Customer Reviews

Fat Burning Workout for Dummies [VHS]

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a veteran of many an exercise tape and many years of taking aerobics classes. Because I crave variety I have all sorts of exercise tapes in my collection but not many that feature just plain ole low impact aerobics so when I cam across this one and read the back of the video cover it seemed liked a good one to add to the collection. When initially reviewing the tape I was sort of disappointed. It looked so easy. The instructor was going through each of the moves that would be used in later combos as part of the warmup. They were all so easy and things I had learned years ago. But as I watched the tape I did note that her form was excellent and it was actually kind of nice to only have to focus on a single person who you know is doing the exercise the correct way. Sometimes the people in some of these exercise videos are not actually showing good form and it's annoying when the camera focuses on them during a critical changeover or difficult move. Another plus is that during one of the four routines in the corner there is the same instructor showing you the high impact version of the exact exercise.

I put the tape away at first and did not add it to my rotation. A few months later I was coming off an illness and wanted something to gradually get me back into the swing of things. I chose this tape and what a surprise. Yes the moves are all basic and very easy but they work. I always try to wear a heart rate monitor when I exercise to monitor the effectiveness of any exercise I am doing. This has been invaluable. Given that I was coming off an illness it didn't take long for me to get my heart rate up doing this tape and I also found that I couldn't finish the last combo. I was baffled and a little put out that what appeared to be such an easy tape had stumped me. A week later when I was feeling like my old self I did the tape again and while I could finish the tape easily this time I still was able to get my heart rate into the correct target zone. I believe this tape is effective because someone has taken the time to involve all the major mucsle groups in such a way that not only requires a great deal of energy expediture but that keeps the moves simple. You are also given enough options to make this work for anyone. Feel like more energy on certain moves then do the high impact version. It's that simple. Because I have so many tapes it takes me awhile to cylce back to any one particular one but this one definitely got added to the "A" list. While it's not anyhwere near the most exciting routine I have ever tried it does the job and that's what counts. Another bonus is if you are a beginner to exercise it gives some great workout tips and bust some of the more common exercise myths/

I recently bought this tape and it's quickly taken its place among the 6 tapes I use every week. It's not perfect, but it's good enough for me. It consists of 12 minutes of instruction in the steps that will be used, about 30 minutes made up of learning and repeating 4 routines, and a cooldown routine. The setting is indoor, pleasantly bright and spacious. Gay Gasper, a fitness expert, is the only person shown exercising. She's no perfect beauty, for one thing being rather muscular, but she seems to enjoy being herself. Her manner is professional, but pleasant and positive. She always lets you know ahead of time what's coming up, in a consistent way that is very helpful. The music is maybe a little above the average exercise video for interest; it fits the steps very well.
The exercise routines are easy to learn, though fast-paced enough to make you goof up some at first. Each one uses 3 to 5 of the 10 steps. You'll need a little bit of space, maybe 6-8 feet up and back, and 6-8 feet side to side. The steps used include a simple mambo, side steps, V-step, grapevine, heel digs, taps, mild backward lunges--nothing too difficult or stressful on the joints, but with the arm movements suggested, enough to get you breathing a little harder.
My only objections to this video are minor distractions and other personal preferences. It probably wouldn't suit you if you are only interested in serious body-building or complicated dancing routines, but otherwise it should be fine.

--the planimal

I bought this tape as a very beginning exerciser. I am now an intermediate and I still reach for it. It is absolutely one of my most used tapes. This tape is a good choice for many beginners because it offers a lot of room for growth. It starts out with a ~12 minute introduction to all of the basic aerobics moves. While, a lot of other reviewers have commented that there is no warmup I disagree the first move is the march and then variations on the march (Out-out in-in, 1-2-3 tap, etc) The march the ultimate classic aerobic warmup move, and Gay spends a good three minutes just on this move. From there she moves so that each move is progressively more difficult and more aerobic (v-step, lunge, mambo, etc).

From there it moves on to four different combos, that build one onto the other (i.e. learn combo one, do it straight through, then learn combo 2 and add it to combo one) until you reach combo five where you do the entire combination all the way through three times. As you get progressively healthier you can add a combo one by one gradually increasing the length of the workout. Also, there are some high impact options shown for many of the moves that once I got to be a beginner/intermediate I used to interval the workout.

Finally, she ends with a nice length cooldown and a stretch. While a lot of reviewers have also commented on no warmup up stretch, I've noticed that most more recent cardio videos have eliminated a stretch in the warmup and emphasized it in the cooldown. This seems to go along with what I've been reading in my fitness magazines about when a stretch is really the most effective.

If you need fairly basic choreography, or want to become familiar with standard moves used in an aerobics class this is a good place to start. However if you're a choreography junkie or always groan if you see a repeat of a combination this is not your video.

This video is exactly what it claims to be. It's a very easy to follow workout that gets your heart rate going with any complex choreography or jarring motion (in the low impact version). The instruction is clear and some of the best I've seen. I've caught only one cueing mistake so far after 3 viewings. Since the moves are simple, it really makes you focus on proper form. I don't work as hard as some of my other tapes, but I'm planning to add the high impact elements next time. A previous reviewer mentioned that the right/left instructions are reversed from what the instructor is doing on screen. I just wanted to say that this is common on many exercise videos. I believe they are trying to create a 'mirror image' for you to follow. At first it may seem confusing, but once you realize this, it actually makes it easier to follow.

This easy-to-follow, relatively quick workout is a mindless way to get your fat burning done. Once you've seen the video a few times, it's so easy to follow along that you don't even have to think about it. You can adjust the moves to make them high or low impact, too. There's no fancy footwork, which I like, but some people may find the lack of jazzy moves dull. Clear instruction, no equipment needed. Just make sure you have enough space to manuever so you won't be crashing into the coffee table while doing grapevines.

I am returning to fitness after 20 years, and I am very uncoordinated. Every time I have tried to exercise with aerobics videos I was frustrated, because I couldn't learn the moves. That is, until I found this video! "Fat Burning for Dummies" will teach you the classic moves that are still used in aerobics classes (in my opinion, they are not "old" nor "dated", like some reviewer said), while giving you a good cardiovascular workout.

This is an excellent workout for both beginner and intermediate exercisers. If you are not in good shape, you can skip one or two combos, and go straight to the cooldown, otherwise you can do the whole workout.

Gay Gasper is very nice, without being annoying. Some reviewer said she doesn't know her right from her left: well, this is called the "mirror image", and is commonly used in fitness videos.

If you are, like me, a beginner or lower intermediate, or returning to fitness after many years, this is the video for you.

I love this video! I have been using it for the past 2 months and have lost 20 pounds and continue to use it daily...I didn't find any flaws that distracted me from the basic principal of the video. While Gay does mix up her left and rights now and then, it didn't throw me off at all. I found the tips and high impact option to be very helpful. The basic portion of the video is wonderfully easy and a great warm up! I would recommend this video to beginners and pros alike! It has something for everyone!

This is my new favorite aerobic tape. very easy to follow and really gives a good workout for beginners and intermediates.

When I started using this workout, I was a beginner at aerobics. I borrowed about 2 dozen aerobics videos from the library, hoping to find a few that I could cycle through. I found, however, that a lot of the videos expect you to jump right into a routine without walking you through it, and featured a large group of participants or really silly scenarios/instructors, which I found distracting. NONE of the other videos could compare to this one.

In the Introduction, Gay Gasper walks you through the different moves used later in the workout in a 12 minute intro that will give you an excellent beginner's workout. When you are able to do more of the video, the first 12 minutes serve as a warmup for the rest of the workout (approx 45 minutes including the Intro, split into 5 segments consisting of 4 routines and a final segment which puts them all together), which is followed by a 5-10 minute cool down (segment 6) and stretch.

When I started using this workout, I could only complete the Introduction. I slowly started adding the segments 2 at a time (1 & 6, then 2 & 3, and finally 4 & 5, adding the arms a little after starting each group) until I was able to do the entire video. I currently do the whole video several times a week, occasionally using the high impact option.

There is only one person to watch, which I really liked because I find it very distracting when there is a group of people. GG has a very positive manner that is motivating but not overly cheerful like some instructors. The music that is used is appropriate and doesn't "date" the video. (Sometimes it does stick in my head afterwards, though.) Gay Gasper's outfit is simple and black, and though it may sound silly that I care about that, it would be irritating to me to watch someone wearing pastel with silver sequins on a near-daily basis. But more important, there is a focus on doing the exercises correctly - reminders about (and good samples of) proper form, monitoring your heartrate using percieved exertion, and additional tips and periodic split screens showing the optional high-impact version of the workout.

After a while the Intro section can get boring, and although they recommend doing it every time, I have found that I can do my own 5 minute warmup and start with the first segment, sometimes when I do this I repeat segment 5 (where the four routines are put together) because I like it. I generally do the Intro, however.

If you are looking for a lot of visual stimulation or a super-quick workout, this video may not be for you, but if you are looking for an instructor with a great deal of experience and excellent form and don't mind/like working out for nearly an hour, I highly recommend this workout!

I am trying to lose weight and am not very coordinated but love to do aerobics. This is the perfect tape if you are like me at all. Gay Gasper explains all the moves one at a time and then slowly puts them together and before you know it, you're doing all the moves correctly! Even when you're learning you are burning fat, though. Don't think that just because you're learning you're not exercising.

Another thing I like about the tape is that Gay is not at all annoying. There are tips and information written on the screen to the side instead of her telling you.

If you are at all "dance-challenged" like me you'll love this tape.