Customer Reviews

Strong Body, Ageless Body with Erin O'Brien

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this on a whim actually. I didn't know of the instructor Erin O'Brien, but wanted a new workout. I ended up picking a great dvd here. It's toning done standing and done on the floor and it works out almost every muscle in your body.
Erin is a great instructor. She explains everything so well by telling you why you are doing what you're doing. She cues well and so you always know what's coming up. You can do the basic move that's demonstrated, or the tougher variations which is shown in a separate square in the corner of the screen. That's a great feature in itself so you can progress easily and move up when you're ready. All you need is some weights and you're ready to go. Even though she's not totally well known, I highly recommend this workout to everyone because almost anyone can follow it, and it will compliment any of your cardio workouts you might already own.

Speaking as someone who would rather workout on a treadmill for an hour than do five minutes of weight training, this DVD is a total life saver. I'm a cardio junky, but I know I need to build in weight training so I keep trying new workouts to see if anything will get me to do the work. Until discovering Erin's DVD, I couldn't find anything that I wanted to finish, let alone incorporate into my regular rotation.

Now I'm doing this workout at least twice a week to supplement my cardio routine. It's a motivating, fast-paced series of exercises that switch between upper and lower body sets. The transitions are easy to follow but quick so your heart rate stays elevated and you're done before you know it. The program ends with a nice floor work section that incorporates inner/outer thigh work and abs/pilates exercises. Erin is very easy to follow and motivational. The program also includes a helpful corner graphic that shows you advanced options for every exercise.

This is one I'll go to again and again.

This is a killer workout! I loved it. I usually workout twice a day, so I figured I could handle all the advanced moves the first time around. Oh, man! I was quivering by the end of the workout - and I was thrilled! I knew this was a tool I could use for a long time to come. I've done fitness tapes/dvds for the past 15 years and I've bought my share of clunkers. Either the workout got boring or the instructor got annoying. Not here! Erin gives you many ways to change up your workouts (which is a huge bonus) and she's very likeable, fun and motivating. Even better, she's smart and challenging. I enjoy and appreciate the fact that she educates you while you're working out, ie; what muscle groups you're working, etc. Erin's a great trainer. I've purchased her earlier dvds (she's a pre/postnatal specialist) and I loved them, too. I still incorporate them into my rotation, that's how good they are. I always learn something new. If you're looking for a challenge, no matter what your "condition", Erin's the trainer for you. Strong Body, Ageless Body rocks!

One word: Wow! I am so glad I found this DVD. I'm in my mid-20s and am in good shape, as I've been working out fairly consistently since college. However, I wanted to incorporate more strength training into my routine and thought this would be an appropriate-level challenge for me. I have been doing Erin's Strong Body, Ageless Body workout for several weeks now and love it. This is a great strength routine to add to your existing cardio and/or specialized routines (abs, Pilates, etc.). The individual exercises are basic and uncomplicated, so participants of nearly any age/weight should be able to enjoy and benefit from this workout.

Erin O'Brien is amazing. With this particular workout, she set up a tripod in her living room and created a comprehensive strength training routine just for you. Although you can't "customize" this DVD like some other workouts (the 10 Minute series comes to mind), it is so much more personal than the cookie-cutter studio routines; it honestly feels like you have a one-on-one session with your favorite trainer. Erin is a strong, down-to-earth, no-nonsense woman who cares about health and wants YOU to be strong too. She makes you feel good about yourself and good about working out. Her encouragement is nurturing ("Yes you can!" and "You're all right, I promise!"), and her demeanor is calm and focused.

For this 43-minute workout, you need a set of dumbbells (or soup cans) and a yoga mat (or towel). Erin keeps the routine fast-paced, so even though there's not a lot of cardio per se, your heart rate stays up and pumping the whole time, and you still burn tons of calories. She uses 6-pound dumbbells throughout the routine, but I started with 3-pounders and have worked my way up to 5-pounders, which I think I'll stick with for a while. The routine covers all major muscle groups in the body: shoulders, upper/lower back, biceps, triceps, pectorals, upper/lower abs, hips, glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves. It consists of 7 parts:

* Warm-up: A fun, get-your-blood-pumping series of aerobic movements. (4 minutes)

* Four standing upper/lower body segments: You need the weights here. Erin does three sets of 16 repetitions for each exercise, and she alternates between upper and lower body -- 16 reps upper body, 16 reps lower body, repeat 2 more times, then move to the next set of exercises. Transitions are quick. In these four segments, Erin works the shoulders/upper back, biceps, triceps, lat row, quads, glutes, hams, calves, and inner/outer thighs (not in that order, though!). (20 minutes)

* Floorwork: This is where you need the mat. Erin works the pecs, upper/lower abs, lower back, inner/outer thighs, hips, glutes, hams, calves, and overall balance. She uses many Pilates moves in this segment and, as before, quickly alternates between upper and lower (or core) -- 8-16 reps depending on the exercise. (15 minutes)

* Cool-down: This calming stretching session finishes off what is possibly the most fabulous workout I've ever done in my life, but I do wish this segment were longer (4 minutes). Erin doesn't stretch every muscle we used during the workout (no biceps, triceps, shoulders, or pecs), so I do my own stretches after the DVD ends. Not a big deal.

There's a little call-out box in the upper right corner of the screen during most exercises that shows an advanced modification. Erin does the "easy" move in the main frame, and once you're familiar with this, it's no problem to check the box for the advanced mod. This is the opposite of how most instructors do it, and it ends up more encouraging this way because the advanced moves aren't the main feature.

The music is fun -- a little sporty/dancy, but not obnoxious, and definitely not loud or overbearing. It's mainly there to keep you on pace with Erin's movements.

The first few times I did this workout, I kept up with Erin's quick-yet-manageable pace when I could do the exercise; but truth be told, I couldn't do every exercise! Erin does a LOT of quad work in the four standing sections, and I sometimes had to sit out during the second and/or third sets of squats. I can now do all of the exercises without stopping, but man, it's tough!

The only minor gripe I have with this routine is that sometimes Erin transitions very quickly between different exercises, mainly during the floorwork segment. I have to pause it so that I can get my weights, get into position, ensure that my posture is correct, and then resume. Erin is so seasoned that she can do this in 3 seconds, but on certain transitions, I need about 10. :)

Because this routine incorporates strength training for the whole body, and because Erin O'Brien is such an inspiring instructor, EVERYONE -- regardless of age or gender -- should have this in their home workout DVD collection. Highly recommended!

The thing I like best about this program is that it's so "do-able" but later -- oh, boy, do you feel the work you've done. I've got a lot of upper body strength, but my lower half is a little out of shape and flabby. If what my thighs are telling me is true, then this should do the trick!

I also love how she tells you exactly why you're doing what you're doing and what the long term benefits are. Sure, I can tell I'm going to get a better looking body, but it's also awesome to know that I'm helping to prevent osteoporosis, strengthening my connective tissue and raising my metabolism. At 37, that stuff is starting to matter to me as much as how I look!

OK all these reviews about killer workouts and I bought it. The exercises are good but Erin explains many of the exercise before she does them, stops and tells you how the exercise is good for a man or good for a woman, grabbing her chest or wiggling her arm to show you what will be worked. I was sick of the stop and go before I was a quarter through the workout. That is fine in an intro section but this means I'll have to listen to this EVERY time I do the workout and she will stop and go EVERY time I do the work out. This means by the second workout I will be really sick of that. And the artistic shots in black and white are stupid. I just want to see clearly what the instructor is doing and I don't need a black and white shoulder shot of her tatoo. It distracted me. I started wondering, "What is that. A mushroom? An atom bomb, what?" I have about 50 exercise DVDs so I'm not a newbie when it comes to exercise videos. If you want killer workouts that do the instructions outside of the workout, get something like the older FIRM workouts. Those FIRM workkouts are tough but the really move along and you are finished before you know it and you really do see results in 10 workouts like the FIRM claims. Another great one is Women's Health Total Workout in Ten - Get the Body You want in the Time you Have. The only equipment you need for workout in ten is hand weights. Some of the later FIRM videos require gadgets. For the Workout in Ten, do only 10 or 20 mins or for a killer 40 min workout do all four - cardio, upper, lower & flexibility. I was torn about whether to give this DVD a 2 or a 3, because the exercises are good and once you learn them you can do them without the DVD and the constant explanations, but that is not why I buy a DVD. Good exercising all.

Erin O'Brien is definitely one of my favorite instructors--likeable but tough. She's down-to-earth like a good friend, and, like a good friend, she won't let you quit! This is a no-nonsense workout requiring only weights and wherewithal. Highly recommended.

Erin O'Brien is my hero. I've been doing weights/cardio for a few months now and this is by far the best workout for me. In just 3 weeks I have noticed such a difference in muscle tone/endurance/overall fitness, that I'm addicted to working out, where before I'd find excuses to skip it. Erin is low key, encouraging and keeps it light. I feel like I'm working out with a buddy as she's very motivating and funny as she doesn't take herself so seriously and gets right down to business. And at only 45 min. I can fit this routine in even on my busiest days. People have always told me I don't look my age (over 40), and thanks to Erin, now I don't feel it either!!

A SOLID great workout!! Erin is a wonderful teacher and an excellent motivator. She takes strength training and makes it exciting and challenging. This is a great program to grow with, you can start with light weights then gradually build up to heavier ones. This DVD will definitely be a permanent fixture in my weekly rotation.

Ouch! This really works, and it goes by fast...Erin does a great job keeping you engaged, challenged and not bored. I HIGHLY recommend this.