Customer Reviews

Keeping Fit in Your 50s - Strength [VHS]

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

 

 

I received this exercise DVD yesterday and used it for the first time today with my friend. She and I are in our mid and late fifties and had been doing a strengthening exercise video together but the VCR died and so we're using the DVD player instead.

I loved this DVD in comparison to the video. The video had a fitness expert leading several every-day type folks in the exercises. I found the other people distracting and they didn't always do the exercises properly and she had to show them how to do them correctly. I got tired of seeing that replayed every time I did the exercises. Also, the expert talked to us between the rep sets. That was fine the first few times, but got tiresome after a while. On the DVD, she goes back and forth between two different exercises rather than having actual rest times. This seemed a more effective use of time.The DVD seemed to be more professionally done than the video also.

I am fairly new to weight lifting so don't have an opinion about slow or fast weight lifting. If you are convinced that slow weight lifting is the only effective way to do weight lifting, you will not want to do this program. She moves at a pretty fast clip. We were sweating at the end of this program and we weren't with the other program. I have read the controversy about whether or not slow movements are more effective. I am not convinced either way yet, so I am going to stay with the faster pace. I liked it much better. I wasn't receiving any of the promised benefits of the slow way after several months.

As soon as I can afford it, I am going to order the flexibility and aerobic DVDs as well.

As a very busy fifty-something woman I have found this DVD to be quite helpful. I've used it about 3 times a week for a month, and I am very pleased to report that I have advanced enough to move from 1 lb. weights to 2 lb. weights, which for me is a big improvement. This DVD does not drag the way some other exercise DVDs do, and I find Robyn Stuhr and Cindy Joseph to be quite inspiring (and not the least bit condescending). I plan to continue with this exercise program (who knows, maybe I'll work my way up to 10 lb weights), and, because I am pleased with this product, I intend to purchase the "Keeping Fit in Your 50s" flexibility DVD as well.

The instructor takes up too much time in talking, and in a too-condescending voice, more appropriate for children. Neither of the participants has a good sense of rhythm - why use music if you're not going to keep time? Then, after the workout, no stretch. I would not have bought this had I seen it first - it was a waste of money for my requirements. It gets 2 stars instead of 1 because if you ignore the criticisms above and put a lot of effort into it you can end up with a halfway-decent workout. But any workout should have a stretching section at the end!

Good exercises for those of us out of shape and trying desperately to keep up with the fast paced "beginner" exercise DVD's that aren't! My husband approves of this one that we borrowed from the library and will now order for ourselves to use again and again. We fast forwarded through the talking and eventually she gets down to the exercises. We liked that they did the exercises slightly differently AND that they alternated muscle groups so we could keep going but got more reps on each type of exercise. We enjoyed it.

I have the set of 3 DVDs (Strengthening, Flexibility, Aerobics). Each DVD has a menu, so you can skip all the "instruction" and get right to the routines, which is nice. It is a good pace for someone who is a bit out of shape and wanting a gentle routine. My only complaint is that the are a little off beat as far as keeping in time to the music. I've learned to not follow their rhythm, but do my own and it has worked out fine.

This is a good workout for us "over 50's", but it moves very slowly because of explanations (which are helpful the first time around). It would be better if, once they give the instructions, there is a separate workout session that just flows without the instructions.

I thought the instructor did a good job demo-ing a 40-min basic weight training workout for beginners. She also offered frequent reminders and tips for performing the exercises correctly. Very little equipment was required (chair, weights, mat, stretch band), so you're not obligated to go to a gym to make use of the techniques being taught.

Keeping Fit in Your 50's is a wonderful series; I have all three DVDs and use them regularly. The workouts are easy to follow and cover three areas of fitness: aeorbics, flexibility, and strength training. I have wasted money before on exercise videos, but found exactly what I needed with these.

I am 50 and a lifelong triathlete and yoga teacher so this was too tame for me but great for women and men who have not yet gotten serious about their exercise routine. Finally, real women who are knowledgeable and not super-skinny -- good role models. This DVD is about being healthy not thin. The lead instructor really knows her stuff and beginners (or experts who are constantly injuring themselves, then come to my yoga class and ask me to "fix them") need to pay attention to her! Use this for a couple of months, then when you are confident to go on to something more intense, pass it along to another woman getting serious about starting exercise! 4 stars instead of 5 as I think the title needs to specify "for beginners."

I was looking for a good basic strength training video that does not have fit 20-somethings hopping around. This one fits that bill but falls short of what I wanted. It is a very simple routine that is made extra long by too much talking between the instructors. Instruction is fine, but they go overboard. They also cannot keep a beat. One of them is very smug and seems overly pleased with herself throughout the video. I wish I had rented it first.