Customer Reviews

Jane Fonda's Workout Challenge [VHS]

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you can get through this entire 90-minute exercise tape in one session you can call yourself far, far above the average in physical fitness. I'll be honest: I still can't do it. I typically run through the first 40 minutes, (warmup, then arm strengthening, then a fun 20-minute aerobic dance routine), and then I'm too pooped to continue. So I'll save the remainder for the following day, (mainly calisthenics for the waist, abs, legs, hips and bum-- more or less in that order). And I still can't get through all the exercises in her abdominal sequence. But this is still one of my favorite exercise videos, mainly because the 20-minute aerobic section is a really fun routine, and also it's challenging. You never walk away from this one feeling you didn't work hard. (By the way, you don't even need hand weights for this video. It's a series of stand-up exercises and floor exercises, plus the aerobic routine. So you just need running shoes for the first section, and then maybe a mat for the floor if you don't have carpeting.) Jane is, as always, very clear and concise and never leaves you wondering what you're supposed to be doing next in any of the steps. The music is pretty good and it doesn't feel too old even after you've done the tape over and over, (know what I mean?) This video may be especially good for dancers trying to stay in shape because it includes a fair amount of flexibility stretching and even a sequence of exercises to improve your balance.

I think I know why there are only 8 reviews of this video so far. You really have to have superpowers to finish this one, whether it's all at once or broken up into 60min and 30 min exercise sessions, like I usually do. It's not only long, but also requires a lot of strength and endurance. This is this first video I've tried where there are moves that I literally CAN NOT DO. And I workout 6 days a week!

The aerobics is the easiest part for me, but the abs, waist and arms sections are just incredibly painful and challenging! Jane Fonda is more flexible and stronger than she appears. I just can't get my body in certain positions--like the jacknife move in the abs section--who in the world can do that??? If I try to hold that for more than 3 seconds, I end up screaming in pain! Fortunately there's alot of stretching in the video, which feels great, but it doesn't make things easier.

Well, I'm grateful for the challenge, and I'll keep trying to get through this one. I've had the video for almost 2 months and I've noticed a slight improvement in my ability to get through the arms and abs section, but I've still not been able to complete this video from start to finish without stopping, especially during the toning. No wonder she's doing those sections alone. Boy is this tough!! Wow!! Love Jane Fonda's anti-war messages too. I'm a pacifist and agree with her 100%, from her opinions on Vietnam to present-day conflicts.

OK. I know that this video was made in the '80s, but it still has great exercise benefit that I sometimes use as a spot toner. I will work my arms one day, do the aerobic segment the next, then try the abdominals. The opening section which works out the arms is great for those days when I want definition, but am really tired of lifting weights or working out at the gym. The aerobics section is entertaining, especially when her two helpful and happy friends join her for the floor exercises. They throw in a few witty remarks just to keep you (and Jane) on your toes. If you make it all the way through the strenuous arms workout routine (my husband the gym-rat mockingly tried to follow the arm routine with me one day and had to stop because the exercises killed his arms), then through the aerobics segment (very consistent, retro -- leg-warmers inclusive), to the abdominal workout, then you are more than in shape, you are truly amazing, I'm talking Wonder Woman/Super Man material(That is if you believ Wonder Woman and Super Man to be equal -- I personally believe that Wonder Woman's Magic Lasso was a much better paower that the X-Ray vision... TANGENT!) To make a long story short, I enjoy the video, and am replacing the one I had with a new one because I was using it, left it in the vcr and some one accidentally returned it to the video store in a box for another movie. The video store is still looking for my Jane Fonda video and it has now been about four months. I need my Jane Fonda Challenge! How about you?

I started working out 3 months ago... started with dancy aerobics and step workout videos with a bit of weight lifting. The cardiotraining has put me in shape for the cardio section in jane fonda's challenge, but i can't keep up with her yet. She starts with a 10 min. warm up of some very classic moves working your legs and waist. Before you know it you are on your toes and burning your calves! Following this is a 5-8 min arms section that burns burns burns and blazes; weight training has not been able to give me the burn these exercises give my biceps and triceps! Never knew you could tire out your arms without dumbells, but Jane Fonda does that and fast. The 20 min cardio, should you be able to do it, will make you supremely fit. Its short but demanding; it makes me feel like I have been sprinting. I find now that it has taught me to breath deeper which gives me the energy to carry through it with relative dignity. I am catching up. By the end of the cardio, you are approx 45 mins into the workout. This is followed by exercises that work your thighs and require balance. I ahven't seen some of these exercises before, except for the deep lunges she does; al these exercises are executed while standing. Jane Fonda's waist exercises, also done while standing, worked musles I thought I used enough in house work. But I guess I was wrong. THe day after I did the wasit section, my waist and its sides were sore and felt great. The waist sec is followed by a tough tough abs section that makes my pilates routines look like babyplay, topped off by mat exercises for the thighs, quads, butt and gluteals. Tough I said, but doable. I am already easing into this video, and I do better everytime. BEcasue the exercises need form and concetration, I feel I have had a mind-yoga workout at the same time. Great video... one that should be a yardstick. DOn't get it to primarily lose weight, but to challenge yourself and better yourself physically once you are already at an intermediate exercise level.

This workout can be rather difficult. It starts with an arm section I find hard, and this is followed by an aerobic section that I find easy but is intense.

Then the fun really starts, for Jane has us do a balance section not usually seen on aerobics tapes and that approaches ballet in its demands. If you are not good at this (like me) that means you need it.

Then the REAL fun starts...abs. This section is at the level of football player's workouts. I have to stop briefly at times during this section, which not only works out the abs but the supporting hips. The "morning star" stretch which finishes this section is most welcome.

You're still not done, for Jane has you work out the legs in a floor barre. She then toasts you for this is not your average workout.

She has two coworkers. One is a rather demanding and merciless guy who does the calls for the ab section. The other is a figure often seen on her workouts, and that is the class clown who complains about the work. The latter allows one to identify negative emotions and focus on one's conflicting desires to finish the Challenge, versus the desire to stop and eat a Krispy Kreme donut, or have a stiff drink.

Days after completing this you WILL feel good, less stressed and more able to accomplish daily tasks including chasing after kids, running for the train, or playing sports. Shortly after starting with this video in 1989 I literally gained an inch in height from better posture and carriage.

The video is somewhat outdated because there is no emphasis on weights. I am a layperson but I have been told that as one gets older it is very important to work out with weights and my experience is that the MTV Advanced workout provides this alternative.

The video dates from the 1980s when men's and women's bodies were converging on an androgynous ideal that was built by aerobics and resistance, not pumping iron. It appears from the record that some men in gyms and at competitions were threatened by overly muscular women with the result in recent years that women work on what used to be the Jane ideal while men try to bulk up, or stop working out altogether.

While some muscle building is important to me as I get older, I think any kind of return to the muscle-bound, non-aerobic, strongly differentiated ideal of the 1950s is foolish. I work out to live and not the other way around and my job does not require me to have large muscle mass. If I get a job that requires this the aerobics form a base, whereas it appears pumping iron does not provide a starting point for aerobics.

If you have trouble in finding this unique and rewarding classic, check your public library, which is where I found a copy after my own was lost in a move.

Jane no longer works out but deserves credit for a number of contributions as an actress and personality. I realize it is fashionable to bring up her conduct during the Vietnam war, and would only point out that many men made irresponsible and anti-American statements during that period and there seems to be different rules for men and women. Tom Wolfe has written recently that the North Vietnamese played David Halberstam "like an ocarina" during the war as a correspondent...yet the mere mention of Halberstam's name does not trigger the visceral reaction that Jane attracts and that detracts from her contributions, including this workout.

Thanks, Jane.

I've done many of the older Jane Fonda videos, and honestly, I found them quite easy. I use them mostly for variety and a light workout than for exercise.

But the Workout Challenge - oh my! I have to say that the warm up was not that impressive, but the arms section left my shoulders burning to the extent that I could actually feel the muscle sinew straining... The cardio/aerobic part was only difficult when I had to use my arms which were still burning from the Arms section. Waist exercises totally hit the spot! And the abs (mind you, I'm only 24 and have really strong abs from the Romanian trainers I have at Radu), it was extremely challenging! Her outer-legs section wasn't so bad, but the inner-legs section toward the end definitely made me have to push myself! And the butts section was pretty standard from Jane Fonda.

All in all, I was very relieved to have finished the video, and I totally felt like I got my money's worth. I didn't know it would be so long or that that music would be such an odd medley of classical-country-dance-new age (haha!), but I would definitely have to give this video 5 stars, 2 thumbs up!

Two questions remain:
1) How does she have the ability to talk while doing the work out?
2) How does she keep smiling throughout the workout? :)

This is the best Jane Fonda work-out video I have tried. I would reccommend this to anyone who has played a lot of sport and really enjoys physical challenge. I used to do martial arts and this is the first aerobics video that provided the level of challenge that compared to a martial arts class. I would recommend this to any aerobics instructors, dancers or anyone who is serious about physical training.

I haven't done this tape in years, but I am burnt out from the gym and decided to go "old school" with Jane. I've been working out for 15 years and taught group fitness for 12, but oh my god, is this one really a challenge. The cardio is especially tough, particularly if you are used to a longer warm up. No chance. Jane and her two man toys go right into the highest of high impact and don't let up. I loved it, even though I had to stop several times and march in place or do lower impact variations.

I did the whole 90 minute tape this morning, and I am dreading tommorow AM. I know I will be sore, but I will definitely be back for more in a couple of days.

Not for new to fit folks.

Sirchir's crazy. This is the best exercise routine I am able to find for the home. It works everything but the face. I started back when I was 36, and could keep up with the routine's switches from one side to the other -- had the whole office doing it at lunch -- and, yes, now that I'm 57, I have to hit the "pause" button to get the bod switched, but what the hey, in the 90 minutes, every muscle is worked; Fonda taught abs long before Pilates became popular, and her method of elongating the muscles is quite effective. And she's fun. Go for the burn!

This is a great video if you are trying to get a cardio workout. Most video cardio workouts barely hit the 30min mark.
However take it very slow and brake the video up into parts. The streching is okay, however I find the moves to jarring, so strech on your own. The cardio is very hard but great for burning fat. The toning work is good. Not for beginners.