Customer Reviews

The Firm Cross Trainers: The Tortoise Workout [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

...If you wonder what all this means you will have to try the Tortoise. It is definitely different. You will either hate it or love it or maybe even both. Or you may hate it now and come back to it when you are into serious fitness and fall in love. The quick quick summary is that if you are already a FIRM lover, or if you are an advanced exerciser looking for an interesting and unusual routine, this may be just the right work-out for you!

Designed to work on alternate days with the HARE work-out (which I reviewed separately) this workout emphasizes slow moves with heavier weights. If weight work does not appeal to you (although it should, for overall fitness) then don't bother picking up this one. In this hour-long video you will use weights for thorough upper body sculpting as well as for the lower body (in lunges) and you will also use the tall step box to shape and define your lower body. Naturally, you need equipment - you will need weights 5-8lb dumbells for beginners (the cast uses a barbell but you can use dumbells) and two step boxes - tall (10-14 inches) and short (about 4 inches).

This workout is spiced up with short (and relatively easy) aerobic sequences to ballroom music. You will get your heart rate up to the cha cha, the tango, the waltz and others, complete with curtsies at the end. Weird? Maybe. But this may also be the exact weird thing you need to have a blast while getting some SERIOUS work done. I personally loved it.

The workout starts with an unusual ab work sequence in the beginning. This is different from traditional workouts where this is saved for last, but unless you just can't "stomach" starting out this way, this shouldn't bother you. Tracy Long cues flawlessly. She also gives instruction on proper form and is generally motivating but very professional. She does not yell at you to get that lazy butt off the couch - she assumes you take fitness seriously and don't need to be reminded of how rewarded you will feel once you are through. Susan Harris, the original FIRM instructor also makes an appearance in this cross trainer series, and leads you through some of the moves.

You alternate between working with weights and then doing some light aerobics to different ballroom tunes. The choreography (using the short step box) may seem complicated at first, but after several times you will follow it with ease. This tape will NOT teach you the ballroom dances - it is just a work-out to ballroom music for variety. If you can't stand ballroom but want to cross train try the FIRM strength and cardio series - same concept.

The weight work will be as difficult as the weights of the dumbells you use. Beginners can do this with no weights - still, this is a pretty advanced work-out. Intermediate to advanced exercisers will probably enjoy it more.
The work-out ends with more ab work and with a good stretching segment.

This workout is different and unusual - but EFFECTIVE. If you want results this is one to get. And if you are a woman and are worried about the body-building theme here, don't dispair - it is very unlikely and almost impossible that you will become the new Miss Hercules by doing this regularly. Chances are you probably won't even get to be as muscular as Tracy Long (maybe if you work VERY hard and use HEAVY weights) - but you will gain beautiful muscle definition, a toned look and you will lose weight.

Overall I give this work-out 5 stars because no matter how you may like or dislike the set, make-up, music, instructor, ballroom theme or anything else - the bottom line is that this is an excellent work-out for the body. Well researched, well executed, well cued - and is a lot more fun than weight work at the gym - at least to me.

Wow, what a long review I've written :D Did not realize I had that much to say...

This is one tough workout! And because of its emphasis on heavy weights, it is a great workout for men as well as women. As with all "the Firm" workouts, this video pushes you to new fitness levels by forcing you to do more reps and harder routines than you would ever subject yourself to otherwise. But the fitness rewards of surviving and mastering this grueling workout are great, believe me!

Tracy Long is the best instructor! She's motivating, yet not overbearing. This workout is not for light days. You will get results even quicker than going to the gym and using machines, but in the privacy of your home at only a fraction of the price! I call this "Death by leg press" because you will probably want to die if you you have to do even one more (I can never make it through all the sets), but boy will your gluts be great! I've never had any better success at losing weight, toning up, and increasing strength than with the FIRM workouts! And you won't find a better price than at Amazon. I hope they re-issue this tape soon for the sake of you FIRM fellow lovers out there....

When I first viewed this tape, I hated ballroom the music for the aerobic step parts. I was intimidated by the fancy footwork in those step parts as well, I thought I'd trip all over myself. I was not too eager for the long sets of leg presses...and I avoided it for about two weeks. It didn't take me more than one workout to get hooked on it though. I really like it now. Even the music has gotten better for me, and the fancy footwork is really fun. There is only one aerobic part, the "charleston" that I entirely skip simply because I don't like it. Nothing wrong with the cueing or the instructor, I just don't particularly like the routine. So I do something else instead or just skip it and move on to the next part. It's only a few minutes long and won't make or break the rest of the workout.

The Tortoise and the Hare are crosstrainers that work oppositely. So, the Tortoise uses slower music so that you can use heavier weights (At my current level, I can use up to 15-lbs with dumbells or a 35lb barbell and weights for military presses and biceps curls, squats, etc). Among other things, there are two long sets of leg presses on a 14-inch box (or a box height that is best for you based on your current level), a set of weighted squats and a set of weighted dip-backs, and relatively long sets of upper body work. So the workout is as challenging as you make it for yourself, and it's emphasis is on muscle sculpting. In other words, a beginner should have little problem doing the workout with light or no weights as he/she progresses. The advanced should get good results with heavier weights and proper form.

The Hare, it's corresponding crosstrainer, on the contrary, is faster and its emphasis is on cardio work. It has several fast aerobic sections on a 6-inch aerobic step, and the heaviest arm weights (during the aerobic sections) will probably be only 5 ot 7-lb dumbells, ok, maybe 10lbs if the segments aren't too fast for you. Then there are two sets of lighter weighted leg presses, and like 12min of ab/hip/thigh floorwork. So you crosstrain by alternating the two tapes so that your body does not get too used to (or too comfortable) doing the same thing. Plus when you do the heavier work, you can recover while doing the lighter work the next day.

I really like the setting of the old FIRM tapes. The settings are light, airy and IMOHO very well produced. I like the "class" setting more than I like the single lone instructor, but that's just me.

The music varies thoughout and with such a variety, there is something for everyone.

The instructor is strong and motivates me to do my best work. The cueing is very good as well, especially with the fancy footwork. The instructor is very experienced and her demeanor is professional and inspiring. I really don't take too well with the bouncy cream puff types, and really appreciate the "just do it" instructors who don't gab in between stuff, or sound like minnie mouse, etc. But that's just me. Everyone will find their own motivators.

This video ranks up there, as one of the Firm's toughest, right next to Body Sculpting Basics and Low Impact Aerobics. It works the lower body very well. I'm impressed that when you watch the video you don't think it's not that hard, until you do them. I've been using the Firm videos, exclusively, for four months. The progress that I've made by making healthy choices in eating (not feeling hungry) and working out, I haven't seen since my younger years. I've lost 5 dress sizes. This video will only enable me to achieve more results. This video is an excellent workout.

The Tortoise" is an exercise tape that follows the 'circuit' design -- it alternates between aerobics, stretching, and weightlifting. The movements are moderately slow and typically require you to really use your muscles. The moves are all low impact. A few of movements are loosely based on dances -- Tango, Cha Cha, etc. Some equipment is requried: 3 to 20 lb dumbells, a low 3" to 7" step, and a tall 18" to 22" step. The instructor is pretty, muscular, and Rubinesque; and she does a nice job directing. The producer spent enough money on the background, direction and supporting exercisers to produce a pleasant tape.

Taken together, "The Tortoise" gives a very good muscle building workout for the entire body. It also provides a good aerobic workout. There isn't much for general range of motion, but all major muscle groups are stretched, some repeatedly. This tape was intended to be used with "The Hare", which has a greater emphasis on aerobics.

If you tend to do more aerobics than weight bearing exercise, this tape will be good for your body. My only problem with the tape is that the music and format just aren't as fun as "The Hare".

This workout has background music that is enjoyable and varied, some of it inspired by dances (e.g., Tango). Visually, the workout quite entertaining: colorful backdrop, statues, murrals on the wall, and a variety of people exercising in different clothing. It looks like you are in a class with many other people.

As someone who generally loves The Firm series and Tracie Long, I was right in assuming that this workout would be a winner. As always, Tracie keeps you motivated without being annoying - also the background people stay quiet which is nice. My overall impression of this video i:
1. the toning and strength segments using the weights are top-notch - when she is using the barbell - I had no trouble doing the same exercises using two dumbbells. These segments were tough and gave me a good workout.
2. the 5 "cardio" segments which utilized classic dances for the routines were way too easy and did not even get my heart rate up at all - to be honest after I finished this workout I did 20 minutes of Tae Bo for some cardio benefit.
3. To summarize, get this video if you are looking for a good strength-building workout for the legs and upper body. Try the other video in this series "The Hare" or the classic firm series videos for cardio.

This is one of my favorite advanced workouts. I've been doing home workouts for 15 years now, and the Firm are the best. I enjoy this one especially because it involves intense weight training (with heavier weights - I use a 40 lb barbell and up to 20 lb dumbbells). The aerobics are also easy to follow and fun. At first it does seem confusing with the different size steps and weights used, but keep with it -- this one's worth it!

This is a great total-body workout with strength training interspersed with ballroom aerobics. Most people who have reviewed this video have mentioned the ballroom aerobics (many don't like them) but have not really described what they are like. The ballroom aerobics are basically low impact step aerobics with ballroom-inspired steps (cha-cha, tango, charleston, waltz). They are not too bad, really. I had expected worse (like dancing all around the floor), but as I said, they are basically just step movements (on a low step) to different types of ballroom music. I have to admit, although they are not too bad, the music is corny during these segments and the charleston segment is particularly cheesy. But other than that, this is a great workout. For those of you who do not know, this tape is basically the entire Tough Tape with two ab segments (one at the beginning of the tape and one at the end), a few stretch segments, and the aerobics. The fact that this tape incorporates Tough Tape AND abs redeems it completely. I always loved Tough Tape but wished it had an ab segment.

Total workout length is a little over one hour.

I have been doing The Firm videos since the 80's, I'll lay off them a while at hit the gym, but always come back, because they work. This and the Hare are my two favorites. Tracy Long rocks, I had been doing the high box moves forever, but never had good results until Tracy explained keeping the heel down, and dipping down further at the bottom, then wow! She's not perky, (yea!) but motivating, and it doesn't seem as dated as the earlier Firms.