THE FIRM

I love The Firm! I do it on days when I want a change from the gym.
I got my first Firm tape way back in 1989!

Hi Christine!

I have a few Firm tapes that KILL my quads and glutes. So whenever I feel like my quads and glutes are lagging, I do one of those Firm tapes (the ones where you do weighted step-ups on the stool are the best).
It's a great aerobic workout too, and almost every tape has a great abs section.

I just bought 2 of them on ebay. Im going to start tonight - the cover says you see visible results in 10 workouts, I hope thats true!

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Posted by conigs25

I used it a few yrs ago to keep at FI's apt when i couldnt go to the gym. I thoughtit was too easy though

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Yeah...right.

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Posted by JennJay

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Posted by conigs25

I used it a few yrs ago to keep at FI's apt when i couldnt go to the gym. I thoughtit was too easy though

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Yeah...right.

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It depends on your fitness level, and how you train.
I did these in college. Isn't it one of those high reps, low weight videos?

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Posted by JennJay

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Posted by conigs25

I used it a few yrs ago to keep at FI's apt when i couldnt go to the gym. I thoughtit was too easy though

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Yeah...right.

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I didnt say that to be 'tough'. Ive been working out a long time and i thought the exercises were too light. I was lookinig for something else. I didnt like the low weights they used etc.
If you like the workout you got, thats what matters. Dont compare yourself to other people. Youll never succeed in working out/exercise if you do that

GOOD LUCK with your goals

I did one of THE FIRM tapes last night, its an old one so the music and background is really outdated and kinda boring, but the workout was ok. I dont really like weights so this tape combined weights and low impact aerobics so I think I can stick w/ it.

I honestly also didnt think it was too hard at all. I expected to be very sore today since I dont do weights often and am not at all. I think I'll still do these tapes though along w/ TaeBo.

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Posted by Snowboardgirl

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Posted by JennJay

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Posted by conigs25

I used it a few yrs ago to keep at FI's apt when i couldnt go to the gym. I thoughtit was too easy though

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Yeah...right.

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It depends on your fitness level, and how you train.
I did these in college. Isn't it one of those high reps, low weight videos?

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the one I did alternates between 3-8lbs through out the workout...about 12reps of each move I think.

For those of you who did The Firm and thought it was too easy, you should be using heavier weights!!!! I've been working out (mainly at the gym) for YEARS and everytime I do The Firm, it's hard because I use the heaviest dumbbells I can handle (up to 15 lbs) and also the barbell.

There are a couple of The Firm videos that are shorter and easier, but still, you can use heavier weights...

They don't demonstrate efficient training techniques. The weights are too light and the reps are too high, in my opinion.
You will only get so far with them. To me they are a waste of time and money.
Maybe the cardio ones might be ok, if you are stranded in the house.

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Posted by Snowboardgirl

They don't demonstrate efficient training techniques. The weights are too light and the reps are too high, in my opinion.
You will only get so far with them. To me they are a waste of time and money.
Maybe the cardio ones might be ok, if you are stranded in the house.

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Quite the opposite - they're VERY efficient in that they provide both aerobic AND muscle resistance training at the same time. Try one of the original 6 videos, which are an hour long and you'll see.
There's nothing wrong with doing light weights and high reps, as long as you're fatiguing the muscle, and if you use heavy enough dumbbells when doing The Firm, you WILL get your muscles fatigued. If not, then you're in pretty damn good shape! And yes Christine, you're right, doing workout videos will only get you so far.....
Now again, like I said, some of The Firm tapes are easier than others and meant for beginners. I mistakenly bought one of them and rarely use it....

Now, if you think The Firm is outdated, try Cathe Friedrich....her tapes make The Firm look easy!

Anniegrl - which tape do you recommend to get a really good sculpting session? Im looking for a tape that will help me get a good weight training session.

I thought if I found a good tape I could save myself the money on hiring a personal trainer.

ETA : Also if I use really heavy weights, wont I bulk up? Im def not looking to get muscular at all, only toned. And Im already big boned esp on my arms, so I want to be extra careful.

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Posted by Soon2BMrsA

Anniegrl - which tape do you recommend to get a really good sculpting session? Im looking for a tape that will help me get a good weight training session.

I thought if I found a good tape I could save myself the money on hiring a personal trainer.

ETA : Also if I use really heavy weights, wont I bulk up? Im def not looking to get muscular at all, only toned. And Im already big boned esp on my arms, so I want to be extra careful.

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My favorites are The Firm ( ) and Cathe Friedrich. Cathe is more serious than The Firm (meaning, she's a real trainer and The Firm instructors are more like, I don't know, aerobics class teachers?). Go to Cathe's website, www.cathe.com and you'll see all her videos there. There's a forum section that's really helpful in deciding which video is best for you (ladies who have used the videos will post reviews and recommendations).
I can tell you which ones I have, but I'm built totally different from you, from what it sounds like. I'm a hard gainer.
Also, do you have the FitTV channel? Cathe has a workout show on there.

If you're afraid of getting bulky (which you shouldn't be), then lighter weights/higher reps are for you. Like I said above though, make sure you're using a heavy enough weight to fatigue your muscles so that you can barely do another rep at the end of your set. You don't have to worry about getting bulky unless you train pretty hard, use pretty heavy weights on a regular basis, and eat a super clean diet, and also have the genetics to build larger muscles.
Make sure you're doing enough aerobics to burn off the fat and are eating properly too, otherwise you'll be building muscle under the layer of fat which could make you look bulky when you're really not.

Hi Ann! how are you?
yes, heavy weights and less reps DO NOT make you bulky!!! I lift heavy, but I only get a bulkier look when my diet slaks off.

Fat over muscle makes you look bulky.
Fat over litttle tiny mscles make you look soft.

no matter what, if you want your muscles to show, and I am assuming you want them to, you need to have a strict diet.

If you go with heavier weights, you will get where you want to be faster, and more efficiently. It is good to do both lighter weights and more reps (max 10-12 reps) and heavy weight , less reps (on different days , of course) to work your muscles differently on a regular basis.

but just doing ligher weight is a waste of time, in my opinion.

this is all assuming you do not want the emaciated shapeless look! It all depends on your goals, as well.

Thanks Snowboard girl and Anniegrl for your advice and recs.

I just ordered a 'Maxium Intensity Strength' workout tape from cache.com. It sounds like it will be more challenging than THE FIRM. I do Advanced Taebo 3-4/week and when its warm out plan to start running, so the cardio I have covered, its the strength training I needed help with.

I think Im weird cuz I HATE doing weights, I rather do 2 hours of cardio than do 30 mins of weights..most pple are the exact opposite. But I know I need to step it up to get rid of these lbs!

I'm pretty sure I have that Cathe tape. It's hard! But that's why it's so good. Cathe uses even heavier weights than The Firm. And you'll see that she's STRONG but she's not bulky.

Hi Christine!