Customer Reviews

Firm: Body Sculpting Basics [VHS]

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This is the first of the FIRMS - the one that started it all, and I was anxious to try it out to see what started the whole FIRM following.

After having done it several times, I have this to say:
This is a workout for ADVANCED exercisers, or for those who definitely want to be advanced. Even if you thought you were advanced after months of kicking away to advanced taebo, this workout could still kick your butt. The floor work on this tape is some of the hardest out there. For amazing results, this video is one of the best. But what else can you expect from an hour long work-out with weights, cardio and extended floor work. They are not kidding about results in 10 workout hours - you WILL see them. That however does not mean you will lose 50 pounds in ten days - just that you will be on your way to loosing them faster than with just about any other exercising video out there, and you will start getting beautifully toned.

However, before you grab this video at the nearest store there are a couple of things I would want to point out:

1. This work-out was done in the mid 80s. If leotards, make-up and 80s music get in the way of your work-out you will not enjoy this. Also, if you currently do the more recent FIRMS and have not tried one of the original 6, you should know that the earlier videos are quite different from the later ones and you might not necessarily like the setting, music or the way the instructors cue.

2. This, being an earlier work-out does not demonstrate the safest version of moves. As an example you do not squat to pick up or release your weights, and also in some of the lunges people's knees extend over their toes. If you already know about proper form you can do this work-out without following the bad example, but if not you may be better off picking up a tape where proper form is talked about and well demonstrated - some of the later FIRM tapes do a much better job at that.

3. Finally, you need a set of dumbells for this workout (3,5, and 8lbs for women, 5,10,15 for men to start with) and ankle weights that are optional but recommended as you get stronger. As a beginner you should do the tape without weights and rest as needed, not doing the whole work-out your very first time. It will be practically impossible with that intensive leg work anyway.

Keeping all that in mind you will enjoy this video if you want to do something serious for maximum results and have the time, equipment and determination necessary to succeed.

I just started The Firm and have been using the new body sculpting system for almost a month. I picked up this video to accompany it, because it received such rave reviews. The only advice I can give is if you are a new "Firm Believer", don't get this tape. While the copyright says the tape was made in 2001, it is merely a rerelease of the original Firm workout from the 1980s. That being said, there have been a lot of newer innovations in exercise science since this tape was made almost 20 years ago, and many of the standing moves are just not as safe as the moves in the newer Firm tapes. Also, this tape clearly was made before the concept of "slower is better" came about, because there a lot of jerky movements, and does anyone realize that in the cardio segments Susan is telling you to jump around with 5lb weights??? I have to say though that the floor exercises were really great. I just don't know if they were worth the cost of the tape. Do yourself a favor and if you are new to the Firm, buy a tape that really is newer, not just a rerelease of older unsafe moves.

This workout..it is UNBELIEVABLE! It is tough tough tough, and if by some chance, you outgrow it, you are doing it wrong!
:) That is the beauty about FIRMS, you can adjust weights and work harder and harder!

Susan Harris is wonderful, it is no surprise that many FIRMies want to see her again in Anna Benson's FitPrime videos!
Susan is just a top notch instructor. I simply HATE HATE HATE
instructors that are too peppy or too perfect, but Susan is MOTIVATING.. She is obviously knowledgeable about fitness, and her slender body proves then and now that women especially can be sexy and well toned by weights!

This workout is VERY tough, although it could be modified w/ light weights! Susan starts w/ a warmup then a slow weight warmup, followed by more weight segments for the upper body. There is only one "main" cardio segment (although I guarantee your heart will be racing during this workout!) The cardio has running in place w/ light weights and jacks and it is a fun segment.
BEWARE OF THE FLOOR WORK! if you don't like floorwork, DON'T GET THIS TAPE! The floorwork (as I have heard from others too) contains some of the hardest exercises..by the end, I am so exhausted! The floorwork contains many generic exercises, but the sequencing and the intensity is TOUGH! First, there is table work (down on all fours one leg up working at a time)
which is tough because there are side leg lifts as well as a new move that I haven't really seen where you bend your leg at a 90 degree angle, then turn your leg inward and do tablework..ouch!
Then more leg work later laying on your side lifting your leg w/ a weight on them and "shooting out " your leg at a 30degree angle
OUCH AGAIN, then you lay on your side again and put the back leg behind you and do frontal sweeps w/ your inner thigh/leg..OOH!

I really could go on and on about this workout. it was filmed in the eighties, complete w./ eighties hair/makeup/songs, but the workout is so hard, I would've NEVER thought I would still be doing a sixteen year old workout today, but it never gets any easier

Hope this helps!
:)

I was first introduced to this video six years ago. At the time it was all I could do to finish the video -- let alone add weights. But just last year when I got serious about getting in shape, I remembered what a great workout this tape is and decided to get a copy for myself.

I've never regretted it.

This video not only is an aerobic work-out, but also helps tone muscles. Upper body and lower body. My husband even does this work-out sometimes and it's challenging for him too.

Don't let the '80s instructor's outfits turn you from trying this tape. It's great!

If you're looking to lose weight fast, and tone up your body, look no more. This workout will help you gain muscle and lose fat fast.
Susan Harris is a Great instructor! It never gets boring.

This is the video that made me a FIRM believer! It is such a good all-around workout. The video guarantees results within 10 workouts, but for me, I could see the difference after three! Susan Harris is a great instructor, not too peppy, but there to keep you going. I cannot say enough good things about this workout. I absolutely am hooked on it and I love it!

For those of you who are looking to get in shape and lose the weight fast, this is the video to get! I've had it and been doing it on and off for 5 years now, and I have yet to find anything that works faster! I found it very easy to follow ... and let me tell you, after all those squats and lunges, your backside will look better than ever!

I would recommend this video to anyone who not only wants to tone their body, but truly sculpt and define their muscles. Before I tried this workout, I had been doing cardio and weights at the gym, but I saw faster results after a few weeks of doing this video than I did after more than a year at the gym. The exercises simply work muscles that those machines at the gym never will. The video's strength is the the butt and thigh region, but also provides a great arm workout, and satisfactory back exercises. However- you may want to turn somewhere else for a more in-depth ab routine, or otherwise do more sets of the ab exercises on the tape.

Overall, this is probably one of the best tapes you could ever buy if you want sexy, sculpted muscles. Spare yourself the grueling gym workouts- they will never compare to this video.

I didn't know that this was shot in the mid-80's to begin with, so I was a bit shocked by the legwarmers, crayon-colored leotards, mullet hairstyles and gold necklaces. Also, the music sounded like a clown circus.

Every set of muscle seemed to be worked individually, repetitively. No entertaining dance moves or fancy footwork. It's discouraging at first not to be able to do a particular set of exercise either because I didn't have enough resistance (the repetitions are really tiring) or the the muscle part involved seemed to have atrophied (I'm a beginner).

But the instructor is very encouraging, and she herself seems to have a difficult time when the set gets challenging. And with repeated use of the VCD, I find that I'm getting more and more fit and toned. This is one workout wherein you'll really see results. I like the way my stomach gets shaped the morning after every exercise.

So if you want hardcore, no nonsense, no frills exercise, try this. You'll be rewarded for your patience.

PS. I haven't tried the multi-weights required, being a beginner.

I've been doing this workout for about a week but still cannot go through the middle part when they do leg on the floor. While I fast-forward the tape to the next ab part, I just shake my head and think they are monsters.

But it really works your muscles from the start and has great warm-up and cool-down.

The instructor is great. She doesn't give you sweet talks but is very pleasant with rhythmical instructions.

For beginners (like me), I would recommend Fat Burning Workout also from The Firm. I tend to do this one more because I want faster results :)