No More Trouble Zones

No More Trouble Zones is a 55 min intermediate sculpting workout lead by Jillian Michaels.  Jillian leads you through good multi joint or compound movement light weight circuit workout.  In-fact I used 5 pounds throughout the workout.  Each section is done twice.  I like Jillian better in this one than in others of hers.  I give this one 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Mark, Move & Groove! Disco Groove!

Mark, Move & Groove is a 15 min introduction to Shawn T's Rockin' Body workout.  It is very basic and will not be used very much.

Disco Groove is a 35 min dance workout with disco move.  Shawn T's is very upbeat and energetic almost to the point of annoyance other than that is was a good low impact dance workout for dance when you just want to have fun and dance.  The good thing about Beachbody workouts is that they include a music louder option to drown out Shawn T.  I give this one 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

The Firm Vol. 3!

The FIRM Volume 3 ‘Aerobic Workout with Weights ’ with Sandahl Jones (Original 1989 Release) re-released on DVD in 2009 by the late Anna Benson.  I was finally talked into trying this workout in 2006 by some of the ladies in my check-in group, even though I found the outfits and music dated I did like the workout.  Sandahl leads you through a great cardio sculpting workout that you do not have to add anything on to the end.  I have done this one many times and really like it.  I give this one 4 out of 5 stars.

Step Sweatfest!

Step Sweatfest is a 62 min intermediate to advanced cardio workout lead by Tracey Staehle.  Tracey leads you through a good cardio step workout.  The first half of the workout is simple to learn but is intense workout.  The second part of the workout I found harder to learn for some reason and don't like it as much as the first part.  Tracey comes off a little too serious in this one but I do prefer that to how she is in her workouts now.  The majority of her workouts now are very unprofessional.  I won't get into that.  Like I said I do like the first part of the workout so I will give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Side note: Something to watch out for in Tracey's workouts is that she like to bounce to the beat of the music while doing the stretches.  This is very old school and should be avoided.  There is a difference between dynamic stretching which is still okay to do and bouncing and Tracey bounces.

AOS: Newport!

Art of Strength: Newport is a 50 min advanced kettlebell workout lead by Anthony DiLuglio.  There were a couple of kettlebell move I could not do yet in this one.  This one is much harder than Providence.  In this one you do some exercises 2 mins, some 3 min some 4 mins and one 5 mins.  I will have to come back and let you know each round length.

Here is the chapter breakdown:
There is a one minute rest between each round.
Round 1:Cossack Stretch. Squat/thrust
Round 2: Squat/Press & One Arm Swing
Round 3: 2 Handed Swing & Hot Potato
Round 4: Punch Matrix & Plank
Round 5: Side Snatch & Overhead Lunge
Round 6: Squat/Kick Sots Press & Standing Oblique Crunch
Round 7: Hand to Hand Clean & Dragon Lunge
Round 8: Kettlebell Push-Up & Dive Bomber/Cobra
Extra Round: Snatch, Turkish getup and Windmill
Bonus round: 5 minute Snatch test

I give this one 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Steady State Step!

Steady State Step is a 55 min intermediate to advanced cardio workout lead by Tracey Staehle.  This is one of Tracey better workouts and will appear in my rotations quite a bit.  Tracey leads you through fairly easy to learn cardio combos.  The only complaint I had was that towards the end of the workout, Tracey picked weird camera shots that were just head shots of the background people and you did not see their feet at all.  With step workouts I must be able to see their feet so I know where to place mine.  I give this one 4 out of 5 stars.

CIA 2605 Cardio Camp!

CIA 2605 Cardio Camp is a 70 min intermediate to advance cardio plus legs workout lead by Kimberly Spreen.  Kimberly alternates between hi/lo sections and kickboxing sections and ends with leg conditioning drills that sculpt the legs.
I have had this workout for awhile.   The first time I got it and was previewing it, I ended up stopping the workout and do the workout even though I had already done my workout for that day.  That's how much fun the workout is.  I highly recommenced this one.  I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Power Hour!

Power Hour is a 60 min Advanced sculpting workout lead by Cathe Friedrich.  For being an older workout of Cathe's this one is still good.  I was pleasantly surprised that I could keep up with Cathe.  I did have to use lighter weights than her in order to keep up. I give this workout 4 out of 5 stars.

Maximum Intensity Challenge!

Maximum Intensity Challenge is a 60 min advanced cardio workout lead by Cathe Friedrich.  After a nice low impact warm-up Cathe leads you through a good low impact section then to a good medium impact section to a hard very hi impact section on the floor.  The last section is a nice cardio step section that was fun to learn.  This is one tough workout and the next time I do it I will skip the high impact section and just do the other sections.  I do not like Cathe's Hi/Lo workouts as they tend to be mostly long Hi/Hi sections with no low impact at all in them.  I give this workout 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Circuit Blast!

Circuit Blast is a 44 min advanced Cardio/Sculpt workout lead by Cathe Friedrich.  Cathe combines though high impact cardio drills with good sculpting section that keep the heart rate up.  I was glad I got this off of trade instead of buying it.  I have yet to decide if I am going to keep the workout as the cardio sections are very high impact.  The good thing about the cardio sections is that they are short.  In a lot of Cathe's other workouts she tends to have longer high impact sections.  Right now I give this a 3 out of 5 stars.

Rockin' Body Cardio Jam!

Rockin' Body Cardio Jam is an 51 min intermediate cardio Hi/Lo workout lead by  Michelle Dozois. This workouts is good when you want to do a lower intensity cardio workout.  Michelle combines fun Hi/Lo with some kickboxing moves.  During this workout Michelle will lead the combo a couple of times on the right side then a couple of times on the left side.  I give this workout 3 out of 5 stars.

Art of Strength: Providence!

Art of Strength: Providence is a tough 60 min advance sculpt workout lead by Anthony Dilugalio a RKC. In this workout you do an exercise for 2 mins with a one min break in between each exercise. This is one tough kettlebell workout I looked forward to the 1 min breaks in between each exercise.  Here is the list of exercises:
1. Swings - 30 sec of 2 handed swing, 1 min of one arm swings then 1 min of alternating swings.
2. Cleans - 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 5, and then as many singles that you can do until the time runs out.
3. One Arm Chest Press- same count as the Cleans.
4. squats and Sumo Deadlifts - 30 seconds each
5. One Legged Dead Lift - as many sets of 5 in the 2 min time limit.
6. Windmill into a Squat - 1 min each side.
7. Clean and press - 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 5 and then as many singles that you can do until the time runs out.
8.  Squat with flips - 2 mins with out stopping.
9. Tactical Lunges - 2 min with out stopping.
10. Triple Crush
11. Sling Shot & Figure 8
12. Seated Press
13. 1 Arm Row
14. Abs
Bonus round Snatches
Like I said I do like this workout and like Anthony the only thing I do not like is that the only time he smiles is during the bloopers at the end of the workout. I give this on 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

CIA:2603 Criss-Cross Cardio!

CIA:2603 Criss-Cross Cardio is a 64 min advanced Kickboxing workout lead by Sherri Jacquelyn.  This workout is great, full of kicking and punching.  Sherri puts together fun kickboxing combo's that get your heartrate up. The down side is that in-between each combo you march in place as she explains what is coming up next and your heart rate tends to drop during this time.  At the send of the workout Sherri has you do a all-standing toning section is based on Capoeira martial arts moves that leaves you wanting more because this still is so fun. 

She needs to pick better background exerciser then the ones she picked because they look like they had no kickboxing training prior to the workout.  I give this workout 4 out of 5 stars.

The Firm's: Tortoise!

The Tortoise is a 62 min cardio/sculpt workout lead by Tracie Long and Susan Harris. Equipment needed: the high step, light to heavy weights.  Like the Hare workout this workout contains "ballroom aerobics" using the step but this one uses heavier weights for the sculpting sections.  This one has lots of leg presses.  I give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Teh Firm's Hare!

The Hare is a 62 min cardio Sculpt workout lead by Tracie Long.  Equipment needed are a high step, light to medium weights and ankle weights.  Tracie leads you through a "ballroom aerobics" cardio section and then into good sculpting section.  I don't like the "ballroom aerobics" cardio section at all and do not feel like I get in a good cardio workout but I like the sculpting sections.  This only reason why I keep this workout is to use it on a light cardio day but get a good sculpting workout in.  I give this on 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Rhythmic Step!

Rhythmic Step is a 60 min advanced all cardio step workout lead by Cathe Freidrich. This older workout of Cathe's is fun to do.  I give this workout 4 out of 5 stars.

Drill Max!

Drill Max is a 72 min advanced cardio/sculpt workout lead by Cathie Freidrich. Equipment needed: a club step, light to medium hand weights and a resistance band. This workouts is consisted of 6 drill cycles with cardio and sculpting.  Here is the breakdown:
Warm up..9 minutes of very basic movements which gradually pick up intensity so that by the time you start your first drill your muscles are totally ready.

Drill #1

Cardio (4 min.):
(standing floor)...Grab 5 pounds and lets do a tap reach pattern with a controlled jump in the middle...this will change to weighted defensive squats...which layers into "line taps" which are basically double time defensive squats but you touch down to the floor on every single rep. Once our thighs are on fire, we stand up and do it again.

Lower Body(1 min.):
Next, grab 10 pounds and do single low squats with a hammer curl as you go down. Now pulse down three and send the arms straight up on four for a few sets.

Upper Body (3 min.):Keep those 10's in our hand and do 32 military presses. Time for our functional movement pattern. Grab 5 pounds and do functional rotational lunges combining overhead presses and front raises.

Drill #2..

Cardio (2 1/2 min.):
Stand in front of step and do lateral skaters narrow, then wide, then wide lateral ski hops, then a jumping transition using the step and a lateral A step.

Lower Body(2 min.):
Now, don't rest too long, grab a 10 pound weight and get into a deep plie squat and pulse down 16 times followed immediately by 16 low plie jumps. Do three rounds like this.

Upper Body (4 min.): Scapular retraction work for the back with the band.

Now that our heart rate has come down some, take it to the floor and do inverted bomb diver push ups. These are hard and used in the navy frequently. We'll then go into core plank push ups. Both of these push ups are extremely advanced and a substitute push up of your choice is recommended if you can't perform these. These push ups work the back, chest, shoulders, triceps and core.

Drill # 3

Cardio (5 1/2 min.):
Time to stand up and get jumping again. You will do a fun jumping, jogging, and hopping combo with the ball.


Lower Body (2 1/2 min.):
Ok, keep your ball and walk to a wall in your house for wall squats while holding 5 pound weights in each hand.

Upper Body (2 1/2 min.):
Keep your ball and come back to the center of the room and do bicep curls on the ball with 10 pounds in each hand. You may need to go lighter or heavier but fight for it with good form.

Drill # 4

Cardio (5 min.):
We're using the step for this one. You will do an L-step pattern that involves jumping jacks and a plyo jack. Then you will add a piece that involves jumping onto the step.

Lower Body (4 min.):
Onto Firewalkers.

Upper Body (3 min.):
Pushups on the ball

Now you can also get a 5 pound weight and do one arm rear delt presses.

Drill # 5

Cardio (3 min.):You must jump with all of your might or it is considered cheating. 3 jumps in one direction and then jump turn ( do 8 laps) then rest BRIEFLY and do a forward bounding movement for three and turn (for 8 laps).

Lower Body (2 min.):
Now grab five pounds in each hand and do a variation of walking lunges and lateral raises for 8 laps.

Upper Body (3 min.):
Grab your ball and lie on it in a prone position and use light weight (3 pounds) for front/side raise combo. Then wide and straight rear flys for back/shoulder.

Drill # 6

Cardio (3 1/2 min.):
Using the step as a prop you will do football drills for another agility/speed/quickness drill. You will straddle your step and run in a starddle to the end of it and then circle around the side and run back to your starting position.

Lower Body (3 min.):
Squat thrusts along side the step with a tuck jump as you stand up....then jump with two feet laterally across 4 times. We do 8 rounds of this and it spikes the heart rate if you tuck to your max on the tuck jump.
Forward/back functional reaching lunges using your ball as a reaching guide. This move will be mixed with a couple of power scissors to kick it up a notch.

Lower Body (3 1/2 min.):
Tricep dips on the ball followed by see saw push ups on the ball.
Plank push ups with three pounds in the hand. Feel free to use 5's or 8's but you will need to ignore the beat of the music if you go heavier to keep proper form.

Cool Down Stretch

I give this workout 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Hard Work Conditioning 24/7!

Hard Work Conditioning 24/7 is a 64 min advanced Cardio/Sculpt workout from Patrick Goudeau. Equipment you will need is a club step and light to heavy weights. This workout is awesome. It includes seven, 6-minute intervals comprised of 2-minutes of cardio followed by 4-minutes of strength training.  This DVD is designed deferentially.  The warm-up and cool-down are on different chapters.  Here is what you will see on the Menu screen:
Warm-up
Monday - 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Tuesday - 2,4,6
Wednesday - 1,3,5,7
Thursday - 3,4,5
Friday - 1,2,6,7
Saturday - 7,6,5,4,3,2,1
Sunday - Warm Up, Chill
Chill
Here is a basic breakdown that I found on the VF boards by (Nat):

Interval 1
Cardio - Tap up/down then around step
Strength - Squat/jump back to plank/row combo
Bicep Curl/Shoulder Press combo

Interval 2
Cardio - Hopscotch
Strength - Traveling plank/row combo

Interval 3
Cardio - Shuffle/jump up on step
Strength - Surrenders (lunge back and put knee on ground, then put other knee, then bring one leg forward and the other returning to standing)


Interval 4
Cardio - Jump over step
Strength - Triceps/bicep work, lunge to balance with more triceps, one-legged squat

Interval 5
Cardio - Mountain Climbers, burpees
Strength - Chest flye/ab combo, Bridge/pullover combo

Interval 6
Cardio - Go across step from end to end
Strength - leg work including lunges, low squats and kicks
Baseball bat swings


Interval 7
Cardio - Peg leg
Strength - Side lunge with delt raise side and fw

I was so glad when I got this off of swap. Patrick has you alternating between cardio moves and sculpting that works your abs and balance the entire workout. I really like this guy.  He is one of the very few DVDs I have from a male instructor. I give this on 5 out of 5 stars.

Interval Max!

Interval Max is one of three workouts on this DVD.  It is a 60 min Advanced cardio step workout lead by Cathe Freidrich. This workout is tough, it consists of a short easy to learn step combo that to do six times and then you do an interval using the step and the floor.  You do10 different combination.  I like the short easy step combo but most of the intervals I do not like, so I pull out my kettlebell and either do swings or snatches instead of the ones I do not like.  I give this workout 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Interval Circuit!

Interval Circuit is the Third workout that can be found on the Hardcore Extreme DVD. It is a 71 min advanced Cardio/Sculpt workout lead by Cathe Friedrich. This workout was made by combining parts of High Step Challenge and IMax 3 workouts.  Here is the breakdown:
Warm Up Imax 3
Imax Interval 1(includes the blast too)
Imax Interval 2
High step Cycle #1
Leg Press w/band
Tricep Push Ups on step
Leg Press with Overhead press
Dips
Side Push Ups
Imax Interval 4
Imax Interval #5
High Step Cycle #2
Squats w/barbell
Deadlift w/barbell
Barbell rows
1st set Barbell rows
2nd set Back rows w/band
Push Ups
Imax Interval 9
Imax Interval 10
High Step Cycle #3
Leg Press w/ band
Hammer punch lunges
Barbell Curls
Barbell Curls
One Arm overhead press w/band
Plus add on upright row/overhead press w/dumbbells (only this exercise, not the whole cycle)
High Step Stretch

This is one tough workout and takes a lot of equipment.  You will need a high step, a club step, a resistance band and light to heavy weights.  Because Cathe uses both the high step and the club step it is hard to have the right equipment ready for the next segment.  I often have to pause the DVD and move the club step out of the way to get the high step out and then back again to the club step.  Because of this, I give the workout 3 1/2 stars. Other than that it is a good workout.

Advanced Step Challenge 3!

Advanced Step Challenge 3 is a 89 min advanced cardio step workout lead by Amy Bento.  As you can see at the right is is one of my favorite cardio workouts.  Amy picks the best music.  Even though it is a long workout, time seams to fly by and the next thing you know the workout is over and you are a sweaty mess. This one is much easier to learn that ASC2 was.  Amy includes 2 different Ab workout options in addition to the 89 min cardio workout.  One uses a kettlebell and one uses a resistance tubing.  I give this workout 5 out of 5 stars.

Cardio Pump Fusion!

Cardio Pump Fusion is a 66 min intermediate workout lead by Brook Benton.  Equipment needed: one light kettlebell and one medium kettlebell.  Brook starts this workout with a yoga warm-up.  ( I am not too fond of yoga warm-ups so I will warm-up on the treadmill instead of doing this warm-up.)  Next is a 22 min Cardiopump Fusion workout with Sports Drills, Plyometrics, Bootcamp & Kickboxing.  Next is a 12 min Cardio Kettlebell Lower Body Blast using a medium weighted kettlebell. next is a 11min Kettlebell Crank - Full Body advanced Conditioning using a light kettlebell and I do mean light.  Then finally a Relaxation Bliss Yoga-derived cool down.  I prefer to do yoga at the end of the workout as apposed to the beginning. I am able to get into the poses easier when I am warm. 


I was not feeling well when I did this workout and should has rested but I was being stubborn and had to get a workout in, so as for now I will wait to give this a star rating when I do this one again.

June's Rotation!

I am a bit late getting this up but here is the rotation I am currently doing. Click on the picture to make it bigger.

Box-n-Flow!

Box-n-Flow is a good 48 min cardio kickbox workout lead by Kimberly Spreen.  Even though the production quality is not good in this one, it is a good workout and if you like Kimberly you will love this one. Kimberly leads you through a great cardio kickboxing workout and then leads you through a nice easy movement to bring your heart rate down and she throws a little bit of balance at the end of the workout. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Firm Strength!

Firm Strength is a 57 min intermediate to advanced level Cardio/Sculpt workout that uses light to heavy weights, a high step and a barbell loaded on one side. This workout is lead by Pam Cauthen.  This workout was originally released on VHS in 1995 and later released on DVD by Goodtimes.  The background is very ugly and cluttered.  many people like the Library set but I don't. I give this one 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

The Firm's: Cardio Dance Fusion aka Cardio Dance Express!

Cardio Dance Fusion later named Cardio Dance Express is a nice 40 min intermediate dance workout lead by Alison Davis.  This one is by far better than Allie's Cardio Dance Slim Down. This workout has four 10-minute segments featuring a different music/dance style: club, Latin, jazz and modern.I often us this as a add-on to a short sculpting workout. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Gauntlet!

The Gantlet is a 70 min advanced Cardio/Sculpt workout lead by Cathe Friedrich and can be found on the Terminator DVD along with The Vipor and Imax Extreme. The Gauntlet was made by combining One Imax 2 interval + one Boot Camp lower body + one Cardio & Weights compound weights + one Boot Camp upper body + one Boot camp cardio..... Then repeat this pattern 7 times doing different exercises each time.  This one is tough but fun.  I give it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Triple Threat!

Triple Threat has three 30 min workouts on it and it is lead by Kimberly Spreen.  I often do all three workouts together for a great 90 min workout.  The first thirty min workout is Cardio Kickboxing. Kimberly leads you through great kicking and punching combos with great music from the Fierce Mix CD.  The next thirty min workout is Functional Power that uses a weighted ball (a basket ball would do for a sub).  Kimberly leads you through a great functional med ball workout. the third thirty min workout is Go with the Flow, this one helps you loosen up through rhythmic, soulful movement then challenge and improve your balance, strength and flexibility in this "flow" that gives back to the body with one part groovy, two parts easy-to-follow movement and a dash of Yoga inspiration.

The only thing I don't like about this workout is the production.  This was filmed in Kimberly's gym so the background and sound is not very good.  I do give this one 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

The Kettlebell Godess Workout!

The Kettlebell Goddess Lead by Andrea DuCane senior RKC, This DVD has six 20 min workouts on it, I did the Athena Full Body Workout.  I give this workout 3 1/2 out of 5 stars because there is no music.

Here is the list of workouts to choose from:

—Goddess Workouts

Artemis:	Upper Body
Auxesia:	Lower Body
Athena:	Full Body Strength
Callipygos:	Legs & Butt
Nike:	Cardio & Endurance
Odyne:	Strength & Cardio Kick-Butt

—Design-Your-Own Workouts
Joint Mobility Warmup
Upper Body A
Military Press
Lat Pulls
Bent Arm Pullovers
Upper Body B
See Saw Press
Windmills
Renegade Rows
Upper Body C
Side Press
French press
Chest Press & Fly
Lower Body A
Front Squats
Dragon Walks
Side Lunges
Lower Body B
Box Pistols
Step Back Lunges
Suitcase Deadlifts
Lower Body C
One Legged Deadlift
Overhead Squat
Good Mornings
Abdominals A
Standing Power Breathing
Get Up Situps
Slow KB Twist
Abdominals B
Power Breathing Crunch or Situp
Russian Twist
Half Roll Back
Cardio/Conditioning A
Swings
Double Swings
Double Cleans
Figure 8s to Catch
Cardio/Conditioning B
Snatches
Swing-Catch-Squat
1-Swing, 1-Clean, 1-Snatch
Rolling Deck Squats
Cardio/Conditioning C
Swing- Clean-Snatch
Snatch-Clean-Swing
Snatches
Walking Swings
Cool Down Stretches

Solid Gold Step is a Advanced 60 min all cardio step workout lead by Christi Taylor.  I found the choreography easy to learn in this workout.  I give this workout 4 out of 5 stars.

Progressive Strength!

Progressive Strength and bonus Combat Blast is a great intermediate to advance sculpting workout that uses a Club step, light weights and a light  body bar lead by Kimberly Spreen.  First Kimberly leads you through a 30 min light weight multi-joint light weight sculpting workout using weights and the club step.  Then Kimberly leads you through a 21 min Combat blast (or Body Strike) workout using the body bar.  Both of these workouts are good and I often do them together.  I give this workout 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Cardio KickBox Challenge!

Cardio Kickbox Challenge is a 59 min cardio lead by Tracey Staehle, Josef Matthews and Jericho McDuffle.  I am going to be very blunt and say that I did not like this workout at all and will not be buying anymore of Tracey's workouts.  I probably only did 10 mins of this workout before I pulled it out and put it on swap. I give it 2 stars only because it had Josef in it.

Kettlebell Revolution!

Kettlebell Revolution is lead by RKC Missy Beaver.  This DVD has three 20 min workouts on it beginner, intermediate and advanced.  I did the Intermediate level workout and it was good.  Here are the list of exercises:
Two handed swing
Clean
One leg squat
Military Press
Windmill
Darc swing
Push Press
Snatch
Single leg dead lift
Two hand swing/clean/Darc swing
I give this workout 4 out of 5 stars.

The Firm's: Maximum Cardio!

Maximum Cardio is a great 45 min (Hare) Cardio/Sculpt workout lead by Carissa Foster.  This workout was originally released in 1999 and re-released on DVD in 2009 by the late Anna Benson.  I found this workout in 2005 and love this workout so when Anna released it on DVD I repurchased it. You will need a high step, light to medium weights and a weights ball.  For the first 28 mins Carissa leads you through a challenging cardio section alternating between hi/lo and light four limb aerobics using weights and a step.  Then Carissa leads you through a total body sculpting workout using weights and the step.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Stepping Zone!

Stepping Zone is a great intermediate to advanced 50 min all cardio step workout from Christi Taylor.  This is the only one I like from her Terrific Trio DVD. This is a older workout of Christ's from 1999.  Christi has great energy in this workout.  Many people find her workouts complex, but after doing Amy Bento's and Seasun Zieger workouts I find Christi's choreography easy to catch onto.  I give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.