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Comment on X-TrainFit At Home Workout – Women’s Complete Fitness – 8 DVDs by manusso "manusso"

manusso "manusso" — Sun, 13 May 2012 15:02:59 +0000

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful

Very good....old-fashioned workout!, October 31, 2011

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This review is from: X-TrainFit At Home Workout - Women's Complete Fitness - 8 DVDs (DVD)

Forget about celebrity trainers and the glitz. No awesome bodies here. People like "you and me" --except able to do some demanding work.
The yoga is exactly as described: meditative and relaxing (not strenuous at all).
My only problems with the rest are: - repetitive routines (3 times or more the same stuff, even if "pyramid-ed")
- horrible music (but can be opted out)
- total "mom and pop" feel as far as the professional quality of the DVDs goes.
Good points: Finally "normal-looking" people putting the rest of us to shame! They may not look like the current hot trainers, but they deliver, are motivating, with good pointers, and are fun.
Overall, I am happy with this set. It comes with a very nice booklet outlining diet tips, exercise and form recommendations, and a journal + chart to keep track of progress.

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Comment on X-TrainFit At Home Workout – Women’s Complete Fitness – 8 DVDs by nanceefaith

nanceefaith — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:14:42 +0000

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful

This fitness program really works., August 9, 2011

nanceefaith -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: X-TrainFit At Home Workout - Women's Complete Fitness - 8 DVDs (DVD)

This fitness program really works. You have to commit about an hour a day to complete the program, but we should all be making at least that investment in our personal health anyway right? It offers diverse exercises and workouts to help alleviate boredom and demonstrates the workouts at varying levels of difficulty.
I thought the program might be too tough for me. I was pretty out of shape. I'm also a little older and have a few joint issues.
The modification levels demonstrated allowed me to start out at an easier level and build myself up to the most challenging levels. I did not use the resources on their website or track my workouts at first and that was a mistake as I had a hard time staying motivated (as always), once I read through the training guide though and shared my fitness test with them online, I started using the guide and following the tips they provided me and it made a huge difference. I did the whole program with a small assortment of 5-15lb dumbbells I already had, and an old yoga mat. You will also need about a 6x12 feet you can comfortably move around in.
I managed to get through the whole 12 week program and have seen a real difference. I feel better than I have in ages and have a lot more energy.

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Comment on Zumba Fitness Exhilarate: The Ultimate Experience DVD Set Reviews by Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 12 May 2012 05:56:43 +0000

429 of 437 people found the following review helpful

Addicted to Zumba!, May 14, 2011

Rachel -

This review is from: Zumba Fitness Exhilarate: The Ultimate Experience DVD Set (Sports)

Zumba definitely changed my life. I used to hate working out, but now it's my favorite part of the day. Until I had the courage to start attending a live Zumba class, I had been using Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation System DVD Set. After 3 years, though, it was a bit boring with the same music and routines. When I saw that they were releasing a new DVD set, I knew I had to buy it.

The set comes with 7 DVDs, a pair of toning sticks, and a program guide.

-------------------
DVDs:

1. STEP-BY-STEP- This DVD breaks down the basic Zumba rhythms: merengue, salsa, reggaeton, calypso, cumbia. belly dance. (Unlike with the older DVD set, there is no step-by-step for samba, which kind of annoyed me because samba can be rather tricky. However, they do cover the basic samba step in the Mix DVD.) The steps are broken down by Gina and Tanya (from the previous DVD set.) You have the option of viewing the moves from both the front and back.

2. ACTIVATE- features a 45-minute workout with Gina and Tanya that applies all the moves learned in the previous DVD.

3. RUSH- a high-energy, 20-minute workout with two different instructors, Kass and Loretta, for when you do not have much time.

4. EXHILARATE- full-length (60-minute) workout with Beto and another instructor, Melissa.

5. RIPPED- 60-minute body-sculpting workout that's split up in two sections. The first is Toning which uses the sticks, and is hosted by Beto and two other instructors, Jani and Melissa. The second is Sentao which features chair routines, and is hosted by Beto and another instructor, Marcie.

6. MIX- features routines from different places and cultures. This DVD is supposed to be more advanced, and is hosted by Tanya and Beto, along with experts from around the world. You have the option of seeing the routines broken down beforehand, which is really helpful because some of the moves are really complicated!

7. FITNESS CONCERT- 60-minute live concert starring Beto and several of the instructors featured in the other DVDs. The concert was filmed in front of thousands of Zumba enthusiasts and has the same songs found in the Exhilarate DVD.

-------------------
PROS:

--The workouts are REALLY intense and high energy. I sweat buckets, even in the 20-minute routine.

-- The production quality is AMAZING! I have never seen an at-home workout DVD that even comes close. I always enjoyed the previous DVD set because of the colors. The new DVD set takes things to a whole other level. Everything is vibrant and colorful. There's a definite party feel.

-- The routines really look like music videos. The new DVD set feels more like the experience of a live class. You have the option of turning off the cueing and just listening to the music on each of the DVDs.

-- There's a slew of new music and different routines. You get to "meet" different instructors. In addition to the Zumba staples (merengue, reggaeton, salsa, cumbia, etc.), there are routines that feature tango, swing, axé, hip-hop, etc. The Mix DVD alone if great because it gives the opportunity to learn so many different moves.

CONS:

-- I know the lighting is to help create a visual effect, but sometimes it makes it difficult to see the steps.

-- There are a lot of routines that require a lot more floor space. Why are they including routines with an eight step? Usually I just move for four, then do the other four in-place because there's no room. It seems like they created these routines in the live classes in mind, which on one hand is nice because it gives the DVDs the feel of a live class, but on the other hand it's not really practical for someone doing this in small spaces, like an apartment or dorm room.

-- The Sentao section in particular requires a lot of floor space. You have to be able to walk around a chair. You also need a sturdy chair since you have to do lunges and other things with it.

-- To be honest, I prefer the Toning DVD from the previous set to this one. This Toning routine was not effective at all for me. They should have included a full-length toning workout instead of breaking it up between using the sticks and a chair, or at least make a Toning routine that's similar to one you'd find in a live class.

-- I liked the Abs workout in the previous DVD set, and I had wished that they had included a new one in this set. One for arms would be really nice actually.

-------------------

The best part about Zumba is that anyone can do it. It doesn't matter if you are in-shape or not, as long as you are moving, sweating, and having fun. Not only will you notice a difference in your body, but you... Read more

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Comment on Zumba Fitness Exhilarate: The Ultimate Experience DVD Set Reviews by Savvy Skeptic

Savvy Skeptic — Sat, 12 May 2012 05:34:46 +0000

617 of 625 people found the following review helpful

Average Person--UPDATE, June 2, 2011

Savvy Skeptic -

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This review is from: Zumba Fitness Exhilarate: The Ultimate Experience DVD Set (Sports)

I was in my best shape ever when I was going out dancing once or twice a week (in my late 20s)--lots of salsa and belly-dance moves that work the abs without crunches that put you on the floor and kill your neck and back. Times have changed, and so has my figure since I quit dancing. I resisted buying into the Zumba craze for while, ever since I saw the commercial once at 3:00 a.m. for the original set. I hesitated, first because everything looks great on a 3 a.m. infomercial; I figured it was the latest infomercial fitness fad. I've been disappointed by lots of work-outs that promise "dance moves you can take to the club" and then turn out to be nothing but club outfits, generic music, and aerobic exercise moves that would get you laughed out of a club. Then I read the reviews, and it seemed like everyone who had the set started out in the classes first. I've never been to a Zumba class and never wanted to work out in a room full of strangers--thus my reason for buying a home workout set to begin with. The price was also intimidating, and way more than I've ever paid for any of the other "dance party" workouts that found their way into a yard sale. Still, I want to get back into the shape I was happy with, and there were a lot of positive reviews, so I went for it. I did my first workout last night, with the Activate disc, and was sweating immediately. At first I saw a couple aerobics-style moves and thought "here we go again." But those were few, and were incorporated well into the dance routine. Mostly there was actual, genuine, hip-swinging, shimmying, dancing--I had a little trouble keeping up. I can see just how rusty I've gotten, and I'll have to work up to finishing the whole disc. Still, time flew by way faster than it does on the treadmill, and this was a lot more fun. I was absolutely sweating more, and my whole body knew I'd been working, but I barely noticed because it felt like dancing and not working out. Some of the moves can be a little tricky, especially when you're trying to keep up with pros. When I got tripped up trying to follow the instructors, I just looked away from them and danced with the music--keeping hips and pelvis in motion. When I needed to catch my breath I just stood front and did hip circles till I could pick up the pace again. I still think the price is a little steep--especially since the little foam plugs that hold the discs in place had already popped off when I got it (it was new and sealed.) But they can be stuck back down with a dot of glue, so no big deal--minus 1 star for price and packaging. The picture and sound quality is very good, and the music is actually enjoyable--not like canned "exercise music" that comes with most workout DVDs. Some of the verbal exchange between the instructors comes off phony (and a little cheesy), but overall the mood during the workouts is light and fun. I'm not a fitness guru, have been in a gym once in my life (hated it), and am not using Zumba as a warm-up for, or addition to, any other exercise routine. Right now, this new Zumba series is my only workout since my treadmill needs maintenance. I've read a lot of reviews for fitness DVDs, equipment, and supplements, and they say things like "I use this every day, walk 5 miles, do free weights combined with cardio, cut out all soda and junk food, and I've lost 6 pounds!" To me, those reviews aren't very helpful: first, a person working out that much is already in shape and has little or no weight to lose. Second, when you make that many lifestyle changes at once, results of SOME kind are inevitable--and can't be credited to anything specific. Did the workout do it, or the lack of candy bars and soda? To really determine how well this routine works for me, I'm going to do Zumba and not change anything else for now. (I already eat mostly low-carb, but I cheat sometimes.) I'll give it a few weeks, see what results I get, and then update.

UPDATE 6/16/2011: It's been 2 weeks today since I tried Zumba for the first time. I haven't changed my eating habits; I eat exactly as I did before (including 6 oz of mint cookie crunch ice cream almost daily), and I'm not taking any diet pills. I've done the Step by Step disc once, and then only the Activate disc so far. To date I've lost 7.5 pounds, and it isn't water weight--it doesn't fluctuate or pile right back on as soon as I eat solid food. The only explanation is that I'm burning more calories than I'm eating, and the only thing that I'm doing different is Zumba. Any activity or workout that gets you moving fast and sweating hard will do the same thing. Pretty much all workouts work, I know that. I also know that it only works if you actually do it, and if it's tedious, boring, painful--or even largely inconvenient (like going to the gym)--I won't do it, no matter how amazing the results would be. The difference with this is that it's fun enough that I'll actually do it more than once or twice and then... Read more

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Comment on Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones Reviews by Diamonte Hamlett

Diamonte Hamlett — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:39:26 +0000

276 of 281 people found the following review helpful

Phenonmenal Workout-Toruble Zones Be Gone, February 5, 2009

Diamonte Hamlett (Pittsurgh, PA) -

This review is from: Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones (DVD)

I am a huge fan of the Jillian Michael's approach to fitness. I used her Shred 30 program and lost 29 pounds in two months by doing the workouts and following the diet recommended on her website. Let me start by saying I am not one of these people who just "LOVES" to workout. I do it because I need change. I tried this workout yesterday as it is available on Exercise TV/On Demand and I have to tell you, it was the most transformational exercise experience I have ever had. Jillian's coaching and motivational speak are reverberating in my head even now. For this workout you will need 3 to 5 pound weights and about an hour (trust me this hour is worth it). She starts with 5 minute warm up that is cardio and dynamic stretching infused. SHe cools down with a yoga style static stretch that is just wonderful. There are roughly (six) 7 minute segments in which you do about 5 powerful arm and leg focused or ab focused work. The intensity of the arm, ab and leg work basically guaranteed me that I am going to see the results I want to see over the next two months. I usually dont feel a burn in my glutes and hips which are a real trouble spot for me, did not have that problem this time. Working out is not really my thing, as much as wanting results and knowing I have to do it in order to get it, but the strength and euphoria I felt after doing this workout is indescribable. I recommend this to anyone who wants to believe in themselves and begin transforming themselves into the person they wish they were. This comes with the highest recommendation I can offer. I will post updates as I continue the program. GET THE DVD, its the least you could do for yourself.

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Comment on Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones Reviews by K. Harrell "Enjoying the Journey"

K. Harrell "Enjoying the Journey" — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:48:29 +0000

1,140 of 1,149 people found the following review helpful

Can I give this more than 5 Stars? WOW!, February 11, 2009

K. Harrell "Enjoying the Journey" (United States) -

This review is from: Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones (DVD)

This amazing DVD by Jillian Michaels is a 50 minute workout, including warm-up and cooldown, that includes innovative toning moves to target trouble spots. While not for the true beginner, I think this workout would be good for all levels, because she shows modifications for beginners and advanced exercisers (although sometimes not until halfway through the set). Also, you move at a slightly faster pace throughout, so you get a cardio benefit from this workout as well, although its' main focus is toning your body into great shape. The circuit nature of the workout means that you continue to burn more calories even after the workout is over.

The workout is composed of seven 6-minute circuits that leave no muscle unworked. You can choose to do the entire 40 minute circuit or just select the body parts you want to focus on so you can focus on your "problem areas". Each of the circuits consists of 5 different exercises that you do for 30 seconds each, then repeat the entire sequence for a total of 2 sets of each move. Jillian has a lot of unique, effective compound moves (compound means that you work the upper and lower body at the same time). She uses 3 lb. weights and a mat for the workout but you could adjust the amount of weight to suit your needs and use a blanket if you don't have a mat. I've included a breakdown of all the moves below:

Warmup: Basic marching in place, jumping rope (no rope needed), arm circles, skaters (simulate speed skating) and jumping jacks. Then you repeat the entire sequence for a complete five minutes.

Circuit #1- Shoulder & Legs
- Squat with Shoulder Press
- Backwards Lunge with Side Shoulder Raise (repeat on other leg)
- Chair Squat with Front Shoulder Raise
- Front Shoulder PressOuts

Circuit #2- Chest & Abs
- Chest Press with a Crunch
- Chest Fly with Double Leg Raise
- Bicycle Crunches
- Squirms (lying down with knees bent. lift head and shoulder blades off ground and alternate bending to the side and tapping your heels).
- PushUp

Circuit #3- Biceps & Butt
- Deadlift with Hammer Curl
- Static Squat with Concentration Curl
- Front Lunge with Wide Grip Curl (repeat on other leg)
- Side Lunge with Biceps Curl

Circuit #4- Thighs & Triceps
- Chair Pose with Triceps Kickback
- Sumo Squat with Overhead Triceps Press
- Surrender (step back and down to kneeling position then stand up again)
- Forward Lunge with Triceps Pushback (repeat on other leg)

Circuit #5- Core
- Double Crunches
- Twisting Plank
- Plank with ToeTaps (repeat with other leg)
- Windshield Wipers (lying down lift both legs and move from side-to-side)

Circuit #6- Upper Body & Core
- Plank with Back Rows
- Superman
- Scissor Kicks
- Pelvic Thrusts (repeat on other leg)

Circuit #7- Lower Body & Core
- Side Plank
- Side Lying Leg Raise
- Inner Thigh Raise
- Donkey Kicks
- Fire Hydrant with Kick

Then relax with a nice cooldown.

Overall, out of the over 200 workout DVDs I own this is one of the best and I highly recommend it for great results. Jillian is motivating without being too peppy and cues well. If you stick with this workout you'll be ready for short summer shorts and bikinis in no time at all. Enjoy! :)

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Comment on Zumba Fitness 2 Reviews by H2OJunkie

H2OJunkie — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:50:16 +0000

116 of 118 people found the following review helpful

Zumba Fitness 2 for Wii, November 15, 2011

H2OJunkie -

= Fun:

This review is from: Zumba Fitness 2 (Video Game)

First and foremost, much improvement as far as graphics go. You can actually see the moves that the dancer on the screen is performing, instead of the thermal imaging that was part of the first installment. The setup was very easy. In creating a profile, you choose a name, gender, weight, birthdate.

At first, I was not too thrilled with the new song choices. I immediately missed my old favorites from the Zumba DVD's and the first game and the songs I've had in Zumba classes. But once I got into a couple of the routines, I found myself paying more attention to the moves and less focus on the songs. I suppose they'll grow on me. I went into Single Song Routine and scrolled through each one and listened to them and created a favorites playlist of the ones I like so far.

On the main menu you get to choose from Single Song, Full Class, Learn the Steps, Progress Tracker and Options. Single song is a routine to the song of your choice. You get to choose from 32 song choices, change your venue, etc. Full Class choices are Short Class, Mid-Length Class, Full-Length Class and Custom Playlist, where you pick your own songs and do a routine for the length of those songs. Once you've chosen your Class Duration, you have choices of Intensity: Low, Medium, High and Change Venue.

At any time once you're into a routine, you can hit the + button to pause the game. This brings up a Menu choice of Resume, Restart, Options and Quit to choose from. The Options menu gives you a choice to change the Game Settings (Visual Cues and Brightness) or Audio Settings (Effects Volume and Music Volume).

Once you've completed a routine, your performance stats come up, Calories Burned, Technique, Score. You can also view cumulative totals of these in the Progress Tracker options from the Main Menu. Progress Tracker lists Weight, Time played, Technique (%) and Total Calories burned. You can choose that in a graph of Days, Weeks, Months. In the Progress Tracker there are also Awards that you get for completing certain goals during play. The only one I've unlocked so far was Bronze Class (Finish a Short Class). I guess the only goal with these is to collect them all.

Also within the Progress Tracker Menu is an Extras option. For so many stars that you accumulate during gameplay there are levels reached, it looks like 11 total. You can unlock "exciting new videos featuring exclusive behind the scenes footage and interviews". (Their description, not mine).

Overall the menu is user friendly, the song choices are completely different than the first installment, the characters on the screen are very easy to see and follow and the pace is on fire, as usual. That's all I can think of for now, but I will add to this review if I notice anything I missed or mis-spoke about. The one thing that is very minor, but very odd, is the cursor to select menu choices. It's a big fat purple arrow that you can't miss, and seems to be bigger than some of the buttons you are clicking. Like I said, not a big deal at all, just an odd design choice in its size.

The one thing I am confused about. In prior descriptions of the game before it came out, it said one of the dance styles you could choose from is Belly Dance. I took that as you could choose whole routines based on belly dancing, but that doesn't appear to be the case so far. Who knows, maybe once I get into the game a little more that might be an option but I saw it nowhere in my navigations tonight.

I can't wait to do a full routine and see how many calories it says I burned, and if it's comparable to my Fitbit and or Polar HRM.

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Comment on Zumba Fitness 2 Reviews by Nutwiisystem.Com

Nutwiisystem.Com — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:40:50 +0000

443 of 448 people found the following review helpful

A fun workout and a vast improvement over the original Zumba Fitness for Wii, November 22, 2011

Nutwiisystem.Com (New York, NY USA) -

= Fun:

This review is from: Zumba Fitness 2 (Video Game)

The original Zumba Fitness for Wii was a runaway success, selling over three million copies. While I enjoyed the game, it wasn't without its flaws. It seemed a game more suited for seasoned Zumba enthusiasts who could just jump right into playing. But for newbies, the dance moves were just too fast and the tutorials were weak. In addition, the way the game was organized was very confusing.

What a difference a year makes. I'm happy to say that the developers of this title must have been reading our reviews, because they fixed all of this and more. As a result, Zumba Fitness 2 is a game I wholeheartedly recommend.

When starting up the game, you see a catchy opening video of Zumba celebrities Beto Perez (the inventor of Zumba), Tanya Beardsley, and Gina Grant dancing. It's their animated figures who will be your Zumba instructors throughout the game. It definitely puts you in the mood.

The menu options are delightfully simple. They are:

Single Song
Full Class
Learn the Steps
Progress Tracker
Options

With Single Song, you can jump right into a song. You first create a profile by entering a seven-character nickname and input your height, weight, and birthdate. You can then select from a list of 32 songs, listed alphabetically, with their intensity level and in-game "location" listed. They are:

Activao (Cumbia) - Low Intensity - NY Nightclub
Aires Habaneros (Tango / Salsa) - High Intensity - VIP Pool Party
Bubuzela Masala (Samba / Hindu) - High Intensity - NY Nightclub
Caipirinha (Batucada) - High Intensity - NY Nightclub
Chilin Bombom Guajira - Medium Intensity - Zumba Dance Studio
Como Es Que Se Llama (Cumbia) - High Intensity - Miami Yacht Party
Dance Dance Dance (Hip-Hop) - High Intensity - LA Rooftop
Don't Let Me Down (Swing) - High Intensity - Zumba Dance Studio
El Merengazo (Merengue) - High Intensity - Miami Yacht Party
Hundu-Cumen (Hindu / Cha Cha Cha) - Medium Intensity - VIP Pool Party
I Know You Like It (Hip-Hop) - Medium Intensity - Zumba Dance Studio
I Wanna Move (Hip-Hop) - Medium Intensity - Zumba Dance Studio
I'm Going On (R&B Ballad) - Low Intensity - Zumba Dance Studio
La Matanga (Cumbia / Warm-Up) - Low Intensity - VIP Pool Party
La Rumba De La Papaya (Flamenco) - High Intensity - LA Rooftop
Mi Vecina (Bachata / Cumbia) - Medium Intensity - LA Rooftop
New Day (Slow Swing) - Low Intensity - VIP Pool Party
Pause (Urban Latino Dance) - Medium Intensity - NY Nightclub
Poison (Electronic / Dance) - High Intensity - LA Rooftop
Que Onda (Axe) - High Intensity - Miami Yacht Party
Que Te Pasa (Cumbia / Reggaeton) - Medium Intensity - LA Rooftop
Quebra As Cadeira (Axe) - Medium Intensity - Miami Yacht Party
Quiebralo Bob (Quebradita / Ragga) - High Intensity - VIP Pool Party
Sukumbiarabe (Indian / Cumbia) - Medium Intensity - LA Rooftop
Ta Picao (Calypso) - High Intensity - Zumba Dance Studio
Tigre (Merengue / Warm Up) - Medium Intensity - Miami Yacht Party
Tu Remedio (Cha Cha Cha) - Low Intensity - VIP Pool Party
Un Corazon (Pop Ballad) - Low Intensity - VIP Pool Party
Un Solo Pueblo (Salsa) - Medium Intensity - LA Rooftop
We Speak No Americano (Swing House / Electro-Swing) - High Intensity - NY Nightclub
Zoka Zumba (Calypso) - High Intensity - VIP Pool Party
Zu Bailaito (Quebradita) - High Intensity - LA Rooftop

There aren't that many familiar songs, but there are more licensed songs than the last version (the hip among us might recognize "Poison" by Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls or "Pause" by rapper Pitbull). But all are definitely catchy and very appropriate to Zumba dance. I would have liked to see the option for using your own music or downloadable content, but I didn't see either.

As with the original Zumba Fitness, you put on your Zumba belt (included with the package) so that the slot for the Wii remote is at your hip. After making all your menu selections, you'll be placing the Wii remote in the belt with the buttons facing outward, and the power button of the Wii remote on TOP (the first few times I played I put the remote in top-first, and got rewarded with a bunch of scores of zero).

In the style that games like Just Dance and Dance Central have made popular, you'll see an animated figure of a Zumba dancer demonstrating the moves to you and your job is to mimic the moves as if viewing a mirror. There's the added bonus of a small animated figure in a rectangle that'll highlight upcoming moves.

I don't know if my Zumba-ing has gotten better or the choreography has gotten simpler, or the presentation has gotten better (probably a combination of all three), but the dance moves were surprisingly easy to follow. There was a healthy amount of repetition and the arms and legs of the dancer are very clearly... Read more

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Comment on INSANITY Fast & Furious: 20 Minute Maximum Fitness Results Workout DVD by Matthew Heffler

Matthew Heffler — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:38:08 +0000

101 of 103 people found the following review helpful

As usual a solid Beachbody product., April 27, 2011

Matthew Heffler (RPI) -

This review is from: INSANITY Fast & Furious: 20 Minute Maximum Fitness Results Workout DVD (Misc.)

**Full disclosure, I love the original Insanity workouts.**

So what is Insanity Fast and Furious?

Fast and Furious is the cure for those days that I don't have an hour to spare, but I should be doing Insanity with Ab Ripper X. Believe me, when I skip out on exercising I feel like crap for the rest of the day. This video nearly cuts the needed time in half and still leaves me drenched in sweat. Amazing for core days when you need to get in some good cardio beforehand, but time is limited.

Also, if you were considering doing Insanity and thought maybe it was too much... This could be a great starting point. Attempt to complete the Fast and Furious workout in its entirety for a week or two straight and you should be ready for month one of Insanity. You should probably throw in some abs every other day as well. It is never too early to start building your core. One day off a week wouldn't hurt either!

Great substitute for the full workout! It may be an even better starter for those wanting to start an Insane program, but may be a bit intimidated!

And if you purchase now I will also throw in... Ok Ok enough, I hope I have sold you. This is my one and only Amazon review and this is my primary shopping outlet, so that should tell you something.

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Comment on Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?: Fitness Myths, Training Truths, and Other Surprising Discoveries from the Science of Exercise by Kynn

Kynn — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:51:34 +0000

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

A breath of fresh air in an industry brimming with garbage, March 28, 2012

Kynn -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?: Fitness Myths, Training Truths, and Other Surprising Discoveries from the Science of Exercise (Kindle Edition)

Whether you're new to the world of health and fitness or a veteran, you know how hard it is to sort the true, workable principles from the junk and "broscience" ("Bro, doing dumbbell presses on the exercise ball builds an awesome chest!").

Popular workout magazines are FULL of false, misleading advice, and their primary mission is to SELL PRODUCTS for the supplement companies that own them (yup)--not teach you sound, scientific principles of getting bigger, leaner, and stronger. The Internet forums are even worse, and very often, trainers don't have a clue what they're doing or talking about.

With so much confusion abound, what are you to do?

There's where books like Cardio or Weights come in. The author was a competitive athlete with a PhD in physics, and he uses logical, fact-based reasoning to address many common questions and issues that athletes face. Things such as...

How effective is High Intensity Interval Training, really? Is the hype justified?

Can exercise increase risk of a heart attack?

How much is "enough" exercise?

How long does it take before I'll start seeing results from weight lifting?

What times are the day are best for training?

And more...

Mr. Hutchinson calls in the wisdom of many recognized, accredited experts in training, medicine, and physiology, and shares a wealth of scientific studies to help shed light on the various issues addressed in the book. In some cases, the findings are absolutely clear. In others, however, scientists aren't sure exactly why certain phenomena occur, and the author doesn't try to pretend he knows all the answers.

This is a quick read and all the information is presented in a very accessible way for us laymen. It's not thesis paper that whumps you over the head with a sledgehammer of technical jargon that you can't make heads or tails of. I learned quite a bit from this book and have already picked up a few tips that I will use to improve my exercise routine.

Getting in shape takes quite a bit of time, effort, and dedication, and I recommend that you read books like this to help you get the most out of what you put into it. This book will help steer you in the right direction and avoid pitfalls that cause so many others all kinds of problems and frustrations.

P.S. I also really liked Muscle Myths: 50 Health & Fitness Mistakes You Don't Know You're Making (The Lean Muscle Series), which takes the same approach as Cardio or Weights. It debunks some really commonly accepted training, diet, and lifestyle myths, and it taught me quite a bit about how to achieve my health and fitness goals quicker and easier.

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