Kathy Smith Timesaver - Cardio Fat Burner [DVD]

I can't beleive some of the whinning on these reviews. This is a fun workout. It may take a couple of times to get the steps but this isn't difficult to do. After doing this video twice I had the steps down. I love the intensity of the workout, in fact, I do many of the moves at a more high impact level then Kathy does. Yes, this video has some very up-beat and at times cheesy people, like the guy at the beginning, but if that's your excuse to not workout, then you never will...you'll just keep coming up with excuse after excuse! The first 20 min workout is like a dance combination and I found the time flew by as I learned the steps. The second 20 min workout is a type of interval workout, which is a lot of fun. There is a streching segment at the end, which is good. Even though there isn't a stretch at the beginning, and if you don't have time to do one of your own, remember, stretching after a workout is more important, if you don't get the time to do both. The only thing I would change about this video is that the routines were at least 10 minutes longer and I could do without the backup people helping out Kathy, but they're really not that bad. I workout to this video before I go to work and I really enjoy it. I will say that this probably isn't a video for beginners. This is something you want to work up to, but if you're like me and have been working out for a while, you'll really enjoy it and the moves won't seem so hard. If you're a beginner, this is something to work towards and once you get through the video without having to stop, I promise you'll feel great! Kathy Smith really isn't a high impact instructor, at least not compared to what I'm used to, but she's a great instructor and I have many of her videos. Although, there are complaints in some reviews of her "cueing" on this video I think it's fine and not hard to catch on to. If you're looking for a good workout, which doesn't allow you to be lazy and actually forces you to work, this is for you!

This is a great video if you don't have much time to spare for cardio. Kathy negates the warm up and cooldown (although she does start slowly) in order to cram in more cardio in each 20 minute segment. She has good cue-ing and after a few times through this tape you shouldn't have to look at the screen.This DVD is done in group format, like all of Kathy's other videos. The thing I noticed when I first popped this tape in (I always view them first before I attempt them) is that there was a lot of whooping and "Oh Yeah"-ing from the group. It was annoying when I wasn't participating but when I do the video now I hardly notice it. If you are easily distracted though, this might be a problem for you.The first 20 minute segment is a progressive add on sequence, which means you gradually learn moves and put them together. None of the moves are particularily dancy, and kathy does tell you some adjustments if you don't like some of the moves. Once you learn the entire sequence you repeat it a few times.The second 20 minute segment has 4 different segments of exercises and gives you two options: high impact or low impact. You start by learning the moves in the low impact group then after a few minutes you switch to a higher intensity calorie burst. You have the option of following the low impact people on one side of the screen or modifying some of the moves and following the high impact people on the other side of the screen.There is a short 7 minute stretch afterwards.Like I said before, this is a great video for people who only have a few minutes to spare for cardio. You can do either routine or if you have more time you can do both for 40 minutes of aerobic fun!I think this video is really fun and it doesn't require any gear like a step or weights (although you'll probably need a water bottle and sweat rag!)

This video is broken into 2, 20 minute cardio workouts, each can be do alone or when time allows, back to back for a longer workout. The exercises are a bit more playful than a standard cardio routine but still keep you working hard. But be prepared...it will also give your mind a challenge while you struggle not to laugh at how cheesy it is.First of all, at best the music is reminiscent of something SNL would use for creating a bad clubbing' scene and Kathy's rather large group of back up exercisers are all wearing head sets (no really). With very unnatural perma-grins plastered on their faces, Kathy's entourage add their own track of overly enthusiastic whoops, hoots and oh yeahs ad nauseam. Is there such thing as a Stepford aerobiciser?Although the video seems to offer effective and challenging routines, the informal, dance party USA, approach ultimately overshadows Kathy's focus of providing an adequate amount of instruction for my taste. This was disappointing since some of her other videos provide such thoughtful guidance. Overall, you can get a good workout, but her approach seems a bit unprofessional.