Customer Reviews

Kathy Smith - Secrets of a Great Body Total Workout, Vol. 1 - Upper Body [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you don't want to visit a gym and lift weights there, you can do this easy workout at home. All you need are a couple sets of hand weights (1-2 lbs. & 4-5 lbs.), and Kathy Smith shows you the rest. The moves are easy and effective. This isn't an aerobic workout, so you only do it 2x a week, and couple it with exercise 3x a week for best results. I prefer to use it with "Functionally Fit: Peak Fat Burning" which has a lot of lower body toning in it. There is a "Secrets of a Great Body: LOWER Body Workout" available, too. By the way, this video isn't just TONING, it's a STRENTHENING workout which actually changes your shape by producing stronger muscles. If that's what you want, this is the video for you! Kathy Smith is great.

I love the workout, but don't care too much for the video, so I gave Secrets of a Great Upper Body "only" four stars. But allow me to say it's a GREAT strength-building routine that you will get A LOT out of if you listen to Kathy Smith's instructions and really focus in on the individual muscles you're working.

Oh, the video. Other reviewers have mentioned it: the brief anatomy lessons before each muscle group & short demonstrations of each exercise before the reps start. Clearly a misguided editing decision, but not a big deal overall. Keep the remote handy, or better yet, do what I've done and abandon the tape altogether once you get the routine down. It'll shorten your workout time, and also let you maximize your efforts by allowing you to follow YOUR OWN PACE, as opposed to trying to follow along with the tape.

I wrote down the different exercises, and what weights I use for each. The first set I usually make lighter than the second set by a few pounds, so that the second set I'm really pushing to the point of fatigue. I aim for each rep to take 2 seconds to contract and two seconds to release, and instead of watching Kathy & her spandexed peeps when I workout, I've found it's much more helpful to keep an eye on my own form in a full-length mirror. Using this method, I've been VERY happy with the workout Kathy Smith put together for this tape! Talk about results!!

For a year beforehand I worked out with weights, but always by following along with a video (Arms of Steel, and also Kathy's Lift Weights to Lose Weight). This tape, however, is so straight-forward --just ten basic moves, two with an additional variation -- that after a couple of weeks I felt comfortable with just my "cheat sheet" list of exercises to guide me. Since I no longer need to keep up with the tape, I can really work at "eeking out" those last few reps, allowing me to use heavier weights, which has really increased my strength and also my motivation!

Whether you do the tape or just the workout, you'll soon appreciate the many benefits of this fine strength-training routine that Kathy Smith has put together for this video. Enjoy!

Because this workout is designed to be done only twice a week, it is easy to stay motivated and to keep up a routine. Kathy explains the function of each muscle group in the upper body, as well as details how the exercises will affect the muscles. Because of the explanations, it is easy to master the form of each exercise, and when you're strengthened enough to zip through each set with ease, you get heavier weights, and it's like a whole new tape again. So far in the two months that I've been using this workout, I have seen improvement in my upper-body strength. The ab and lower-back section of this tape still provides ample challenge for now (especially those HFL Leg Thrusts). What drives me to recommend this video is that before I came across this video, I was a closet couch potato. I'd do an exercise tape semi-faithfully for three weeks at the most, then get bored with it because I wasn't feeling or seeing results. The "Secrets of a Great Body" workouts do not give instant results, but you will start feeling stronger during the first few weeks of your routine, and when you can do all twelve push-ups in both sets, you feel like you're getting somewhere. Get this video and let this Secret out!

Depending on my schedule, I have been using this video on and off for the past few years. I am always pleased to find how quickly you can see real results. By "real" I mean within a few weeks, you can actually see definition where there once was none. Another plus is Kathy herself. She is easy to follow and motivating without going overboard. The only thing that might be improved is the ab section. It could definitely be more challenging. However, if your goal is to sculpt your upper body, doing these exercises and following the guidelines (2 Xs/week, etc.) will get you some nice results quickly.

After reading several reviews of this tape, I decided to try it. I noticed results FAST...within one month I could already see definition in my arms, shoulders and my upper back. I especially like the length of the tape (40 minutes). And, it goes so fast as Kathy moves from one move to the next quickly. Before you know it, the tape is finished. I would definitely recommend this tape to anyone who wants definition in their upper body. Kathy Smith is a great instructer and motivator. You won't be disappointed with the results. I have been doing workout tapes at home for many years and this is my absolute favorite by far. Buy this tape...it is the best!

I like this tape. I started this tape and saw results fast.I like the low rep overload style of weight training. You just increase your weight as the exercise becomes easier.You need quite a few different size weights to chose from. It shows Beg. thur adv. moves. If you do it 2 times a week as Kathy recomends you'll see results.I am in good shape and this tape helped me get there. The only thing I feel thats lacking is the abs section of the tape. After a few months they just were not challenging enough as you can't add weight to make it harder like the other exercises. Still its a great tape. A step makes one set of exercises easier in my opinion but Kathy uses a large pillow. I also liked the set on this tape and the music didn't sound like a video game. Happy Flexing folx

Kathy Smith does a nice job of explaining each exercise and it's very easy to follow. It's only about 30 minutes, twice a week, which makes it bearable at 6am just rolling out of bed. It's made a big difference in defining my shoulders, but not adding bulk. I saw a difference in about 2 months.

The workout in this video is decent... And I love kathy Smith.... BUT there seems to be alot of wasted time in this workout. She stops the exercises to do a little anatomy lesson, to show you where the muscle is, blah blah blah. While these lessons are a nice thing to add, it becomes bothersome to have to go through everytime you do the video. It would be better to have this at the END or even the begining. The biggest problem with this video is poor editing. Sometimes between exercises the camera just cuts to a new one. (When Kathy and the others are switching sides, or changing position) The camera doesn't follow the people, so you aren't left with enough time to change position as well. I also didn't give this a higher rating because it is a little too easy for what is made to seem like an intermediate /advanced workout. This may just be because I am in good shape... While the actual exercises are good and the workout is well balanced for the upper body, there could be a few more exercises for some body parts, the ab workout is especially wimpy. I would recommend Kathy's Lift Weights to Lose Weight video instead, as it the time will fly and it is much easier to tailor the workout to meet your needs when you advanced in fitness levels.

I've been doing this workout, and the companion "Secrets of a Great Lower Body volume II, Lower Body Workout", and have definitely seen results. The introduction to the workout is comprehensive and thorough, I rewind the tape so I can avoid it each time. It is a motivating workout because you can work at your own pace and the demonstrations before each exercise help you do the exercise safely and effectively. The room where it was filmed is large and empty feeling, but that allows you to concentrate on the workout. I had been doing the Gilad videos which take place on the beach, so I had to adjust to the boring interior space. I recommend this tape to beginners and intermediate exercisers. I haven't worked up to the advanced level yet, but you can advance by using heavier dumbbells, and she mentions that whenever appropriate. You need hand weights, preferably two sets of lighter and heavier ones, a chair, a mat, a pillow and a towel.

-My upper body strength has improved tremendously with this tape, but the more I use it the more annoyed I become with the lack of continuity. You cannot just put in the tape, start exercising, and keep going until the end of the tape. Several times during the tape it is necessary to stop the tape and change position too quickly (e.g. pushups on floor to flies lying on bench), so you have a rewind. Also, once you learn the proper form, you have to stop and fast-forward through the instructional segments.
-Another annoying thing is the emphasis on looks rather than on strength, fitness, and health. For example, the pectoral muscles have a lot more important purposes than making the chest look bigger, the shoulder muscles have other roles than to make your waist appear smaller, and the back muscles are not just for making you look taller.
-I wish Kathy Smith would take this same workout, change the emphasis of the talk to health and strength, and streamline the editing so you could just follow along at a good pace without constantly stopping the tape, rewinding, or fast-forwarding. She could call it her "Functionally Fit Upper Body Strengthening" workout, which would complete her Functionally Fit series very nicely.