Product Details

• Actors: Tracie Long, Ginger Brown, Kimberly Brown, Jeanne A. Copelston, Carissa Foster
• Directors: Anna L. Benson
• Writers: Mark S. Henriksen
• Producers: Anna L. Benson, Cynthia S. Benson, M. Michelle Crisp
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Live / Artisan
• VHS Release Date: May 16, 2000
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1568121385
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,557 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Strength, endurance, and good form come together in the Firm's Firm Basics: Sculpting with Weights. This informative workout packs 43 minutes of sweat-producing weightlifting, coupled with aerobic intervals. Instructor Tracie Long is inspirational as she demystifies strength training and body alignment throughout this total body workout. The major muscles of the upper and lower body are trained with lunges, pushups, and a variety of standards that pack fat-burning potential. These exercises are basic in application but still deliver a challenging interval session. Low-impact aerobics segments are simply choreographed and spliced between weightlifting sets. This combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercise creates a program that encourages both power and stamina. The cueing is concise and informative with tips on body alignment playing an important role. All participants will need hand weights, a step, and a dowel (a broom will work great) to perform this workout. Because the choreography is very basic, this is an ideal program for the first-time exerciser; however, more advanced fitness buffs will also find a relevant program that will deliver an effective sweat-packed session (just increase your hand-weight size with your skill level). --Olivia Voigts

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

134 of 136 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great video to buy to get you started and wanting more, October 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Firm - Firm Basics: Sculpting With Weights [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I bought this video on a whim. I was curious to see if the "results in 10" were true. I had been taking a once-a-week muscle sculpting class for about a month when I started the video. Well - it was true - I saw results after about 7 times of doing the tape! After one month, I would say I looked like I had lost about 14-15 pounds, but really only lost 7, I toned more than lost weight. The thing I love about this tape is that the way Tracie talks through the reps, I never found myself thinking " oh god I don't think I can do any more" before you know it, you've done 12 or 16 reps. She doesn't count all of the reps so you don't realize just how much you've done, she talks in the meantime. This is the only exercie tape that I've stuck with. I strongly recommend this to people who can't stay committed. I've tried exercise videos in the past, and within 1 or 2 weeks, I quit. This tape, along with two other FIRM tapes I have, give good variety and make you WANT to exercise. The coaches at the end of the video are pretty good also. I've tried other's exercise videos, and they just don't compare to the great instruction from the FIRM.

83 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the Best!, March 4, 2000

By 

Dani (Brooklyn) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Firm - Firm Basics: Sculpting With Weights [VHS] (VHS Tape)

After reading the reviews on this website, I ordered this video along with the Firm Basics Fat Burning Workout. I was so excited to learn that the FIRM had tapes for beginners. I own 2 other tapes, and found them to be too difficult given my fitness level. After doing the Fat Burning tape last night I practically ran home to do the Sculpting with Weights video, I was so pleased to finally be able to complete a FIRM video. Well this tape really blew me away! It's a slightly tougher workout IMHO than Fat Burning. Just right for my fitness level. It is a must for anyone looking to start a weight training program. It combines aerobic intervals with weights to give you a really great workout. It is perfect for those for whom the Richard Simmons, Jenny Craig, and WW's tapes are far too easy (like myself), but are not quite ready for advanced or complicated aerobic workouts. The ratio of weight training to aerobics is 2:1. The Fat Burning Tape is 1:2. There are no complicated dance moves or distracting music. Just a great instructor who guides you through each move expertly. As stated by a previous poster, I feel encouraged and motivated to stick with these tapes. I can also envision the day when I will need to move on to the next level of FIRM tapes, and look forward to it. If there is a better tape out there for those looking to start a weight training and aerobics program, I would love to hear about it. Until then...I'm a FIRM believer!

73 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful video for the beginner who wants results, May 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Firm - Firm Basics: Sculpting With Weights [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I tried another Firm tape about a year and a half ago that was much more difficult than this one, and sort of did it for a couple of months before stopping. I decided to give it another try with the Basics series. This is my favorite in the series. It was the perfect level for me. It was short enough and within my reach, but every time I worked out, I really felt like I had been challenged. Within a couple of weeks, I could feel muscles all over my body. The instructor is genuine and she is very helpful about correct form. I realized that when I had been pushing myself with the harder Firm video, I wasn't using correct form. Even though this video is "easier," I can feel that I am getting better results. Sometimes the firm "ravers" make you feel inferior if you find the basics videos challenging, but don't let them . . . there's no shame in starting at the right level. This is hard enough to make you feel proud and make you feel strong - without being so hard that you give up.