TerryP wrote:serenity,
Do you have any particular favorite Firm DVD'S that are especially your favorites? I remember The Firm from years ago and always like them. I remember reading years ago they went to a lot of trouble to make a very good quality VHS. Is this still true but for DVD'S now? I think i'm going to invest is some of these. I'm also in my 50's.
Thanks!
Hi Terry,
I started with the first Body Sculpting System. Then I got Body Sculpting System 2, then BSS 3. (Plus I have a single cardio - calorie killer 2, I think.)
BSS - Of the 3 videos in this set, I use 2. The 3rd one is abs only, which doesn't interest me. The aerobic/toning one is great, especially if you are new. It gives instructions for beginners to stay with the 8" step. (A recommendation that I would continue with for a while. I am now using a 10" step. No way will I use the 14 until all excess weight is off.) The sculpting one is also pretty good, especially if you prefer to do lower body one day and upper another day. I don't - I do them all at once, so my lower half is exhausted by the time we get to upper.
BSS 2 - This is better than the first set and the best I've tried so far, except that it gives no warnings to beginners to use the lower step. I think it is because this is the one that introduces the sculpting stick and I guess they figure that helps. But if you want to protect your knees, I still say work up slowly. The aerobic / toning one is very good, although Emily moves too quickly and sometimes misses cues. The sculpting one mixes up the upper and lower, which I prefer. It seems to create more of a sweat and I last longer. The 3rd one is a maximum cardio, which I find very challenging.
BSS 3 - This is the one they introduced that didn't last long. They quickly brought out the Transfirmer. The bench on this one was a piece of junk and broke the second time I used it. Plus, the bench required too much space. One advantage of the fanny lifter is that it is very compact. Because I haven't used it much, I can't critique the tapes, but I didn't care for the set, clothing, or music much. However, I kept the tapes, because if I ever get the Transfirmer, I think I can use them with it. I'm sorry to say that I think The Firm got greedy and rushed this set to market.
Haven't tried the Transfirmer. 1) Space issues as noted above. 2) I'm not sure how easy it would be to modify height and intensity for my needs on it. When I win the lottery and get a bigger house, I will definitely give it a try.
Oh, I also got a Calorie Killer tape because I wanted some additional cardio tapes. This is pretty good if you can keep a straight face when Nancy jabs and punches. She has the wimpiest punch I've ever seen. But it's a good workout and only 30 minutes.
Years ago I bought some of the original mansion videos. They were too difficult for me at the time. I don't know what I did with them, but I'm thinking of trying a few of those. Some reviews I read indicated that they were more difficult than the systems currently on the market.
Bottom line: If you only buy one system, go with BSS 2.