Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 28
 Fun and challenging if you heavy up July 30, 2010
liz blue eyes
This is truly meant for everybody but the very obese and unfit and, on the opposite side of the spectrum, very advanced exercisers. Everybody in between would probably be happy enough with the workout. The warmup is fast-paced and beginners speaking online have acknowledged it was hard for them at first. As an intermediate exerciser, I found it just right. As in all workouts, don't use anything but very light weights (no more than 3 lb. dumbbells) at first and focus on using godd form, not using the heaviest weights. That will come in time. I like the airy setting now, but it was hard to get used to, since I'd always used the "old Firms".
You'll need a tall, sturdy box, anywhere from 12" to 17" high, depending upon your height and fitness level. A shorter, 4" to 10" step is needed for cardio. A square box is best, but you can modify if needed to fit your step shape and height. Dumbbell sets ranging from 3- to 30 lbs. will be needed eventually, possibly higher for men or lower for the very unfit. A body bar or dowel helps with balance (and can be used in place of dumbbells for leg-based weight-training) but is not used in the workout. A long towel or a mat will be needed for floor exercises.
Allie makes sure to work nearly every body part. You get the standard biceps curls, French presses for the triceps, squats, lunges, leg presses, some tablework for the butt, outer thigh leg lifts and ab crunches, amongst other exercises. The tempo and flow of this is great. I enjoy the music, and Allie's a motivating instructor. She keeps you moving, but you don't feel like you're going to die. You alternate lower and upper body weights exercises, so as you get more advanced, this is the workout to heavy up on in weights. This is contrast to Jen's "Body Sculpt" (in the same DVD set), which uses supersets to get really focused on either the upper OR lower body in her workout. Allie intersperces a few moderate cardio sets, 3 or 4 total, into the workout. Jen doesn't have any cardio in hers, so they compliment each other well.
My one qualm with Cardio Sculpt, since it's a total-body workout, is that there's no inner thigh leg lifts in it. This is a must-have exercise, especially for women. And, no, standing work DOES NOT COUNT. For the nearly hour-long workout period, I have to say you'll get more "bang for the buck" with Vol.1, 2 or 3 from the Classic Firm Series. However...those are from the 1980's and will seem very dated by comparison to this one. Us long-term Firmies tend to be more critical of post-2000 workouts than "newbies"- it's all about personal preference. This was one of my last Firm purchases (I started with the Classics back in the mid-nineties), and these will always be "second best" to me. Floorwork is so vital for women, to reshape our lower bodies and strengthen weaker knees- and the new ones really lack that.
This workout, Body Sculpt and Ab Sculpt are a good starter set- but you will need to add a short cardio DVD (I like Cardio Sculpt Blaster), a long cardio DVD (The Firm's Super Cardio is my fave pick) and a good floorwork DVD (Sculpted Buns, Hips and Thighs is No.1) to your collection. If you only have this set, it is simply not going to work you as well as you'll need- straight cardio is essential to weight loss, and it's not in this set.
 All time Fav! April 23, 2010
LAURA28
This is so effective, and time flies. Great cardio and sculpting workout, with very effective results. Allie is one of my fav instructors from the Firm, she really makes working out fun!
Better than a gym March 29, 2010
DKG (Washington, DC)
The other positive reviews are exactly right.
Allie is the perfect instructor. Always clear and encouraging; never too peppy or condescending. The choreography is easy to follow--even for a klutz like me. And the results are better than from a gym--the inches and pounds just fall off.
One of my favorite Firm workouts! August 31, 2009
P. McGrath (San Francisco, CA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is one of my favorite Firm workouts. I originally bought this on videotape and used it so much that the video is now worn out and getting warped. So I ordered it on DVD to replace my old videotape. I this is a good medium level workout - although when I first started doing the Firm I thought it was high impact. I'm getting so much stronger thanks to the Firm that I now feel like this particular work out is more of a mid to high level workout. I am a huge fan of the Firm and of Allie, the trainer on this video. I would highly recommend this to anyone! Easy routines to follow and you really do start to see a difference within 10 workouts.
Get results, but you have to work hard! June 29, 2009
K. BREETON-FAIRALL (Poulsbo, WA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Firm Body Sculpting System 2 was the first home workout system I ever tried when I committed to changing my body. It jump-started my fitness when I was 85 pounds overweight and continued to shape my body. Cardio Sculpt was my favorite in the series and the one I used for my cardio and strength training. Throughout my weight loss, this workout remained challenging and the movements got results, especially in my legs and rear. I dripped sweat doing this workout and I would be sore for 1 day afterward or longer. I definitely recommend listening to your body if something doesn't feel right and modifying the movements to avoid injury, though, especially if you have pre-existing soft tissue injuries. You don't have to use weights if they impair your form or are too much for you at first. I did end up losing the 85 pounds through the use of Cardio Sculpt, walking, and eating less. Cardio Sculpt was my go-to workout for results I could see. I don't see it as a beginner's video since the use of weights adds more challenge to any fitness level and it has remained effective even at a healthy weight. It can take a while to learn the routine enough to switch movements and disassemble/assemble the Fanny Lifter while keeping up with the workout. Cardio Sculpt is definitely one of my favorites produced by the Firm. This workout can kick your butt, but it's worth it.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 28
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