MARK LAUREN Bodyweight Workout DVD You are Your Own Gym Vol. II DVD-Set

I ordered Volume II after trying to figure out where to start with his DVDs. I am a novice although I have been “working out” for many years. However, I’m the type of lady in my 40’s who has preferred a light type workout 3 x a week, where I don’t sweat too much. I say that so you can understand what my fitness level is. My goals are weight loss, improved flexibility and strength. I have done adult beginner ballet on and off in the last several years so I have some flexibility. I have used weights a couple times a week and I don’t run or do anything intense. I have a ton of workout videos, almost all low impact. My weak knees have been a concern all of my life. That said, I have just started my 2nd week of this program and I have already noticed changes! My posture is better, I can get up off of the floor much easier without being scared for my knees (I watched how Mark does it and imitate him), and I can sit back on my feet a lot more comfortably (like when you sit up from child’s pose). Before, that position was very tight and uncomfortable to me for more than a few seconds. I am not sure how all of that has happened so quickly based on the exercises but it has made me feel committed to keeping up with this program and eventually advancing to intermediate.As for the routine, so far, in the Novice DVD the time is about 18min for a session. You do the novice workout 3x a week doing different chapters of it each time. Some of the time is Mark explaining the exercise so the total exercise time is less than 18min but it doesn’t diminish what you do, and for me, how I sweat or how much I want the exercises to end! For me it’s a good amount of time and I am able to do low to mod intensity cardio for 30 min before doing this. His warm up and cool down are good too. The cool down has the appropriate length of stretching time (I say that because a lot of workouts have you hold a stretch for far too short a time and I find that annoying).I am truly enjoying this DVD not because I love the exercises but because they are clearly effective. And Mark does an excellent job of providing instructions and of course it is clear how very fit he is. No equipment is needed although I use a mat to keep my knees off of the hard floor.My next move is to order his book and aim to do his diet suggestions. I want to come out of Isolation looking good and feeling good about myself, and this workout is doing that for me already!I can’t speak to the intermediate and advanced DVDs that are also included but I imagine they will be extremely good as well, once I get to them. I’m not sure how long it takes to advance to intermediate but I am guessing if one is able to handle 6 consecutive weeks of 3x a week one could advance after that.I also purchased his EFX DVD and looked at it and it looks too tough for me right now. I will plan on using it after I get at least through the doing 6 weeks on the intermediate level on this set.I’m so excited about this workout routine and looking forward to reading his book.6/14 update: I’m on week 4, still on novice, but def getting stronger. I can now do planks (I know that’s no big deal to some people) and hold for 60 sec w/proper form. I have never been able to do that & have always despised & avoided them but clearly this workout has strengthened me. I still sweat through the workouts & will stay at novice a few more weeks because there was one week where doing the workout was super difficult for me and I couldn’t get through it. I decided to push through and not let it stop me altogether though. This is so worth it from what I have gained in such a short time.

This set has been a great supplement to everything else I have been doing to lose 40 pounds and lower my BMI by 10% over the past 4 months. I bought the book a year ago,but really needed some additional guidance. In the DVDs, Mark Lauren not only provides enough variety to keep things interesting, but does so in a concise structured presentation that requires only 25-35 minutes per workout. He recommends 3 workouts per week, with a rest day in between. I have found that my results have been best when following his advice, despite a tendency to want to push things by doing something on the "off" days. After 3 weeks, I can now make it thru the "Intermediate" level, but you will never get "comfortable," and I think that is the idea. As you improve your form on each exercise, they get harder to perform. Can't wait to see the results after completing the "Advanced" level. Also, just as important to my results has been that, finally at age 59, I have learned that you cannot outwork a bad diet. Mark consistently reinforces diet, and "staying consistent." Needless to say I am a fan, and have already bought EFX based on the results I've seen with these full body routines.

Was looking for something different so bought this set. Mixed feelings. I’ve been exercising forever and am a 55 yo female. Started with novice and was doing all 3 sections Of the DVD from the first try. Did this for a week. I did feel stronger in a week believe it or not. Week 2 I broke out the intermediate. Again did all 3 sections of that dvd in one session as well but did struggle a bit with the last section so I’ll stick the intermediate until I master it. I can see how the exercises build on each other so you can slowly accomplish more. Still having difficulty though believing I can get ripped from this like the instructor is as some of the exercises just seem so easy. Anyhow I’m going to keep at it for a bit and clean up my diet some more. Also wish i didn’t have to watch the explanation of exercises every time I use the dvd as it wastes time. I think there may be something to this method but wish the dvd was structured differently. I will update in a few weeks.Update- I sent this back. I just couldn’t get over spending so much time with mark reviewing the exercises every time I used it . I bought the app and monthly subscription but that’s not working out for me either as since I use the gym and do other activities I don’t want another monthly fee. But, there’s something about these exercises that I like and feel will benefit me. they make me feel very strong plus burn calories. Looking at mark is pretty nice too as well as motivating. So, that said I think I will try the 90d challenge cds and see how that goes.

I competed for several years in Muay Thai and MMA, so my body has been put through the ringer. After I quit fighting, I made the mistake of getting into CrossFit. Yes, I drank the CrossFit Kool-Aid and thought it was the greatest thing around. I was supposedly training at one of the top CF "boxes" in America, so I assumed the trainer's knew what they were preaching. After having a plantar fasciotomy and a SLAP tear repair in my shoulder you would think i'd quit, but no I continued to go everyday and WOD and lift heavy, then one day after deadlifting 415lbs we did sprints and my lower back just locked up, then after that I started having knee pain like I tore something. I talked with my "trainer" and he knew about my fighting background and told me CrossFit doesn't cause injuries, it only exposes existing injuries. I was like WTF??? He knew of my fighting background and basically blamed my injuries on that instead of CrossFit. I cancelled my membership the next day. I've been doing Mark Lauren's YAYOG guided program for a few weeks now and i'm already feeling better, my knee pain is almost gone. Thanks Mark!!!

Waste of money, even the novice excersices don't show how to do the excersice. Its speed and he speaks so fast.