Customer Reviews

The Firm Bootcamp - Maximum Calorie Burn

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

To be honest, The Firm isn't one of my favourite series. Often, there are instructors not giving clear cuing and they can be out of time. For some reason, I decided to give this a go and I'm glad I did because it's one of the better workouts of theirs.
There is lots of variations in movements and music so it's kept fresh and interesting. For once I found the cuing very very precise and right on time. The instructor, Alison Davis, not only cues well to let you know what's coming up, but also tells you all the time about proper form and technique. The mix of toning and aerobics is perfect and I've found results already. It's a little over 50 minutes all up, and all you need is two sets of dumbbells. It's using basic choreography but the level is probably not for complete beginners - more of an intermediate to advanced level.
It's fun and I like to do this once or twice a week along with my other routines and dvds. I thoroughly recommend this.

I am a dedicated Firm Fan. I have been working out with them for years. This newest workout is pretty good. I like it a lot more than I did the ones that they released last fall. It has chapters, which means you can shorten the workout if needed. I did the entire workout the first time and it made me sweat.
That being said, I don't really feel like this workout is the Cardio+Sculpt that it being billed as. It felt like more cardio than sculpt to me. I had to follow the beginner modification for plyometrics because I have problems with my knees. Otherwise, I used the weights that they recommended. It didn't feel like a good, muscle-burning workout. Many of the older Firm Cardio+Sculpt workouts left your muscles feeling like jello! This one just didn't give me that same feeling. That's the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. I do like this workout and plan to do it again. I may increase the weights to get more of a sculpting workout. That could be a recommendation to any intermediate/advanced exercisers that want to do this workout.

I absolutely love this workout. It was nice to have a high-energy workout that does not incorporate the Fanny Lifter or the TransFirmer. Don't get me wrong. I love doing leg presses since they really work, but there are times when I've been working out all week, and I want to get a total body workout but don't want to do the leg presses that day. This is the video for all those who love sports drills, power moves and breaking a good sweat. I also like that the beginner moves will still get a beginner a good workout. I am crazy about the Firm, but there are some videos that I would never introduce to a beginner, even with the beginner modifications like Total Aerobic Body Shaping or Advanced Cardio Blast. They are just too much for someone who has never worked out before or who has not worked out in a long time. This video is completely doable by people of all fitness levels and is quickly going to become one of my favorites. I can't wait for the other one that is supposed to be coming out soon, Power Sculpt Workout Kit, but I can't find any information on it on the net at all!!! So we will see.

Alison Davis has quickly become my new favorite FIRM instructor thanks to her 2 new workouts. She has new, inventive moves and a very fun style that actually make you enjoy the torture! This is the only workout I have EVER been bummed about when it is over! She incorporates easy dance steps, kick boxing, and new "power moves" to target muscles as never before! I have always used The FIRM for my workout needs, but this workout accompanied with her Ultimate Fat Burning Workout has really made me get past a stubborn plateau. I am SO looking forward to MANY more workouts to come! Simply AWESOME!!!!!!!

I consider myself an advanced exerciser and this had me sweating buckets! It's a great overall cardio and weight workout and the ab section at the end is wonderful. The cueing is great, and so is the music. It's also very easy to follow the beginner moves if you're new to working out or the FIRM style. Previewing it before you actually do it is helpful since some of the moves are very quick paced. I highly recommend it!

"The Firm Bootcamp: Maximum Calorie Burn" is a challenging, total body workout that pretty much hits the ground running and doesn't let up until it's over! From warmup to cooldown, it is about 50 minutes.
The long-ish warmup (I think it is about 9 minutes) wastes no time in heating you up quickly using squats, bob-and-weaves, push-ups and some active stretching.
The program itself is a rotation of Plyometrics (short, strong jumping alternated with fast-paced weight toning) followed by straight, undiluted Cardio. This is repeated 3 times. (The only thing about the Plyo sections is that there is a lot of picking up and putting down the weights. This is one of the reasons that I actually prefer The Firm's "Ultimate Fat Burning Workout" lead by the same insructor, Alison Davis. Much less picking up and putting down!) Each segment is about 5 minutes (i.e. Plyometrics for 5 min., followed by Cardio for 5 min., etc.).
The Cardio sections are not dance-y at all; very athletic-drill/bootcamp oriented (if you're not panting and dripping sweat after the first rotation, you're either an American Gladiator or an alien!). You will do tire drills, punches, front kicks, side kicks, lunges and squats with fun variations and jumping of all kinds. (That dip-press-dip-hop in the 2nd Plymetric section is STILL a killer after 3 months of using this workout...though my legs are on fire at the END now as opposed to the beginning!)
In true Firm fashion, even the 10 minute cooldown is active, so even though your heartrate is slowly coming down, you are still working muscles and still burning fat all the way to the end. This particular cooldown provides an excellent waist/upper abs/lower abs workout.
The insructor, Alison Davis, is calm and encouraging with a slight southern twang. (I believe that The Firm is based out of South Carolina, so a lot of their instructors have this.) This is a highly recommended workout that will leave you with a sculpted, sexy body quickly!
Also, if you want a preview of this and other workout DVDs, check out collagevideo dot com!

I did this DVD for the first time today. Although I felt like I got a good workout and it was a nice change from the other 20 Firms that I've done, the camera work was just too amateur. At times, it focused on the girl with the easy moves so you could not follow along with the regular instructors. Also, there were times you could not see the leg work because it focused only on the upper half of the instructors. Whoever shot this video needs to learn from the original Firm camera people, who really knew how to shoot a workout video. However, I liked the plyometrics and speed moves because I felt I was going at different paces throughout the video and that is supposed to give you results faster. Worth a try.

I have to admit, the first time I tried this one I was a bit annoyed. The focus on the beginner was a little much for an intermediate/advanced vid. BUT, once I got over this and was able to perform the moves without much concentration on the visual the annoyance faded and I realized what a stellar workout this is. It is 52 minutes total, and it FLIES. The combination of cardio, plyo and weight work is great. (Warning though.. if you have bad knees, there is alot of squatting involved). I have done this workout about eight times and it keeps getting better.. you know you have a great workout on your hands if you feel that workout "buzz" several hours after you have performed it, and sleep like a baby at night. The cardio is fun, and the plyo work really makes me feel the burn in my legs and glutes. I like the instructor as well, and will be purchasing her first video in this series soon - try this one out, and as always... PUSH yourself and add energy to the workout and you will find that this one is a definite keeper in your rotation!

I have several of the Firm workouts, and do like them. There is no doubt they work. So I purchased this one for something a little different--frankly, although I do recognize the value of leg presses on the Step or Fanny Lifter, sometimes I'd rather not climb on that thing one more time!
And I wanted to ratchet it up a bit. And this does. It isn't too hard to follow, if you are already familiar with the basic moves, although the cueing could be a bit better in places. That doesn't really detract from the routine however. The camera work, which is problematic at times in many of the videos, has the same issues here. When transitioning steps or amping up to the power step, it really doesn't help to focus on the gal doing the beginner steps, or hip up when my feet are doing something new.
This is only in a few places though, and isn't hard to figure out, just a bit confusing.
I did get what I paid for, and am excited to learn the routine and get through the entire thing without pyramiding down here and there.
Definitely worth the effort and the money.

I just bought this one a couple of weeks ago. It is mostly aerobics, so firmies who want the heavy weight lunges should pass on this one. However, I think it is just what the firm needed; a fun, aerobic video that really kicks your butt into shape! I alternate this one with the heavy weight training videos a couple of times a week.