The FIRM Cross Trainers (Pair 2) - Review


Back in the 90s, The FIRM put out several pairs of Cross Training videos. One of these pairs included the workouts FIRM Strength (previously titled StrongBody ) and FIRM Cardio (previously titled StrongHeart).
I don't know why the name change because the previous title made more since to me.
According to FIRM literature: "The FIRM Cross-Trainers series offers workouts in pairs that cross-train with one another - a proven technique for boosting results and breaking through a training plateau."
FIRM Strength is approximately a 58 minute workout led by Pam Cauthen. It is a total body workout that features mostly sculpting with some aerobic combinations thrown.
The back cover breaks down the workout at follows:
warm up - 6 minutes
aerobics - 10 minutes
body building - 32 minutes
abdominal/inner thigh - 8 minutes
final stretch - 3 minutes
This is one of my favorite FIRM total body workout. It is no nonsense and classic FIRM. Pam is very easy to follow and the workout itself flows very well.
The only thing I did not like about the the workout was when she did the "T-Bar Rows". That is because the T-Bar has to be loaded heavy on one end and at no time in the workout was this done or I should say it was done off camera. Also the move is performed using a towel to pull the bar towards you. Anytime I get to this section of the workout, I substitute with some other type of row.
FIRM Cardio is lead by Heidi Tanner. It is a total body workout and is also approximately 58 minutes in length. It is predominately sculpting with some cardio breaks interspersed throughout the workout.
The breakdown for FIRM Cardio (according to the back cover) is:
warm up - 4 minutes
aerobics - 9 minutes
body building - 24 minutes
abdominal floor work - 15 minutes
final stretch - 4 minutes
Another one of my favorite FIRM workouts and there is nothing that I can say I didn't like about this one. Just all around great workout and Heidi is excellent as a lead.
Both workouts features the short box step (for aerobics) and tall box step (for leg presses or to use as a prop). Barbell, dumbbells, ankle weights and a towel are other equipment that was used as well.
Also, both workouts are taught in the live class format (instructor facing class). In the workouts, all exercises are set to the tempo of the music. Sometimes the tempo is fast and sometimes it is slow, just depends on the exercise.
These two are definitely my favorite of the FIRM Cross Trainer (series of) workouts.
FIRM Cardio - 4.5 stars
FIRM Strength - 4.5 stars

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 27, 2011 at 5:50 PM

    I really LOVE these workouts and both Heidi and Pam are excellent instructors. I can't do these on consective days because it makes me too sore. I have to do an aerobic workout in between, which will usually be one of The FIRM cardio focused workouts. One of my favorite FIRM cross trainers set is Super Sculpting and Super Cardio. I like them even better (as a set) because the cardio workout is TRUE cardio unlike FIRM Cardio. While an excellent workout, I just don't see why they call it "FIRM Cardio" I personally use it on strength days. It does keep my heart rate up though and I agree "Strong Heart" made more sense as a title.

    ReplyDelete
  2. SaundraOctober 27, 2011 at 7:36 PM

    I never understood the name change for these two workouts.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Pro-Form 600 LT Treadmill - Thoughts

Image
The Pro-Form 600 LT Treadmill is HSN and Pro-Form 2011 model treadmill. Each year HSN brings out a new Pro-Form model to sale. On the HSN website the treadmill is called Pro-Form Step Up Personal Trainer Treadmill. The price of this treadmill is $699.95 and the Shipping & Handling is free. I have had this treadmill since May. Assembly is required. It took me and another about an hour, maybe a little less to put it together. The instructions are fairly detail and everything went together as it should. I had the 2007 model of this treadmill, but I like the advertised upgrades so much I decided to get this one. Pre-Program Work outs The 2011 model comes with 16 Pre-program workouts. Of the 16, 4 are distance, 5 are timed, and 7 are calorie burned workouts. The distance workouts are 1 mile, 5K, 10K, and 1/2 Marathon. The time workouts are 20 min, 25 min, 30 min, 45 min The calorie workouts that are broken down by time are 20 min, 25 min, 30 min, 40 min, 45 min, and two 60 min
Read more

21 Day Fix Disc 1 - Review

Image
Disc 1 of the 21 Day Fix Workout System features the following workouts: Total Body Cardio Fix Upper Fix Lower Fix Pilates Fix 10 Minute Fix For Abs Overall, all workouts follow a similar pattern which is a series of rounds containing two exercises each and you repeat the round before moving on.You perform each exercise for roughly a minute and you get a 15 to 20 second rest between the exercises. Also, like most Beachbody systems, each workout contains the countdown timer in the lower right corner.  These workouts also contain subtitles that tell you which exercises you are doing and it tells you for how long and/or how many reps.  Love this feature. Total Body Cardio Fix , Upper Fix , and Lower Fix contain the same warm up moves and cool down moves.  Roughly the warm up and cool down runs around 3 minutes per workout.  Also all three of these workout use weights.  Pilates Fix is made up of a series of exercises as oppose to rounds.  Depending on the exercise you will
Read more

Tony Horton P90X Legs & Back - Review

Image
This is my second week of P90X workouts and it starts with disc 5, Legs & Back . There are 22 exercises.  For every two leg exercises, there is one back exercise. So the pattern is - do two legs and then 1 back exercise. There are a variety of legs exercises but all the back exercises are pull up/chin up exercises. There is a cardio warm up followed by a stretch.  Then you move into the 22 exercises, each of which has a time associated with it. Sometimes you are doing as many reps as you can and at other times, Tony gives you an exact rep number he wants you to perform.  A stretch cool down concludes the workout. While I was sore after this workout and felt the challenge, I really didn't care for a lot of the exercises in this workout. The workout clocks in at around 59 minutes. Equipment used:  pull up bar,  bands, weights. 2 & 3/4 stars
Read more