Customer Reviews

Kathy Smith: Lift Weights to Lose Weight, Vol. 1 - 2

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm an internist, and I have recommended this video to many women in my practice. I have used both volume 1 and 2 for years. I like volume 1 more since the routines, though easy, have been effective in my experience. I recommend this video along with cardio daily. The routine that seems to work well for me and some of my patients is to combine the upper body workout (20 minutes) 3 days a week, alternating with lower body workout (20 minutes) 3 days a week with 30+ minutes of cardio 5 - 6 days a week as well as the abdominal exercises daily. I typically will watch my favorite shows or news program and do interval training by walking during the program and running/jogging during the commercials. In my experience, women's metabolism changes with hormonal change and we need to maintain the lean body mass for the tone and metabolism. One last thing, the video might look simple but ease into it so that you can see results without injury. Always have your physician clear you for exercises if you have medical problems or orthopedic issues to minimize injuries. Stay with it, and you should see results. Good luck!

This is an excellent way to strengthen and tone your body for both women and men. I have just recently discovered Kathy Smith's programs and this is one of my favorites! Her technique is unique in that it's high reps, followed by pulsing, then additional high-reps and she uses circuit training where she switches from one body part to another without rest. She makes it so fun and easy. There's lots of variety and options on this 2-DVD set that you will not get bored. You can easily mix and match for a short or long workout. There are two levels: beginner and intermediate and you can follow either one.

Here's what you get:
2 separate upper-body workouts, 20 minutes each
2 separate lower-body workouts, 20 minutes each
1 Core workout for abs and back, 10 minutes
1 abs workout, 10 minutes
Stability Ball workout, 20 minutes
Bonus: tips for great posture

You will need a set of weights: light, medium, and heavy + a balance ball.

Please check my other workout and yoga DVDs on Amazon.

One of my favorite fitness dvds is "Build Muscle, Shrink Fat" by Kathy. While this one was very similar, it didn't burn as many calories as that dvd.

And, quite frankly they were a bit TOO similar in the moves to need both. So while this is a FANTASTIC strength dvd, the other one kept my heart in the target heart rate zone but offered only one dvd where this one contains a set of two so you get more with it. So you decide what you need...

First, I'll note that, although I own several of Kathy Smith's dvds I am not biased towards her...I've given one or two of them just one star before when the cueing is bad.

That said, this one is a real winner!

How I measure caloric burn:
First, let me add that I wear a bodybugg to monitor my daily caloric expenditure. I say this only so you'll know what I note is based upon scientific measurement, rather than simply perceived exertion. It can also monitor calories burned per minute and just during a workout so I have great measurement in how a fitness dvd does, regardless of whether I feel I'm burning a lot or not. And I've amassed a large fitness dvd library over the years because I workout to them 6 days a week so I have a few to compare it to...

Caloric burn:
okay, so that said, I've learned that most dvds will fall into cardio dvds which tend to burn more calories as you do them and strength dvds which burn less during the workout but helps to continue burning more throughout the rest of the day and develps muscle which also raises metabolism. I have a much harder time finding a dvd that does both. One of the Crunch dvds does this and the Biggest Loser dvds are all pretty good at it as well. This one burns more calories than many strength dvds but isn't too high up there. Her "burn muscle shrink fat" burns almost twice as many in the same amount of time while still getting great strength training.

Cueing:
Excellent. In some dvds Kathy can trip me up BADLY but this one is excellent and very easy to follow along to in spite of it being fast paced and full of energy.

Toning:
Full body workout, but it's broken up into doing a upper body, lower body, and core. You can choose one or mix them up.

Cardio:
This one is primarily strength and my heart rate was elevated, though not as high as some.

Equipment: You'll see her use a weight bench but you don't need it. On some of her moves she just sits on it and does bicept curls etc. You'll actually get great results if you stand and do these...you can lean and do them like other fitness dvds show. As far as laying down on the bench, you can do that on the floor or across a step. You can also use a bosu. (half ball) so no weight bench is needed. You will need hand weights. I use 6-7 pounds the whole time even though she suggests light, med, and heavy. If you find a good weight for you, you really don't need to swap out IMHO.

Instruction: Good instruction and advice on workout out safely and for the best effect.

Energy: good but not with some of the "wooop! "yeahs!" that Kathy has in some dvds that get a tad overdone and irritating at times...this one is upbeat without the silly screaming of the background exercisers that she has in some of her dvds...BUT...it seemed rather odd that she actually howled like a coyote several times in this one. I am not sure why but I think it scared my cat.

Muscle Toning: She REALLY hits the important zones on a woman's body on this one, including great targeting in the upper body not only to the arms but to the muscles that lift your chest. Your lower body moves are great on the glutes and hips and the abs moves are very effective. You will get a very thorough workout with this and tone up in the areas of most importance.

Conclusion: For the price, getting 2 full fitness dvds is great. I still prefer her "Build Muscle, Shrink Fat" for strength training since it has a higher fat burn during the strength training according to my bodybugg measurement of caloric burn...BUT...that said, this will offer you MORE of her strength moves on the two dvds so if you want a limited fitness library you do get more bang for your buck on this one to get your strength training in without boredom. A great dvd.

It's a really good exercise program! Worked all the major parts of the body that we struggle with. It really challenged me. And there were a lot of good tips like good posture and good eating habits as well.

When I first starting looking at reviews of this DVD, I was suprised to see so many low-star ratings. Then I started reading and most of them were from complaints of "poor seller experience" and not bc of the actual workout. Really? And that's worth rating down a workout?

This is an excellent Intermediate-Level weight/strength workout with many options. If you are new to in-home strength this is not one that offers a breakdown or tutorial for the movements. You should have a basic understanding of proper form and what traditional weight-room exercises are. Petra Kolber has a great (2010 released) beginner's strength workout that will teach some of the movements used in this workout. If you are an advanced lifter and use instructors like Kelly Coffey-Meyer or Cathe Friedrich, consider this a lighter, shorter workout for days when you need a change. For the most part this could be ranked as one of the more well-balanced and "perfect" weight workouts for those of us who are Intermediate+. It's easy on the joints, and offers time options depending on your schedule for the day/week. The shortest is 7 mins and is core only. each upper and lower workout is between 20-25 minutes. ** No Warm Up is offered so be sure to do one for a few minutes before hand or use this as an "add-on" to another workout. **

Disc One is Traditional-styled Weight Room exercises. You have various curls, presses, and a bent-legged deadlifts, lunges, squats, pulses, ect. You have the option of using heavier weight and fewer reps or lighter weight and higher reps. It is perfectly cued for both track options and offers the user an option for variety and makes this workout worth the purchase for that reason alone. Disc 2 is core and balanced-focused. While you will find some traditional movements, the core and core stability is ever present throughout the workouts. Think Callenetics for lower body. The Stability Ball routine is also different from other "traditional" ab workouts. Balance is key and you will find it progresses with challenge as the routine continues. Example: You start with a knee roll in that turns into a Pike on the ball. Stay with the roll ins and as one gets stronger, progress into pikes. Disc 2 is very functional fitness in feel. Again you can play the entire workout for approx 60 minutes or do the sections individually for a Split Routine. Either way it would be hard to get bored with this DVD Set.

Kathy Smith does an excellent job with cueing and I find her to be both knowledgeable and encouraging. I was personally concerned with her being over the top in energy and "shreeking" as some reviewers consider her to be on other workouts, but she isn't. She gets a little peppy, but it isn't anything to discourage regular usage. I'm used to serious instructors again, Cathe and KCM, but Kathy is good too. She uses real people in her DVDs which is nice as we all aren't modelesque. I have to say that this is one of my favorite strength workouts and I'm very glad to have gotten it. We have such a large choice for in-home fitness these days and it allows us to be choosey. This is a non-intimidating workout that will produce results, allow the user to experience less plateaus, and feel good once done. It's joint friendly and not hard on the mind or the body. I think it's a Must Have for any collection and at the price, it's practically a steal for the variety and amount of options. You will need 3 sets of weights; heavier in range if you want to do the fewer reps track, and a weight bench or step w/ risers and a chair. A mat and Stability Ball will be needed for the Ab Sections.

I'd buy it again in a heartbeat! I think it would pair well with any strength workout by Tracey Staehle, Tracie Long, and pilates/barre work for optimal functional-fitness focus and muscle building.

i bought this video for my 63 year old mother who was interested in a "beginner" video that had weights. my mom is very agile and active but hasn't really "worked-out" minus a weight class at our local community center. i watched it after she attempted and failed to do many of the exercises herself. i thought that the intro was really good, explained the importance of working out, lifting weights, etc but the video itself was poorly executed and should not be advertised for "beginners". it was really fast paced and having so many people in the video was confusing. in videos i have done that are more advanced, they have people doing different levels which would have been more helpful here. if you are looking for a video for a beginner, especially in the over 50 range, i would recommend any of the videos by mirabai holland.

This is a great workout if you only have 20 minutes a day or a whole hour. Kathy Smith is easy to follow and keep up with. There are two DVDs in the set and plenty of information so you're never bored or pushing yourself too hard.

I love this DVD set! I bought this as well as another Kathy Smith workout DVD (Great Buns and Thighs Step Workout) and absolutely love them both. They are great for days when it's too hot or rainy for me to go running and perfect for my strength/cross-training days. This set in particular has been very helpful for strengthening my upper body and helping me focus on my balance.

At first i hated this DVD because Kathy Smith makes you work HARD. Over time as I became more familiar with the routine i really started to like it.

You get two DVDs with workouts for both the upper and lower body and there's a hard version and a standard version of every move so you can tailor the workout to your skill level. You also need a few sets of dumbells and plenty of space to get the most out of the workouts.

With this DVD I'm getting good tone in my arms and legs and I really enjoy doing the workout.

I felt this was a good purchase. They arrived when scheduled. The CD were very good. Would purchase items with this seller again. Kathy Smith does a good job with her exercise videos. They are easy to follow and workouts are good.