This DVD includes 2 kick-butt interval training cardio & strength workouts, plus an extra flexibility segment.
C**A
Good moves, fun
As someone who is not a Denise Austin fan, I enjoyed this workout. I had pretty much written her off after trying a few that just left me feeling annoyed and frustrated. This one left me feeling energized, and I may purchase it. (I've only done it as part of my free trial of BeFiT).The actual moves are great. I liked the combinations she put together. The active-isolated stretching was new to me, and I really was left feeling like I had greater range of motion in my joints. I personally felt that the workout could be longer, with more time spent on each move (or less variety in the same time frame). It seemed that just was I was really feeling the burn, it would be time to switch or recover. But I'm coming off of a Jillian Michaels cycle, and I give her major credit for building my endurance. This IS a similar concept to a lot of Jillian's circuit-type workouts and I actually like the flow of this one better. (The obvious cuts after EACH 6 min Jillian circuit annoys me and messes with my motivation).Denise is not the best at cues. I didn't find this weakness as obvious in this workout as it is in her "dance" style workouts where rhythm, cueing, and matching the music are essential. If you're pretty new to "aerobics", you'll be very frustrated and find it difficult to keep up.If you're familiar with Denise Austin, you know she is over-the-top bubbly and encouraging. Her breathy, wide-eyed, sing-songy cheers usually get on my nerves, but I found myself grinning and having fun with a lot it. Be prepared for lots of "you're a winner! Champion! Athlete! Do the best that YOU can! YES!" I feel like I definitely earned a participation ribbon ;-)
D**D
Awesome and hardcore!
I just completed this workout and I'm dripping sweat woohoo!This DVD has three parts,strength training (20 mins)cardio (20 mins)stretching (10 mins)I first did the strength segment (20 minutes)...Denise combines cardio tae bo type of kicks with strength training arm moves. It's REALLY good. I couldnt get through all the squats. man that woman loves squats! I was drenched in sweat and it was fun. She goes back and forth between "jumping rope", "shuffle", kicks and strength training moves. there are a few yoga moves in there too. I love that all her moves are like 2-in-1 you're working two parts at once. By the way you'll need some dumbbells!I just wanted to add (I'm adding this a few weeks later) that I was initialy very sore from all the squats and my legs burned for a couple of days! but now I'm doing it no problem. This remains one of my favorite work outs.then I did the second part, the cardio (20 minutes) it was fun and intense.She sure makes me sweat!Then I did the stretch segment (10 mins) It's not just stretching it's pilates like movements focusing on stretching and core.I LOVE LOVE LOVE the stretching segment. I do the stretching segment after other work outs. Something about it makes my body feel really good and alive.My body feels good! I can't wait to do this workout. Let me just say something about Denise Austin, at first I was turned off by her peppiness but now i LOVE her. Her videos are the best and alternating doing a bunch of them is doing wonders. The personal trainer DVD kicks my buttox ridiculously! This will be a good balance. I think this DVD was great because it's hard to get me sweaty in my own livingroom (when I don't feel like jogging outside) and this really got me sweaty and my arms and legs feel so good from doing it. I definitely recommend this DVD even if it's the only one you'll have. Her stretching is awesome. Thank you Denise. :) you rule!!
M**H
Overall a very good video at a good price
I am a big Denise Austin fan, so for the workout and for her enthusiastic encouragement and personality in general I give the video five stars. Because of the video quality, however, which is not HD - and in full-screen mode parts of it are a little out of focus - I have to take away a star.This video is made up of two 20-minute workouts and a ten minute stretching session. The cardio sessions are classic Denise Austin style, and very acceptable for beginners or intermediates. If you have problems with your knees (as I do), you might be dismayed at the amount of lunges and kickboxing moves, especially in the first workout. But I managed to modify the moves so my knees didn't hurt too much.The first cardio workout uses no extra equipment other than a mat for ab work and stretching at the end. The second workout has a cardio session as well as a dumbbell session. Denise calls the third workout a "flexibility session," and it begins with seated stretching and moves on to isolated exercises which are slow and mostly performed lying down or seated.You could choose to do the video from beginning to end and get 40 minutes of cardio and a ten minute stretching cool-down, or you could even start with the stretching segment as a warm-up and continue on to one or both of the cardio workouts.Overall a very good video at a good price.
S**.
Good workout
This video has a great combination of cardio and weights. I enjoy the bursts of plyometrics, weights and cardio. It is great that she has integrated abs into both 20 minute workouts. I usually do all the segments to really round out my routine within 1 hour. The 10 minute bonus stretch segment at the end is a good way to finish.
C**L
Great 20min workout
Great 20min workout. Perfect for someone getting back into fitness. I'm in my mid 30's with 3 kids and it's easy on the joints and is not too hard like other Julian Michales videos I've done when I was younger. Just enough to break a good sweat without getting discouraged. Love the cardio workout. Perfect for a busy working mom.
J**G
Two Stars
Not quite what we wanted. I little too much bouncing to the music.
N**S
Use heavier weights...
Denise always makes me smile with her enthusiasm which is great if you workout first thing in the morning. There is no dread factor when working out with Denise.She is as far removed from Jillian Michaels' style of working out as you can get but her style is effective for me anyway.Being an avid daily, advanced home exerciser, I don't need someone screaming at me to make me work hard. Gentle persuasion and a 'give-it-a-go' attitude floats my boat as I like to challenge myself based on what I know my body is capable of.You can have an easy workout if you use featherlight weights like Denise and her team seem to be doing or you can turn this into a decent workout by using weights that challenge you, squatting deeper, jogging in place when they are marching in place and pushing yourself to push yourself.
T**N
Good workout DVD
This is a very good workout DVD. I like it because you can choose which part of the work out you want to do or do the entire workout. I use it in combination with my other favorites when planning my monthly workout routine. It has good moves that are easy to follow and if you use it enough you will see results I like the flexibility segment so much that I use it in combination with pretty much all of my other workout DVD's for a great and relaxing stretch after the workout. It has helped me with my flexibility immensely! I recommend this DVD to anyone who is looking to get in shape, stay in shape, or simply just looking for an occasional workout.
E**E
Waste of money
I bought this DVD months ago and by that time it was not specified on the product description that it was a Region 1 DVD and this would not work from Europe. I bought this DVD from Amazon UK and the parcel I received was sent from Luxemburg, Europe, but I cannot watch it from my computer or my DVD player. This was a complete waste of money. Do not recommend this seller at all.
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