Customer Reviews

Denise Austin - Shrink Your Female Fat Zones [VHS]

5 star:		(114)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Denise Austin's "Shrink Your Female Fat Zones" is an effective tape that can be split into two 20 minute sessions or one 40 minute workout.

Women are often told that to prevent bone loss, we should workout with weights, but many tapes on the market are overwhelming. They use very heavy weights, are very long, lack clear directions or are just plain boring.

Denise's tape gives you a simple workout that you can do 3-4 times a week to build strength, preserve bone density and get toned.

The first section is a simple 20 minute light weight routine. You will do a few pushups, lat rows, light ab work, bicep work etc. Very simple. No jumping around. Clear direction. The second session adds in the balance ball. The ball is not included in the tape but is sold by places like Wal-mart for under $20.00. With the ball you work your core, legs and more.
Pick one or both workouts depending on your mood and needs.

The setting is a studio with a calm background, one that will not date in the future. Denise leads the exercises with a small group of exercisers behind her, following her directions. It would have been nice if Denise had included some older exercisers, but she didnt. The music is relaxing. Though Denise is her usual chatty self she is not overbearing. Denise uses the same set of weights throughout the workout which could be a drawback for those who like to vary their weights as there is not a lot of time to change poundage.

My goal is not to be a fitness buff, but to be healthy, strong and slender. I don't want to kill myself working out but recognize that in addition to aerobic activity (which this tape is not) I need weight bearing activity. This tape is just the perfect fit for my needs.

After reading all the negative reviews, i had to write one of my own for the positive side of this dvd.

I believe this is geared more for the beginner -- and it was perfect for me. after doing this workout, i actually felt "good" -- not worked to the point that my legs and arms are jello. i have a lot of "toning" videos that are going to pretty much sit on my shelf til i am more into that fitness level, but this is one toning video i will reach for again and again while i classify myself at "the beginner" stage.

i havent done the stability ball portion yet, but the 1st 20 minutes worked all the right places for me. as for the 2 20 min. segments, there *is* a clear end and beginning to when one section stops and the other starts. the only issue there that i had was that the final stretch was mixed in with the stability ball section, and it wasnt a direct "next chapter" to get there.

as far as Denise Austin's chattiness -- i am able to tune that out, and just hear her instruction. If this isnt your first Denise video, you are already well aware of her chattiness, so if it doesnt bother you on those videos, it probably won't bother you here either. its nothing out of the ordinary.

I can't give this 5 stars only because of the lack of usage of dvd technology, but then again, that's probably why this dvd is as inexpensive as it is. For the price of this DVD, i thought it was well worth it.

This DVD is awesome!! Denise Austin is very motivating. I do this entire workout everyday but Sunday. I have been using it for about 1 month and my body is actually starting to look like it did before I had my 2 children (my son is 4 and my daughter is 1). I started out using 2lb weights and now I am using 5lbs. The stability ball is really fun to work with. Using this DVD and eating right I have lost 20lbs in the past month. I actually have definition in my arms and legs (still working on the abs!)!!! This is a great DVD for any woman that wants to tone up.

I went from sedentary to relatively toned primarily through the virtues of this routine, which I have been doing now for about 6 weeks. The DVD bills itself as containing two separate routines--weights and exercise ball--but as other reviewers have noted, it's really one workout you can break into two. The warm-up is clumped with the weights; the cool-down is with the ball. It would have been nice if they had taken advantage of DVD technology as they do in Denise Austin's Personal Training System to allow users to stretch & cool-down with either routine. I had intended to break them into two, but gave in and simply do it all at once. If you choose to do the ball portion only, you might want to do a few warm-up stretches of your own before you start. Cool-down after the weights may not be necessary for you, unless it leaves your muscles feeling tight.

Many people find Denise Austin grating. She talks nonstop. Some of this inane chatter ("That's right; you've got it!"--which I still find cheering even though I know she can't possibly know), but some of it is pretty informative. She tells what each exercise is meant to work and discusses proper form--though not always early enough in the exercise. Sometimes we'll be halfway through something, and she'll suddenly say, "Exhale when you lift up." This can be a bit of a problem when you first start doing the routine, but as you get used to it, you'll start anticipating these belated reminders.

The best part about this workout is how fluidly Austin moves from one part of the body to another. It keeps the cumulative impact of the exercises from overwhelming you--you don't exhaust your arms, for instance, by doing them in one fell swoop. They get a bit of a rest while you work the legs and the abs before you come back.

I love this DVD. I'm still finding parts of it challenging, though I can now do all the exercies, but I can see an incredible difference in the muscle tone in my body. I am now varying it with Denise Austin's Personal Training System for variety, but I can say with all confidence that whether my female fat zones have shrunk or not, they're definitely better sculpted.

Equipment required: 3 to 8 lb. handweights & a stability ball. Be sure to get the right size: the one I started with was too big for my 5'2" frame, and I eventually had to replace it.

I know that sounds weird, but I have had a hard time working out at home because I always live in confined spaces. This one is good because you don't flail about too much and it works out all your muscles, especially arms, abs, and BACK FAT (what I was really wanting to trim and how I found Denise in the first place). Even the balance ball is do-able within like, 6 square feet or so...(I'm serious). I have never pulled anything and found that I could actually do the workout (minus a few difficult things I sat out but can now mostly do after a few months) without getting discouraged. The strength training produces almost instant results in terms of making you feel more substantial, strong, and energetic. I was *really* out of shape, just got out of grad school and started teaching middle school! Ack! Denise is getting me through it. Her voice is annoying at first but her insipid EASE can be motivating becaues she makes you so mad. At the end of the work out her words are motivating and sweet. She encourages you and says funny things when you are in your moments of pain (like, "let's see that smiling face" when you're trying to roll up vertebrae by vertebrae... ACK!) - now I totally LOVE her! I yelled and screamed obscenities for the first few weeks, but I have been doing this workout since June and I look MAHVELOUS! I recommend this DVD for people who are having a tough time getting motivated... it's easy enough to do and challenging enough to make you want to do it all. This is the first exercise DVD (VHS) I've ever liked enough to actually stick with. And I've been trying for a while. It's also nice at the end because she encourages you and tells you "you're getting fit because you're worth it... keep it up" - maybe there's subliminal messages in it. (just kidding...)

I have read a lot of negative things regarding this workout. Much of the negativity seems to be directed towards Denise Austin's personality and it seeming to be "fake". The rest of the negativity seems to be directed to the ineffectiveness of the workout itself.

If you are a beginner to core workouts, THIS WORKOUT IS WORTH THE MONEY. Read my story for more.

I am female who turned 30 in January of 2005. I gained ten pounds this year quite suddenly and my pants were extremely tight and uncomfortable. I had always eaten whatever I wanted and never exercised except for occasionally so I should have known the weight was on its way (in all the wrong places).

In July I was going to be attending a special event and wanted to look my best so I began a food plan. 1800 calories per day, 40 grams of fat (good fat like nuts and olives not cheetos), whole grains, no white sugar or flour, no junk food, two - three servings of fruit daily, including 64 ounces of water daily. I cut out the soda, take out food and only had two major carbohydrate servings per day, usually a serving of brown rice (1/2 cup) and a serving of whole wheat bread (usually 1 slice). I starting reading nutrition labels more than ever before and nutrition books as well. I also began doing 30 to 40 minutes of excirsize every other day which consisted of walking & stationary bicycling.

Three weeks after starting the regime above, I was starting to lose weight and get a little bit smaller. I lost 5lbs and 4% body fat. I was thrilled but needed something more. I wanted faster results and I wanted to transform my body.

I was in a local Music & Video Merchant and saw Denise Austin's Shrink Your Female Fat Zones. I had heard of her but never researched her or her products online to see what she was all about. When I turned over the DVD, I noticed she was posed on the back cover with a stability ball. Having purchased one myself two months earlier or so, I was immediately intrigued.

I began with a workout each day of the entire DVD. I then rested for two days. I proceeded to complete a workout each day of the entire DVD for five consecutive days. A few times on certain days if I had extra energy, I went on 30 minute power walks.

In that period of I lost five more pounds and 6% more body fat. I had hit my target weight of 135 (I'm 5'6). I noticed IMMEDIATE results with this workout, the FAT MELTED AWAY! This is not an exaggeration. My arms were beautiful and shapely, my thighs were becoming less jiggly and more toned, my abs are extremely hard and beautiful and my butt is a lot smaller, thanks to this workout! Overall, I am thrilled and do this workout five days consecutively and skip it for two days to rest. IT IS WORTH THE MONEY if you follow it, eat healthy food, drink plenty of water and get a good amount of sleep each night (at least 7 hours per night).

Denise's voice is somewhat different (I've read a lot of negative comments about her voice) but who cares? If this quick, 40 minute workout reshapes your body, who cares what her voice sounds like? I've also read that people think she sounds fake. She's high energy. Do you really want someone leading your workout who has no energy and sounds blah? I don't think so. I not only have more energy but I have more stamina as well. I also feel great about myself and my body. It's been a long time since I've been able to say that. Again, this workout is great for beginners.

This video is advertised as 2 complete workouts, when actually it's 1, 40 minute workout. It's 20 minutes of toning with weights going right into the stability ball workout. I bought the video because it said 2, 20 minute complete workouts. 20 minutes is just right for me to get done before work in the morning. I thought it was perfect for me, but I was wrong. The workout is good, I like her use of the stability ball and I love the Denise Austin videos that I have. This one is good, I just wish it had been the 2-20 minute complete workouts like the cover says.

This DVD is now an essential for me. I hadn't really exercised regularly since I quit dancing years ago. I wasn't able to cope with the fact that I was out of shape and had been diagnosed with exercise induced asthma. I picked the DVD up after I bought an exercise ball (it looked like fun!). This exercise not only made me feel better and more awake, I started to see results after doing the exercise 3 times a week for two weeks(I could fit 40 minutes into my college schedule). I was worried that it might be too strenuous for my asthma, but it has turned out to have a nice steady pace.
It rotates through the sections of the body many times during the 40 minutes, so even if you can't do the complete workout, 20 minutes targets all the "female fat zones".
Denise also encourages you through the whole thing. The positive tone she sets makes the exercise easier and makes the time fly.
Denise says the exercise can be done without a ball. However, I haven't tried this. If you don't already have a ball, I bought my ball at Wal-Mart for around ten dollars, and it came with a pump! It's a small price for an excellent tool.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who needs an easy, at home exercise that brings results.

I just got this DVD today and finished the workout a few minutes ago. I can definitly feel the burn in my abs, and I can tell my arms and legs will be a bit sore tommorrow! I am a 20 yr old college student, about 30 lbs overweight, not toned at all and pretty much out of shape but not completly (I can jog a 12 min mile and then I have to walk for a few minutes before I can even think of jogging some more). I found this video to be at a good level for me, and I think if I was less or more in shape it would still be good. I could do all of the exercises, although I could not get the full range of motion on a few (that was in part because while Denise reccomends 3-8lb weights, I only have 10 lbs). Denise talks constantly, and I found that motivating, although I would definitly not buy a yoga or other relaxing workout from her! The first 20 minutes uses free weights and the second 20 minutes uses a stability ball and free weights. The DVD does not pause in between the workout sections, but it is clear that if you only want a short workout, the time when Denise gets her stability ball is the time to stop the DVD. I did the first 20 min, made a 10 min phone call, and did the second 20 min. I am pretty sure I could have done the tape straight through with only a quick water break in the middle, although I was definitly breathing hard and sweating light-moderate. (The workout is not exactly cardio, but since I am out of shape, the effort of lifting weights and switching positions brought up my heartrate to where it would be maybe a minute or two into a slow jog)I also really liked that there were many excersizes to work each muscle and very few reps of each, so the muscle was worked for enough time without the movements getting to repetitive. I also liked how a boring movement such as arm curls with weights was made a little more bearable by rocking back in forth. Overall, I liked this tape and I feel it really worked my muscles, and as I strengthen I can increase the weight and range of motion and still be challanged.

Having spent many years as a full-time ballet dancer, I have always been quite body conscience. After recently retiring from dance, my hectic life got the best of me and I found myself gaining a few unwanted pounds and losing my prized muscle tone. After spending nearly a year stubbornly working at developing my own exercise program, I finally realized that my needs had changed and a few plies and grande battements would no longer keep me looking young and lean. I decided to invest in some minor workout equipment, such as 5 lb. weights, a stability ball and a yoga mat, and start doing some workout videos. Since I lack both the money and the motivation to actually go to the gym, this proved a great alternative, especially since my first purchase was Denise Austin- Shrink Your Female Fat Zones.
Because of my past dance training, I still find that some workouts don't actually get me to the point of breaking a sweat. This is not the case with this workout! The first of the two workouts gets my heartrate up and works all the female trouble zones as promised including the abs, hips, and upper arms. The second half of the programe involves a stability as well as light weights and it certainly works well, although I'm experiencing a bit of difficulty due to investing in a poorly designed stability ball. Overall this is a great workout, and Denise Austion has a wonderfully positive attitude during the entire workout which really pushes you to do just one more leg lift! If you're a beginner, the first 20 minutes workout should be sufficient and once you work up to a more intermediate level, you can continue through the stability ball segment. Definitely worth the money!