Customer Reviews

Shapely Girl: Let's Get Stepping with Debra Mazda - Beginner Step Cardio Workout

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I really like this workout. In my 20's I used step aerobics to lose some weight and had the legs of my life. Fast forward 15 years later . . . I got away from workingout and I have gained weight. I bought this DVD because I hoped that it would ease me back into working out.

I first did the DVD yesterday. I thought the DVD was going to be below my fitness level. I walk every day and use the elliptical. I can't say that I push myself hard--I just do it and try to enjoy it. I also rotate in a Firm DVD. So, I thought I was in good shape--decent at least. So, I started the DVD and was exaggerating the moves intending on getting a good workout. I assumed this DVD was a little below my level. Well, I was wrong. A couple of times I had to march in place to catch my breath. I insisted that I was going to use my arms and that I was in good shape. Clearly, I am not--I about killed myself and should have dropped the arms at some point but refused. After the workout I felt exhausted--not in a good way--in a I am not going to do anything a while way.

Today I did the DVD without raising my arms above my head and got a good workout. I love the DVD. It is simple and straightforward. Exactly what I was looking for. I would have liked a more thorough stretch but I just do my own after the DVD. I like Debra. Again, she is straightforward. I do not like the Denise Austin type of rah rah DVD's--the first couple of times that rah rah is ok but after doing the DVD over and over again it is way too much and annoying.

With Debra, she just tells us what the next steps are, counts, etc. Nothing over the top just a good solid workout. Also, the people on her "team" or regular people. They aren't the perfectly toned size zero's that we see so often in other DVD's. I use to think that the perfectly toned people in other DVD's were inspiring but I found that these women inspired me more. I would want to take a break and march but I wouldn't let myself . . . I would say "Ok, Gina, if they can do it you have to be able to do it--toughen up--quit whining".

I think this is an intermediate DVD. I have the firm DVD's and feel that this got me sweating more and working harder. If it is too hard you can drop your arms like I did or use a shorter step. If you are not getting enough of a workout you can use a higher step.

There is a toning segment after the workout that I haven't done yet. It seems to be about 10 minutes. I watched it and forgot to time it. Just solid basic moves. If you are new to stepping there is an intro that will show you all of the moves and help you ease into stepping. Stepping is a great way to shape and tone your lower body. Stepping also gives you a more intense workout. I am looking forward to reshaping my body again and think this is just the ticket.

The workout is just under 40 minutes with a 4 minute warm up and a 3 minute cool down. The music isn't overwhelming--just right. I wish Debra would make more step DVD's to integrate with this one!

Gina

What a great step workout! The choreography is deceptively simple, but really gets your heartrate up - easy footwork makes it a breeze to follow. Debra adds some fun arm/leg combos - and her cuing is excellent. The four women stepping with her show various easy/hard modifications (for example, lowest step height, no arms, highest step height, etc.). I've been stepping a while, and I found it very easy to add challenge by just exaggerating the movements or adding some plyo (leaping) where needed. A short but very effective toning section at the end is also excellent. I recommend this DVD very highly!

WOW! It is about time that someone made fitness for ALL women! I am so impressed and so moved to see Curvy and Shapely women working out and getting both fit and healthy! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how Debra emphasizes that Fitness and Health comes in all shapes and sizes! This woman not only talks the talk but walks the walk! I am so glad that us average sized (size 12 & 14) as well as Plus-Sized women have safe, effective, and motivating fitness DVDs that are quality and fun to use! It is a horrible myth that one cannot be healthy or fit if you are "over weight" or "over sized". Definitely not true!

This DVD offers basic choreography at a moderate pace. There are several modifications shown whether it be different step heights or no arm movements. I have only done Cathe Friedrich step in the past from both her beginner thru advanced titles and have to say that Cathe has now taken a backseat to Debra with regards to Step. No this is not as intense as Cathe, but that's the point! It's non-itimidating, motivating, and fairly easy on the joints; unlike Cathe. I have knee issues as well as joint problems with 1 hip and at age 27, I can't afford to beat my body up for the sheer purpose of vanity, in hopes of being "smaller one day". Healthy and fit are so much more important than size and that message is really hammered home with Debra. We don't have to suffer along in boring or long workouts with Cathe, Amy Bento, Jillian, ect to look and feel great! Fitness can be fun and now IS! There's a revolution going on within the fitness and health industry and Debra is helping to lead the way! I am so proud of myself and my size, it's about time that someone indulges us "Shapely Girls" with appropriate, beneficial, fun, safe, and effective fitness! I own all 4 Shapely Workouts and look forward to Debra releasing more! Get this DVD, it is well worth the money! The movements are non-complicated, easy on the body, the music is fab, and EVERY women big or small can do it! Fitness no longer has to kill you to be effective, Thank God and Thank you Debra!

I also want to add that she uses Top 40 music and no two songs are repeated amongst her 4 DVDs. If you are an Advanced Exreciser you would find this workout great for a light to mderate workout, something to compensate for more demanding cardio routines like Cathe Friedrich or Amy Bento. If you are a faithful Leslie Sansone fan, tis one is more intense than any Leslie DVD IMHO, including her 5 Mile Walks. You can get a moderate, yet energizing workout with no risers, but add 1-2 sets of risers and be prepared for a step sweatfest! I personally am so tired of Leslie's same boring workouts, with the same boring movements, with little to no "umph". Debra's DVDs are amazing and I recommend this and the other 3 whole-heartedly to anyone! I love her and her workouts. I am praying that Debra releases another Step workout!!

Debra's group of "shapely girls" certainly does provide motivation and inspiration. I am a shapely girl myself and it can be discouraging to see a group of perfect hardbodies working out and telling me that I can do it, too. The workout itself is quite intense for someone of my fitness level. I am in my 50s and quite overweight. I have done mostly low-impact aerobics and walking in recent years, so the intensity of the step added a challenge for me. Debra herself is very much a regular person; it's like listening to your Aunt Sally from Bayonne. But she understands how the body works and what it needs to get fit. The only things that I found disconcerting were that she frequently seems very out of breath, and her cuing is sometimes a little off. She will say one thing and do another. On one combo, it seemed to me that she was doing ham curls to the left and kicks to the right, all the while telling you to do ham curls. It got a tad confusing. But all in all, it is certainly worth doing this workout if you are not a veteran stepper. The toning segment that follows was good as well, but she does the last part of it at a quick pace that got my heart rate up again, and provided no cool down afterwards. I just walked in place until my heart rate returned to normal, but it seemed awkward to me.

I bought this after reading all the great reviews on Amazon. It was just ok for me. It wasn't as professional looking as some others I've tried and I found the woman very annoying. She talked and talked and talked and it started to bug me to the point where I just turned off the DVD and didn't pick it up again. If you can mute it that would probably make it much easier on the ears. The workout wasn't bad but just not up to par for me.

This is my favorite step workout ever - I have a several different step workouts, from Denise Austin to Brenda Dygraff to the Buns of Steel videos, and this is by far my favorite. For one, I like the basic movements; I'm really not a fan of complicated moves/combos (two left feet!), so keeping it simple is for me! But just because the moves are simple doesn't mean they can't be challenging. While I'm sure this may be boring for advanced steppers, I found this to be challenging as well as easy to follow. Debra's cueing is perfect!

Plus, this is a 37 minute aerobic routine - my other tapes are only 20 to 25 minutes, but I like that this is longer - it helps me build up my endurance. I did this a few times, then tried the Brenda Dygraff routine, and while it was only 20 minutes, the moves are more complicated than Debra's. And I didn't even break a sweat! Usually this tape kicks my butt, but not this time, thanks to doing the Shapely Girl step workout.

For beginners, she gives plenty of options to make it as easy or challenging as you like; one of her steppers does a no arm workout, which is great for people just starting step, or those of us who haven't worked out in ages. But again, you can make this challenging by simply raising your step height, adding wrist weights, etc. This isn't a DVD I'm going to get rid of after I attain a certain level, that's for sure! (unlike my two Denise Austin step tapes - they're very good, but mainly for beginners).

Another plus about Debra's workout DVDs are the premixes - there are two aerobic mixes in addition to the main workout, a 31 minute and a 25 minute, perfect if you're short on time, or again, if you want to start with a shorter workout and go from there. AND there's a bonus short toning segment :) AND one mix that combines includes aerobic and toning. You definitely get your money's worth with Debra's DVDs!

I agree with one reviewer, in there should be a 'slow down' period in-between the aerobic and cool down segments. Going from your target heart rate RIGHT to cool down is awkward. It's not a problem for me, as I just pause the DVD and do the cool down once my heart rate is back to normal.

Lastly, I love Debra's attitude - she's so positive and has a very 'coffee talk' personality, which is great :D
And I also agree with another reviewer in that she knows exactly what to say to encourage you to give your all. As challenging as this workout was to do the first time, I did it the whole way through. Her encouragement really does make a difference. And I actually have FUN while exercising - there's no 'dread factor', LOL.

So, in all, HIGHLY recommended! I ordered her walking workout yesterday after reading all the glowing reviews. I can't wait!

I purchased this DVD as a start to stepping in the privacy of my home. I absolutely love it and would recommend it to any newcomer to step or for anyone who is unfit. The first week I did it with no arms then introduced the arms slowly and can now complete the whole 40min workout complete with arms. I am over 50 and unfit but feel really great using the DVD.

I received two of Debra's dvds. The Beginner Step Cardio is easy to follow and Debra is there to coach and motivate you every "step" of the way! I would definitely recommend this dvd and know that you too will feel like Debra is your own personal coach! It's a great workout without impossible fancy footwork so know that you will actually look forward to doing it over and over. Go for it!!

Really surprised how good this workout is even if you are in shape and not over weight! It is a low impact routine that is hard enough and long enough to work up a sweat plus interesting to keep you wanting to keep with it. Instructor is great, music is good, and instruction very clear. No fancy moves just basic steps. Has different mixes for various lengths. Buy it and you will get hooked!

Fitness DVDs created and hosted by exercise physiologist Debra Mazda prove that women of all shapes and sizes can enjoy the benefits of a good workout. Mazda once weighed over three hundred pounds; deciding that diets were not the answer, she devised a fitness regimen and succeeded in losing one hundred forty pounds. She remains curvaceously shapely (with noticeably more meat on her bones than a rail-thin Hollywood model), yet immensely improved and healthy, and her workout DVDs are sure to appeal to viewers of all backgrounds and body sizes. In "Let's Get Stepping! Beginner Step-Cardio" (82 min.) viewers are introduced into a step-cardio workout suitable for beginners, complete with a toning bonus track and step tutorial. The bonus special feature "Debra Mazda's Circle Time" is all about working out when one is a plus-sized woman. An excellent DVD for anyone, female or male, interested in beginning a fitness regimen - especially those who are new to regular physical workouts and need a user-friendly start.