The Firm - Cardio Inferno

It's okay
I did this workout the other day and I have to say it did get my heart rate up but I was a little disappointed with the whole thing. First the warmup is way too long and gets boring quickly. Then there were two moves in there during the aerobics that she introduces quickly that I never quite got the hang of. I have been doing the Firm now for 3 years, love it and I have a huge collection of their DVDs starting from before the BSS1, BSS2, etc era. I would recommend this for beginners who don't necessarily want to buy all the old Body Scuplting System equipment from before. The new FIRM DVDs don't seem to be using the step anymore and frankly, that too is a little sad. The Fanny Lifter/Firm Box got my endurance and strength where it is today, and I do miss those aspects of the workouts. Still, I also like that this is just a 30 minute video for those days when I am pressed for time. I would recommend you rent it/Netflix it first and then see. If it works for you, well obviously...

Great cardio, not so great instruction
Let me preface by saying that I have never done The Firm before. I've definitely heard of it and known people who have done it, but this was my first experience with The Firm. I have been exercising consistently for about a year.

I really like this video. It gets my heart rate up like no other video I've done. It kicks my butt! I also really like the sculpting sessions, and I like the way it increases intensity so that the last section of the video is the most intense. Once you get the moves down, it's a great video.

I don't particularly like the instruction. I had a hard time following the moves, and it wasn't until the fourth session that I felt like I was getting it down and actually doing it correctly. (Even the back up cast members looked a little confused.)

It's also a pretty short video (30 minutes), so I like to combine it with a shorter Pilates video to get in a longer work out, but that doesn't really bother me. I kind of like it...

Boring, but it hits all the core muscles
I am 50-50 on this video. I bought it because I wanted:

a.) a 30 minute workout
b.) a total body workout

you get both of these things in this video but it is more like a kick-boxing video with mediocre music and somewhat complicated 80's style aerobics steps.

It is definitely effective in terms of giving you a decent workout in 30 minutes. The day after I used this video for the first time, my shoulders and abs were sore, even though I didn't do one crunch in this video, and the weight lifting was done with just 1 lb. dumbbells.

BUT, I won't be doing this video again and plan to either give it away or sell it. Why? Because compared to some of the other kickboxing videos I own, like Turbo Jam, this workout is BORING! Sue Mi seems like a sweet girl, but her voice is very monotonous throughout the routine, and the backup cast seems to be just going through the motions and not really excited to be working out. No one looks like...

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