Denise Austin Power Zone - The Ultimate Metabolism Boosting Workout

Rating:
Summary: The Best Workout DVD
Review: Denise Austin has got to be the most annoying and condescending instructor around. I think she doesn't realized or understand how annoying and condescending she is. Her videos are not good ones to grow with because they are often too easy and her cueing is lousy and she can't keep track of reps so both sides of the body get worked unevenly.

Rating:
Summary: Not worth the money
Review: I didn't feel that the workout dvd was worth the money I paid for it

Rating:
Summary: I liked it
Review: I have a lot of Denise's dvds,including the first power zone. I think this one is better then the first.I was actually sweating to this one! It flowed better,and the toning segments are great.I felt the pain the next day,which I didn't with the original.The only thing negative is that her back up girls seem to be doing this against their will.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing in every way & only for beginners
Review: I have a lot of exercise videos in my collection and wanted to add a new one to "mix it up". Unfortunately, this ones a loser. It stars with aerobics and you have to use the "included fitness band", which is just a long piece of cheap rubber that gets sweaty!! I found the band to be awkward to use and it's also too long, causing you to have to wrap it around your fists and try to keep it in the same place as the girls on the video. If you don't have just the right amount of tension in the band, you aren't really doing anything for your muscles. It was just a nuisance. And the aerobics only last for about 15 minutes (not the 25 minutes that it claims to be). There were no new moves I haven't done a million times in the cardio section and again, the rubber band is more a hindrance than a help. Then it goes on to 10 minutes of upper body work-again, using the stupid rubber band. These exercises are easier to do with light weights and I found this to be nothing but a waste of my time. Perhaps it would work if you had plenty of time to get just the right amount of tension in your band, but you aren't given that time. Then it's on to 10 minutes of lower body work, which is nothing but lunges and squats using the band...nothing new or good here. Lastly is ab work (finally something without the stupid band!!!) but none of the repetitions in the ab section are enough to really get your stomach burning. Just when you start to maybe feel it, Denise has you stop. There were a few interesting ab moves done, different than the usual, but you would have to do at least twice or three times as many reps as Denise does to get any benefit or feel the burn. She also throws in a few Pilates moves for the tummy, but I have other Pilates videos so this was nothing new.

Overall, I wasn't annoyed by Denise's talking, as many other reviewers seem to be. I was mostly annoyed with trying to get that band in the right place with the right tension to benefit my muscles, and, even if you succeed there, the segments are just too short to do much good.

Rating:
Summary: Stick with regular Power Zone workout
Review: I like Denise Austin in the first Power Zone DVD, so I was eager to go and purchase this one. What a huge let down this one was. Her cuing was horrible, and the workout itself was uninspiring. I also didn't feel like she used the power band as effectively as she could have. In other words, save your money on this one.

Rating:
Summary: Good workout
Review: I love Denise Austin, and I love even more to workout to her DVD's. I have used this at least twice a week since the day it came out, and I can see amazing results, especially from the toning part of the DVD. For once she has people working out with her that don't look like zombies, and it makes the workout more enjoyable. I sweat a lot when doing the cardio part, and I feel GREAT afterwards. My metabolism is definitely starting to improve. She's not as obnoxious in this video, which is nice, and she really keeps you moving and burning fat. I would recommend this DVD to anyone who likes to get a quick workout in the morning before work to get them pumped up through out the day, or before bed for an amazing sleep, or to anyone who enjoys working out with Denise.

Rating:
Summary: Good Workout
Review: I used to hit the gym but with three little ones I have no time. I'm just getting started with "in home" workouts..I would consider myself at a level of intermediate..
I really enjoyed this workout! I'm still using it..I try to use it everyday. It's not to hard or to easy..
I admit the cueing is horrible but the steps are so easy you don't really need her cueing. The toning segments are great.


Rating:
Summary: Good Workout
Review: Normally, I would give Denise a completely glowing review, but this workout was a bit different. Things I greatly enjoyed were the program: 25 minutes of cardio, followed by 10 minutes segements of arms, legs and abs. Also, the DVD version came equipped with a resistance band, which is necessary to participate in the workout. My criticism is that the whole DVD seems either rushed or was a production after-thought. The music is pretty generic and Denise's spoken introduction is part of the workout, you can skip it manually, but it isn't its own chapter. That's kind of annoying. As for the workout itself, it is very good. During the cardio, you jump around and sweat, all the while using the resistance band for simultaneous toning. The moves are simple, yet effective and the band is a wonderful piece of equipment to weave into your own personal home workout routine, it makes your muscles adjust, as weight routines cause muscle memory over time and your muscles grow accustomed and don't work as hard. Her workout group is made up of people who are thin and fit, but don't look super-ripped or sickly, which is nice and semi-realistic, not intimidating like others can be. She recommends a 6 day schedule, but I think that people who have been working out for a while or have some sort of fitness savvy can decide for themselves, though it is nice to have some guidelines for those just starting out or unsure of how to go about things. She jumps right in, so there is no real explanation section. While the moves are not extremely difficult, there are just barely enough reps to get it right, but that is something that will resolve itself over time. And my last bit of criticism is that Denise seems either tired or a bit disinterested in the workout, she didn't seem as into it as her previous videos. However, she does take the time to really explain the mucles being worked and proper form on her fellow workoutmates. I would like to think of this review as overall a positive one, I just think that if I were to read a review, I would like to know of the negative aspects, to make a well-informed decision.

Rating:
Summary: A Fat-Burning Sensation!
Review: Taking the intensity up a notch was something I really wanted to accomplish after I finished working out to the same workouts that Denise Austin did everyday on Lifetime TV. Her new video, "Power Zone: The Ultimate Metabolism Boosting Workout" has done just that. Using resistance bands during the whole workout, Denise brings the intensity up efficiently and effectively....enough that I was sweating in less than 10 minutes into the workout! During the entire 25 minutes of cardio, you're burning OVER 300 calories! I am serious - with the resistence band, fat gets a powerful punch!
Denise has you do 25 minutes of cardio, then 10 minute segments each for your legs, thighs, buttocks, and abdominals. After working out with Denise for over two years, I have to say that this workout is the best and most effective that I ever used. Although, I do have my disappointments in this one. I noticed that Denise seemed hurried and uninterested in the workout in some points of the video. The moves are quick and fast-paced and if you are doing the workout for the first time, you may feel like you're not able to keep up. Of course, you will get used to the moves in time - after the first workout I got used to it, so it's not something tremendously serious that you need to think over. Denise's workout mates on the video can annoy you enormously if you let them - they seem like they're in a trance during the whole workout and look more like fake supermodels than workout mates (you notice in many exercise videos that workout mates seem more tolerable and real - like mothers who workout or someone from the street who is fit.. but these women on this workout video seem like they have fake personalities).
Other than that, the workout is great - you definitely feel like your muscles were worked hard enough and that you had a real, complete workout.
Recommended fitness levels are at least intermediate. You need to have at least SOME exercise experience - if you are just starting out, I would recommend Denise Austin's Xtralite Exercise videos that are available at Amazon instead.

Rating:
Summary: A Fat-Burning Sensation!
Review: Taking the intensity up a notch was something I really wanted to accomplish after I finished working out to the same workouts that Denise Austin did everyday on Lifetime TV. Her new video, "Power Zone: The Ultimate Metabolism Boosting Workout" has done just that. Using resistance bands during the whole workout, Denise brings the intensity up efficiently and effectively....enough that I was sweating in less than 10 minutes into the workout! During the entire 25 minutes of cardio, you're burning OVER 300 calories! I am serious - with the resistence band, fat gets a powerful punch!
Denise has you do 25 minutes of cardio, then 10 minute segments each for your legs, thighs, buttocks, and abdominals. After working out with Denise for over two years, I have to say that this workout is the best and most effective that I ever used. Although, I do have my disappointments in this one. I noticed that Denise seemed hurried and uninterested in the workout in some points of the video. The moves are quick and fast-paced and if you are doing the workout for the first time, you may feel like you're not able to keep up. Of course, you will get used to the moves in time - after the first workout I got used to it, so it's not something tremendously serious that you need to think over. Denise's workout mates on the video can annoy you enormously if you let them - they seem like they're in a trance during the whole workout and look more like fake supermodels than workout mates (you notice in many exercise videos that workout mates seem more tolerable and real - like mothers who workout or someone from the street who is fit.. but these women on this workout video seem like they have fake personalities).
Other than that, the workout is great - you definitely feel like your muscles were worked hard enough and that you had a real, complete workout.
Recommended fitness levels are at least intermediate. You need to have at least SOME exercise experience - if you are just starting out, I would recommend Denise Austin's Xtralite Exercise videos that are available at Amazon instead.