Customer Reviews

The Firm Body Sculpting System 2: Maximum Cardio Burn Plus Abs

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm someone who usually likes to lift heavily when I use the Firm workouts, so when I previewed this, I didn't think was going to work me that hard. When I got into the first couple of tunes, I thought this was going to be a guilty pleasure- enjoyable, but maybe not the best way to spend my workout time. Then at the thirty minute mark, I noticed that I was sweating- a lot. By the time we were ready to cool down and stretch, I felt like I worked out- and I liked it!

This workout alternates between low-impact, step, and four-limbed aerobics (aerobic movements with 3 to 5 lb weights). Of course, they're showing the use of the Fanny Lifter and their new Sculpting Stick, but I was able to get a great workout without using either (I have a stool, a regular step and a dowel, as well as a collection of dumbbells).

Step choreography is my downfall (no pun intended), but this managed to be challenging without dangerous to someone like me. The combinations use simple steps, but by the time you're done, you know you've worked hard. The kickboxing sections are fun. An experienced kickboxer (or even a Tae Bo devotee) will not be impressed, but it's enough to add a nice change to the usual Firm low impact choreography.

For the four-limbed sections, they have you use the Sculpting Stick and then the "twigs" of the Stick as your light hand weights. From what I have heard, these won't weigh more than 2 lbs. I think that would be enough for someone very new to weight training, but even with my 3 lbs (and sore shoulders from yesterday's workout) I felt like I could have gone up to 5 lbs (but I wouldn't have gone any higher).

The four-limbed sections are as close as you're going to get to upper body toning. If that's what you want, look elsewhere. A brief leg toning section using the Stick for balance and resistance is also included, along with a very short section where the 14-inch step (or stool) is climbed during the aerobics (one set for each leg- this has to be one of the shortest tall box sets the Firm has ever used). The legs section was the only place that I thought it would have been nice to have had the stick for extra resistance. However, ankle weights would also work fine here.

A brief abdominal section is included, and then we stretch out with quite a few yoga-inspired stretches at the end.

I wouldn't call this a total body workout, but it's a fun and effective cardio workout. The instructor, Allie Del Rio, is clear and motivating throughout. I think this is a great workout for beginners through advanced.

I was so pleased with the secoond BSS from the FIRM. You'll really like this workout. it's got awesome cardio moves and music that are sure to get your heart rate going and burn calories! It includes a great standing leg tune that will tone your thighs! I also love the ab work. Allie is a supurrrb instructor, too.

It all begins with a warm up on the fanny lifter, followed by intense aerobics like kickboxing, step, climbing the 14" tall Fanny Lifter. The new Firm Sculpting Stick is used, both for light four limb aerobics and stability. Following the aerobics is a standing leg tune using the stick for resistance (hamstring curls, hyperestensions, and abductions). Cool down before hitting the floor for a very tough set of abdominals and plank work that will really shape your core! The stretch is relaxing and long enough to make you feel purrrrfect!

Miss Kitka

This workout, led by Allie Del Rio, is a 55 minute long cardio and ab workout. The equipment used in the video is the firm fanny lifter and sculpting stick. You could use any sort of step you own, a broomstick, and a light pair of dumbbells to substitute.

This is a classic firm cardio workout, combining low-impact aerobics, step aerobics, and strength segments. Allie mixes it up frequently. Just when you start to get really tired she changes the segment, which helps keep it interesting.

As an intermediate/advanced exerciser, I got through it easily, although I definitely got a good cardio workout. The choreography is interesting, but not too complex. I will say, however, I know some beginning exercisers who only made it through the first fifteen minutes the first time they did it. The ab section is challenging.

Definitely a worthwhile addition to your fitness DVD collection.

This is my second Firm video from BSS2. I should mention that I am a relatively newbie to both The Firm and to step aerobics (although I'm familiar with using the tall box, aka "Fanny Lifter," for toning work). This workout is led by Firm master instructor Allie Del Rio and is about 52 minutes long. The only equipment besides the Fanny Lifter is the Firm Sculpting stick, which is sometimes used for balance, sometimes for weighted resistance. I don't have the stick, so my substitutions are described below.

I found the 6 1/2 minute warm-up to be a bit long and repetitive; it ends with a set of push-ups on the box. 4-limbed cardio with the stick comes next, and I found this to be a bit awkward without a stick--my 5# dumbbells were too heavy, and just using a dowel felt too light, so I'm going to need to experiment more here. Then comes toning work with tall box climbs on the step. I really enjoyed this segment, feeling it both in my glutes AND my outer thighs. Allie uses only the stick for balance, but you could try holding weights to make it even more challenging (I found it challenging enough without!).

Then it's back to cardio with a kickboxing segment performed without equipment. This was fun, and I liked the little hops added in towards the end. Step aerobics with the short box follows. As I said above, I'm a newbie to cardio with the step, and so I had a bit of trouble with the choreography here, but I slowly started to pick it up--Allie's great cueing helped. Then it's more low-impact aerobics without the step; this wasn't as fun for me as the kickboxing moves. Next, Allie does another step aerobics segment, and this time, I found it a little easier to follow along.

You then repeat the initial leg press series on the opposite leg before moving on to the final cardio segment, which is 4-limbed cardio using the "twigs" (ends of the sculping stick)--my 3# dumbbells worked fine as a substitution here, but some of the moves felt a little awkward to me. Before going on to abs, Allie does a nice segment of standing leg work, which was great for me since I hate floor work! The sculpting stick is used for resistance; I plan to use ankle weights next time. Allie does some nice brief stretches for the legs and then moves on to the floor for abs work. Although the abs exercises appeared pretty standard--mostly basic crunch variations--I was SHOCKED by how tough they were--I consider myself to have a pretty strong core, but I had to modify here! Allie finishes with a nice, full-body final stretch.

I did like this workout, although I was a bit disappointed that I was only in my target HR zone for about 22 minutes; this might improve as I become more familiar with the moves. Also, there were segments of this workout that felt a little too much like traditional hi-lo floor aerobics for my liking. I think that next time I will add my weighted gloves to this workout, which should help both to boost the cardio effect and to make the toning work without the stick easier. Overall, however, I felt that I got a good workout, and I do plan to continue using this video.

This is one of my favorite Firms. I could consider myself intermediate/low advanced. This video uses the Fanny Lifter and Sculpting Stick in lots of different ways. The Fanny Lifter is used for step routines and tall box climbs. The Sculpting Stick is used for balance and some arm toning segments.

This workout has a good cardio variety, there are 4 limb aerobics using the stick fully assembled, followed by a couple of step portions, a fun kickboxing segment, a hi-low impact aerobics section, and some tall box climbs using the fanny lifter and stick for balance. The choreography is relatively simple, step knees, basic steps, over the tops, repeaters, etc. It might take a few tries of the video to get it down, but it is fun once you do. Following the aerobic sections, you remove the "twigs" from the sculpting stick and do some more 4 limb toning exercises. Then there is a standing leg section, where you do assorted leg lifts using the stick for balance and/or resistance. Then you cool down in preparation for some ab work. The ab section is short but tough, I sure feel it anyways, after abs you do a nice final stretch.

I don't find this workout to be really hard at all, but I think it is a blast, and I always seem to get a good workout from it. I think the music is good too. Allie is a great instructor, she is really fit and energetic. When I first previewed it I didn't think I would like it and almost got rid of it, sure glad that I didn't.

This is an earlier Firm video that uses the Firm's "Fanny Lifter" which is a square box step with two peices (6 and 8 inches to be used apart or combined for 14 inches). This Firm video also uses the "Sculpting Stick" which is a long thin bar for balance and/or lifting. The edges of the stick come off to be used as "twigs" or free weights (dumbbells).

The video can be done without the stick (you can use 3-5 pound weights in lieu of the stick, use a broom handle or just go without) for an effective workout. The video can also be done with the Firm's Box, Transfirmer or a regular step and step stool with a little bit of imagination.

This video is taught by Allie DelRio, a Firm regular and a good instructor. There are 4 other girls behind Allie. One of these women (back, right) performs beginner modifications of some of the moves. Unfortunately, the camera is not always on her. Like any exercise program, the first few times you run through this video you might be slightly confused by the moves or may feel it goes too fast. Stick with it though.

This video is approximately 50 minutes of exercise. It starts off with a light warm up and stretch (you might want to stretch a bit more than they do). After the warm up comes some push-ups which are followed by a sequence using the sculpting stick to work the arms/chest while you work the legs (4-limb). The next segment uses the fully assembled (14 inch) step to work one side of the lower body. After working the one side you move to a cardio segment with some jabs and kicks. After the kickboxing segment you will use either the 6 or 8 inch step to do a short stepping cardio sequence. Then you will go to a low impact (floor) cardio sequence with a lot of front and back hand-heel touches (I found this a confusing sequence the first few times I tried it but finally got it). After this segment is over you will go back to the 6 or 8 inch step and complete another cardio step program. Again you'll assemble the Fanny Lifter (to 14 inches) and complete the other side of your lower body. Then you'll get your "twigs" (or dumbbells) and do some more 4-limb movements that work both your upper and lower body. Once you complete that segment there is another segment that works on your lower body but without the step. You can use the stick for balance and/or for extra resistance during this segment. A short cool-down/stretch follows with the use of the sculpting stick. Then you go down to the floor and do a variety of ab work. After the ab work is complete another short stretch/cool-down follows.

Overall, this is a decent workout. Allie is good at cue-ing but omits instructions on proper form that is present in other Firm videos. This is not a terribly hard video and does not use heavy weights nor does it work all muscle groups. I find some of the sculpting stick moves uncomfortable and you may want to alter some moves or omit the stick. However, this is still a decent workout and a staple in my video rotation. I still find this video enjoyable after months of having it in my rotation.

This workout utilizes the Fanny Lifter and the Sculpting Stick, but I would recommend using neither for the first couple of times through the workout to get the moves down, it is still rather effective without the step. There is some complicated choreography for the first time user, but Allie does a good job breaking it down. There are 6 mini routines, each one does an 8, 4, then 2 set breakdown of the moves. Because the workout is divided into segments, it is easy to pause, catch your breath, drink some water, and then start back up. The instructor has great cueing, and once I got a hold of The Firm's vocabulary I had no trouble keeping up. The segments have a kickboxing routine, sculpting, cardio, and a few use the fanny lifter for scuplting. There is a longer ab routine that is sure to have you sweating the first couple of times through. I just wish that they had held the stretches for a longer amount of time.
All in all, I like it, and would buy it again.

This workout is one of the most fun tapes I have done in a while. I have other Firm tapes and I keep going back to this one.

Allie is one of my favorite Firm instructors. Others made some comments about the tattoos. I had to look hard to see those supposedly distracting tattoos --they are very small tasteful ones that encircle her wrist and ankle. The way some people were going on I expected to see her tattooed from head to toe. And yes, she is not bone thin, but she is in excellent shape and looks very healthy with normal curves. I don't understand what the fuss is about there with some reviewers. If anyone is doing a video workout thinking they will attain the specific body contours of whoever is leading said workout, they are sadly mistaken.

Back to the workout --it provides a great mix of cardio moves, squats, and some basic kickboxing moves. It is not the most strenuous cardio workout out there but it definitely gets the energy going and is interesting enough to be repeated on subsequent days.

I use this on my light training days. It's a great break between other Step routines; I dig the combination of weights and cardio!

The main reason I'm writing, is due to some of the past comments that have been written, in regards to Allie. I cannot believe how snobby some of these reviews have been...from comments about her weight, to her tatoos, its just pitful how self-absorbed and trite some of these reviewers are.

Shame on you! Exercise is for everyone!! Even if you have tatoos, piercings, black, white, fat, thin...Exercise is not just for the skinny and so-called "perfect" people.

If you're new to Max Cardio Burn, do not allow these judgemental reviewers to cloud your vision. This is a great video for light training days, the steps are easy to follow, and, you don't need the sculpting stick (I just use my weights and step!) to perform the exercises.

I must say I have a few videos from The Firm, & this one is my absolute fave! It's 55 mins, but trust me it just flies by! Allie rocks! It never fails, every time I do this workout I break into a crazy sweat! You don't need to purchase "The Firm Sculpting stick". You'll do fine with handweights & a broom stick (or something).