Customer Reviews

Sexy Abs with Leisa Hart [VHS]

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

 

 

From the outside of the DVD case, this looked like a great workout: the box does a nice job of breaking down the workout, listing time durations for each chapter as well each bonus segment. Unfortunately, I found that the actual workout did not live up to my expectations.

The main workout is about 34 minutes long and is broken into 4 segments. The first, titled "Sexy Sculpting," is 8 minutes long and completely misnamed--at best, this section stretched and warmed up the abdominal area, but there was certainly no sculpting effect. Instructor Leisa Hart and her crew of 4 background exercisers sit in chairs and use scarves for the simple spine stretches, but I actually found it easier to forgo the prop. The second segment, "Hourglass Shaping," is a bit longer (10 minutes) but really not much more intense. This time, the moves are performed on the floor, and the scarf is again used, mostly for leverage. The moves are clearly Pilates-inspired--ie, you do a lot of c-curves with your spine--but they were not nearly as challenging as a true Pilates workout.

Performing the third segment, "Belly Flattening," was the only time I could actually feel some work occurring in my abdominal area. This section focused on the lower abs area with moves like reverse crunches and a version of the Pilates corkscrew. However, as she does in the other videos of this series (ie, Sexy Legs), Leisa moves too quickly, making many of the exercises feel jerky and unnatural. Furthermore, she does not fully explain the moves, and combined with poor camera angles, the workout is often hard to follow. The final segment is called "Back Strengthening," and I liked this one the least. Here, the cast lies face down over a stool; although Leisa states that you could use a chair with a back, I did this and found it to be very awkward and uncomfortable. This section included back stretching moves such cobra and plank; it probably would have been much more effective using a stability ball rather than a stool/chair.

The DVD bonus features included two additional workout segments, both 5 minutes long. The first is "Waistline Trimming," a series of oblique movements from a side-lying elbow plank position. The second, "Core Stretch," contains some nice yoga-like moves to stretch your midsection, although again, Leisa does not explain the movements very well. Other DVD extras include a sneak peak of the class from a camera at the back of the stage, brief bios on Leisa and each of the four background exercisers, a music only workout option, and a photo gallery (why would I want to look at poses of Leisa in various outfits?).

Overall, this video was a disappointment. I really enjoy abs work, including Pilates, and although this could have been a very good workout, it was just too poorly cued and cumbersome for my liking. However, someone who does not enjoy more traditional abs work and who is looking for a more gentle workout focusing more on stretching than toning might find something to like in this video.

I found this workout to be far too easy, I felt no burn in my abs at all. I'm probably an intermediate to advanced exerciser. The video cover says for all fitness levels but I can't even imagine a beginner being challenged by this.

i really like the style of Leisa Hart....this is a beginner to intermediate level routine that is very very pleasant; the moves are graceful and flow together very nicely...i love the set and the music...i liked the instructor, she was very gorgeous and real, very personable, very sexy, my husband liked doing the routine with me(i think he liked looking at the hot girls in the video), but no matter, it was a great workout and we got what we needed and that was an EXCELLENT AB WORKOUT!

I was really excited to receive the Leisa Hart abs workout from amazon after reading all of the excellent reviews.To my disappointment this ab workout turned out to be terrible! I exercise daily and am getting my degree in physical fitness but I would say that I am intermediate to advanced. When I popped this dvd in my friend and I were ready to get a good abs workout, but neither of us even felt a burn! (My friend is a beginner..) I figured that maybe I was not doing the moves correctly but when I tried it again with an intermediate exercising buddy, we stopped halfway through and put in another dvd. I just don't understand how everyone else on Amazon is posting all of these good reviews! Please don't listen to them if you are used to doing ab workouts- try Shape's "shape your abs" or The firm "jiggle free abs" dvd's instead. By all means, do not waste your money on this one! This dvd is extremely easy, and if you want to lose weight or tone up, you need something more challenging!

great ab workout with simple instruction; leisa hart was my life saver with her fitmama videos, and now i am feeling so much better than i did after my first two babies,, my abs are getting toned(the extra skin is still there, but that will take me time), but i can see definition that i did not have before. the sexiness of this video, and all the Sexy Series videos, is very real, nothing fake or cheesy, it is very professionally produced and it is getting me the results i want, i highly recommend this workout.

you have to try this, leisa hart's style is unique and tradtional, a mix of boring ab moves made exciting by using a scarf and a chair, things i would never think of, but they were so good...my abs are toning up and i owe it to this routine, Leisa is perky yet charming without being annoying, she is very fit and inspirational; this is a GREAT DVD!

i have all four of leisa hart's sexy series dvds and love them so much, i love them in differnet ways because i feel so good after doing each workout rotated during the week; i hvae lost weight, toned up parts of my body i ususally have hard times working, but most importantly i feel good about myself and my body, and my husband loves the new me, fit and sexy and ready to shock some classmates at our 20 year reunion.....get sexy, get these dvds, you'll enjoy them alot!

I have become a Leisa Hart fan in the past year, using her dvds very effectively and dedicated to a better year of health. It is easy to nit pick a video workout, but not this one; i loved the idea and loved the models doing variations. I loved Leisa's sexy appeal that was cute and fun and not cheesy as it could have been, the abs could feel this workout; it has some very unique moves that are flowing and graceful and you can definitely feel it. I asbolutely loved th workout and my abs are in much better shape now.

i have bought dozens of tapes targeting the abs, and i think this is one of the best; it is creative and effective; i truly enjoyed the set and the pace, it was well structured and has firm up my mid section after laying off for a few months, this is a great addition to my fitness vidoe collection

I don not usually write reviews, but I really thought this was a GREAT and EFFECTIVE abs workout. The scarf was a very creative touch, it set the mood for a sexy routine, but it was deceptive in the sense that you don't realize how good of a workout you are about to get, it almost lulls you away, but then Leisa brings up the intensity and does a great job of explaining the moves and working the abs. I have toned up and feel sexy in bed, in the shower, whenever I see my "almost six pack" abs; I truly have defined my abs and it is incredible how good that makes me feel. I also do Leisa's SEXY LEGS video and brisk walking to help my cardio, but this abs video has really pushed me and made me feel great about my abs.