TLT Strength In Movement

[Guest guest]

Wow! What a workout! This was my first time doing this one and it was tough! Jen Carmen (from The FIRM) leads this Tracie Long (also from The FIRM) Training video and although she's never been one of my favorites, I do think she leads good, tough workouts. Something about her bugs me and I'm not sure what it was but it doesn't interfere with my enjoyment of the workout. She reminds of Elaine from Seinfeld I think, but more smug. I can't say that I really "enjoyed" all of this workout though. I nearly turned it off midway through because she does very FIRM style cueing (cue the movement without explaining it or showing it first) for very unique, compound exercises that she adds on to often. I was constantly behind, trying to figure out what she was doing and got VERY frustrated. For some reason though, I wanted to stick with it anyway and by the end of each particular exercise I usually had at least the basics and most of the add-ons fairly well. I think it will go a lot better next time I do it.

This is a circuit workout. Jen has an advanced modifier and beginner modifier working out with her. It uses a medicine ball for the cardio and dumbbells for the strength. I have this on VHS without a sleeve for it and either she doesn't tell you on the tape what weights she's using or I missed that part but, from an amazon.com review on this I found out Jen uses a 4 lb. med ball and 3, 5 and 8 lb. dumbbells. I only have a 6 lb ball so that's what I was using for almost all the cardio and couldn't understand why even the warm-up seemed very strenuous (and too fast for a med ball), now I know. Even the advanced modifier was only using a 5 lb. ball. I'm sure that contributed to my frustration, I was getting too tired too fast! By the last cardio interval I'd decided the ball was too heavy and went to a 3 lb. dumbbell in my hand. For a lot of the cardio (all of it?) I can easily see using a dumbbell instead of a ball. Since I didn't know the weights she was using for strength, I started with 10s and found myself dropping to 7s for quite a few things later.

The cardio intervals are fun (and that's something for me to say). Athletic, not very complicated choreography. They'll be more fun next time with a lighter weight too I think! The strength moves were really different. TONS of balance moves. There was a whole interval built on one-legged squats and overhead presses. By "built on" I mean she added on to those basic moves with a lot of unique stuff that I can't remember right now. It was very challenging. There was a great shoulder/rotator cuff set of exercises too, again, very unique stuff, I loved it even though I was having a hard time remembering the very simple sequence of moves. I was following Jen and the advanced modifier through the workout (I don't think Jen was doing anything too differently from the advanced woman but I'm not sure). The only section I really didn't like was the very short abs work. You do this strange variation on bicycles rolling the medicine ball with one foot. I was so focused on trying to move the ball and coordinate all the rest of my limbs, all without letting the ball roll away either, that I didn't feel anything in my abs. Looking back, I don't see how the ball actually helps in any case so I think I'll just do regular bicycles next time.

Despite the lame abs, I will definitely do this again, it was a teriffic cardio, strength and balance challenge with lots of functional exercises. More for my brain than I usually like but I think it will be fine after 1 or 2 more times through.

[Guest guest]

Those TLTs are excellent workouts! I really like that one. Nice review!On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 7:33 PM, <nancydewolf@...> wrote:

Wow! What a workout! This was my first time doing this one and it was tough! Jen Carmen (from The FIRM) leads this Tracie Long (also from The FIRM) Training video and although she's never been one of my favorites, I do think she leads good, tough workouts. Something about her bugs me and I'm not sure what it was but it doesn't interfere with my enjoyment of the workout. She reminds of Elaine from Seinfeld I think, but more smug. I can't say that I really " enjoyed " all of this workout though. I nearly turned it off midway through because she does very FIRM style cueing (cue the movement without explaining it or showing it first) for very unique, compound exercises that she adds on to often. I was constantly behind, trying to figure out what she was doing and got VERY frustrated. For some reason though, I wanted to stick with it anyway and by the end of each particular exercise I usually had at least the basics and most of the add-ons fairly well. I think it will go a lot better next time I do it.

 

This is a circuit workout. Jen has an advanced modifier and beginner modifier working out with her. It uses a medicine ball for the cardio and dumbbells for the strength. I have this on VHS without a sleeve for it and either she doesn't tell you on the tape what weights she's using or I missed that part but, from an amazon.com review on this I found out Jen uses a 4 lb. med ball and 3, 5 and 8 lb. dumbbells. I only have a 6 lb ball so that's what I was using for almost all the cardio and couldn't understand why even the warm-up seemed very strenuous (and too fast for a med ball), now I know. Even the advanced modifier was only using a 5 lb. ball. I'm sure that contributed to my frustration, I was getting too tired too fast! By the last cardio interval I'd decided the ball was too heavy and went to a 3 lb. dumbbell in my hand. For a lot of the cardio (all of it?) I can easily see using a dumbbell instead of a ball. Since I didn't know the weights she was using for strength, I started with 10s and found myself dropping to 7s for quite a few things later.

 

The cardio intervals are fun (and that's something for me to say). Athletic, not very complicated choreography. They'll be more fun next time with a lighter weight too I think! The strength moves were really different. TONS of balance moves. There was a whole interval built on one-legged squats and overhead presses. By " built on " I mean she added on to those basic moves with a lot of unique stuff that I can't remember right now. It was very challenging. There was a great shoulder/rotator cuff set of exercises too, again, very unique stuff, I loved it even though I was having a hard time remembering the very simple sequence of moves. I was following Jen and the advanced modifier through the workout (I don't think Jen was doing anything too differently from the advanced woman but I'm not sure). The only section I really didn't like was the very short abs work. You do this strange variation on bicycles rolling the medicine ball with one foot. I was so focused on trying to move the ball and coordinate all the rest of my limbs, all without letting the ball roll away either, that I didn't feel anything in my abs. Looking back, I don't see how the ball actually helps in any case so I think I'll just do regular bicycles next time.

 

Despite the lame abs, I will definitely do this again, it was a teriffic cardio, strength and balance challenge with lots of functional exercises. More for my brain than I usually like but I think it will be fine after 1 or 2 more times through.

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks, ! This was my first time doing a TLT workout, I have one more to try, Endurance for Movement, then I might have to actually start purchasing more of these!

Re: TLT Strength In Movement

Those TLTs are excellent workouts! I really like that one. Nice review!

On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 7:33 PM, <nancydewolfsbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote:

Wow! What a workout! This was my first time doing this one and it was tough! Jen Carmen (from The FIRM) leads this Tracie Long (also from The FIRM) Training video and although she's never been one of my favorites, I do think she leads good, tough workouts. Something about her bugs me and I'm not sure what it was but it doesn't interfere with my enjoyment of the workout. She reminds of Elaine from Seinfeld I think, but more smug. I can't say that I really "enjoyed" all of this workout though. I nearly turned it off midway through because she does very FIRM style cueing (cue the movement without explaining it or showing it first) for very unique, compound exercises that she adds on to often. I was constantly behind, trying to figure out what she was doing and got VERY frustrated. For some reason though, I wanted to stick with it anyway and by the end of each particular exercise I usually had at least the basics and most of the add-ons fairly well. I think it will go a lot better next time I do it.

This is a circuit workout. Jen has an advanced modifier and beginner modifier working out with her. It uses a medicine ball for the cardio and dumbbells for the strength. I have this on VHS without a sleeve for it and either she doesn't tell you on the tape what weights she's using or I missed that part but, from an amazon.com review on this I found out Jen uses a 4 lb. med ball and 3, 5 and 8 lb. dumbbells. I only have a 6 lb ball so that's what I was using for almost all the cardio and couldn't understand why even the warm-up seemed very strenuous (and too fast for a med ball), now I know. Even the advanced modifier was only using a 5 lb. ball. I'm sure that contributed to my frustration, I was getting too tired too fast! By the last cardio interval I'd decided the ball was too heavy and went to a 3 lb. dumbbell in my hand. For a lot of the cardio (all of it?) I can easily see using a dumbbell instead of a ball. Since I didn't know the weights she was using for strength, I started with 10s and found myself dropping to 7s for quite a few things later.

The cardio intervals are fun (and that's something for me to say). Athletic, not very complicated choreography. They'll be more fun next time with a lighter weight too I think! The strength moves were really different. TONS of balance moves. There was a whole interval built on one-legged squats and overhead presses. By "built on" I mean she added on to those basic moves with a lot of unique stuff that I can't remember right now. It was very challenging. There was a great shoulder/rotator cuff set of exercises too, again, very unique stuff, I loved it even though I was having a hard time remembering the very simple sequence of moves. I was following Jen and the advanced modifier through the workout (I don't think Jen was doing anything too differently from the advanced woman but I'm not sure). The only section I really didn't like was the very short abs work. You do this strange variation on bicycles rolling the medicine ball with one foot. I was so focused on trying to move the ball and coordinate all the rest of my limbs, all without letting the ball roll away either, that I didn't feel anything in my abs. Looking back, I don't see how the ball actually helps in any case so I think I'll just do regular bicycles next time.

Despite the lame abs, I will definitely do this again, it was a teriffic cardio, strength and balance challenge with lots of functional exercises. More for my brain than I usually like but I think it will be fine after 1 or 2 more times through.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, ! This was my first time doing a TLT workout, I have one more to try, Endurance for Movement, then I might have to actually start purchasing more of these!

Re: TLT Strength In Movement

Those TLTs are excellent workouts! I really like that one. Nice review!

On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 7:33 PM, <nancydewolfsbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote:

Wow! What a workout! This was my first time doing this one and it was tough! Jen Carmen (from The FIRM) leads this Tracie Long (also from The FIRM) Training video and although she's never been one of my favorites, I do think she leads good, tough workouts. Something about her bugs me and I'm not sure what it was but it doesn't interfere with my enjoyment of the workout. She reminds of Elaine from Seinfeld I think, but more smug. I can't say that I really "enjoyed" all of this workout though. I nearly turned it off midway through because she does very FIRM style cueing (cue the movement without explaining it or showing it first) for very unique, compound exercises that she adds on to often. I was constantly behind, trying to figure out what she was doing and got VERY frustrated. For some reason though, I wanted to stick with it anyway and by the end of each particular exercise I usually had at least the basics and most of the add-ons fairly well. I think it will go a lot better next time I do it.

This is a circuit workout. Jen has an advanced modifier and beginner modifier working out with her. It uses a medicine ball for the cardio and dumbbells for the strength. I have this on VHS without a sleeve for it and either she doesn't tell you on the tape what weights she's using or I missed that part but, from an amazon.com review on this I found out Jen uses a 4 lb. med ball and 3, 5 and 8 lb. dumbbells. I only have a 6 lb ball so that's what I was using for almost all the cardio and couldn't understand why even the warm-up seemed very strenuous (and too fast for a med ball), now I know. Even the advanced modifier was only using a 5 lb. ball. I'm sure that contributed to my frustration, I was getting too tired too fast! By the last cardio interval I'd decided the ball was too heavy and went to a 3 lb. dumbbell in my hand. For a lot of the cardio (all of it?) I can easily see using a dumbbell instead of a ball. Since I didn't know the weights she was using for strength, I started with 10s and found myself dropping to 7s for quite a few things later.

The cardio intervals are fun (and that's something for me to say). Athletic, not very complicated choreography. They'll be more fun next time with a lighter weight too I think! The strength moves were really different. TONS of balance moves. There was a whole interval built on one-legged squats and overhead presses. By "built on" I mean she added on to those basic moves with a lot of unique stuff that I can't remember right now. It was very challenging. There was a great shoulder/rotator cuff set of exercises too, again, very unique stuff, I loved it even though I was having a hard time remembering the very simple sequence of moves. I was following Jen and the advanced modifier through the workout (I don't think Jen was doing anything too differently from the advanced woman but I'm not sure). The only section I really didn't like was the very short abs work. You do this strange variation on bicycles rolling the medicine ball with one foot. I was so focused on trying to move the ball and coordinate all the rest of my limbs, all without letting the ball roll away either, that I didn't feel anything in my abs. Looking back, I don't see how the ball actually helps in any case so I think I'll just do regular bicycles next time.

Despite the lame abs, I will definitely do this again, it was a teriffic cardio, strength and balance challenge with lots of functional exercises. More for my brain than I usually like but I think it will be fine after 1 or 2 more times through.