Les Mills Combat is a Beachbody Workout program modeled after the widely popular Bodypump program. I'll keep this review as short and sweet as possible, without all of the boring details. 

Schedules and Workouts
There are a few different schedules that you can follow (Combat and Hybird), each are 60 day programs with workouts on 6 days. The schedules vary in length, but are between 20-60 minutes long. Generally, 3 days are focused on cardio, 2 on strength and 1 day on stretching.

Equipment
No equipment is necessary, though there are a few things that are optional, that I would highly suggest purchasing. First, the gloves. Sure, you don't need gloves to throw a good punch, but I've found it extremely helpful and more effective. Second, a yoga mat for floor exercises. Third, a few dumbbells (while traveling I actually used bottled water).

Style
The style of this program is MMA or mixed martial arts. You'll do a variety of MMA, including boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai and Jui Jitsui. It is more upbeat than your standard MMA workouts or classes thanks to the upbeat music that accompanies the workouts.

Trainers
Les Mills is not actually a part of this program. There are two primary trainers, Dan and Rach. It took my quite some time to get used to them. Both are high energy and do a great job motivating you. The one thing that I found (and find) quite annoying is that at times, both Dan and Rach begin singing along with the songs that are playing the background. My advice: tune it out and use it for a good chuckle.

What to Expect
It takes a bit to be able to keep up with the moves. Be sure to do the instructional workout prior to beginning with this program. It will help you follow along more quickly and most importantly, to do the moves correctly - this will also ensure that you see the results you are working so hard for. In terms of intensity, expect to have your butt kicked on the Combat aka Cardio days. I was sore in places I did not even know existed! 
This program is a great overall workout program that does not get boring. Above all, you will find yourself challenged, sore and able to blow off more steam than with other programs. Though this program is not as popular as others, I strongly suggest you give it a shot - you'll be pleasantly surprised!


Feel free to send me a note with any questions!
 

Quick Facts
Core de Force is a 30 day workout program created by Joel and Jerica, both Beachbody Coaches. The inspiration are various forms of MMA, though the program utilizes mostly Muay Thai, Boxing and some BJJ. What does this all mean? Great cardio!
Every workout has a modifier and a "learning" option, which allows you to ease into the programs. This, however, makes it more difficult to get the true results, being that the program is only 30 days long. What does that mean? Numerous rounds of Core de Force, obviously.  ;)
In this review, I will refrain from doing a play-by-play and list every workout length, etc. Instead, I want to focus on just giving you my perspective and impression. 
Each workout is structured in "rounds" and depending on the workout length, there may be more or less rounds. Each "round" is three minutes. Generally, one minute of whatever move you are working on, and 30 seconds of a "spike." The "spikes" are cardio exercises designed to spike your heart-rate. And let me tell you...you will be out of breath. The rounds (and workouts as a whole) do go by quickly. What is nice is that the structure of the workouts is very thoughtful. So, if you are doing 30 seconds worth of burpees, you will be able to catch your breath during the main move, while keeping your heart-rate elevated. What does this mean? Yep...you are burning a ton of calories.

Structure
The program is structured in three phases:

Phase One - MMA Speed, Dynamic Strength and Core Kinetics
The workouts in this phase are overall shorter and allow you to learn some of the basic moves that the remaining phases build upon. Don't let the 27 minute duration for MMA Speed fool you...it is a hell of a workout. 

Phase Two - MMA Shred, Power Sculpt and Relief
These workouts are a bit longer and bring in more Muay Thai elements. This fighting style uses a lot of kicks as well as elbows. Elbows you ask? I did as well..elbow moves engage your core and work your back even more. I suppose that is where the name "Core De Force" comes from.

Phase Three - MMA Power, MMA Plyo and Active Recovery
These workouts are the longest and are at the end of the 30 day timeframe. Both MMA Power and MMA Plyo are 47 minutes long - 12 rounds that will have you gasping for air. Especially the Plyo workout. Combining these complex combinations with jump training spikes your heart rate like no other. 

Conclusion
This is definitely a workout that is effective and engaging. It is by far one of my favorites. As a woman, I tend to shy away from upper body workouts and this gives me a way of getting an amazing upper body workout without killing myself with push-ups. Additionally, the calorie burn is amazing as long as you push yourself through the rounds. The two trainers are motivating enough without being annoying (always a plus). My only gripe is that the program is limited to 30 days. In my opinion, 60 or 90 days is a better duration for those looking to have serious results. Your body can only change so much in 30 days, even though it may sound more appealing when you are initially evaluating different workout programs. 

Overall, this is an amazing workout program that delivers results. It is friendly to those that are newer to these workouts with a modifier in each workout. For the hardcore, this will give you a good cardio burn, similar but less than a program like Insanity. What is missing is a weight training component or emphasis on muscle building. 

Total Score: 8/10

21 Day Fix Extreme is a Beachbody workout program that features Autumn Calabrese. The focus is a combination of workout and nutrition utilizing containers for portion sizing. In short, workouts are important, but to maximize results, dial in your nutrition 100% for 21 days.

About the Trainer
Autumn's style and approach reminds me of a combination between Jillian Michaels and Chalene Johnson. In other words...the perfect combination. Motivating and tough but encouraging without being too annoying.

Structure of the Program and Equipment
The program is structured over 21 days (as the name implies), with workouts every day - no rest days. All programs are around 30 minutes long, with an optional (but recommended) 10 minute abdominal workout twice per week. Monday, Friday and Saturday are primarily cardio days. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are toning and building days. Sunday is a recovery day. Required equipment is light/medium/heavy weights, resistance bands and a yoga mat.

Monday: Plyo Fix Extreme
As the name implies, this is a plyometric workout. What does this mean? Grab a towel and prepare to jump and sweat. There are some rest periods built in to help you recover and ensure you are able to put forth as much effort as possible. Contrary to other plyometric workouts, such as Insanity, the pace is a bit slower, allowing you to fully focus on form.

Tuesday: Upper Fix Extreme
Grab those weights and resistance bands and prepare to shape your upper body. Everything from push ups, curls, triceps dips...you see where I'm going with this. 
 
Wednesday: Pilates Fit Extreme
This workout is a great way to recover yet build your body. You will need a yoga mat and resistance bands for this workout. The bands will be used throughout most of the workout. If you've done pilates without the bands, this will be a fun twist. 

Thursday: Lower Fix Extreme
Leg Day! Autumn loves leg day and she wastes no time getting them to burn. Here, you'll need weights as well as the resistance bands. This is one of the toughest workouts in my opinion as I catch myself checking the clock about 10 minutes into it. Yes, it is that painful. Be sure to focus on your form here, to avoid and knee or ankle pain.

Friday: Cardio Fix Extreme
Getting that heart rate going quickly and keeping it up throughout the entire workout. This is similar to the plyo workout form Monday in terms of mindset, though the approach is slightly different. Less jumping, more football sprints, heel kicks, jumping jacks (with weights...wtf?!) and other methods of getting your heart rate up.

Saturday: Dirty 30 Extreme
Very similar to Cardio Fix. 

Sunday: Yoga Fix Extreme
Do not skip this! This workout is still quite challenging, but your body needs this. Effectively, this workout is broken into two sections: the first half focusing on stretching with posses such as warrior one and two; the second half focusing on balancing. There is a modifier for those that are more novice as well as for those more advanced. 

Summary: The Nitty Gritty
This program is one of the best - hands down. I've also seen some of the most amazing results stemming from the balanced and cohesive approach and structure. I gained more definition in my legs and arms. My obliques and abs were also nicely sore - a good sign that they were working. Going forward, I plan on using this program as a baseline program, basically, my go to program. Hopefully, they will come out with a more "intense" version of this program that is longer than the current 30 minutes. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Rating: A+

Simply put, the PiYo workout is a breath of fresh air. While the workout is low-impact (unlike Insanity, P90X, and others), it is still intense. Most of us focus on cardio and endurance but forget the importance of flexibility and strength. This workout combines both in an elegant, smooth matter without requiring hours for each workout. Additionally, there is a modifier for each workout, making this a great entry to your fitness journey.

Chalene's approach is bubbly and cheerleader-ish which can be a bit obnoxious at times, especially if you are used to other trainers. The key is to embrace her, just as you have to embrace the challenge of this program.

Guaranteed gains: flexibility, core strength, strength and confidence.

In a nutshell: great program for all fitness levels that challenges your body an thereby forces transformation and results.

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻/10

Insanity Max 30 is one of my favorite programs to date, for a variety of reasons - results being one of them. 
Insanity Max 30, just as the name implies, is a condensed version of Shaun T's popular fitness program Insanity. By condensing the program to 30 minutes (vs the 40-50 minute average of Insanity) one thing had to go: breaks! So, it is non-stop and intense with the goal of getting you to "max out" - take a break. 
Contrary to the name, I ABSOLUTELY recommend this program to anyone beginning their fitness journey for one primary reason - A DEDICATED MODIFIER. What does this mean? Many other programs have modfiers, but most of the times the camera follows the trainer meaning that you are left wondering how to modify a certain move. This program has the option of selection the "modifier track" - allowing you to see and follow the modifier for the entirety of the workout. 
The program is divided into two months, for a total of 60 days.
What you get:

• 12 Workouts
• Nutrition Guide
• Max Out Guide
• Wall Calendar and Tracker
• No Time To Cook Guide
• 2 Bonus Workouts

Month 1
The first month of Insanity Max 30 focuses on Tabata - a version of HIIT that usually uses a 2:1 ratio. For example, you do push ups for 20 seconds, followed by a 10 second rest period. Monday, Wednesday and Friday's workouts focus on cardio, while the workouts for Tuesday and Thursday focus on strength (building muscle). 
Cardio Challenge
You start with this workout on Day 1, followed by every Monday. It provides you with a baseline to track your progress and assess your level of fitness. 
Tabata Power
The first strength training workout, following the traditional tabata style of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off. Talk about feeling the BURN!
Sweat Intervals
This workout is a bit more difficult than Cardio Challenge and, true to its name, you will sweat more than you thought you were able to. I have a love/hate relationship with this workout because it is quite difficult, but you feel amazing afterwards.
Tabata Strength
You won't see this workout until week 3 and 4. Similar to Tabata Power but NO REST. Yes...it's painful, but so worth it!
Friday Fight: Round 1
This workout is more a battle with your mind, than with your body (or Shaun T for that matter). Most of the moves are ones that you will encounter doing the other 4 workouts, but there are definitely many "Are you kidding me?!" moments. Push through, and remember...TGIF!

Month 2
Take Month 1 and make it more extreme...and you get Month 2! The format is the same with cardio on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and strength training on Tuesday and Thursday. This month still follows the Tabata style, but the intervals get longer with the rest periods staying the same.
Max Out Cardio
You will find that the workout follows the tabata style...followed by a kicker: the "power move". Just when you thought you were done, you get to discover a move that you get to do for one minute (think burpee lunges).
Max Out Power
Though there is a focus on strength in this workout, the focus is on strengthening your legs. Well, what better way to strengthen your legs in a limited amount of time? Yes...Plyometrics (think more lunges with jumps)! 
Max Out Sweat
Truly the most sweat I have ever seen after 30 minutes. Shaun accomplishes this by a combination of cardio and plyometic moves.
Max Out Strength
My favorite workout, but wow...my arms were on fire after this workout. For some reason, this workout also goes by quickly for me. You'll do variations of push-ups and triceps dips that you did not know existed!
Friday Fight: Round 2
Eeeek. My least favorite workout, probably because it really is the hardest one. The moves, again, are ones you've seen in the other workouts. The combination in which you have to complete them, however, is unreal. Iron legs, for example, stay true to their name. Again...TGIF!
Other/Bonus Workouts:
Pulse
This is a great recovery workout, scheduled for Saturdays (optional). It's a combination of stretching and pulsing movements.
Ab Attack: 10
Ten minutes focused on your core. You can intensify your workout calendar by basically adding this workout on Mondays and Wednesdays. I like peppering this workout in when I am feeling like I have 10 more minutes in my tank. Don't be surprised to max out 2 minutes in!

Pros

• 30 minutes/5 days a week
• Perfect combination of cardio and strength training - I was able to tone up more using this program, than others (I discovered my biceps!)
• Dedicated Modifier track, which is imperative for someone just embarking on their fitness journey
• Max out times are a great way to truly track your progress and hold yourself accountable
• No time to cook guide is great for ideas on the run. 

Cons

• The warm up/stretch times are minimized to allow for the 30 minute schedule. I recommend stretching a few minutes extra before and after your workout
• No 90 day option. It would be great to have an optional month 3 for added training and more workouts
• It is fast paced, which allows for your form to suffer. Shaun does point to this frequently - form is most important to see results!

Overall, this program kicks ass on many levels. For me, it works because it is difficult to make an excuse for not being able to do a workout. It's 30 minutes! I think this workout is truly a full body workout with the perfect mix of cardio, plyometrics and strength training. You will see results - there are over 150 new moves, which means that your body's muscles will be confused leading to more gain. Check out the video below and feel free to reach out directly for questions, challenge groups or anything else that comes to mind!