The Firm: Body Sculpting System - Cardio Sculpt

first of all i'm a 100% authentic firm customer and i have been since 1998 and i resent the person that said these reviews were fake. i dont waste my time or others commenting on these DVDS to be fake, i do it cause i believe in this program!! doing these enjoyable but aerobic interval weight training workouts altho has been the toughest thing i have done and i feel complaining muscles everyday. the firm has toned my body head to toe twice twice because i was sick for 6 months and by the time i regained my health i gained the weight i had lost the first time back. but i've used this firm system to lose almost all of it now. i have a size to go. and it took me 8 months. but i've watched myself tone up. i highly recommend the Firm. even if you are a beginner like i was you can still do lighter weights and not do the whole DVD just a mix of segments working the major body parts and work up to them all like i have. you will feel stronger and happier that you commited yourself to do something good for yourself. and it IS a commitment. sure there are exercise days i dont feel like doing it.. but i do cause its a commitment i intend to keep. and you will tone on this program. at first you dont think you are, but stick with it. you are worth having the best body you can and enjoy your success. i'm not ever going to be petite or thin, but i'm working on the best body i've been given in this life and the firm helps that with good advice and fun workouts no matter what your body type is. now on to my review of Cardio Sculpt which i just purchased and worked out to. excellent mix of fun cardio and weights. Allie Del rio is a fun informative instructor see also her other cardio DVD Maximum Cardio Burn plus Abs for a great cardio workout. This workout has more of the weight based body sculpting i like. but i can't deny that Allie's cardio videos are the few i really like and look forward to doing and are such fun and motivating but complete workouts i'm glad i went outside my usual weight training buys and got something different. i hope this review helps the true exercisers out there. Good Luck to you all starting a fitness program. it will change your life for the better.... it has mine.

I'm not really one to write reviews for things, but I feel as though these workouts deserve recognition. My first experience with The Firm was a few years ago when I decided to buy and try the Transfirmer series of workouts. I wasn't necessarily a beginner at that time, but man..those workouts kicked my butt! I then ordered the previous body sculpting series videos to rotate to avoid boredom. I had great success with them but for whatever reason, I ended up joining a local gym and the The Firm videos/step began collecting dust. Fast forward to present, a husband and almost 2 year old daughter later, I decided I needed something that worked for me at home bc trying to coordinate a toddler to your desired gym schedule isn't necessarily the easiest task (not to mention wasting so much gas). It dawned on me to re-order some of The Firm workouts, new and older DVDs; no more driving 30 minutes to the gym for me! Let me tell you, as someone who is by no means a beginner when it comes to fitness, these workouts are no joke. I got a better workout with these DVDs than I did at any class or time on the treadmill/elliptical. I HIGHLY recommend them to anyone who wants to get in shape and get there FAST. I can tell a change in my body already-they promise results in 10 workouts, but you'll see it before then. Trust me. What's also great is that you can make them as easy or as challenging as you desire-increase or decrease your weight. Either way, you'll get a great workout!

I've own this program before. There are two other Programs in this system, titled: "THE FIRM BODY SCULP" and "THE FIRM AB SCULPT". I'm sure that there are consumers who aren't aware of this. Originally each program came individually cased inside of an "outer sleeve". This is one of "THE FIRMS" better programs, though it is somewhat strenuous. But I would suggest modifying any move that can't be safely done or without pain. I don't step to high because I have somewhat of a bum left knee. I also don't jump up and down. When I first had this program it came with the Two-Part "The FIRM STEP", in "VHS FORMAT". I then wound up buying the step again, but with DVD'S. I used it for awhile and then put it to the side, probably during "Rotation". I didn't use it again for a long time. Then about four and a half years back my entire program, on DVD'S, were stolen. Though it wasn't the only "FIRM BODY SCULPTING SYSTEM" I had, I was brokenhearted to have lost it. I actually had forgotten about this program until I decided to go back to "THE FIRM". Over the years and even recently I've used other programs: "HULA", "BELLYDANCING", "ZUUMBA", "SALSA", "BALLROOM DANCING", LESLIE SANSONE "WALKING PROGRAMS", JOYCE VEDRAL'S "STRENGTH TRAINING PROGRAMS", AND OTHER VARIOUS AEROBIC PROGRAMS. I've mostly only kept to a few, like: The Walking Programs, Some of the Dance Programs, Some Of Joyce Vedrals Programs, and "THE FIRM", which seem to be the most effective. I'm really excited about getting back with this program. I know about and trust "THE FIRM" to get me into shape fairly quick, if I use the program. I've already began a steady exercise program. Unfortunately I've had to use a different step, one that I've had for years. "THE CLASSIC STEP". It will suffice until I get another adjustable step. I would suggest this to anyone who wants to get into shape and strength train at the same time, without using alot of time. Buy this. Hopefully the entire program can be found at one time. If not, then buy them individually. They're not to expensive. The thing is, I'm not sure that "THE FIRM STEP" is still available. But I think it's worth it to look for one. If they aren't available then get as close to a facsimile as possible. Some kind of a step is needed, even if it is a short one.

I bought this workout as part of a box set with the fanny lifter many moons ago (VHS Version). I recently came across the video when doing a renovation and decided to look for the DVD version on Amazon. The DVD arrived on Sat and I eagerly did the workout on Monday morning. I am Soooooooo happy to do this workout again; it is as good as I remember. It's not insanity or P90X (may even be a little old fashioned; no bells and whistles) but it's a great workout and makes me sweat. I love that the workout is a combination of cardio and sculpt and happy that Alley is the instructor, she is low key and not annoying. Don't be fooled by the fact that Alley (the instructor) is not stick skinny; it is a great workout and you will see results. I recommend using 8 and 5lb weights if you workout regularly; or no weights at all if you are a beginner (at least the first couple of weeks). Get the DVD; you won't be disappointed.

I have been using the FIRM videos for about 7 years now off and on, and I am very familiar with most of the instructors. Allie is one of my favorites by far. She's upbeat but not chirpy, straightforward but fun. She respectfully and carefully shows modifications for all levels of exercisers. I also like that she doesn't make you do two sets of sixteen things right in a row so that you're hating it by the end. She WILL say things like, "This is a long set, so stay with me here," which I personally don't like because I hate hearing that it's a long set - but when you actually get right down to it, each set is not that long. Each set is relatively short (maybe twelve or sixteen reps total) but then the workout spirals back to the same muscle group eventually, so you get enough reps without burning out. Her cardio moves are fun and easy to learn, and she gives verbal cues with good timing so you don't get lost. I agree with other reviewers that this is more of a moderate toning tape with some cardio thrown in, but it does make me break a sweat and I feel that good burn all over when I'm done. I actually look forward to doing this workout, and I don't even mind that it's close to an hour long. I look forward to any future FIRM DVD's that Allie comes out with - she's a great instructor.

The FIRM has been around since the mid-80s and truly were the trailblazers of the cardio WITH weight-training movement. Our modern workouts almost always have a weight-training component to them, but they didn't always. The FIRM has also changed hands over the years as they competed to stay interesting and relevant. This FIRM series called "Body Sculpting System" (BSS) was developed to continue their commitment to body sculpting through weights, but it is in a way "easier" than their earlier workouts. By no means is this series ineffective. In fact, all their workouts can be tailored for an advanced user through the use of increased weights. I think the moves in this series were selected specifically to be easier on the joints. The cardio in this video is lower impact. It's now known that higher impact isn't necessarily better (and definitely not better if you have weak/bad knees or back). If you want to ramp up intensity, you certainly can! The instructors in this series are long time master instructors of the Firm, so for many they are welcome familiar faces. More importantly, they guide the user well with perfectly timed cueing. You will most certainly sweat with this video! With this series you will need a set of dumbbells (3-15 lbs. most beginners don't use weights at first, intermediates 3-5 lbs. and advanced 8-15 lbs.) and you will need their "Fanny Lifter" if you do not have a Fanny Lifter, any other aerobic step (preferably with a short and stackable taller segment) will do. Even a low stool and a tall one (this is what I used back in the day when I couldn't buy their old school wooden stools the company sold).

I've been doing this workout off and on for about 12 years. For a quick rundown on what it includes: -It's about 56 min, including warm-up and cool-down. The warm-up is about 7 min and includes some challenging moves like push-ups. They always give you modified versions of each exercise, though, in case you are a beginner. -After the warm-up, they go right into weight-lifting, alternating between leg and arm work. -The entire workout is broken up (at least in my head) into four sections. The first three sections start with arm and leg dumbbell work and then end with about a 5-6 min cardio routine. The final section has arm, leg, butt, and ab work, but no final cardio routine. So, basically, there's about 15-18 min of cardio total. -You need their "fanny lifter" or a very tall step for the step-up exercise and a front lunge exercise. They also use a step for two of the cardio sections. You need a range of dumbbells, as obviously some muscle groups need higher weights than others. When I first started years ago, I used sets of 6, 8, and 10 lb weights. Now I use sets of 10 and 15 lb weights, and I hold my 10 & 15 lb weights together (i.e. giving me 25 lbs in each hand) for the back rows. At first I thought the "CardioSculpt" was a bit of a misnomer. Like I wrote earlier, only about a 1/4 of the workout is straight cardio. But if you use challenging enough weights, your heart rate will will stay high during this. I've also adjusted some things to make it harder, including the following: -During the first cardio section, I do a high knee jog instead of marching in place. I try to jump as high as possible with the side to side leaping move they do. I also hold light hand weights during each cardio section and the warm-up. -During the second cardio section, I use the taller step instead of the short one (which they use). Same for the lunge set they do in the second weight training section. I also use the taller step for the third cardio routine and use much higher weights than they do during that section. -For the chest fly exercise in the final weight training section, I use heavy weights and do them much slower. They perform that move so fast, you could never use an especially challenging weight. So all that said, I still love this video. It has grown with me as I've developed in endurance. I used to run a lot and used this as my weight-training. Now I'm into HIIT and tabata style cardio, and still find this this a challenging part of my rotation. Frankly, the last ab section is still incredibly hard for me. (FYI, I'm in my 30's and would consider myself an intermediate-somewhat advanced exerciser.)

I bought the entire "fanny lifter" system years ago, in vhs. When we got rid of our vhs and decided to join the rest of world and purchased a dvd player, I couldn't use the "tapes" anymore. The Firm has always put out great videos. This particular system was phenomenal and challenging and I've taught fitness classes for years. This video I enjoy because it's a total body workout. The cardio sections are not as challenging but the sculpting sections can be depending on how much weight you use and how good your form is. When I saw the dvd on here, I had to buy it. I use it every other day or every third day and mix it into my exercise regimen. It's a great toner and sculpting video for sure.

It was perfect. It came by mail 2 days after I ordered it. The workout is challenging. I love it.

A+++

It’s ok