Customer Reviews

FitPrime Volume 7: Fast Cheetah with Tracie Long [VHS]

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

 

 

This was a strange video to say the least and one that I will incorporate into my exercise routine about every 3 weeks. Very little of the video is actually done using weights. It's a lot of toning using your own body weight and I found it quite effective yet strange. A lot of the moves are difficult to grasp. Not that the move itself is difficult but even with Tracie's great cueing style it gets hard sometimes to understand what it is you are supposed to be doing. Even though I previewed the video prior to doing an actual workout I wasn't prepared for how different the moves would be and it started with the warm up. Tracie uses the Firm 14inch step to do a lot of her moves but what she does with them you will have never seen in any Firm video. Some of the exercises will definitely get your heart rate up while others are clearly working on balance and your heart rate will fall dramatically. So if you don't like different, looking for Firm type things because of the connection with Anna and Tracie then don't get this video. If you like an adventure then come along.

This workout just didn't do it for me. Like most Fit Prime workouts, Fast Cheetah is an acquired taste. I'm afraid it was just too "out there" for me. Although Anna Benson designed all of the pre-Goodtimes Firms, and she designed all of the Fit Primes, I do not feel that they are all that similar.

This workout did not get my heart rate up, but sometimes I have to do a workout a few times before I can really put my all into it. However, I can't seem to force myself to do this one again! I will give it another try before I dismiss it completely, but I wanted people to know that if you are looking for a traditional cardio workout, this is definitely NOT it. Of course, if you are used to Fit Prime workouts, you'll know that there's nothing traditional about them.

This is the third video I've tried from the old FitPrime series, but it's the first that was a mainly cardio focus. I've found the FitPrime workouts to be quite quirky, but I think that's what I like about them. In particular, I appreciate the variety of unique moves combined with simple choreography and an overall great workout.

The Fast Cheetah DVD is very well-chaptered as listed below. I've added my own brief descriptions of each segment as well as approximate times.

1. Step Climb, 3.5 minutes. This warm-up uses the tall box for slow step-ups/overs, nicely warming up the lower body and beginning to get the heart rate up.

2. Warrior, 2 minutes. This brief stretch incorporates warrior pose from yoga.

3. Ball Toss, 2.5 minutes. Here Tracie uses a medicine ball to "play": she does side steps tossing the ball lightly back and forth plus throws the ball in the air while doing squats. I don't have a medicine ball, so I just used a light (3 lb.) dumbbell; this wasn't a perfect substitute, but it worked fine.

4. Step Chug, 3 minutes. Here Tracie sort of stomps on the box for the "chug" plus does v-steps and small hops.

5. 4-limb Squats, 4 minutes. Using light weights, Tracie incorporates some toning into the cardio by working the delts and biceps. This segment also contains plenty of balance moves.

6. Push-pull, 5 minutes. This section includes knee-ups and jumps from a lunge position.

7. ND Handstand and Hip, 2 minutes. Beginning on the non-dominate side, you perform "handstands" on the tall box--these aren't as scary as they sound, as you basically just put your hands on the box and jump up to raise your hips (ie, you don't actually come all the way up into a true handstand position). This segment also includes squats.

8. Hyper Sweeps, 2 minutes. Here you keep your hands on the box for squats and rear leg extensions.

9. Kickbox, 2 minutes. Tracie incorporates some simple kickboxing moves with knee-ups, side kicks, and punches.

10. D Handstand and Hip, 2 minutes. #7 repeated on the dominant side.

11. Climb and Jump, 2 minutes. More tall box climbs, this time with jumps and rear leg extensions.

12. 4-limb Cross, just under 3 minutes. The light weights are again used for more delt and bicep work with squats and dips.

13. Ball sports, just under 3 minutes. This segment is kind of fun; you again use the medicine ball to simulate sports moves.

14. Ball balance, 2 minutes. Uses the medicine ball for balance and stretch.

15. + AWS Spring Hypers, 1 minute. Not sure what this name means, but it's basically some cool-down work with the ball involving slow squats, balance, and reach. At the end, you add ankle weights for the floor work.

16. ND Bridge Pecs, 3 minutes. With one foot on the box and the ball between your legs, you do bridge work followed by push-ups.

17. D Bridge Pecs, 2.5 minutes. Same thing repeated on other side (the segment is shorter due to less set-up time).

18. Prone Spine, 3 minutes. This is some basic back extension work; ends with a plank.

19. Supine Abs, 4 minutes. Simple crunches for the upper and lower abs plus obliques; also includes some inner thigh work. The ankle weights are removed at the end of this segment.

20. Crunch Stretch, 3.5 minutes. There are just a couple of additional moves for the abs without the weights, then Tracie performs a final stretch mostly on the floor.

The workout comes in right at 55 minutes. Overall I enjoyed it, although I think I'll need to do it a few more times to really get the moves down--sometimes I get confused on the tall box climbs. Overall, I liked this workout and think that it will be a nice alternative cardio option.

This is a fun, innovative workout that really flies by! Tracie Long is an excellent instructor and motivator. I have to force myself to reach for other workouts sometimes because I have such a blast doing this. Yet another great Fitprime workout. Thanks!!

Tracie Long leads an amazing cardio workout! The music and coreography are out of this world! You forget that you are even working out! The last cardio workout I did that was close to being this good is the FIRM's super cardio. I've been an avid Firm follower, and have missed Tracie in their new workouts. My home workouts have come alive again due to FitPrime. Keep these innovative workouts coming! You will not be dissapointed with this workout, or any that FitPrime offer.

If you're looking for a home workout that is challenging and off the beaten path, you'll find it in FitPrime. You'll be doing moves you've probably never seen in other fitness recordings. I did not find it hard to follow after a couple of viewings. This is mainly a cardio workout, although it incorporates toning througout.

I just did this workout for the first time, and the time just flew by! It was more like playing than working out--tossing and catching the ball, shooting "hoops," doing handstands on the box--and it definitely got my heart rate up. I can't wait to do this workout again! :)