22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun & Jazzy, December 27, 2000
This review is from: Lean Legs & Buns [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Lean Legs and Buns is a 45-minute lower body workout, which can be adapted to your own fitness level. You can start with just the top platform of a step or add risers according to your strength level. Ankle weights intensify the exercises in one targeted segment.
For most of the workout, you will be lifting your own body weight. The exercises focus on the muscles of the buttocks, calves and thighs. While you are stepping on and off the platform, you are firming and shaping the lower body muscles and developing muscular endurance.
Karen's personal coaching keeps you moving, even if your pace is slower than hers at first. I sometimes stop and just "march" on the step until I catch my breath and then I enjoy getting back into the routine with a new sense of energy. Your muscles need oxygen, and this video is working large muscles! The Jazzy soundtrack is easy to listen to and softens at the end for the stretching segment.
I find this video to be one of my favorites as it is colorful and fun. There isn't any fancy footwork. Each move is precise and controlled. The first segment is a warm up, then you will be moving on and off the step to increase your heart rate....believe me, you will feel the burn in your calves and buttocks, however it is not so intense as to cause you to stop working out for too long. I appreciate the fact that in this workout, Karen seems to alternate between the more intense exercises and the easy ones. In that way, you can keep up with her. You also get to use a high stool to lean on for a bit. Ok, it is for support, but you know what I mean. You could also use Karen's weighted bar.
The third segment is a floor workout and Karen uses the step for support. I found this section to almost be relaxing when you don't use the ankle weights, so do use ankle weights to really get a good leg workout. The last segment is a brief stretch. If you wanted to extend your workout to one hour, you could spend a few minutes working out your abdominal and then spend ten minutes stretching. Karen's "Precision Training for Body and Mind" book, has stretching from page 90-101. It is available here at Amazon. It also contains exercises and health information you will enjoy reading about.
~The Rebecca Review
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must for your fitness library., August 27, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: Lean Legs & Buns [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This video changed the shape of my lower body. No I'm not exaggerating. I've always had problems with that area, I'm a "pear shape". My hips, thighs, and calves have never looked and felt so lean and strong. That, combined with drinking tons of water every day, has me wearing shorts and bathings suits again!!! Thanks Karen.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great step/lower body workout!, June 5, 2001
This review is from: Lean Legs & Buns [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This is such a great workout tape. Karen is a knowledgeable instructor. Her excellent cueing makes it easy to keep up. This is a low-impact workout which I also appreciate. She starts out with a calf-toning segment, moves into a step workout, then leg/ankle weights are donned for an overall leg toning segment. I highly recommend this tape, it will give you results!
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