Customer Reviews

The Firm: Total Sculpt Plus Abs

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Total Sculpt plus Abs is part of the Body Sculpting System 2 and uses all of the "required" equipment to the fullest. You'll need pairs 3, 5, and 8 pound dumbbells, the Fanny Lifter (or equivalent), and the Sculpting Stick (or equivalent). I acquired this DVD when I purchased the full BSS2 set with the Fanny Lifter and Sculpting Stick, however it also comes with the BSS2 4-pack and with a BSS2 set that includes only the stick. (Confused yet?)

I will admit a certain soft spot for this workout--it was the very first Firm workout I ever did. Jen Carmen got me on the road to a level of fitness I never thought I'd be able to attain. This workout is thorough. If you're a beginner or even just new to this kind of exercise, you're going to feel not only worked out, but worked over. I was seriously sore for a day or so the first few times I did this tape. Equal attention is paid to all the major muscle groups--shoulders, triceps, biceps, back, abs, inner/outer thighs, and glutes all get worked in this video.

The cardio segments are short and fun with moderately challenging choreography. If you're someone who has "two left feet," I highly recommend previewing this one a time or two before you attempt it. The four-limb segment towards the end is probably the most challenging--it's what tripped me up the most the first five or six times I did this workout.

The Sculpting Stick gets put to innovative use during the abs section of this workout. Jen uses it to add resistance to the brief but effective segment of reverse crunches. The shin crunches are fun too. As someone who absolutely loathed any kind of ab work before finding these videos, the ab section in this workout was a pleasant surprise. Having to use the equipment kind of distracted me from my hatred of situps!

As I've become more fit, I keep going back to this video if I want a long sculpting workout that isn't going to leave me reaching for the ibuprofen the following morning. If I want to make it more challenging, I'll add a dumbbell to my other shoulder rather than use the stick for balance and/or heavy up on a few exercises. This workout really can grow with you to an extent, but the short sets and short ab section drop it back to 4 stars for me. This workout is a total winner for high beginner/low intermediate exerciser. If you're an advanced fitness buff that's looking to get your butt kicked, you should probably look elsewhere.

I did this workout the day after Maximum Cardio Burn. This workout also has the same "fun factor"- Jennifer Carmen is enthusiastic, cues well, and is very encouraging. The music is very fast-paced, and that motivated me through some of the tougher sets.

As I mentioned in my review of MCB, I don't have the Sculpting Stick, and here I also didn't feel like I needed it. I found some of the moves that it was used for ineffective. I was able to sub weights for just about everything, including the pushups on the stick- I just don't understand how that wouldn't compress people's wrists. It certainly wouldn't do any harm on the combination chest press and pullover, but as you progress you're going to need heavier weights anyway. The "lat pulldown" it was used for did nothing for me, even using weights that were heavier than the stick. I don't believe that exercise is useful unless it's attached to a pulley- you don't work your lats here, you work your shoulders. I was disappointed when I emerged at the end of the workout and didn't feel like my back had worked at all. Next time I'll sub some heavy lat rows.

So why the four stars? Because the rest of the workout is great, and as with almost all of the Firm workouts, everything can be made harder with the use of heavier weights. Jenn thoroughly works over the biceps, triceps, thighs (inner and outer), glutes, hamstrings and abs in this workout. Also, I like the variation they're using on the leg presses in this workout. Instead of using two heavy weights, you use one very heavy weight and then hold a dowel in your other hand. I really did feel like I was getting deeper into the targeted muscle groups for the leg presses as well as the squats, lunges and plies.

The aerobic sets are short here, and they're intended to be used more for recovery from your heavy weights than to significantly elevate your heart rate. Pick up Maximum Cardio Burn to cross train with for cardio.

I bought this DVD as part of the original FIRM Body Sculpting System 2 with the Sculpting Stick. This one with Jen is really fun. The music is so awesome! The weight work is fun and challenging and the stick offers a lot of variety to the work. It targets every muscle of the body with fun and effective moves that beat boredom! Short cardio bursts are added to really burn calories! The ab set was fun, too. Meow!

You warm up with the stick, and then get right into weight work like lunges and dips, all set to some realy awesome music. Short breaks of cardio keep the blood pounding, some on the box and some off. The ab work uses the stick in unique ways that will challenge your core and your stability.

Of the three new FIRMS, this one is my favorite. The music score is the best. There is also a set of dips on the box that will REALLY firm your fanny!

Kitka

I use this tape once a week along with my other 2 FIRM: Body Sculpting System 2 Tapes.

I consider myself to be at an intermediate level exerciser. I use the 3 - 5 - 8 pound dumbells recommened with the video. When ever I do this video, I have to take a day off and rest before I can go on to exercising again. This one really challenges my thighs.

If you are at an intermediate level and are looking for a way to get some light weight training in your workout...I highly suggest this video.

This is overall a pretty good workout. However, if you are an intermediate/advanced exerciser, you'll need to toughen it up a bit. Basically, she isn't as hard core in certain parts as she could be. For example, there is no reason to just stand there while you are lifting weights to strengthen your shoulders. You can just add a squat while you are lifting. Also, you really need to ratchet up the weight if you want results on the arm sections. She says pick up medium dumbells, but that's not going to give you the results you want for biceps. Finally, she wastes a bit of time having you do 3-part side leg lifts while you are on the top of the Fanny Lifter. You are better off just continuing to do leg presses and lifting your leg once--this will work you harder. Overall though, this is a good workout tape and at about 45 minutes long, it's a good length. Just toughen it up for yourself as you get stronger. Oh, and one final thing, the stretching part at the end is a bit long (I did not include this in the 45-minute estimate above). Emily Walsh's stretching routine on the other Body Sculpting II video is more appropriate for those of us who are always running against the clock. Anyway, this review actually sounds a bit negative, but I really do like this workout--it just needs to be modified a bit as you gain strength. Enjoy!

Total Sculpt is led by Jennifer Carman, who always does a great job, this video is no exception. She is with 4 of her fellow master instructors, one who shows beginner modifications. For this workout you will need dumbells, they recommend 3 sets such as 3, 5, and 8 pounders. You will also need the fanny lifter (or a step and a stool)and the Sculpting Stick is used, but a broom or mop handle will work too.

This workout alternates strength and cardio segments. For strength all the muscle groups are covered. The sculpting stick is used for most of the lower body work, usually holding the stick in one hand while holding a heavy dumbell with the other. The lower body exercises include, squats, dips, plie squats, leg press, hover squats and an interesting variation of the lunge where you put your back leg on the fanny lifter and lower up and down, while it's a relatively short set you really feel the burn when it's over. The upper body is covered well also, you will see biceps curls, double arm rows, french presses, triceps kickbacks, chest work and single arm shoulder presses using just one heavy dumbell.

The cardio segments are a lot of fun and a good variety. The is one section of hi-lo impact with optional plyometric jumps that I usually skip, one really fun step aerobic segment and a 4 limb section using the "twigs" from the Sculpting Stick though light or no weights could be substituted. A short ab section follows and then it's on to the cooldown.

I really like the music in this workout, keeps me going through
to the end. The workout itself is great, one of my all time
favorites from The Firm. Highly recommended.

It was great to finally find a workout that wont hurt my back or anything else for that matter. I went down from a size 14 to a 10 thanks to Jen. The key is doing this tape every other day or every day if possible. If you are not in shape, you will find this tape leaving you sore for the first few times you do it. Just keep doing it until you actually start to feel that your body needs to do this all the time. Jen, the instructor is working at the expert level but has another instructor (Susanne) do the beginner level so that you start slowly and eventually move on the the harder exercises. I get easily bored with tapes but not with this one because:

1) It helped me lose the weight,
2) As you get better, you can increase the weights or do the expert level so you feel challenged
3) It has helped me begin to do harder exercises and increase my energy.

This tape is amazing and Jen makes it fun and motivating. The physical difference shows in my arms which are no longer fat but firm and thinner - my lower body looks incredible with my legs looking perfect and my buttocks much firmer.

I like this workout DVD, but I find myself only doing it every few months or so. The sequences are a little long and they drag. I recommend this to add to your collection and trying it out.

This is a great workout video. Upbeat and motivating, this video gives you a great workout in under an hour. Stick with it and you'll see results.

I have had this DVD since it was released via infomercial in 2001-2002 along with the rest of the BSS2 & Add Ons. Jen Carmen is a wonderful lead, my favorite, and does a great job with cueing and controlled reps. You will get a total body workout along with cardio done interval style. There is a little step aerobics and some floor aerobics for variety and for the most part the choreography is basic. If you've worked out with Denise Austin or done Basic Step workouts from Gin Miller, there isn't anything here you couldn't pick up on the first try. I remember when I first got this, it took 2 tries. No biggie. For Step work you will need the 6 inch platform from the Fanny Lifter or any other 4-6 inch step platform you have. If you want a real challenge, go to 8. The Fanny Lifter is also used for Leg Press and at 14 inches soars the heart rate while frying the legs. Bc I have knee issues I use a 12 inch step using a platform and risers. Shorter Exercisers may want to consider a shorter step height to avoid knee issues as well. Other uses for the FL can be replicated with anything including a chair as the remainder of it is used for sitting for upper body and gripping during tricep pushups. They use the Firm's Sculpting Stick which is a total of 8 pounds. Challenging for some of the warm up cardio but hardly for strength work. You can sub in any Body Bar or even a barbell if need be. A variety of weights is needed for optimal results, at least 3 pairs of Light, Medium, and Heavy (3, 5, 8 is recommended to start). I used mostly 6s and 9s and found that for all the exercises except shoulder press, that I need heavy than this; 7-8 for my medium and 10-12 for my heavy. Light isn't used except for beginners and tricep kickbacks, but lights I found, are too light for this exercise.

The only thing that I would change is to add more back work to this. There is one heavy set of rows while seated. I think that a second set of the same exercise could be added for fatigue or somewhere a second back exercise could have been added. This is a small gripe and certainly not one that would call for me rating it under a 5 Star Workout. The Abs are great and a little different than most DVDs today. You use the sculpting stick (4 lbs here after the ends are removed). Dumbbells or a med ball can be used instead. Obliques and upper abs even a little of the front hips are worked nicely. Lower Abs and low back are lacking. The Stretch is very nice and very long. Something The Firm has strayed from over the years. By the end of the 60 minutes you feel well worked and well stretched, ready to tackle the rest of your day. Upping the weights beyond what is called for is key to continued success. Some women can use 20s and 25s- that's my goal. I also found that I get an amazing burn on the Leg Presses without weights- those and the 1 Legged Lunges are the only exercises I did weightless and my legs were still shaking hard.

If you can find equipment to use in lue of the Fanny Lifter if you don't already own one, this is a DVD to have. Unlike so many of the recent Firm workouts, mainly the Pinks (Pink Covers, 2005 and later) The weights are too light and the movements too fast! Too much aerobic emphasis and not enough slow and controlled weight work. If only The Firm could get back to workouts like this, I think so many more people would enjoy and benefit from them. This workout is beginner-friendly, but great for those under Advanced+ rating. If you want a good, strong, solid workout with muscle focus but don't want to venture into Cathe Friedrich or other Advanced Lifting/Gym Style workouts- this is for you. Lots of room to grow. A great way to *Firm* up, trim inches, and build/define muscle. Work up to 20s and you'll start to look like the instructors; no joke! The Firm Instructors themselves on their message boards talk about using 20-30 pounds dumbbells for these workouts! That's impressive!!