Customer Reviews

Firm: Maximum Cardio Burn Plus Abs [VHS]

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

 

 

I am a big Firm fan and the quality of exercises in this video stay in line with the Firm's quality production. I do not have or use the stick or fanny lifter but instead use an alternate balance/bar from my bowflex) stepstool and dumbells.
My biggest complaint though minor is the queuing. I really appreciate an instructor who can call a move in advance for you to prepare to do it. I don't have to have much notice but I found that this instructor missed queueing the student for a smooth transition into the next series on a few occaisions. I have been doing step and aerobics since before the step was invented and usually pick up an instructors queues quickly and easily. I am sure with more practice on my part I will overcome this minor flaw. I will continue to use this video and recommend it to anyone who has moderate experience and one who enjoys the circuit-type changes that make for a challenging yet achievable workout.

Pluses:
Quality exercises and good form instruction.
Excellent filming.
Thorough workout.
Interesting and doable many times.

Minuses:
Queuing could be better.
Not many wide views of other participants/instructors.
Feels VERY rehearsed(I don't mind a little extra banter to detract the mind from the body's labor).
A little bit complicated for the beginner but hang in there.

BUY IT, YOU'll LIKE IT!
I have a suggestion for the producers.. I have the DVD version and this would only work for that media.. Film the same work out and separately record a beginner intermediate and an advanced workout/participant. Still show group shots though. Allow me to pick the perspective I want for the session. This way the beginner would watch mostly from the perspective of the beginner and could progress in different sessions through the intermediate and advanced views.This provides not only variety but levels, a new concept for the home exercise video.

All of the System 2 Workouts are great. This one is a great, effective cardio workout that does not use handweights just the Sculpting Stick. Allie is always a great instructor. Easy enough to follow, definitely works up a sweat.

After using the The Firm Body Building System with the Fanny Lifter,to add variety I purchased the The Firm's Body Building System I with the Sculpting Stick. System II contains three videos (Total Sculpt plus Abs, Complete Aerobics & Weight Training, and Maximum Cardio Abs) and stick only. I've tried each of the workouts several times and found the routines to be very similar to the original System routines, except it used the stick to provide stability or give a little more resistance. Because I'm short, the stick gave me more stability when doing the exercises that required me to step up on the 14" Fanny Lifter. Using the stick for stability also allowed me to do deeper squats. I found the Lift & Hover Squats to be a bit more challenging, because I wasn't use to having anything spread along my shoulders. After my first workout, I could feel the more intense workout throughout my hips, thighs, and calves.

There are several exercises in the Total Sculpt plus Abs video and Complete Aerobics & Weight Training video that requires the stick to be disassembled to use the ends as 1 lb hand weights. After several workouts, I found the disassembling of the stick was not worth my time, since the 1 lb was like working empty-handed. I now use my lightest dumbbells during this segment of the routine.

Overall, I found the stick to be an excellent source of stability, but other workout sticks can be purchased at a much cheaper price or simply use the stick from a broom or mop. I still think The Firm gives a good workout with great benefits and quick results, but it's Fanny Lifter that remains the key to an individual's success.

For the best workout at a cheapest price, if you're an original Firm user purchase this video and a broom w/removable stick. Those new to The Firm can purchase an entire system containing the Fanny Lifter and the Stick. Because the workout helps me to get tone and sculpt, it still deserves 4 stars.

I actually bought this at Walmart as a 4 pack (came with Total Sculpt plus Abs, Complete Aerobics & weight training, and Firm Abs) for $27.

I felt as though my entire body got a toning work out along with a fairly good cardio workout. The cardio was a bit segmented though - each section requires different equipment so you're constantly starting and stopping (the reason for the 4 stars). So if you're looking for an intense cardio, this probably isn't it. But I was drenched in sweat when it was over, so I felt like I got a good workout. The 6 minute standing leg toning section is tough and good.

Overall, this is a good workout that keeps your interest throughout.

I couldn't agree more with CW's review. This is an extremely easy workout, especially given the misleading name of "maximum cardio". Although Allie is a good instructor, the cuing was off, and the stick annoying. If you want a better cardio workout, choose Super Cardio, or Maximum Cardio Burn.

I really love the FIRM. I have all the classic Firms and all the following series
up to the one after this one because I truly believe that key to sucess is the
fanny lifter. The newer ones (the pink series) just don't have the same punch that
the older ones do.
I did this workout this morning and its tough,fun and I can belive in the results in
10 after doing this. I barely break a sweat with the newer ones.

I just got this tape and found it way to easy. This is a great video that's well choreographed and I like Allie very much as an instructor but it's more for beginner/intermediate. I hardly broke a sweat. If your advanced The Firm Cross Trainers Super Cardio kicks butt. I was looking for a tape that compares to the Super Cardio and was disappointed when I used the Maximum Cardi Burn.

This workout is perfect for off days when toning. However, there are some toning sections but the video is primarily cardio and I definitely worked up a great sweat. I have the Body Sculpting System 2 and this video was one of the 3 tapes. The other two are targeted more for toning with a little cardio. I like the BSS2 compard to one BECAUSE of this video since there is one good cardio workout and 2 toning workouts. The BSS1 was all toning and not much cardio. I loved the kickboxing moves in this video. When I was doing BSS1 I had to supplement another cardio workout inbetween the 2 toning workouts, oh and the third one was only abs(that's right) and I never used that one. So if you want a system that has all in one, good toning and a great cardio workout, the BSS2 is great. I love this cardio workout, it's fun an at a PERFECT pace!