Customer Reviews

The Firm - Fast & Firm Series: Hips, Thighs, and Abs

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm a big fan of the new FIRM workouts made availible to us from Goodtimes. Ever since the release of the brand new FIRM Box incline bench, I've been feeling more fit than ever. I love all the new workouts that utilize the bench, and this one is no expection.

This workout is chaptered into two parts. The first is about twenty five minutes worth of very unique floor work done on several different angles of the Firm's incline bench. At the full height, the hip flexors and quads are targeted with moves that look easy, but once tried one will realize they take concentration and endurance. Also worked on the full height are the inner and outer thighs. The eight pound sculpting stick is used to help intensify the inner thigh work, but it is quite tough on its own. Table work is done on the incline using dumbells. This makes the moves newly challenging. Traditional bridgework also helps target the glutes. The portion ends with a relaxing stretch.

The abdominal section is quite tough. I was a seasoned exerciser when I first tried it and I couldn't make it through without quitting. Reverse crunches are done on the incline, which forces the back flat and fatigues the abs almost immediately. Pam Meriwether makes it tough by doing leg walk, pulleys, and other varieties. Afterward, more ab work is done on the floor using the disassembled sculpting stick. These moves are far from boring and extremely unique and effective.

The music is excellent. Pam is not my favorite Firm instructor. Her cueing could have been better, but the workout is fabulous. Also, Pam looks quite underweight in this workout for reasons I don't know. She and another instructor in the cast named Christa are quite thin enough to raise some concern. I hope to see them looking a bit heathier in the future because both are beautiful, talented women.


Enjoy!

Kitka

Watch out!! I bought the firm box system and I got this dvd as the bonus. Although, the name of the one I got was "Hips, thighs & Abs" and the cover is white but it is the same workout as this one!!!!! Only difference is that the one included with the system was divided into 2 chapters, hips/thighs and abs. This one is not chaptered.

But despite that confusion, this is a great workout, it hurts, it is a lot of work for the legs, specially the thighs!
Not much cardio, but toning is great!

Pam Cauthen Meriwether leads this great toning DVD. It is divided into two sections. The first leads you through a series of hip and thigh exercises. There is a lot of variety in this segment - you'll work on the floor, on top of your step, and on an incline. This is definitely challenging and had me sweating.
The abs section is even more challenging. The work on the incline is very advanced, although there are beginner modifications you can make. This is a workout that I will have to grow into.

In order to do all of the exercises as demonstrated, you will need the new firm box or a step that adjusts to 14" and an incline. The sculpting stick and a set of dumbbells are also used. If you didn't have the sculpting stick, you could use dumbbells or even a broom stick.

It's funny; I never write reviews, but I wanted to becasue this workout is great. It's divided into two chapters, and they are relatively simple, but boy do you feel results the next day. This workout looks easy when you watch it through the first time, but it is a very effective toning and scultping work out.

I love the Firm, and I love this DVD, especially on a day when I am pressed for time. Try it. Plus, you don't really need a sculpting stick on this one. Light dumbells held the right way work well or a broom stick could sufice.

I always watch DVD's before I do them so that I'm not stumbling while doing it.. When I viewed this video I Thought this looks easy..it's not!! IT is a great Leg workout. working All major leg muscles. you will need the sculpting stick and the firm box which is better than the fanny lifter.. I recommend this Video to all first time and advanced Firm Believers..... Enjoy.!!!!!!!!

Well worth the money if you are looking for a workout to do at home. As a mom with limited time, I could complete the workout before the kids got up for school in the morning. Routine is very easy to learn and I felt immediate results after the first few days of using the workout DVD.

This DVD requires a Firm Step with incline and the sculpting stick. I didn't have a sculpting stick, but managed to make it work with dumbells. It's a quick workout that gets your muscles pretty warm, but I didn't really sweat at all (and I only consider myself to be an intermediate exerciser). Also, some of the exercises require you to lay on or lean on the step in ways that I found outrageously uncomfortable and was forced to move to the floor. The abs section is TOUGH and the cueing by the instructor is very good throughout. Also, (and yes, I know it's not in the title, but...)it would have been nice to have a short upper body segment as well. I'll use it, but not as often as my other Firm DVDs.

For the most part, the exercises on this video are fantastic - they intensely work the target muscles. Some of the exercises are new and unique, others are old favorites.

However, I feel the special props (the bench and "sculpting stick") they recommend aren't necessary and are actually distracting; I was able to do all the exercises with a stool and/or couch and free weights or ankle weights. Also, I personally felt that this instructor and the music are very annoying (I'm usually not picky about music and can tolerate cheesiness, but this sounded like home made midi techno). Aside from those objections, I would recommend this video because it is a solid workout.

Personally I like 2 other Firm videos that also work the legs on the floor (i.e. no jumps, no squats) more than this one.
Firm Total Body: Abs Hips & Thighs Sculpting
The Firm: Sculpted Buns, Hips, and Thighs
Even though these "classic" videos have old school music, the exercises are effective, and you don't have to deal with special props.

The exercises I like on this Fast & Firm Sculpting video that are "new" and not on the classic videos I listed above are
*Elbows on stool or couch and legs in front, LIFT one leg and do leg circles.
*BRIDGE lifts with legs on stool.
*Outer thigh side leg lefts while in table position on top of the box
*Plank work
(Of course there are other exercises I liked, but they are old time favorites like inner thigh lift, table work, reverse crunches, etc)

The Firm has released a small amount of lower body floorwork videos, I have to say this one is my favorite. Pam Cauthen Meriwether leads this 35 minute workout that is an add on from the Firm BSS3 workout system. She is joined by 4 fellow Firm Master Instructors, with Libby as the beginner modifier. You will need a set of dumbells anywhere from 3-8 lbs depending on your level. The Firm Box and Sculpting Stick are also used but the workout can be done without it.

You start with a warmup, which is done in bare feet which I thought was odd at first, shoes can be worn if you wish. I really like the music in the warmup. Then it's on to leg work, starting with quadricep work. You place your forearms on the box keeping your hips lifted and do leg lifts, pulses and circles, much harder than it looks as you try to keep the hips lifted the whole time. This can be be done seated as well. Then you will go on your knees and hold the Sculpting Stick above your head and do hip tucks, again harder than it looks as the goal is to keep the hips lifted the whole time.

The next segment is bridgework using weights, you prop one foot on the box then raise the other leg in the air and do hip raises, you repeat on the other leg then place both feet on the box and do more hip raises. Then you go on top of the box for table work and do outer thigh lifts, starting with the leg bent, then straighten the leg to make it harder. This felt awkward to me, next time I might just do it on the floor and use a bent leg, which is the beginner option. Then you will work the inner thighs, laying on top of the box then take the Sculpting Stick and lay it on your leg and do inner thigh lifts & sweeps. Laying on the box was not comfortable so I just did it on the floor, I might use a dumbell or ankle weight instead of the stick next time too. The inner thigh work is repeated on the other side before doing the outer thigh tablework on the opposite leg.

More tablework using a weight is next, the incline box is also used here, again I just did this segment on the floor. You work the hamstring with leg lifts then adding crossovers, then you will remove the weight, straighten the leg and repeat. This is then repeated on the other leg. Then you will work the outer thighs while lying on the incline box and do leg lifts, I also did this segment on the floor. Then it's time to stretch.

The ab section follows the lower body work, once again the incline box is used for a good part of it, which makes it quite challenging, but it can also be done on the floor. First you start with planks, holding in the position then adding alternating knees working the obliques a bit, this is repeated a few times. Then you will lie on the incline box and do lower crunches, adding leg extensions, leg walks and pulleys, this set goes on a while and you will really feel it.

The second half of the abwork is done on the floor, using the disassembled Sculpting Stick. You hold the twigs in your hands, and place the other section behind your knees. You start with upper crunches, gradually adding lower crunches, then chest presses before going into ribcage pullovers, then you finish out with more upper and lower body crunches done individually but adding swivels to each side.

Overall I really liked this routine, even with all the modifications I made to it. Some people might get disgusted when purchasing this video and seeing all the equipment that is used with it, but you can do the routine without it. I admire the Firm for finding new ways to incorporate the gadgets they invent into the workouts, but sometimes they tend to overdo it just a little. And that's coming from a long time Firm fan.

Pam does a great job instructing here, she is one of my favorite Firm instructors. She is pleasant, encouraging and cues well. A solid 4 stars for this one.

It is ok I think but too many tools are needed to do it properly. I travel a lot and can't take things with me all around, so don't use it much but if you have all the tools at home it is effective. The abs section is at the end and very short too, mostlly focused on hips and tighs.