Honestly, are these workouts hard enough?

[wildflowerdyes]

:o Hi, I finally got the courage to make my first post! I feel like I already now a few of you from reading the reviews. So glad to meet you all!

I am interested in purchasing the set of 12 but also want to make sure I will be getting a sufficient workout. I'm 26 and have been using the firm (old and new) on a regular basis for 2 years. I use 8, 10, 12 pound weights and am purchasing 15 and 20's to up my weight (mostly for back work) in the next 3 months. I like to work hard but also smart. Can anyone my age or fitness level be able to give me a thumbs up or down on this set?
All advice would be much appreciated. I have read all the reviews so far and watched the clips but am not yet convinced. I want to be convinced but only because I love Fit Prime. I don't want to waste my money either

Please respond.
Thanks,
Val
P.S. Does anyone know the shipping cost to Canada for this set? I have e-mailed support 3 times in 3 weeks with no response. They said this info was suppose to be posted on Monday but it has not been.

[Bobbiek]

Hi Val,

I just finished Heidi's Push/Pull which is the oldFrom the Ground Up. I used 15#, 20# and 25#(lat rows) with this workout. I have been doing the Firmfor 10 years. You can make these workouts as hard or easy as you want. I especially like the compound moves and the emphasis on balance. I also used ankle weights for the floor work. HOpe this helps! Bobbie K

[wildflowerdyes]

Thanks for the reply Bobbie

I guessed I could probably up the weight as I do with my firm tapes. I was just not sure if this would be adequate and if the moves are preformed slow enough to have heavy weights. Some of the old firm tapes are almost dangerous with heavy weights because the reps are so fast.
Val

[Tarheels]

Val,

I just turned 28, and I've been working out with the Firm/FitPrime for over 11 years now. I don't have my workouts yet, but I'll be happy to give a report when I get them. I DO have the original FitPrimes which are supposed to be similar to the KickButts, and they definitely work me out sufficiently. :)

[kkallus1]

Yes, they are hard enough. The Fitprimes don't overdue the number of reps so you can really heavy up on these tapes. That being said, my triceps were really burning in Kelly's LEAN workout today-talk about thorough!!!

[LoriInND]

They are hard enough. Sometimes, they are too hard! There is balance amongst the whole set. They are perfect.

[artistaii]

I am questioning how hard these are. I've done 2 - Time Crunch and Lean - and, while certain portions are challenging, I don't feel that I've gotten a really good workout. I do want to try them again, though, because the learning curve can be a little limiting. I'm 38 and began working out with the Firm at about age 20. Admittedly, I have tapered off in the last two years, but I have begun working out again in earnest this year and am amazed by how quickly I've progressed.

I am wondering if there is a money back guarantee for these dvds? The promise visible results in 6 workouts, but how is that backed up?

Thanks,
Liz

[TinaT.]

Personally speaking, I'm finding them quite wonderful. I have DOMS in my butt, thighs, and inner thighs from doing Metaboost and Lean. I know when to up the weight or intensity to make it a well rounded workout. You get out of it, what you put into it.

Another aspect to these workouts is the fact that you aren't having to purchase a "gadget" in order to see your results. This is what put me over the edge, when I considered waiting. I already had everything I needed to WO.

[snora]

Personally, I am finding the new FPs challenging. Without question, the KBs are tought since they are the same as the original FPs.

The new FPs take me a while to reach my target HR. But, I am going to modify the initial tunes with wgt., impact, or rebounding and I think I will be just fine.

[jgardnerzoe]

I have only done Strong Bear and Fast Cheetah so far. Honestly, I do not find them exceptionally challenging. I would do them on my lighter days. Especially the cardio segments in Fast Cheetah. I agree, with the weight moves you can modify by increasing the weights. I will probably tend to avoid Fast Cheetah in the future because of the lack of cardio intensity.

[Tarheels]

I am wondering if there is a money back guarantee for these dvds? The promise visible results in 6 workouts, but how is that backed up?

Thanks,
Liz

Liz, please see this thread where Customer Service answers your question. http://whfn.com/board/showthread.php?t=134

[Judy]

Hi
Quick question: what is DOMS?

[Willow52]

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. You know, that soreness you get 24 - 48 hours after a workout :o

[Vanessa]

The only two FP's (new) that I have done so far are Pump and Lean. My heart rate didn't get in zone for very long, but believe me I feel so worked. I love both of these workouts! I've been doing the Cathe weight and Kickboxing workouts, also, and her's don't get me in zone for very long either! And.....I dread doing her workouts with a passion! They are definitely advanced. I can't wait to do the other FitPrimes. To me these are so much like the old Firms. They are fun and effective! There will never be a dread factor with these workouts! I believe that is why the FitPrime workouts are so awesome........they are fun, doable, have no dread factor....very effective!

[stephanie932]

I'm so glad that some of you are saying the same as I'm thinking.....lol

I was totally annihilated by Lower Body Burn on Wednesday (my review is on that thread).......and I was thinking that I'm totally wimping out. After seeing some of your posts, and knowing you do Cathe also......it makes me feel much better about my soreness.

I do think these workouts are veryyyyyyyyyy thorough and wow on the effectiveness!!!! 2 thumbs up for me!!! :D

[sidneygirl]

Are the workouts hard enough.....well, for me, it's not always about being hard to do in the traditional sense. For me, it's "am I using muscles in different ways". What I love about my FitPrimes is that I'm doing different movements, different sequences than my other workouts. I guess it's what they call functional fitness. I love it. I don't get a drained feeling, but a refreshed and alive feeling.

~~tracy

LOL...I'm editing this to add....I like my new FitPrimes so much, I've ordered the KickButts too.....

[DawnP]

Val,

My opinion is that the two retail KickButts Push Pull and Steamin' Cardio (which are designed to be more advanced than the FitPrimes) are intermediate-level.

In the weight work neither has enough reps to cause any real strength gains for an advanced exerciser. The pace doesn't lend itself to 'heavying up' enough - I just don't think an advanced exerciser will get DOMS from 8 bicep curls or 12 pulse step-ups done without complete range-of-motion.

The cardio in Push Pull is watered down from the original From the Ground Up workout - jump lunges, jump kicks and crescent kicks are replaced with knee-ups, out-in marches, etc. I think the cardio in Push Pull is about the level of a Tamilee Fit to the Hits workout - high beg to low intermediate. It wouldn't be as difficult as FIRM Cardio Sculpt Blaster with Lisa Kay, for example.

The cardio in Steamin' Cardio is a little more intense - but it's not sustained, a little more choppy. So it's about as intense/difficult as Nancy Tucker's Calorie Killer or Super Cardio Sculpt.

If you are 26 years old and doing the FIRM regularly you might find some good intermediate workouts in the KickButt series - I haven't tried them all. If you're looking for advanced strength-training or cardio (such as Cathe F's workouts, or such as FIRM Super Cardio Mix) I think you'll be disappointed.

I highly recommend ordering the retail 2-packs and trying them before making the investment. Amazon.ca and other retailers ship to Canada and you can get them affordably.

Also it appears that most if not all of the WHFN workouts will be going to retail so you could add to your collection if you like them.

JMHO...

Dawn P.

[wildflowerdyes]

Val,

My opinion is that the two retail KickButts Push Pull and Steamin' Cardio (which are designed to be more advanced than the FitPrimes) are intermediate-level.

In the weight work neither has enough reps to cause any real strength gains for an advanced exerciser. The pace doesn't lend itself to 'heavying up' enough - I just don't think an advanced exerciser will get DOMS from 8 bicep curls or 12 pulse step-ups done without complete range-of-motion.

The cardio in Push Pull is watered down from the original From the Ground Up workout - jump lunges, jump kicks and crescent kicks are replaced with knee-ups, out-in marches, etc. I think the cardio in Push Pull is about the level of a Tamilee Fit to the Hits workout - high beg to low intermediate. It wouldn't be as difficult as FIRM Cardio Sculpt Blaster with Lisa Kay, for example.

The cardio in Steamin' Cardio is a little more intense - but it's not sustained, a little more choppy. So it's about as intense/difficult as Nancy Tucker's Calorie Killer or Super Cardio Sculpt.

If you are 26 years old and doing the FIRM regularly you might find some good intermediate workouts in the KickButt series - I haven't tried them all. If you're looking for advanced strength-training or cardio (such as Cathe F's workouts, or such as FIRM Super Cardio Mix) I think you'll be disappointed.

I highly recommend ordering the retail 2-packs and trying them before making the investment. Amazon.ca and other retailers ship to Canada and you can get them affordably.

Also it appears that most if not all of the WHFN workouts will be going to retail so you could add to your collection if you like them.

JMHO...

Dawn P.

Thanks Dawn for your honesty. I have hesitated ordering because of the expense. (I'm Canadian so no free shipping and the conversion rate plus custom fees always makes purchases way more expensive for me so I have to make the right decision or I'll be kicking myself. I like your idea of ordering the 2 from Amazon. Since the above opinions have been mixed I should probably just purchase the two to start as you suggested and see how I like them. Thanks again!
P.S Thanks everyone for your input. I have read every post and take your opinions into consideration.

[kepi]

Val, I think it depends on what your goals are. If you're looking for mass building workouts, then Cathe and P90X would be better options. If you're looking to lean out, than AWT workouts would be good a options. I still lift as heavy as I possilby can. For AWT workouts, I average between 5-25 lb. dumbbells. For heavy strength workouts, I average between 8-35 lb. dumbbells and up to a bar loaded between 90-105 lbs.

I rotate between heavy strength training and AWT strength training, so these workouts are perfect for me. These are circuit style strength workouts that uses giant sets, so you're constantly moving. You work your non-dominate side first, do a short cardio burst, and then you work your dominate side. I think the sequencing is brilliant.

I also believe that what your body is used to will dictate how hard these workouts are. Even though I lift much heavier while doing Cathe or P90X, they are easier for me. AWT slays me every single time.

[Judy]

Aha! Thanks! It makes sense, as I'm quite familiar with that feeling!

[Bernie2]

Dawn: thanks for being so honest. I actually fell off the 8" portion of the FL doing Nancy's KC2 and broke my wrist so 3 months out of work and much soreness and PT and I am very nervous about getting on a high step. But heck, I still need to get some intensity into my workouts and so far it doesn't seem as though these workouts will do that. I bought the 12 pack. Not sure if FitPrime is going to work for me. Too bad because I really want something that doesn't threaten injury but still gets me working hard. Thanks.

[Maryann28]

I have only done Strong Bear so far, but I have previewed the others.

No I do not think they are the hardest workouts out there, but they are unique and inspiring. As Spring approaches and I start running 4 nights a week.. I am NOT going to want to beat myself up in the morning.

Also, I jump out of bed to do the FitPrimes -- as I do on Yoga and Pilates days. I would rather look forward to a workout and do it everyday then have that "dread" factor and skip workouts.

In Fat Burning Yoga (Crunch Fitness) Sarah Ivanhoe states that her workout is fun..because if it isnt fun then we wont do it and the only way to get results is to do it and do it and do it. I have my TaeBos, Original Firms and Cathe's on hand for when i want a muscle bending challenge... but I workout because I lreally like to. And FitPrime workouts provide me with a huge enjoyment factor.

On another note..when I started scheduling my workouts around the original batch of FitPrimes... I noticed a huge change.. I think my body leaned out..so many people have complimented me on my huge weight loss... I did lose some weight..but I dropped another size!

Maryann

[jens]

Val, I think it depends on what your goals are. If you're looking for mass building workouts, then Cathe and P90X would be better options. If you're looking to lean out, than AWT workouts would be good a options. I still lift as heavy as I possilby can. For AWT workouts, I average between 5-25 lb. dumbbells. For heavy strength workouts, I average between 8-35 lb. dumbbells and up to a bar loaded between 90-105 lbs.

I rotate between heavy strength training and AWT strength training, so these workouts are perfect for me. These are circuit style strength workouts that uses giant sets, so you're constantly moving. You work your non-dominate side first, do a short cardio burst, and then you work your dominate side. I think the sequencing is brilliant.

I also believe that what your body is used to will dictate how hard these workouts are. Even though I lift much heavier while doing Cathe or P90X, they are easier for me. AWT slays me every single time.
Hi
I was just wondering what does AWT stand for?
Thanks
Jenny

[jeanie]

Hi Jenny,

"AWT" is aerobic weight training. ;)

[jens]

Hi Jenny,

"AWT" is aerobic weight training. ;)


Gosh I wasn't thinking at all-thank-you.

[jeanie]

No problem Jenny!

A lady on another Board posted a question and then added "TIA". I responded to her question and called her "Tia". Little did I know that she was saying "Thanks In Advance".

:rolleyes:

[cylynne]

lol... for the longest time I kept seeing this "TIA" person making the rounds everywhere and I thought "boy, she gets AROUND!"... took me a while to figure out what it actually meant!

[Tarheels]

lol! You all are cute! :D

[jeanie]

Stacy honey, you don't know how happy I am to hear that you think the same way I do!

Jenn, we are an entertaining group, aren't we?http://www.whfn.com/board/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Bernie2]

Just to clarify, it's very, very hard for a woman to build mass. When I was lifting heavy weights at the gym, I was shrinking because not only was I getting hard but weight lifting actually helps burn the fat closest to the muscle and pulls the muscle closer to the bone. Not my theory, that comes from a couple of trainers I worked with. When I was squatting with 110 lbs. my butt was really tight - and it hurt most of the time.:eek:

[Firm Believer]

LOL and those trainers' expertise is in what discipline?

[Redeye]

I ignore most "theories" and find out what works best for ME, and then I work around that.



Carol, I do the same thing.

I've been working out for 17 years, and I've tried just about everything to put muscle mass on my bony frame. I know how to put fat tissue on, but I seem to be allergic to muscle tissue. :(

I've had the best results with AWT which surprises me. I thought 2 years of heavy weights, supplements, and a PT would do it, but it didn't.

[haleybop]

I'm curious, does anyone know who creates and choreographs the "new Firms"? http://www.whfn.com/board/images/smilies/confused.gif

thanks

[carolk]

The FIRM instructors who lead the workouts choreograph them. GT produces them.

[Bernie2]

Carol, I'm like you - I put muscle on easily. But despite that I've never been able to get much in the way of mass. I just get nice, tight, defined, shapely muscles. One trainer wanted me to be a competitive bodybuilder but I couldn't stand the diet. Who coud go without ice cream? :D I have one of those short, compact frames that gets most of her fat in the hips/thigh area which means when it comes to which sports I'm built for, if they ever add sitting on the sofa and eating bonbons...:rolleyes:

[Tarheels]

Who could go without ice cream? :D

I don't think I could ever live without ice cream either! :D I've given it up for six weeks though, and I'm almost halfway done. ;)

[Martha E]

I don't think I could ever live without ice cream either! :D I've given it up for six weeks though, and I'm almost halfway done. ;)

I could do without ice cream, but fie upon and woe unto anyone who attempts to deprive me of chocolate. :D

[Tarheels]

I could do without ice cream, but fie upon and woe unto anyone who attempts to deprive me of chocolate. :D

Ice cream is just slightly above chocolate on my list...but I've given up chocolate also. So I think my next ice cream will most definitely be chocolate. :p (My favorite!)

[NeonJungle]

You mean sitting on the sofa and eating is NOT an Olympic sport???

It is in *my* house! :D Especially on "Netflix" day, when we get three new DVDs in the mail! LOL! :p