Customer Reviews

Firm: Total Muscle Shaping

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This workout is part of The Firm BSS3 series, which introduces the "Firm Box", a 3 in 1 box which you can use at 6 inches for step aerobics, 14 inches for leg presses and seated exercises and in an incline position for some step routines and lunges. The box's legs are adjustable to any of the previously mentioned heights.

This workout is about 45 minutes long and is jam packed with strength exercises and cardio routines mixed in. There are a lot of compound movements in this video, like leg presses with bicep curls, lunges on the incline with shoulder presses, hover squats with deltoid raises etc. For these sorts of moves, lighter weights are likely best unless you can handle a heavier weight. Of course there are strictly strength exercises as well, squats, leg presses, bicep curls, shoulder presses, tricep dips, chest work and there are some abs at the end. Some abwork is done using the Firm Box, of course if you don't have the box or don't like doing abwork on the box you can do them on the floor.

There is a good variety of cardio routines in this workout, there is one that you use the step at the 6 inch height, one that is at the inclined height, and one cardio session that you don't use the box at all.

For this workout you will need assorted dumbells, and while the Firm Box is preferred, this workout can be modified if you do not have it. If you have the Firm's fanny lifter that can be used in place of it, or a step and a stool. Or if you don't care for the incline, you can use the box at the 6 inch position and still get a good workout.

Stephanie Huckabee leads this workout with 4 of her fellow Firm Master Instructors, she does a great job. Libby shows the beginner modifications in the video. All in all a great workout, gets the job done in 45 minutes.

I only gave this 4 stars because i found one segment of low impact aerobics on the step to be a bit complicated. And ive taken dance for 12 years!!! i find that in all the newer firm tapes though. most is basic stepping, but sometimes they throw stuff in out of nowhere and dont do enough reps to let u catch up. I wind up doin my own step routine till its done.

That being said, it is a great workout otherwise. Most of the cardio is low impact, but i like how they do some jumping jacks and plyo jumps. There is a lot of leg work which is great, but no inner thigh emphasis. I supplement with 2 other firm workouts, lower body*(lying down) and standing floow work(OUCH)

Arm work is also pretty good. And I like using the incline on the abs.

I was very impressed and reccomend this tape to use in part with the complete body sculpting and fast blasting cardio.

Another great workout by the Firm! Stephanie Huckabee leads you through a 45 minute cardio and sculpting routine. The step and low-impact aerobics segments are fun but not complicated. The upper body work is some of the toughest I have done, which is a good thing!

You will need three sets of dumbbells (3,5, and 8 pounds to start) and the new firm box, or another step that can be set at 6", 14" and on an incline.

Highly, highly recommended!

This video is a 50 Minute total body shaping.. I recommend that this video be added to your collection but it isn't for those just starting out..work your way up to it. Stepahine Huckabee is one of the better instructors she gives great cues and is upbeat in her delivery. you will need the firm incline box and dumbbells.

This is one of my favorite Firm videos. It packs a total body wallop in 45 minutes, especially with the four limbed box climbing segment. It also seems to have more intense upper body work than any other Firm total body workout I know of (at least from GoodTimes anyway). Of course I use heavier weights than the 3s, 5s and 8s they're using. I finally caught on to the cardio step segment after several tries. This video has enough variety to stave off boredom and Stephanie is one of the Firm's best instructors. I don't recommend using their blue box though because of some safety issues.

i really like the incline box, i dont have the new Firm one but i have a standard step with risers that i could take one side off and it inclined it really improved the effectiveness my lunges and chestwork. I like Stephanie as an intructor and recommend her, this dvd had enjoyable aerobics segments and tough muscle shaping. this is another firm workout i will enjoy adding to my dvd rotation schedule.

This workout does incorporate some cardio segments, which are not too complicated choreography wise, but the main focus is the upper and lower body workout. The compound movements (e.g., dips from the step with biceps, leg presses with delts) are challenging without making you anaerobic. The length (50 minutes) is good for a mid-week workout. Is it the most challenging weight workout? No, for those, get the Jari Love DVDs. But is it a good weight workout for the intermediate to advanced exerciser? Yes, if you're happy not being sore the next day. Stephanie is a good cuer and leader; her voice is well modulated, and not too peppy. You will need an incline box (I would recommend the transfirmer over the incline box), and 5-12 pound dumbbells. Why not 5 stars? The ab work. As in the other Firm workouts that do the ab work on the incline, unless you have a death grip on the step, you will slide down. This makes them very awkward to do, even with a mat on the incline.

Stephanie is definitely my favorite FIRM instructor. I love her personality and energy she brings to each workout. Total Muscle Shaping really emphasizes the upper body, although there is lower body work as well. I don't own the FIRM box, but I do have the TransFIRMer. It was easy to adapt the workout using the TransFIRMer. My upper body was screaming at me when I was finished. I love working out with the FIRM. The workouts are challenging, but fun. I definitely am seeing results that I want by using the rotation calendars.

As other reviews have stated this is from the BSS3 Series and is a combination of cardio intervals and strength. There is a nice warm up, approx 4-5 minutes and goes by quickly. I think this is a plus as the Firm Pink warm ups are too blah for me. After you are warmed up there are intervals of cardio then strength. You have 3 of each. 2 of the cardio intervals are step aerobics with one being floor work. I used my Firm TransFirmer for this DVD and it worked fine. The DVD gave me enough transition time as long as I move quickly bc the BSS3 Box takes several seconds to adjust. Compared to the Fanny Lifter (BSS1 & 2) Legs were not hit as hard in this DVD. Being the day after my first useage of this DVD, my triceps have a nice fire in them still. The chest work at the end of the workout really does get into the triceps which is why I am feeling them today. This is the first time not feeling anything in my lower body the day after regardless of what series (including Pink) used. It's a good total body workout that gets you in and out with cardio and strength + Abs in 47 minutes. It is recommended to have a mat to use on your box for the chest and ab work. The same mat will be used for the stretch which is one of the nicest ones I have done with the Firm. The only true drawback of this workout is that the audio is bad. The music is much louder than Stephanie's voice so you really will need to do this DVD a few times before you can stop concentrating on her cues. Otherwise, a good investment and a workout that I will be doing again in the future! It really is a keeper, but use the BSS2 or BSS4 DVDs for a harder overall workout including legs. Stephanie looks great in this DVD, very toned and strong...IMO a better testimony to the Older Firms compared to her new series PowerFit and Harmony where she clearly doesn't have the same strength and physique. Her body in this DVD would motivate anyone to exercise, use heavier weights, and eat healthfully!!

This workout is really effective. The instructor, Stephanie, is great giving cues and she is really easy to follow. Not to say that the workout is easy - it is very challenging and comprehensive. I wish it had more step segments, but it is still a very worthwhile workout.