Customer Reviews

Weight Loss Cardio Sculpt

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Violet Zaki is one of my favorite video instructors and she really hit this one out of the park. The workouts are fun and innovative. I love that she switches up the cardio and doesn't repeat the same intervals over and over. It keeps the workout exciting and doesn't allow you to drift off.

In addition to the great workouts, the chaptering is fantastic. You have the choice of doing everything (warm up, both routines and cool down), or you can pick just one workout, or you can pick either workout with warm up and cool down. The options are already broken out for you so there's no fiddling around to program your set.

Each routine includes strength with cardio intervals and she uses combination moves for double duty effect. Some of these moves are more on the intermediate/advanced side and require good balance, but there is a background exerciser who uses modifications throughout so even someone relatively new to exercise should be able to follow along. I love the yoga-influenced cool down; it's 9 wonderful minutes of stretching and letting go. (Note: The cardio sculpt workouts are about 20 minutes long so adding the warm up and cool down make for a longer, approx. 30 minute, workout.)

There's also a bonus abs routine. Again, she doesn't disappoint. It's around 8 minutes and includes some (optional) weighted work as well as toe dips (a personal favorite) and ends with a nice little stretch. Included with the bonus features is a 5-minute preview of the Weight Loss Pilates workout. It's probably one of the most useful previews I've come across as it makes a nice little add-on to the abs.

Zaki manages to be tough but encouraging. Her warmth and personality really shine through and, IMO, she is unmatched at creating challenging, yet doable, workouts.

Violet Zaki is infectious! I spent the last 15 years buying workout DVDs only to have them collect dust while I sat on the couch and watched television. Until someone suggested that I get a DVD taught by Violet Zaki - then everything changed. She has the most amazing energy, and although extremely challenging, her DVDs make you want to finish each workout and never give up. I always find time to complete my workout, even if I don't do both 20 minute workouts in one sitting. Some days I do them both at once, other days I will do one in the morning and one before I go to sleep, and sometimes I can only find time to complete 1 portion of the DVD in a day. However I can fit it in, I make sure I complete both 20 minute workouts 4-5 times per week. The combination of cardio and scuplt really gives you a completely balanced workout. I have seen major changes to my body since I have started working out to Violet Zaki DVDs, and Weight Loss Cardio Sculpt is just the newest (and quite possibly my favorite) edition to my collection. If you already work out, I would definitely recommend adding Cardio Sculpt to your routine. If you don't work out, this DVD would be an amazing introduction to the fitness world. You will have fun during your workout, feel so good about yourself afterwards, and see results. I don't know what I would do without Violet Zaki's workouts!

Love it...will enjoy a long shelf life in my streamlined DVD workout collection, making for high returns on the price and my efforts to exercise.

First, I'm a big fan of Violet Zaki, following her innovative workouts on Exercise TV and in her Self DVD's, though this may be her best to date. She's personable while still economical with her commentary and helpful in her instruction...so encouraging but "gets down to business" without the annoying fluff talk other instructors too often overuse. I'm actually inspired to work hard and not let her down, as if I'm in her class, which proves more motivational when I travel and workout in my hotel room (the chaptering is very functional in this regard too, when short on time).

Second, as advertised, it's an efficient, dynamic workout, full of multi-tasking exercises that challenge more than one muscle group at a time, along with balance and coordination, intensifying calorie burn. Yet, I think it's still accessible to all fitness levels given the modifications. I plan on working my way up the intensity curve by increasing poundage on the hand weights (probably substituting straps when I travel), range of movement, and pacing. IMO, good DVD workouts are challenging but structured so that the user can build on them, extending their usefulness, which Violet inherently seems aware of in how she designed this workout.

Violet's website suggests "Cardio Kick," also from Acacia, will soon be out too...can't wait!

My workout regimen is an extensive collection of fitness dvds. If I feel my motivation waning, I'll buy one or two new ones so I wound up with quite a rotation of a library of workout dvds. Because of this, I'm picky about which ones I like, which ones I keep, and I have quite a comparison.

INSTRUCTION:
Excellent.The instructor has a soothing British accent and is very calm yet she pushes you with her WORDS rather than with yelling at you. Her energy is excellent, as is that of those who follow her in the dvd.

CUEING:
Great cueing. I did get tripped up once but I can assure you, for me, that's great cueing. I have two left feet and found her very easy to follow.

CALORIC BURN:
Weight Loss Cardio Sculpt takes to heart the evidence that the most effective workout will get your heart rate up but still allow it to roller coaster down some, then do strength training and alternate this fat burning and muscle building circuit through the workout. I wear a bodybugg to measure my daily caloric burn so I can actually SEE scientifically how many calories a workout I do burns and how many calories I burn per minute doing it...and this was a scorcher!! However, the moves really worked my muscles well too which means, with strength training, you continue to burn calories long after the workout is done in addition to the cardio he has which burns them fast during the workout. But whether you measure your own caloric burn or not, you'll feel your heart rate stay in the prime fat burning zone. It gets it up there!

WHY CIRCUIT TRAINING DOESN'T BURN YOU OUT BUT BURNS THE CALORIES:
Many people still hold to the myth that in order to burn the most fat you have to work out as hard as you can. The most extensive studies in the last few years that are now accepted as medical fact show that, just as a car that goes really fast then slows down then goes really fast and slows down uses more fuel than a car that goes 90mph the whole time, so does your body use more fuel (fat) doing the same roller coaster of speed. You don't have to feel like you are going to pass out in a workout to actually be burning more fat. This is why circuit training is now the "go to" workout when in the 70s and 80s it was all aerobics. An all cardio workout burns more calories during the workout but, although strength training wont make you break the same sweat or burn as much during the workout, it actually continues burning calories long after the workout is over and builds muscle which means you burn more calories even when your body is at rest. I measure all of the above...my caloric boost for the day, during the workout, and how many the workout burns per minute to get the full picture.

SET: Love the set. Looks like they cleared out a cool urban New York loft. Throw some furniture in that place and I'd be happy staying there long after the workout is done...(it may look like a brick warehouse with cool windows to anyone else, but I'm all about urban loft architecture so maybe I just see it as such)So...it's different and different is good when you have rotate fitness dvds

MUSIC: Upbeat electronica...gets you revved.

NEGATIVES:
I found the warm up to be too long. My heart rate got up well once the workout began but the low intensity warm up took too much time from the workout that could be burning fat since it's longer than most warm ups. Not a big deal to me. I now warm up a couple minutes on my own then play the workout or hit fast forward after I've done it a couple minutes so I don't spend more time than is needed in this state rather than the actual workout, especially if I'm pressed for time. Also if you aren't good at balance at this point in your fitness routine, you may feel tripped up at the beginning of the second routine. She doesn't mention this, but simply resting your other foot on the floor rather than raising it (until you build up your balance abilities, which you will) will work just fine.

CONCLUSION: This workout is a favorite and gets the results. It burns off the fat, builds the muscle and the instruction is excellent. Great caloric burn and good circuit workout mix. You'll feel it and it'll work.

ALTERNATIVES:
If you like the high calorie burn coupled with strength training and great instruction in this dvd you may also like:
1.Body by Jake Total Body Workout
2.The Biggest Loser dvds and Jillian's dvds
3.Kathy Smith Build Muscle Shrink Fat
4.Crunch Total Resculpt
5.Star Trainers: Strength

I like to work out. I like to be challenged. But I can't stand hearing 'you can do it' being droned into my head over and over again. I'm an adult. I'm either gonna do it or I'm not...regardless of how over the top the expert is. So.....after 400 gazillion various workout dvd's in my collection I have to say that since I can't do Jazzercize live anymore, I'm pretty picky about my workout. So, other than Cardio Balanceball with Tanja, this one is my favorites because: it's a great core workout (of which we all need..am I right, ladies??); there are no wasted minutes (you should really choose the whole workout which includes the warm up and cool down sections; no monotonous moves; the music is a bit on the cheesey side but after the first workout I stopped listening because she totally motivated me with her tiny, hard body, I'm not 25 and perfect, 'just get on with it' self; and her workouts offer and illustrate low cardio/impact alternatives for anyone who needs it or is just starting out. I ALWAYS read reviews before buying ANYTHING ANYWHERE. This is a very good dvd~especially the full sculpting workout ~ challenge yourself! I'm 48 yrs. old and do the sculpting workout plus the ab workout and I'm done and in the shower within an hour and feel darn good and proud of my sassy self!! Enjoy! Hope this was helpful!

Such a great workout. I love the combination of cardio and sculpting, it makes for a fun workout that never gets boring. I love that it's 2--twenty minute workouts where if I have time I'll do both and if I don't I know I can get a great cardio and strenght training workout in just 20 minutes!!
And Violet is just amazing!! positive, energetic and super supportive--she just keeps you motivated throughout the whole workout.

I HIGHLY recommend this DVD workout. She is a great trainer - easy to follow and has such great variety of both cardio and sculpting exercises along with great warm ups and cool downs. She has some kick boxing moves, lunges, yoga moves, etc. She kicks your butt (literally as thighs and different areas feel the burn) so that you know you worked out but at the same time it is doable. She has two other people in the video with her and if you are NEW to exercise / just starting out or limited, there is one lady for that group to follow that does lower impact / easier moves. I love also that depending on how much time you have you can choose different segments -- do 20 mins., 30 mins., or I think the whole thing is around 55 mins. or so. I just got this and I'm new to it - but LOVEEE it. Very well laid out - highly recommend. You'll be glad you got this one! It's every bit as challenging as the one Jillian Michaels I have. They are BOTH great but I actually like this ladies style a little more.

I was so excited to discover a new DVD from Violet Zaki! I have a few DVDs from other instructors, but I always get bored of them and pull out my Violet DVDs. And now I have a new one to cycle through my "Old Standbys!"

There is something about Violet's personality and routines that are the perfect balance of difficulty, motivation, and fun. And I love her accent! My husband always knows when I did a Violet workout because I start speaking with an Australian accent. (He thinks it's cute!)

This new DVD came out just in time since I've gotten much busier at work and picked up a hefty travel schedule. Because this DVD mixes cardio and sculpt, it makes me feel like I've gotten a complete workout in such a short time. I used to have to use one DVD for a good cardio workout and another one for a sculpting workout. Combining them in a workout on one DVD is so much more efficient!

Violet, if you read these reviews, thanks for another great DVD! And keep them coming! One day, I hope to come to New York and find out how to take one of your classes, so I can have the pleasure of getting my butt kicked by you in person!

I've had this DVD for some time, but felt moved to review it because it has stood the test of time with me: in fact, I like it better now than when I first used it.

Violet Zaki is perfectly charming and cues well. Always nice to have in an instructor. She even cracks a few jokes -- not a comedy routine, just some words to make you smile. Very likeable.

The workouts have a nice mixture of cardio and weight training, often together, which is how I like it.

Some of the moves, especially the mat work, looked ungainly to me at first, and I tended to skip them. But now I find myself doing them because -- well, I suppose I'm improving.

Flexibility is important in doing these exercises and I like the stretches that Zaki has you do. Her cool-down is terrific, really enjoyable.

There are one or two things she does, for a brief time, such as 'heel digs', that don't really do anything for me, or that make me concerned about my knees (I've had slight injuries), but at those times I just modify the exercise. I don't feel that a DVD workout is something that I have to follow at all times, chapter and verse, and sometimes I prefer to keep the previous movement going while they move on to something else. Or I change to heavier weights or keep my weights if they've put theirs down. Obviously you have to be aware of what you're doing and think of safety, but if you're an experienced exerciser you can spontaneously 'tailor' a workout while still benefitting from having one to follow.

As for the reviewer that claims 'I didn't break a sweat', well, congratulations, you must be in excellent shape! But in that case I don't think this DVD is for you. As Zaki says throughout the workout, it's for people who want to improve their fitness: either those 'new to working out' (who may follow the modified movements of one of the women) or those that are up to a lot more but might have some weight to lose. I am fairly slim, but I like to have this workout as part of my routine.

Highly recommended.

I own dozens of excercise tapes. This by far is one of my favorites!!!! I would consider myself advanced in the excercise field, yet I still manage to work up a sweat and feel my muscles work. It is a great video when you are crunched for time, do either 20 minute section. When you have more time, do the entire workout to further challenge yourself. I am recommending this video to all my friends and family.