Rating: Summary: A fun step workout! Review: I've only done the first workout on this so far. I was so bored with step workouts always being the same up up down down that I decided to try this. Crunch always has very good workouts and I was not disappointed with this one. I've done the The Next Step a ton of times since I recieved this dvd. It is my favorite workout right now and I'm smiling through just about the whole thing. I like the music for this workout, it really gets you pumping instead of just being played quietly in the background. There are some problems with the cueing, but once you do it a couple of times you'll have the steps down.
Rating: Summary: Only worth it for the "Fat Blaster" and Kendall Review: Just tried this DVD. I had mis-remembered the reviews, and accidentally tried the 2nd workout first, the Step & Sweat, which I thought was supposed to be the better routine. After five or ten minutes, I stopped following it because it was both BORING and NOT aerobically challenging (though the choreography was a bit tricky because she didn't cue well). Since I'd already dragged out my step, I gave up and ignored the instructor and her two comrades (only three people in a very boring studio- and other than the mysteriously high-waisted and goofy-looking shorts on "Gillian", there wasn't much interesting to look at). I just did my own routine for the length of that workout. I almost wrote the DVD off completely. But then I decided to check out the other routine, the "Fat Blaster". I was only going to watch a few minutes of it, but it looked fun so I started doing it. Much better!! Much more interesting, MUCH better cues, better class vibe, and the same funky drum guy from the Crunch Fat Burning Pilates Tape. I liked it - it's a good fun tape for light workout days. I wish it were more challenging - in particular, as others have said, the last routine on the tape before the cool-down is a waste of time. It is so hard to find challenging cardio tapes - only Tae Bo Advanced workouts really seem to get the heart rate up - but it gets boring to do one thing all the time. I used to belong to Crunch Gym - and this is not "the best of"- believe me! Please Crunch, or anyone, come out with a HARD cardio fun tape of some kind for those who used to work out in cardio classes at the gym but can't make it there because of crazy schedules. Not everyone out there at home is a beginner!
Rating: Summary: Only worth it for the "Fat Blaster" and Kendall Review: Just tried this DVD. I had mis-remembered the reviews, and accidentally tried the 2nd workout first, the Step & Sweat, which I thought was supposed to be the better routine. After five or ten minutes, I stopped following it because it was both BORING and NOT aerobically challenging (though the choreography was a bit tricky because she didn't cue well). Since I'd already dragged out my step, I gave up and ignored the instructor and her two comrades (only three people in a very boring studio- and other than the mysteriously high-waisted and goofy-looking shorts on "Gillian", there wasn't much interesting to look at). I just did my own routine for the length of that workout. I almost wrote the DVD off completely. But then I decided to check out the other routine, the "Fat Blaster". I was only going to watch a few minutes of it, but it looked fun so I started doing it. Much better!! Much more interesting, MUCH better cues, better class vibe, and the same funky drum guy from the Crunch Fat Burning Pilates Tape. I liked it - it's a good fun tape for light workout days. I wish it were more challenging - in particular, as others have said, the last routine on the tape before the cool-down is a waste of time. It is so hard to find challenging cardio tapes - only Tae Bo Advanced workouts really seem to get the heart rate up - but it gets boring to do one thing all the time. I used to belong to Crunch Gym - and this is not "the best of"- believe me! Please Crunch, or anyone, come out with a HARD cardio fun tape of some kind for those who used to work out in cardio classes at the gym but can't make it there because of crazy schedules. Not everyone out there at home is a beginner!
Rating: Summary: Only worth it for the "Fat Blaster" and Kendall Review: Just tried this DVD. I had mis-remembered the reviews, and accidentally tried the 2nd workout first, the Step & Sweat, which I thought was supposed to be the better routine. After five or ten minutes, I stopped following it because it was both BORING and NOT aerobically challenging (though the choreography was a bit tricky because she didn't cue well). Since I'd already dragged out my step, I gave up and ignored the instructor and her two comrades (only three people in a very boring studio- and other than the mysteriously high-waisted and goofy-looking shorts on "Gillian", there wasn't much interesting to look at). I just did my own routine for the length of that workout. I almost wrote the DVD off completely. But then I decided to check out the other routine, the "Fat Blaster". I was only going to watch a few minutes of it, but it looked fun so I started doing it. Much better!! Much more interesting, MUCH better cues, better class vibe, and the same funky drum guy from the Crunch Fat Burning Pilates Tape. I liked it - it's a good fun tape for light workout days. I wish it were more challenging - in particular, as others have said, the last routine on the tape before the cool-down is a waste of time. It is so hard to find challenging cardio tapes - only Tae Bo Advanced workouts really seem to get the heart rate up - but it gets boring to do one thing all the time. I used to belong to Crunch Gym - and this is not "the best of"- believe me! Please Crunch, or anyone, come out with a HARD cardio fun tape of some kind for those who used to work out in cardio classes at the gym but can't make it there because of crazy schedules. Not everyone out there at home is a beginner!
Rating: Summary: Kendall is the King Review: Kendall, the instructor for the first workout called Fat Blaster, is excellent. He is easy to follow, the music is very high energy, and the routine is quite refreshing. The only negatives for his workout is that it is too short (30 minutes which includes warm-up and cool-down), and he spends too much time going over the moves. This workout is good for a beginner-to-intermediate stepper. It would be good for advanced steppers if you used 3 risers. The second workout is horrible. The music is terrible, the instructor does not know how to cue, and she spends too much time concentrating on what she and her cohorts are doing, rather than bringing the viewer into the workout. I liked some of the moves, but a different instructor and better music are needed.
Rating: Summary: Kendall is the King Review: Kendall, the instructor for the first workout called Fat Blaster, is excellent. He is easy to follow, the music is very high energy, and the routine is quite refreshing. The only negatives for his workout is that it is too short (30 minutes which includes warm-up and cool-down), and he spends too much time going over the moves. This workout is good for a beginner-to-intermediate stepper. It would be good for advanced steppers if you used 3 risers. The second workout is horrible. The music is terrible, the instructor does not know how to cue, and she spends too much time concentrating on what she and her cohorts are doing, rather than bringing the viewer into the workout. I liked some of the moves, but a different instructor and better music are needed.
Rating: Summary: Choreography DIFFICULT Review: The choreography of both workouts on this DVD is much too difficult. Even after a few run-throughs, I still don't have either one down and now am giving up on them. I don't get a good cardio workout on either one due to trying to pick up all the cutesy little steps, plus since they're step workouts, I'm afraid I will fall off and crack my head open on the TV. Save your money.
Rating: Summary: Choreography DIFFICULT Review: The choreography of both workouts on this DVD is much too difficult. Even after a few run-throughs, I still don't have either one down and now am giving up on them. I don't get a good cardio workout on either one due to trying to pick up all the cutesy little steps, plus since they're step workouts, I'm afraid I will fall off and crack my head open on the TV. Save your money.
Rating: Summary: Two fun workouts Review: These are two of my favorite step workouts for days when I want a good workout in a short time. Kendall's Fat Blaster workout is especially lively and motivating: the live drums and energetic atmosphere, and Kendall's warmly encouraging manner, make this workout ideal for getting me off the couch to have some fun. The Step and Sweat workout is more laid-back, but still has enough unusual moves to make it enjoyable, and even though the class is much smaller, the exercisers look like they're having a lot of fun--which helps *me* have fun as well. This is a great investment if you're an intermediate-level stepper.
Rating: Summary: Great intermidiate option Review: this DVD has 2 30 min segments that are very solid and fun. Nice and interesting routines. They are my fall back when I'm a bit pressed for time. My main probelem is that they aren't chalanging enough - I've had to add hight to me step to realy work with these. They are great for begginer to intermidiate - especially if you never stepped before since in the step and sweat section she builds you in to the basic moves and then tells you there name. Another problem is that this is just to much breaking down - since I do the same thing again and again I would rather have a little problem at the start then be realy boared in 3-4 sessions.
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