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Rating: 
Summary: Not for a beginner
Review: Fast paced for beginners -- hard to keep up with the exercises. I know I was doing them wrong because I didn't feel the effect she said I would feel. Didn't have time to figure out what was wrong.
Some exercises are just awkward. Just wanted some simple exercises -- example: she has you standing up, crossing your legs, then turn your waist while lifting arms.
I'm not an exercise instructor -- just someone that wants to tone and loose weight. Make it simple.
Rating: 
Summary: Irritating and Unwatchable
Review: First of all this is NOT a workout for beginners. I consider myself to be in good shape and an intermediate at working out, but I was left feeling frequently lost in the dust. The repetitions were too fast without any emphasis on proper form. Kathy also moves too quickly from one exercise to the next without giving you any time to grab your weights. There is no warm-up included, though she advises you to do one before hand. (It's not really a 20 minute workout if she expects you to warm up on your own beforehand.) But what I found most irritating was Kathy constantly barking orders like a drill sergeant to the toned, buff and scantily-clad men and women in the class: "OKAY, GIVE ME FOUR MORE!" and her frequent "whoops." Struck me as almost sado-masochistic. My favorite weight-training video remains "Strong Women Stay Young" available through the "As We Change" catalogue. It moves much slowly (but no less intensely) with much more attention to proper form and detail.
Rating: 
Summary: one of the best available!
Review: I also don't understand the one-star rating by one reviewer. I have a graduate degree in exercise science, and many years of experience as a personal trainer (focusing on women & weight/strength training) and I found Kathy's dvds to be outstanding. She provides guidance about proper form in a number of ways with each and every exercise. She often starts a new set with instruction (verbally & by demo'ing herself) the right form without any weights in hand - sometimes also by using a smaller version of the movement first and gradually easing into full range of motion. For example, with her squats series - first you do some reps with no weights and by only squatting a little ways down, then a few deeper squats, and finally a few full squats. Throughout these "warm-up" squats, the screen shots include front & side views of Kathy's strict form which really is correct. THEN you pick up your handweights if you want to use them and move into the actual squats sets. On top of that, Kathy also walks amongst the men & women working out on screen with her, stopping to comment on specific aspects of their form, which enables you to see proper form frommany different angles, and also demos how "proper" form can in fact look slightly different with different body types, and/or with modified versions of some exercises. In addition to all the above, she also includes verbal reminders along the way ("make sure your knees are tracking over your toes... chest up, neck relaxed..." etc). I found her verbal cues about form to be just the right amount - enough to help you ensure your own proper form, but not so constant you wish she'd just shut up. :) These DVDs, especially #2, have everything you'd need for a very intense & effective upper & lower body strength training routine. At the same time, they are great for beginners who are new to any sort of weight training. The primary difference will be the amount of weight you use with each exercise. And Kathy even provides guidance about that as well - "your muscle should be fatigued by the time you've done 8-12 reps - if not, you can increase to more weight..." She also makes a point of mentioning when she herself is using a lighter or heavier dumbbell from one exercise to another. Your increases/decreases might not always follow hers - amt of weight or even +/- direction - but it should be fairly clear that it's totally normal not to be able to use the same set of dumbbells for every exercise. I have tried a lot of different weight/strength training videos & dvds. To be honest, I wasn't really sure Kathy's would impress me very much. I was looking for something that would really challenge me, and decided to take a chance since Karen Voight's "great weighted workout" isn't out on dvd yet. I have been extremely pleased with Kathy Smith's Lift Weights to Lose Weight dvds. Vol 2 of LWTLW series has quickly become one of my favorites. With 4 full 20-minute routines (2 upper body, 2 lower body) plus an additional abs workout, you can easily pick one session per day or mix & match for a whole-body workout. And there are many exercises in each lower & upper body routine that also target core strength - something you won't necessarily find in many other strength tapes/dvds (although fyi - Karen Mann's "The Works" box set has some great core strength and "functional strength" exercises too - the kind of strength you use for picking up your child, carrying groceries, climbing ladders to change lightbulbs etc - all those "awkward positions" we all face every day). I highly recommend this series!
Rating:
Summary: one of the best available!
Review: I also don't understand the one-star rating by one reviewer. I have a graduate degree in exercise science, and many years of experience as a personal trainer (focusing on women & weight/strength training) and I found Kathy's dvds to be outstanding. She provides guidance about proper form in a number of ways with each and every exercise. She often starts a new set with instruction (verbally & by demo'ing herself) the right form without any weights in hand - sometimes also by using a smaller version of the movement first and gradually easing into full range of motion. For example, with her squats series - first you do some reps with no weights and by only squatting a little ways down, then a few deeper squats, and finally a few full squats. Throughout these "warm-up" squats, the screen shots include front & side views of Kathy's strict form which really is correct. THEN you pick up your handweights if you want to use them and move into the actual squats sets. On top of that, Kathy also walks amongst the men & women working out on screen with her, stopping to comment on specific aspects of their form, which enables you to see proper form frommany different angles, and also demos how "proper" form can in fact look slightly different with different body types, and/or with modified versions of some exercises. In addition to all the above, she also includes verbal reminders along the way ("make sure your knees are tracking over your toes... chest up, neck relaxed..." etc). I found her verbal cues about form to be just the right amount - enough to help you ensure your own proper form, but not so constant you wish she'd just shut up. :) These DVDs, especially #2, have everything you'd need for a very intense & effective upper & lower body strength training routine. At the same time, they are great for beginners who are new to any sort of weight training. The primary difference will be the amount of weight you use with each exercise. And Kathy even provides guidance about that as well - "your muscle should be fatigued by the time you've done 8-12 reps - if not, you can increase to more weight..." She also makes a point of mentioning when she herself is using a lighter or heavier dumbbell from one exercise to another. Your increases/decreases might not always follow hers - amt of weight or even +/- direction - but it should be fairly clear that it's totally normal not to be able to use the same set of dumbbells for every exercise. I have tried a lot of different weight/strength training videos & dvds. To be honest, I wasn't really sure Kathy's would impress me very much. I was looking for something that would really challenge me, and decided to take a chance since Karen Voight's "great weighted workout" isn't out on dvd yet. I have been extremely pleased with Kathy Smith's Lift Weights to Lose Weight dvds. Vol 2 of LWTLW series has quickly become one of my favorites. With 4 full 20-minute routines (2 upper body, 2 lower body) plus an additional abs workout, you can easily pick one session per day or mix & match for a whole-body workout. And there are many exercises in each lower & upper body routine that also target core strength - something you won't necessarily find in many other strength tapes/dvds (although fyi - Karen Mann's "The Works" box set has some great core strength and "functional strength" exercises too - the kind of strength you use for picking up your child, carrying groceries, climbing ladders to change lightbulbs etc - all those "awkward positions" we all face every day). I highly recommend this series!
Rating: 
Summary: Glad I have them.
Review: I am glad I got both DVDs instead of just one. While both offer good strength training, I enjoy variety of the core training focus of one of the DVDs. I alternate between DVDs and have found that they are a great addition to my twice weekly hourly cardio workouts.
My workouts are not striclty for weight loss or getting buff, but for overall, physical health. I feel a bit stronger, more firm, and more flexible. My arms are showing some form, as are my thighs. I also like the way my upper back is showing some definition as well. I wanted to make sure to not depend entirely on the gym for all my excercise as well as add variety and work the muscles in different ways.
Rating:
Summary: Timesaver... best weight workout on market!
Review: I don't know how great of shape the 1 star reviewer was in....but these DVDS together are great. True, there is no warm-up on Volume 1, but you simply warm up yourself. Big deal. The point is, the reps are challenging and great for beginners in Volume 1. They tend to feel quick as the workout flies by in no time. There is a great adherence to proper form!! Volume 2 takes it to the next level to really tone the little muscles in your body. Trust me, I own and have tried a plethora of exercise DVDS and these have given me great results. Yes, Kathy Smith is annoying - obviously - but the bottom line is...you will see results and totally feel the burn the next day. For Volume 2, I find the cool downs not long enough, so I simply hit "pause" and cool down a bit more. Exercise DVDS can't be everything to everyone, but if they work, you have to simply modify it for your own needs. These workouts are not 1 star workouts - trust me.
Rating:
Summary: These DVDS will give you results!!
Review: I don't know how great of shape the 1 star reviewer was in....but these DVDS together are great. True, there is no warm-up on Volume 1, but you simply warm up yourself. Big deal. The point is, the reps are challenging and great for beginners in Volume 1. They tend to feel quick as the workout flies by in no time. There is a great adherence to proper form!! Volume 2 takes it to the next level to really tone the little muscles in your body. Trust me, I own and have tried a plethora of exercise DVDS and these have given me great results. Yes, Kathy Smith is annoying - obviously - but the bottom line is...you will see results and totally feel the burn the next day. For Volume 2, I find the cool downs not long enough, so I simply hit "pause" and cool down a bit more. Exercise DVDS can't be everything to everyone, but if they work, you have to simply modify it for your own needs. These workouts are not 1 star workouts - trust me.
Rating:
Summary: Timesaver... best weight workout on market!
Review: I highly disagree with the 1-star rater. Regarding her points first, it moves quickly because the strength training is done using a technique called supersetting. You push yourself and then move quickly in between exercises to move to the next exercise. I found her cheering of "four more" highly encouraging. I myself, am an aerobics instructor. This video is challenging but appropriate for anyone. You choose your level of weights and you can set it down when it gets to be too much. The exercises move quickly so you won't sit around feeling left out if you choose not to do 6 or 7 reps. You'll get right back into it! I love this video. I was dying to find a way to increase my strength training, and this is it! I even have my boyfriend who is a PE teacher do the arms with me and he loves it. There are men on the video and women and I like that. Kathy looks awesome by the way. This is the best video I've done out of the many I own!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best I own
Review: I love both these DVD's. I consider myself to be in excellent shape and I run about 20 miles a week. I use these as my 4X's weekly weight training with great results. Although her whooping and 'four mores' are slightly maniacal, I honestly think Kathy is a lot less annoying that most of the other workout videos I own.
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