Rating: 
Summary: Good for those who want a challenge!
Review: I have quite a few of Kathy's workouts and found this particular one to work me as hard as the Weight Loss Workout, which I loved but needed a change. And it's a change for sure with the advantage of the step which really increases the intensity of the cardio part, and really works your legs two. I thought I would like the wave concept, but when I do aerobics, I like to keep going and 20 minutes isn't enough for me, but for some reason, I find it hard to do it all over again because the intesity goes from high to low to high, but I guess I can learn to get used to this new concept. However, I've been doing both and I'm slowly but surely getting used to it. Not to mention the weight training really works up a sweat, but right now I'd rather do all 40 min aerobics, and all of the weights with out alternating, until like I said, I get used to it. Over all it's an excellent workout, a great way to challenge yourself, and definitely break those plateus. To sum it up I like Kathy's style because of her upbeat personality, and she leaves you with a great workout.
Rating: 
Summary: Great workout, lousy cueing
Review: The video is presented in two 18-minute "waves," each wave consisting of a slower-to-higher energy concept that tapers off near the end of the wave. Each wave ends with an approximate 5-minute weight lifting routine.
The wave concept works very well for getting the heart rate and sweat going and the weights add a great sense of recovery while still maintaining a good heart rate.
Unfortunately, Kathy's cueing in the second wave is so unforgivably bad that I felt as though I had missed the routine training and found myself stopping to see what the heck she was doing. This wave ruins an otherwise great workout. Some poor dubbing tries to make up for the lack of cueing, but the swerving camera angles make it virtually impossible to keep up the first few times I did the routine. Once you have the routine more or less memorized, this won't be as much of a problem, but if you're easily frustrated, pass on this tape.
Rating:
Summary: Kathy Rules!
Review: I have all of Kathy's other step tapes and I love this one the aboslute best!! I'm not the most coordinated person in the world, but it only took me a week to get the entire routine down. If you've done any of her tapes prior to this one, you will recognize a number of the moves. They are not that difficult to learn.I don't think of it as dancey, but I can see how others might think so. Personally that's what I LIKE about it. Like I said, I'm not the most coordinated person and being able to do this work out tape was a challenge and a triumph. Zone three in both segments is killer, but they're my favorite parts of the work out. Especially the second one. By the end I'm dripping sweat but for me a work out isn't a good one unless I drink almost all my bottle of water and I do with this one. If you want a work out that is interesting, challenging and works your body like nothing else, this is the tape for you.
Rating: 
Summary: This one will work you
Review: Although I think that this step tape lacks the energy and inspiration of some of Kathy's other tapes (time-saver cardio fat burner, for instance), it does provide a good step workout. Waves one and two will make you think that the workout isn't that intense, until wave three comes along and kicks your ... I do wish Kathy would get some background music that doesn't sound like white noise, sometimes just a good music track can turn a decent routine into a great one. As always, you can count on Kathy to give you a solid workout that is easy to follow and understand.
Rating:
Summary: Great Fatburner - It's So Much Fun
Review: I'm an avid exerciser but I was still cardio challenged. I bought this video because I wanted to increase my cardiovascular endurance. I really enjoyed working out with this video because it made me work. Kathy teaches in a very professional manner. Her cueing was excellent and non-intimidating. The women in the video looked very healthy and not anorexic. I felt that their body types were more realistic to real women. The ab section was one of my favorites. I'm still a little winded afterwards but this is a challenging video(a real plateau buster) and I would recommend it to anyone starting an exercise program. I'm looking forward to exercising with it again.
Rating:
Summary: Worked for me
Review: I have to admit to being a bit of a Kathy Smith groupie so I can't really relate to those who complained about her voice. I think she's great; just the right level of encouragement and enthusiasm. I have been losing weight steadily with her tapes, applying the "consistency is the key" rule to mean that I exercise every d*!n day. I hit a weight plateau big time a couple of months into it and I must say, this tape helped me punch through and I'm still using it. I rotate tapes, making sure every third or fourth day I do her Yoga one to allow time for muscles to relax and repair. This one is one of the more challenging, in that both the "Zone 3" sections are quite intense. I could have killed myself in the beginning while I was still learning the moves; yes, they are complicated, some of them. But I was very careful and what I find now is that the "dancy" nature of the tape is what keeps it from getting boring after you've done it God knows how many times. I have been doing her "Power Step" video for a lot longer and have now raised my step up to its middle position, but wouldn't dare do that with this tape. The tempo is faster and I don't think I could possibly get through the Zone 3's without injuring myself. All in all, I do look forward to doing this tape and my slimmer waistline can attest to the benefits of the 100 abdominal crunches section!
Rating:
Summary: Fun workout
Review: This is a fast-paced step workout with weight training intervals between the aerobics. As usual Kathy and her cast seem to be having a good time while they are working out and she offers more advanced moves and modifications for those just starting out. Good workout
Rating:
Summary: My favorite video, worth learning the moves
Review: This is my favorite exercise video. Kathy Smith's other step videos are very good too, but this is the most fun and also the most challenging. It took me several times to learn all the moves, but now that I know them the complexity keeps it interesting. For beginning exercisers, "STEP WORKOUT" and "POWER STEP WORKOUT" are probably better to start out with. But once you're ready, this one is the easiest to stick with because it is the most fun and because you really feel as if you've exercised hard in just 50 minutes. The "waves" are very motivating because you always feel as if you are almost done with the section you're in. If you need something even more challenging, Reebok Intense Moves with Gin Miller provides the next level of intensity.
Rating:
Summary: I love this tape!
Review: My youngest child is 2 months old, and I've been working hard at getting back in shape for about the last 6 weeks. I'd been doing TaeBo and one of Kathy's older videos (Fat Burning Workout), and was getting bored and wanting to try something a little more challenging. I got my wish with this tape! It is seperated into 2 waves of aerobics plus weights, and each wave is divided into 3 zones of intensity plus a recovery zone. The first few times I did this video, I had to take a break in zone 3(highest intensity) - those side lunges are wicked! But today was the fourth time I've done the video and I was able to do the entire routine. I like that it is seperated into two sections like her Timesaver videos, good for days when I'm crunched for time. Some of the moves are a bit tricky to pick up though; I got a bit frustrated with it, and finally advanced the video in slow motion to see how she was doing one step that involves straddling the step and turning your back to the TV. But once I got it down it was a lot of fun! The only other problem that I had with it is some of the camera angles; the camera is always slowly moving around the set and slowly zooming in and out which does keep it interesting, but there are one or two points where Kathy is starting to demonstrate a new step and her feet are not in the frame; also, it says on the box that a step is optional, but the one member of her crew who is not using a step is rarely in the frame so the slight modifications necessary could be a little tougher to do until you have the workout down. These things are not really a problem once you have done the tape a couple times, but that's the only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars. A great workout!
Rating:
Summary: You GOTTA Try This!
Review: OK, I gave this five stars cause it's THAT GOOD of a workout, but the tape is not perfect... First, the routine. It's a bit tricky to learn. Now, some of the reviews will lead you to believe you need dance training to do it, and while at first you may feel intimidated, I don't think it's beyond the average exerciser's grasp. The exercise "experts" at collegevideo.com (where this tape is more expensive) rate the choreography as "Moderate," so there ya go. It's not all that complicated. I think, however, the fact that the routine moves so swiftly makes it a bit hard to catch onto what, exactly, Kathy & co are doing. Also, a few of the moves have you turning your back to the TV, which confused the heck outta me at first. I tried yelling & cursing the screen, but eventually I just relaxed and followed as best I could and before long, they clicked. The moves really aren't that hard, you just have to get used to the change of direction. Kathy's cueing isn't that bad, either. I tried counting while I was doing the tape today and found three instances where Kathy miscued a move, that's all. Now, I was working pretty hard so maybe I didn't catch 'em all, but still.... And, it's not like all you have to go on is Kathy's voice, you have the whole routine to watch right in front of you! I like how she calls each new move before you do it, so you can prepare yourself. She also often calls moves as we're doing them, and I found myself calling along in the beginning -- it really helped me learn the steps. Now, after you learn the steps... WHOO HOOOO this is a fun workout!! I usually don't dig the dancey stuff, but I just love how this routine makes me feel so graceful & strong. I also think the intensity "waves" are key. It makes the 18 minutes FLY by, and lemme tell ya, you will sweat buckets! My cardio endurance improved by leaps and bounds, as well. The weight lifting segments, though... I'm not so fond of these. I work out w/ weights regularly anyway, and use this Fat Burning Breakthrough tape on my recovery days, so I don't push it. I use a low weight & focus on my form. I think if you wanna use heavier weights, be careful cause some of the moves (lateral raises in particular) seem a bit too fast for me and possibly could be dangerous. Take your time! So, to sum up: YES this is an EXCELLENT workout! Some of the steps may take some time to learn, but no biggie. Stick with it and after a few viewings you'll be catching on. Oh yeah, and you probably wanna lower your step when you start off. It makes learning the moves a lot easier, believe me!
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