Customer Reviews

Tank Top Arms, Bikini Belly, Boy Shorts Bottom

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is my 4th dvd featuring Minna Lessig. I think she plans very balanced programs that hit all of the areas. This dvd has sections for arms & shoulders, abs, and glutes plus an additional 15 minutes segment for total body conditioning. All segments are challenging and include some moves that are new to me. You need two sets of weights (light & heavy) and a mat. I've been working out regularly for a while, so I used 5 and 8 pound weights. If you are just starting out, go lighter.

Minna demonstrates moves well and is very encouraging - never annoying. This dvd will be a regular in the rotation for quite a while.

Okay so I give a workout several chances before I make up my mind. I was excited about this one after reading the reviews here. Clearly people like it, so it could be me. I work out an hour a day to a video, usually taebo or the firm (allison davis) or pilates (ana caban), and I am thin and do well aerobically but lack strength so I thought the toning from this video would do the trick. Here are my issues with it.
What I was hoping for were challenging, simple, streamlined movements that worked my muscles. What I feel the video provides are awkward poses that focus more on forcing the body to do something strange or unnatural, for example, the "ballerina abs" pose- you are seated with your legs straight out in front of you, then with your arms at your sides you press down with your hands to lift up your butt. I just felt like my arms weren't long enough (and I don't have short arms!) to be able to do the move and that most of the stress was in my wrists once I did get some levity, and it was intended as an ab exercise. That is the overall feeling I get from the workout, that it is all going into my joints and bones and not my muscles. And I am 24 and quite flexible so I don't understand it.
I also felt there was not a natural rythym from one move to the next, it felt disjointed and there is a lot of wasted, idle time. At the end of the workout my muscles are not fatigued (and they should be I am a beginner to strength exercise) and feel like nothing was accomplished and my time was wasted. The very few effective exercises are not enough for me to justify its regular use. It now sits on the shelf forever.
I am honestly baffled by the good reviews everyone else has given this video. This video frustrates me way too much. More importantly, I found it ineffective.
I gave it two stars, not one, because it isn't the worst video out there- the production is fine, it is easy to keep up with, the instructor isn't horrible.

This is my second DVD of Minna's and it's good, but not as good as other workouts by other instructors. It is fun, and she is a great instructor, but there's something about this that isn't as good as others out there.
It's an intermediate workout for your whole body. There are four sections and each focus on a different section. There is a segment for abs, upper body and butt, and the fourth section is your whole body. There are the usual type of moves here, nothing too new, but in each segment there are two intensity levels depending on how fit you are or how hard you want to train. There is a fast paced and a slower version using more controlled movement. All you need is some dumbells and you are good to go. Minna is an outgoing and friendly instructor with no frills. I like this and it's good to do once or twice a week along with a real favourite of yours.

This is a fun fast paced, intermediate body toning and sculpting video. The moves can be challenging, but once you get the hang of it your good to go. The instructor shows you the move first, and then you follow along with her. She does different moves to work the same body part in different ways. This keeps the work out fun and interesting. The music is great. You will love this toning workout. I built up a lot of sweat just doing the sculpting routines and I bet you will too. This is a keeper. You can also turn of the speaking and just do the workout or create your own workout to the music only.

I bought this dvd 2 weeks ago and have done it 3 times now and really enjoy it. I was also very sore which, of course, is a good thing. Minna knows how to make working out fun. She does a very good job hitting every body part. In my opinion, an excellent workout for intermediates. I never dread doing this workout because Minna makes it fun. Often, I don't work out because I dread it, but this one is fun.

This is one of the best, balanced, and solid overall workout DVDs that I've bought. At first I thought it was too simple; but as I kept following it for over an hour, I found it actually challenging and I got tired. It includes some interesting plank exercises that are challenging and yet very do-able. I like the music and the instructor is very pleasant. Throughout the program, core is being tightened. I've been regularly exercising for the last 15 years and I always search for fun and effective exercise programs that I can do at the home gym. I bought this DVD based on the reviews and am having so much fun working out with this DVD.

This video was my introduction to Minna Lessig, and a surprisingly pleasant one at that. The set is warm and colorful, and the music is very understated, motivating, and, well, nice. Minna, who herself is upbeat and encouraging without being goofy, provides the ultimate motivation to stick with the workout: the perfect female form! That's reason enough for me to spend a little cash on this one, but I'll continue for the sake of those who aren't convinced. ;)

This video features four well-organized "circuits": one for the arms and upper body, one for the midsection, one for the glutes and lower body, and one for the total body. The video also has separate warm-ups and cool-downs, which is a plus if you tend to mix and match segments (you can insert them appropriately at the beginning or end of your entire workout instead of having to do integrated warm-ups and cool-downs in each circuit). The exercises, while many of them build on familiar moves (e.g. pushups, crunches, lunges), are very much varied. I expected the total body workout to be a mish-mash of the previous three, but to my surprise, even it offered novel moves.

As a slight note of caution, several of these moves are very challenging, particularly if you are not an experienced exerciser. However, modifications are shown, and the exercises (assuming you're able to perform them) will certainly be effective. I love the fact that there are stretches, which are essential to keep the muscles "long and lean" and maintain flexibility, after every exercise. Minna's cuing is impeccable, and all of the exercises are initially done slowly to allow viewers to become comfortable with the movements. She talks only enough to coach you through the exercises. I, for one, appreciate the silences between reps; I can count myself!

I did dislike the "raise-the-roof" bit in the arms circuit, which was personally my least favorite one. It didn't ruin the overall tone of the video by any means, but I was certainly tired of "imagining my tank top" by the end of the segment. I was also disappointed in the lack of oblique moves in the abs circuit. However, the total body circuit definitely added some great new moves to my repertoire, and I can't wait to integrate the video into my routine!

I saw Minna Lessig on TV promoting this DVD, and after watching a few of the exercises, I decided to try it. I have tried many DVDs like pilates and taebo, and this was by far the best and most fun. You can do arms one day, abs the next, followed by bottom, or you can do a whole body workout. I like it because I can do a whole body workout followed by just abs or any combination that I feel is right for the day. She is also very motivating through the whole workout. The whole body workout is only 15 minutes long, but I was sweating by the end!!I would recommend this DVD to anyone who doesn't want to work out at a gym.

Minna is a bit on the overly excited side, but she really gets you going and has great workouts that really help you tone and build muscle while losing fat. I don't care for the location its shot at-kinda boring- but the music is decent and the workout is really really good. I keep doing this video over and over- and I'm definately seeing results!

If you are going to buy one excerise DVD, this is the one. Paired with 30 minutes of your favorite outdoor cardio (walking, runnng, biking, whatever..)this dvd provides a long or quick weights & toning workout. I LOVE IT. Isn't cheesy AT ALL...just the perfect amount of time for each segment. A+++