

    I’ve had a baby since then, and am working to get back to where I was. I lost 20 lbs post-baby with Body Revolution, then did Ripped in 30 and lost nothing (but hopefully replaced some fat with muscle, since I didn’t gain anything either). My question for you is, did you ever do Body Revolution twice in a row, and if so, did you continue to see weight/inch loss or was there a plateau?

    Also, why are you not a fan of Killer Abs? I was considering doing that next to get rid of the mommy pooch, but I may just go back to Body Revolution.

    Reply
    • Hi Melissa. Sorry for the late reply!
      I have done Body Revolution more than once but not back to back. You may have hit a plateau or not, it’s tough to say. Try using heavier weights and maybe increasing your intensity.
      I am not a fan of the 6 weeks 6 pack workout because there are a lot of moves that have nothing to do with abs and you just end up doing lots of cardio and working other muscles. Abs are a small muscle group and anything over 20 minutes is just overkill.

      Reply
  10. Hello.
    Thank you for your recommendations! I did several of her videos in the past (i.e. Killer abs, Killer buns & thighs, Killer arms & back, Killer Cardio, 30 day shred, & 6 week 6 pack abs). Recently I got off my routine and I had to start all over with 30 day shred. It was a struggle. Yesterday, I finished that video and was uncertain as to what I should try next. Your suggestions helped. Thank you! I like working my whole body with the 3-2-1 intervals, so if you have more suggestions I am definitely open to them. Have you tried any of her other videos since you posted this last? What about Killer body? Any thoughts on that one? I cannot wait to get back to where I was or maybe set a new goal this time. Thanks again! 🙂

    Reply
    • Hi Elizabeth.
      Sounds like you are addicted to her workouts -they are so good! Well done on not giving up!!
      I have Killer Body but haven’t tried it- it has 32 minutes of core (which I think is so unnecessary), 32 minutes of lower body(lots of upper body and cardio thrown in there), and 32 minutes of upper body (again it is unnecessary because it has a lot of lower body work thrown in there). I guess it could work for others, but it just does not do it for me.
      I feel like her old videos like 30 day shred, Ripped in 30 and BodyRevolution are results driven and arent packed with unnecessary exercises.

      Reply

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