| Customer Reviews (or write your own review) |
Endurance for Movement |
 My Own Personal Trainer. |
| The TLT is really a great set of DVDs, and this one is arguably the best, though they work best in conjunction with one another. It's really like having one of those expensive personal trainers in your home. The moves are great. There's a heavy emphasis on integrated movements, which is what the human body is designed to do (you've heard of repetitive stress disorder?), core movements and keeping cardio regular so your heart rate is up in the toning.
I think the video is really well cued. I am not a fitness expert, and so, if there is a new move, I wouldn't be able to identify it and proceed with poor instruction.
I particularly like that for compound moves, she starts with just a squat or a lunge, then adds arms movements, then adds a releve movement, etc. She also does two-count movements to get the form right before moving to tempo on a number of movements.
All-in-all, I think it was really well cued, and I was able to get the most out of it. I broke a good sweat and was sore the next morning. The only thing that wasn't sore was my knees! Good cueing and low impact movements were a big relief for me! - posted by Liz on 4/6/2009 |
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| This is the workout that finally flattened my stomach! |
| The first time I tried this video, I was confused. Halfway into the video we were sliding our feet using rags holding up our body with our core. I just couldn't get it. I put the video away for a few weeks and tried it again. With a little more practice this section and all the others began to make sense, and I began to see a real difference in my own fitness levels. All of the TLT videos have a tremendous focus on the core, and after many years with the Firm, which never seemed to flatten my stomach, the TLT videos (particularly this one), finally helped me achieve my goals. I cannot say enough good things about these videos. They are challenging but worth it! I hope she comes out with a new series too. - posted by Amy on 1/18/2009 |
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| VERY GOOD WORKOUT |
| Tracie has done it again with innovative workout. This is an excellent workout with functional training moves. As it was my first time doing the dvd, it took me longer than the 60 minutes to finish so this will be a weekend-only workout for several weeks. As with her "Better Burn, Better Buns" dvd, Tracie's cuing is on-the-go. This is a bit frustrating because in most cases she's doing the moves as she cues, but with time I'll master this workout. This is a dvd I'll grow into in time. Don't expect to be perfect the first several times you try this. It is not chaptered, which is disappointing because I'd like to take extra time to work on some moves. All in all, this is a new favorite and I hope she'll put out more dvds. - posted by SMT on 9/7/2008 |
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| Excellent. Like working out with a personal trainer |
| Of the three Tracie Long Trainig DVDs that I own (the two others being Strength in Movement and Better Burn, Better Buns), THIS workout made me feel as though I were working out with a personal trainer (which I did as recently as a month ago). Weights (2 to three pounds) are used from move one. The cardio segments are well integrated with the weight moves. It's a rigorous/challenging yet doable workout. I had no problem modifing the stability ball moves and those using the rag. Felt exhilarated and well worked out at the end. Definitely one to do at least once a week.
Excellent! - posted by Joy on 8/9/2008 |
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| Great workout |
| This is one of the best workouts I own, IMO. I like how the same muscle groups are worked in different ways during a set -- i.e. the one leg squat/good morning followed by the power one-legged jump. The cardio moves are basic (which I like!) and get your heart rate up. The strength moves are new and innovative, good to challenge those muscles in new ways. As for the ball segments being potentially dangerous for a beginner -- this is a moot point, as this is not a beginner workout. Some of the cuing isn't the best, but the moves are not hard to learn, so once you go through it a few times it shouldn't be a problem. - posted by Jess on 1/19/2008 |
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| Tough, but worth it |
| If you're looking for an easy workout, don't buy this. But if you want a true challenge that will improve core strength, provide a functional, total body workout with a focus on good form, this workout is right for you. I use this one, along with TLT Better Burn and Buns, TLT Strength in Movement and some Cathe Friedrich to supplement running and pre-Transfirmer Firm weight workouts. The key is to use lighter weights, focus on technique and modify (lighter weights, smaller ROM) where needed. Since adding the TLT series to my rotation, my core strength and posture have improved significantly. And, after more than a year of doing these, I'm still not bored with any of them. They do require a lot of focus, but that's what makes them so effective. Tracie does a great job of prompting to encourage good form, which really targets the correct muscles. Do this workout 10 times and I think it will become one of your favorites. - posted by Beth on 12/9/2007 |
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 Frustrating is Right |
| I have been doing the Firm for almost 17 years now starting with Susan Harris' Volume 1 (the best workout tape every made in my opinion!!), so I consider myself to be in pretty decent shape. Well, I did the Endurance last night and I definitely feel it today especially in my hamstring area. I also have soreness in my lower back which I never had before. All in all, Tracie had some excellent, tough and innovative moves, but I'm not sure if I would do this workout again. I agree with everyone in this site who mentioned that Tracie's cuing is nonexistant or just "off" and the camera angle from the side makes it difficult to figure the proper way to do some of the moves. The sequences in each set seems to not flow very well and felt awkward, clumsy and just slapped together. The workout on the ball was tricky and potentially dangerous for those who are a beginner or older exercisers. I thought the workout with rags looked a bit silly, like Tracie was polishing the floor with her feet but man, did I feel it in my stomach! All in all, I give her A for effort and creativity but a C for the overall dvd. PS: why does Tracie keep referring to the abs as "guts"! - posted by FIRMFAN on 11/30/2007 |
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| I'm sorry |
| I exercise about 90 minutes daily. I am in pretty good shape and utilize videos for about 75 percent of my workouts because I like how they push me to work harder than I would on my own. I absolutely hate this video. I could not for the life of me follow it. There is no cuing for which arm or leg to lead with, and the person performing the modifications is regularly off-screen and there is no explanation as to what the modification for the exercise is or how to perform it. I guess if you are in perfect condition and can read Tracie's mind, you will be fine. This is a very disappointing video. I tried it 4 times and could not get past the first 15 minutes without being completely frustrated. I think it has great potential if it was more user friendly. - posted by stella on 9/7/2007 |
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| Functional Training Rocks! |
| Tracie brings Functional Training to your living room!!!First of all I must say that the first and foremost principle in Functional Training is "Never use the weights you normally use in your regular workouts - use lighter weights". The reason for this is mainly because Functional Training not only works smaller muscle groups (e.g. stabilizers) but also works them in a wider range of motion. Tracie's Functional Fitness series is definitely not a collection on which to exercise exclusively - you should incorporate them in your regular rotation. Just forget what you have been doing up to now... following the videos almost mechanically, you should concentrate on the movements and the actual muscles you should be using. In my opinion, these 4 workouts challenge your mind as well as your core. If done improperly, you definitely will not get the workout you need (e.g. doing functional squats differ greatly from regular squats - you lean a bit forward so you engage your gluteus muscles.. if you feel it in your quads you are doing it wrong...) Just give them the benefit of the doubt and do them 3 or 4 times before deciding if they suit you or not. Functional Traing by definition is not a training method to be judged after the first 55 or so minutes - give it time. - posted by on 6/28/2007 |
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| Excellent |
| This workout is different, fun, challenging, and effective. I find that the more I do it, the more difficult it becomes, presumably because I am using better form and am more aware of exactly which muscles to focus on. Tracie, Susan and Jen are all terrific instructors. The background exercisers are very good, too. I particularly enjoy watching Cindy Thorp, because she reminds me of the bionic woman. I wonder if an exercise exists that is difficult for her... she seems to be sailing right through everything, not even breaking a sweat. Amazing and inspirational. - posted by Katie on 4/27/2007 |
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