Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
113 of 114 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting Themed Workout, June 1, 2004
"Remember, I would rather you gave me 4 excellent pushups rather than 12 sloppy ones!" ~Susan L. Hitzmann, M.S, New York Exercise Physiologist
Let's just say that this is one of the most difficult workouts I've ever tried. With that said, it was also an amazing challenge. I actually loved it. My husband even came in to see what on earth I was doing (the words "TROOPS" and "Are you guys ready?" had his attention). Then, he watched me do pushups. The first time he has seen me actually doing pushups. Normally he walks in when I'm doing yoga, so this was very interesting to him.
Susan L. Hitzmann is the perfect instructor to put you in the mood to really push yourself towards a higher level of fitness. She uses amusing army-themed phrases and encourages her "troop" to really get moving. Everyone in this workout group looks "pumped" and they all look like they definitely use heavier weights. The muscle definition is impressive and you will hear words like "dead lift" and "no break" which gives you an idea of the style and focus. You can definitely use heavier weights because you are not bouncing around while holding the weights. You alternate between high-intensity cardio and intense weight lifting.
You don't have to use heavier weights. I used 3lb and 5lb weights/dumbbells. They recommend 3-10 pound weights. I noticed this is an intense upper body workout. You will also notice all-over body conditioning and it is definitely a workout you will want to do again and again. You will feel the results, especially in your stomach and arms.
The pushups are fun and there are different varieties. Then, there are the situps. I could hardly do a pushup or situp for three days after attempting this workout. I mean, you really feel this workout in the days that follow. So, you might want to do stretching or yoga for a few days after this workout.
Crunch Boot Camp will keep you energized and highly motivated. It just takes hold of your mind and you can't help but do everything Susan commands. She is an excellent instructor/drill sergeant and she makes you smile while you are working out like you have never worked out before.
This was the most intense 35 minutes of exercise I've ever tried. It was also very amusing and I loved the entertaining theme. Even watching it again while reviewing it, I want to just go do the workout. The music alone makes you want to move. There are a few sections that also require excellent coordination and I'm still working on the fancy footwork at the start. I've learned that if you just keep moving, you can work through any fancy footwork. Fortunately, it is minimal in this workout.
Highly Recommended for Intermediate to Advanced. If you want a challenge, this will push you to your limits and you will actually love it. Lots of humor and definately a 10 star workout!
~The Rebecca Review
|
|
|
76 of 79 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Boot Camp" Style Weight Training for a Time Crunch, August 9, 2004
Workout Description: about 20 minutes of toning (alternates between standing and floor work; fairly evenly split between with upper and lower body with only about 5 minutes of ab work) with 5 minute warm-up and 3 minute stretch for a total of 30 minutes
Workout Level: intermediate with one student demonstrating lower impact / less complicated moves
Instructor: Sue Hitzman (Certified instructor, trainer, and exercise physiologist). Sue cues well and offers a decent number of pointers on form. She is very enthusiastic and encouraging, and she seems to have a good sense of humor. It's nice to have an instructor, particularly a woman, who isn't obsessed with how many calories you're burning or how this will make your butt look. Sue is genuinely interested in lifting weights for its own sake, and she looks like someone whose philosophy is "Fitness is not just a state of body, it's also a state of mind." Sue works both sides evenly and expects you to mirror her moves.
Class: 6 fairly young and muscular women and 1 man. Some class participation (whoops and groans).
Music / Set: The beat-heavy instrumental music isn't exciting. The bright interior set is a bit strange: painted floor, brick walls, exposed steel beams-and a large metal fan on the back wall.
Equipment Needed: sneakers, 1 pair of dumbbells (your choice of weight)
Caveats: Previous weight-lifting experience is helpful. Pay attention to your form. In particular, make sure your knee never goes past your toes whenever you are doing squats or lunges.
Additional Comments: This workout is compact with respect to time and space. At 5'8", I am able to easily fit this in my 6' by 8' space.
Although this is a weight-lifting workout, there are a number of moves that will get your heart rate up. This isn't enough to count as a cardio workout, though. Those who have been working out with weights a lot (such as with the Firm) will find this too easy; if you're relatively new to home weight lifting, you're more likely to find this beneficial. In contrast, those new to exercise may find this too challenging at first.
I like to combine this with additional ab work (either Pilates or Tamilee Webb's I Want Those Abs) to get a full-body workout in under 45-minutes. I also find that I have to do additional stretching (maybe one segment from Tamilee Webb's Total Body Stretch) in order to properly prevent soreness and injury after this workout. Still, this is a great way to get a workout in when I'm pressed for time. I'm also considering trying to do it twice once I've moved up to heavier weights and find this getting easy.
I don't have any of the other Crunch workouts, of which there are many. While the instructor and students are very enthusiastic, at times the "boot camp" theme gets a little cheesy. (Sue even wears a camouflage top.) The camera keeps shifting back to the "pretty blond girl," whose form isn't great enough to warrant so much attention, but that's obviously not the point.
The DVD allows you to select your chapter, which you can use to skip the introduction. There are no extras.
|
|
|
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Time Crunch? Try Crunch Boot Camp!, May 9, 2003
I love, love, love this video! Because it is a multi muscle workout you raise your heart rate while toning! I am a working Mom of 4 and I need for my time investment to pay off! This packs a punch for a 30 minute workout! I'm uncoordinated so I don't like a lot of dance/aerobic tapes. After the second try I had the moves mastered! (no easy feat for a someone with two left feet!) You can raise the intensity by increasing the size of your hand weights! When I complete this boot camp video, I am really sweating and all my muscles feel awakened! This is my new favorite home workout! There is an instructor who demonstrates a low impact version of the workout and she is visible to offer the low impact version of instructor Susan Hintzeman's high impact version!
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
DVD ~ Teri Ann Krefting
DVD ~ Anchor Bay Entertainment Casting Staff
DVD ~ Lena Pereira
DVD ~ Anchor Bay Entertainment Casting Staff
DVD ~ Jeanette Jenkins
