Customer Reviews

PEDOMETER PLUS-ADVNACED LEVEL

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As an advanced exerciser, I am always looking for a new, innovative challenge. The Firm Body Sculpting Ball workout provides just that. This workout comes with a sculpting ball, which is available in three weights (four, six or eight pounds). I used the eight pound variety, and by the time we got to the ab work, I was ready to put the ball away! My arms really got a workout, as did my core. There are several moves that require you to hold the ball out in front of you, over your head, and move it diagonally across your body. I could really feel it in my core after the workout.

Once we completed several segments of standing work, including grapevine, squats, and lunges, we go to the floor for bridge work and abs. You have to hold the ball between your thighs during the bridge work, which I found challenging since by that time I was sweating and the ball kept slipping away from me. You also hold the ball between your thighs to do ab crunches, which is difficult with such a heavy ball. Afterwards is a short cool down, which I thought could have been longer.

Tina leads, and she is very fit and quite personable. She cues well and gives a few form pointers along the way. As with all the new Firm releases, the background is sterile and boring. There are four background exercisers, with Allison showing beginner moves. Allie is holding the eight pound ball showing more advanced moves. The music is nice and non-intrusive.

Beginners will enjoy this workout. It isn't complicated and with a four pound ball you could get a really intense workout. Unless you're advanced and have some good upper body strength, I would not recommend the eight pound ball. You could injure yourself if you go to heavy. In fact, I was wishing I had another, lighter ball for the floor work.

I have all eight new workouts, and I've done three so far. Of those, I liked this one the best. I felt I got a good workout, but I wish it were longer. The entire workout from start to finish is about 32 minutes long. Another 15 minutes would have been great, although I suspect my arms would have been totally fried if we'd kept going much longer.

Overall, I give this workout high marks. It's definitely a keeper.

This is a nice upper body workout because you're constantly moving the ball in various positions that really work your shoulders. They also throw in static lunges for your buns and some short cardio bursts. I consider myself an advanced exerciser and the 8# ball really gives you a great toning workout and keeps your heart rate up.

This item certainly did not disappoint! After using it the first time, I knew it meant business. My arms firmed up immediately and after just one use I saw a difference in my body. You don't think 6lbs is heavy until your working with it for 30 minutes straight. I love the fact that the workout is quick, yet challenging. You start doing this workout on a consistent basis AND YOUR BODY WILL CHANGE! I made a commitment to work out vigorously 4-5 days a week, and this sculpting ball is great when I have a crunch for time.

I would like to take this opportunity to encourage people (particularly women) who are like me - mother of two under the age of 8, full time worker (swing shift), taking 18 units in my senior year in college, and thus a bit "chubby" - to take control of your life and start doing what makes you the most happy. I wasn't happy going into Forever 21 and not finding anything that could fit me. I wasn't happy either in Lane Bryant!! I have 60 pounds to loose, but with commitment and dedication, I am determined to do it. I bought this, Tae-bo Amped (!), and The Firm - and they all work! You just have to buckle down and do them! I have every excuse in the world not to exercise (including a torn MCL in my knee), but I can't be a good mother, a good wife, or a good person if I don't feel any inner joy in my soul knowing that I don't feel good about myself. This is why I took this step to reclaim my life, I hope any person looking for hope does the same. I have been working out since mid March and my husband says my face is getting thinner and my pants are loosening up. I know by the time we take our cruise in September I am going to be in a bikini! My words of encouragement are this: do it, commit to it, and GO HARD. Even if it means the dishes may stay dirty a little longer, or the house may be a little cluttered. It's better than living life depressed and self-conscious. I urge everyone that is reading this to TAKE CONTROL.

Peace,

A Mom Who's Doing It!!!

This workout appears to be deceptively easy, but I worked up a sweat doing it. I liked the instructor, Tina Smalley, and thought she did a great job of cuing. This workout was a nice change of pace and was relatively easy to follow. My only hesitation is that each of the times that I've done this workout, I've felt a strain in my admittedly sensitive back. Be careful!

I bought this from a different vendor and started working out with it immediately, interspersing it with my usual cardio workouts. I usually lift weights, have no prior injuries, and consider myself in pretty good shape as well as pretty used to working out and using proper form (I played a college sport, etc.). After a couple days of using this product my neck and shoulders started spasming and were so stiff that I could barely move them regularly. It was clearly not from the amount of weight since i am used to using much heavier (free weights included). Perhaps I was doing the exercises incorrectly, but that seems like a real risk with a video like this.

like one of the reviewers said before, it looks fairly easy, but it turns out to be quiet hard. It's a good 30 minute workout and I really enjoyed it. It feels like I used muscles that I don't use with my other weight workouts.

I bought the medium sized ball and I think that was a good choice, not too heavy and not too light.

This is a great 30 minute workout. I have all of the firm sculpting system workouts and I love this addition. It works you out just as well as the hour long videos, but is a great way to add a new challenge to your workouts. I have the sculpting ball too and together I love them!

This workout is short but you will feel "worked out" when done. Tina cues well and the workout flows very smoothly. No awkward transitions. The ball is used for both total body toning and 4 limb cardio. Your core and abs get a great workout too with both traditional and functional moves. I enjoyed the change of using the ball instead of dumbells. Definitely "shocked" the muscles!

I am sort of a workout junkie, to be more specific, a "FIRM" workout junkie. I like how intense the FIRM is, and I sort of look for that in the workouts that I do. Now this workout is good, not as intense as the TransFIRMer workouts that were just out. Don't get me wrong: I have the 6lb ball, and you use it for 90% of the workout. At the end, I was definately ready to put it down, so it did work me out.

Pros: Different change of pace using the ball; lots of moves that strengthen your core; a fun and different stretch at the end using the ball; Tina Smalley is a precise leader that is easy to follow.

Cons: I miss the old FIRM master instructors that were in all the other videos. Just Allie and Allison were in this one. They didn't even introduce the others. There was no changes in weight, which used to be the way to spot an "ineffective workout" according to the "old" FIRM tapes. And lastly, In my humble opinion, the ball is a little gimicky.

Ok, here's the deal. I really like that it is only 30 minutes, so it is great to do with my 2 year old son next to me and also for days you don't have 45 minutes - an hour to devote to working out.

I like the concept of using a ball and it is not your typical hand weight workout. It sounded interesting so I gave it a try.

It is ok, I will say that. For me, it gets really old holding the ball. I got the medium weighted one, the 6 pounder. It just feels very awkward and heavy holding the ball in my hands for that long. There are hardly any breaks when you are NOT holding it, so it really gets annoying. Maybe it would be fine for people with bigger hands that can get a good grip on the ball, but not me.

I still do this tape, mind you. It is not so bad that I refuse to do the tape. I still love that it is 30 minutes and you do feel it in your arms for sure. If you don't mind dealing with a tiny bit of awkwardness by the end, no problem! You may not even notice the hand thing as I do. It may feel completely fine.

I like the instructor and I like the other people in the tape, too, if that matters to anyone.