Customer Reviews

Cindy Crawford - Next Challenge Workout

5 star:		(125)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Compared to my Denise Austin and Kathy Smith videos, this tape looks like something that should be played on MTV. I find that I get so caught up in the sophisticated camerawork, unusual music, and funky backgrounds that it's sometimes hard to pay attention to what I'm doing. I really love the look and sound of this video and that's one of the main reasons I enjoy doing it. The cardio section is really intense, but seems too short. Her sequence of lunges, squats and other moves for the lower body is a killer routine. I haven't felt so sore in a long time, and I'm a runner! Definitely not for the faint-hearted or anyone with bad knees. She spends a lot more time on chest exercises than any other video I've used. I wish the abs section had fewer full-body situps; they're not great for the lower back and I think there are more effective moves that put less stress on that area. I found that the routine for arms didn't do much for me until I started using eight-pound weights for some of the exercises; however, I have to switch back and forth between eight-pound and five-pound weights since I am not strong enough to use the heavier weights with some of the exercises. Overall, this is a video I always enjoy using, primarily because it's so entertaining to watch and I love the music. (However, I'm always relieved when the lower body segment is over!) Although I don't feel I'm getting enough of a cardio workout, all the muscles in my body feel pleasantly tired and challenged afterwards.

I really haven't been able to find a workout tape like this one! I mean because it has a little for every part of the body.

This tape is about 64 minutes long, which after working out so long you get relieved it is over, because it really is the "next challenge"!!

The tape consists of:
a warm up, about 2 mins of jumping (like rope jumping type jumps), 20mins of legs (lunges or all sorts, and some kicks) which has a lil water break every 4mins or so, then its abs 1, which has some crunches, then has some chest exercises, (which I've not been able to find any like these anywhere else), then its abs 2, then moves on to arms/shoulders/upper back for 10mins (and those hurt!), then moves on to abs 3, and continues to lower back, and cool down, et voila, you are done!!

Cindy is accompanied by a personal trainer, Rudu (i believe is his name) and hes always in the background always guiding Cindy and reminding her of proper form at all times and helping her count the sets.

I like this video because it has some aerobics, weight training, abs. It is a well-rounded tape, even though after a while the second half of the tape (from abs1 to lower back) it gets to be not so challenging, but you can always change the sets to suit your fitness level.

The background seems to be an empty loft, and the desert. The music is very soothing, (it has a Blondie song).
I'd recommend this tape, it is nicely done.

I was pleasantly surprised by this workout. It differs from most in that you're not doing choreographed moves in time to upbeat music - Cindy typically does 10 reps of a move, and then goes on to something else. There's little opportunity to get bored. Her pace can be a bit fast, but I don't try to keep up - I concentrate on form, not quantity, and as a result I focus more on the muscles I'm working. The music is basically a pleasant background. Some of it seemed odd at first but it grows on you. Cindy is not an articulate or motivating instructor (the opposite of Denise Austin or Susan Powter!), but her strong, fit body and proper form speak for themselves. I would not recommend this tape to anyone who's starting an exercise program, is significantly overweight, or has knee, hip, or back problems - many of the cardio moves are high impact, and the cardio segment is too short and intense for those whose primary goal is to burn fat. But this tape includes many exercises for both upper and lower body that I haven't seen anywhere else, especially for the chest muscles (perhaps not surprising for a model!). I don't do this tape often but I always enjoy it.

I use both of Cindy's video's and am always sore afterward. They are both challenging and flexible and after several years I am never bored. I am surprised that no one else noted the amount of strength in the knees needed for The Next Challenge. This video is not for the faint of heart and requires one to be in good cardio/vascular shape. Take it slow if you are a beginner. I also want to note that I have purchased a yoga tape recently by Rodney Yee. Cindy has been way ahead of the gaing! Her warm up and down is full of yoga type moves and stretches and is the best that I've done or seen. Sometimes I use only this portion of her video and feel very energized. I do her next challenge video on Sundays and do kick boxing the rest of the week because of the time constaints. I highly recommend The Next Challenge to anyone who is looking for a great all over workout (with no equipment). Just have the hot bath ready when you're done!

In her second video with fitness "guru" Radu, Cindy approaches this tape with more caution than the first, which was much maligned for being "unsafe". There is even a glossary at the end to show you proper adjustments and movements for trickier exercises. I like the lack of repetition here- they tend to do each exercise for one set and then move on to something else. Unlike the first video, this is one workout, not three. It's a bit longer, clocking in at about an hour. Head to toe, it's a great workout for toning and strengthening. You will be sore in all the right places. There are even some great, gentle back strengthening exercises after the last set of abs. She also breaks the ab sets up with upper body in between, which is a nice change and enables you to do more, I think. It starts with legs, as usual, and they are very athletic movements; everything from kickboxing moves to broad jumps to sumo wrestling-style squats. Overall, I really found this to be fun, safe and really challenging. Since none of the Crawford workouts are predominantly aerobic, I do suggest alternating these tapes with cardiovascular work, like walking, jogging, step aerobics, etc. But I was very happy with this tape.

I've used this video after each of my four pregnancies to get back in shape and lose the weight. I discovered it after my first baby, and lost 80 lbs. in eight months. I love the variety in the cardio segment, and especially appreciate the way movements from different sports are incorporated. The ab work and strength segments have flattened me out, tightened me up, and built my shoulders. I've tried many other workouts, and always come back to this one. Highly recommend it!

I'm not a big video tape excerciser, but I have tried a bunch. This is, by far, my absolute favorite for the following reasons. 1)Cindy is a real person working out with you. She gets a bit winded in parts, she tells you to "take advantage of these breaks, guys" and she basically is an empathetic friendly presence. She does a good job at reminding you about form as well. 2) It's really hard! I love the fact that this video is very challenging. The great thing is that I've done it for years now and I can add reps when I'm in the mood while she is explaining the next move. Every time I do this video (I only do it once maybe twice a week when I don't feel like going to the gym and sometimes I don't do it for a few months) I am sore the next day. 3) You can tailor this video to fit your needs. Don't like high impact? March instead. Don't want to do a full sit-up? Do crunches. Worried about knee strain on the lunges? Hold onto a chair and just do squats. Or, add a few more reps. I don't find that it's too fast at all. There is also a glossary at the end of the tape that shows proper form. I will say that I don't ever do the Trunk Circles because all they do is make me dizzy and there doesn't seem to be any benefit by doing them. I fast forward through this one. 3) It's got great music. Subtle, not overpowering and not that annoying dance music with the same beat over and over and over... This video definitely keeps my interest and I recommend it to anyone who brings up workout videos. I have also tried Cindy's first video and found it to be quite laughable and although it had good intentions, it falls short on the workout part. Who works out in thier bathing suit anyway??? In short, this is a great video for someone who wants a challenging workout but doesn't want to be bombarded by annoying music and overly happy "feel-the-burn" aerobics instructor type people.

I'm a workout DVD junkie, which is the only reason I picked this one up when I'd read mixed reviews about the safety (or lack thereof) of Cindy's workouts. I found this one to be surprisingly good, though. I love the look of the workout and the music, and the exercises offered aren't at all like those on my other DVDs. Instead of typical flyes, she controls the weights in a circular motion over her head. They're really unique moves, and I've been sore after every workout -- even though I'm only using 7-pound weights and I usually use 10-15 pounds. She also doesn't do typical sets, which is a big plus to me. She'll present three or four exercises that work the same muscles, but the exercises will be slightly different so you don't THINK you're doing the same stuff over and over again. I love that, because something mentally happens to me when I think I'm stuck in sets.

I also like the water breaks that are built into the workout. It's nice to have a 15-to-20-second breather to catch your breath and drink some water.

Safety-wise, I have no issues with this workout, which is impressive since I have major low-back problems. I lay off what's clearly not good for my back, and Cindy even says to modify certain moves to protect your back. I don't do the full sit-ups, for example, and I modify the trunk circles. If you use common sense, you shouldn't have a problem.

As an instructor, Cindy really impressed me. Despite my huge workout DVD collection, I actually hate most of them because they feel so cheesy. I'll stop doing the routine if my husband walks in the room because I'm flat-out embarassed to be working out to a lady chirping, "You can do it!" Cindy doesn't do any of that, and I love it. She doesn't give a lot of chatter. The moves are still easy to follow because she does 10 per limb, then moves on. You're able to focus on what you're doing -- assuming you can count to 10, I suppose -- while listening to the great music.

For people wondering how this one compares to Cindy's first, "Shape Your Body," I have a little insight as I just bought that one this week. The criticisms over Cindy's form are totally justified in the first video. You can clearly see how she and Radu, her instructor, took the balking to heart and improved the second release. If you know form already, "Shape Your Body" is fine -- just don't do it the way Cindy does it. But "Next Challenge" is definitely superior.

This video is good for bringing together all those exercises you know you should do, but don't, but its not a replacement for cardio work. The warm-up routine is good, stretching you out and warming you up at the same time. The "cardio" section is really just a lot of leg exercises in a row, but they are good strengthening/toning exercises. The arms, back, and abs sections are well-done and well-paced. Radu (Cindy's trainer) gives some helpful form pointers, which keep some potential injuries at bay. I recommend this video for someone coming back to exercising after a break, or as a workout to intersperse with cardio tapes, or as a good workout for someone who is more concerned about increasing muscle or muscle tone rather than increasing cardiovascular capabilities.

If you loathe exercise videos in which the instructor is telling you "good job - keep it up - way to go - that looks good" when you know they can't see you, this is an excellent alternative. Cindy is clear in her instructions, of course her body is inspirational, and she doesn't insult your intelligence. The video itself is shot in some beautiful locations and the music isn't overbearing. The actual exercise sequences are challenging and continue to be so - even if you use this tape several times a week for a few months like I did. The best thing about this video is the results - I used this video several years ago and got down to a healthy size 4/6. I just ordered the DVD version to get me back into shape after having my first baby and can't wait to start this routine again!