Turbo Jam - My Second Positive Infomercial Experience

Although infomercials have been around for quite some time now, I had managed to live my entire adult immune to them. In fact, besides being immune to them, over the last decade or so more and more have crept into late-night and early-morning television, replacing one or another favorite re-run a little at a time. So, for years I haven't just been immune to them, I've been infuriated by them. At some point over the last several years, I just got to the point where I realized there was no switching channels to get away from infomercials; so I learned to leave them on and ignore them. "Who gets people, skilled in all that 'hype talk', to try to sell their products in the middle of the night?" was my thinking. The answer, I thought, was, "Scam artists, and people with junk that no store will stock."

A little over a year ago, I was watching television early one Sunday morning. I love Sunday mornings, so I was in a good mood. An infomercial about a fairly well known telephone gadget showed up and caught my attention. It was fairly inexpensive and offered a 30-day return policy; so, as the sunrise further brightened my mood, I ordered the gadget. All went well. I was happy enough with the gadget. I had learned that at least some things sold through infomercials are pretty good. I figured I had been fortunate that time around and had no plans to shop from television in the future.

I have learned one thing about infomercials; and that is, even when they say, "call within the next five minutes", don't call. Find the product's site online. They probably offer the same deal online, and you won't have to risk any surprises that can happen with fast-talking (or odd) sales people, or with automated menus that can be confusing. (With the item I'd ordered it turned out I accidentally got super-speedy shipping that I didn't want for the extra $12.)

As it happened, after years of doing a lot of walking and generally being very active, I reached a time when I didn't have the time to be walking for exercise each day. In fact, I was spending most of my time at my PC. As time went on, and my time to get outside and walk didn't seem to be returning, I began thinking of finding a DVD fitness program. In all my years of not really listening, but sort of listening, to infomercials; I knew there was such a thing as fitness program that didn't dragging out and exercise mat and going through the whole "floor thing". There is a reason I had relied on walking for exercise, and that reason involved the fact that I don't like gyms, and I don't like creating my own "mini-gym" at home. So, after having one positive experience with an infomercial, I began keeping my ears peeled to all the infomercials - waiting for a fitness program that seemed right for me.

Note: Before you read further, I would like to mention that I will not be adding my individual results to my remarks simply because results with this type of thing vary widely, depending on how much (if any) weight a person wishes to lose, how tone s/he hopes to become, how faithfully s/he follows any program, and whether or not any particular diet is followed.

One night, as I had just started to doze off to boring drone of infomercials, I heard the words, "You don't have to get down on the floor...." (or something very similar). Already mid-point between awake and being asleep, I had to make the decision to either allow myself to keep heading into sleep, or else wake up and pay attention. It had been quite a while that I'd been waiting for the right infomercial; so I hopped up, scrambled for my cell phone in order to type in the number, and then found a straight chair so I could watch what was left of the infomercial.

I wasn't particularly planning to completely follow the program outlined for people who want to lose weight or become super-firm. All I wanted was something that would get me moving, and knowing I was getting plenty of exercise even if I couldn't get out and walk the many miles I had been walking. My main concern had been the sudden "turn for the sedentary" at an age when that really isn't good at all. With both of my parents having had heart attacks, and my mother's side of the family having quite a bit of Type II Diabetes, not moving much was really worrying me. Also, with a particularly high level of stress in my days at that time, I was hoping to use working out as a way of feeling a little less dreary than I had been.

The infomercial was for Turbo Jam, a fitness program created by Chalene Johnson, and based on a combination of dance and kickboxing moves. After listening to what was said in the infomercial, I went online to be able to take my time and see what I would really get. I placed the call, but a very odd, sleepy-sounding, woman said, "Hello." Horrified to think I had called the wrong number at the time of the night, I asked about Turbo Jam. The barely-awake-sounding woman said I had called the right number, but she was so peculiar sounding I said (essentially), "never mind". I couldn't imagine giving my credit card information to someone who sounded like that.

I ordered Turbo Jam online instead. It was easy and went smoothly, although I discovered that one has to go through a few pages of being offered yet more stuff before finally getting to the check-out. That was fine. (I actually did order "the works" (minus dietary supplements), thinking it would eliminate the need to order later and have to either deal with a weird phone person or the online ordering process.)

All went well with billing, and the box of Turbo Jam DVD's, weighted gloves, resistance bands, chart, tape measure, and a couple of booklets arrived much sooner than I had been told.

I was impressed with the packaging of the DVD's. (I had imagined they may be "cheesy".) The videos were beautifully produced. The "mood" on the videos was upbeat, fun, and yet professional. The booklets (one was a general guide and the other was a recipe booklet) were made of sturdy, glossy, "cardboard-like", pages and spiral bound. All kinds of online support, including individual support if one wants it; and including a way to track workouts online; were available. A set of cards with "the elite eleven" moves on them was also included in the guidebook.

Learning the moves was not difficult, but it took a few days before really feeling as if I knew what I was doing. (Even then, I needed to polish my skill with a couple of the tricker moves.) I had been concerned that the urban music used in the videos may make me feel they were a little "too young" for me, but the music is right and goes well with the general mood the workouts. The basic workout is fun, just as the infomercial claimed it would be. With some of the workouts beyond the basic one there is some mat exercise involved; but since my aim was to be up and moving (and doing dance and kickboxing moves), I haven't spent a lot of time with mat exercise. They're there when I want them; but, as I said, I don't have a lot of time to be spending more than 45 minutes or working out. I'd rather use that time with the more active stuff.

The workouts offer modified moves for the person who may require lower impact, and the "Turbo" part of the workout involves short bursts of higher intensity moves before returning to the moves of less intensity.

While the handweights that came with the program provide just enough resistance for the basic workout, some of the other workouts can involve using small weights (although they are said to be "optional"). I did order (from another company) a set of 2 lb and 3 lb hand weights (pink and lilac - I love them, and leave a set on my PC desk for those times when I start to get a tight neck or shoulders). Both the weighted gloves and the hand weights are very helpful, particularly for the beginner who may "forget" to put "the right amount of oomph" into the arm movements.

Turbo Jam is a fun workout program that's great for someone like me, who is not a "heavy duty" fitness "guru" and who wants to get a good all-around workout, focused on toning, abs, cardio, and lower body.

Looking at the website can be a little misleading, because in some cases the potential customer can (by looking at the pictures) be under the impression the basic Turbo Jam DVD set comes in more DVD's than it really does. There are three basic Turbo Jam DVD's, with two being packaged in one case. There are five workouts on the two DVD's that come in one case. Those workouts are: Learn and Burn, 20 Minute Workout, Turbo Sculpt, Cardio Party I, and Ab Jam.

The "Maximum Results" part of Turbo Jam includes a separate DVD (Punch, Kick and Jam), the weighted gloves, and a Rapid Results Slim Down plan with measuring tape.

Separately purchased is the "Fat Burning Elite" part of the program, and that includes 5 DVD's, each packaged separately: Cardio Party II, Cardio Party III, 3T (Totally Tubular Turbo), Fat Blaster, and Lower Body Jam. With the package you get two different types of resistance bands.
I have to say I haven't done much with the "Fat Burning Elite" part of the program. The "plain old" workouts and the Maximum Results are the ones I know, enjoy, and am satisfied with.

As I originally mentioned, it was about a little more than a year ago that I had my first positive infomercial experience, and not too long after that I was pleased to discover that Turbo Jam was yet another good infomercial purchase. Since seeing the Turbo Jam infomercial I have seen the Hip Hop Abs program advertised but ignored the infomercial (after all, I've been happy with Turbo Jam). Earlier this week, inspired by the Shawn T. Rocking Body infomercial, but with memories of a little "click" that went on when I've seen the one for Hip Hop Abs; I went to online to find Hip Hop Abs, and order it - the works. It just looked like fun. Hip Hop Abs arrived today, and it looks good. I can't wait to add it to Turbo Jam Monday morning.

I don't like to be too confident about the quality of products sold by infomercial in dark of night, but so far, I'm thinking some of this stuff is pretty good.