Cheap Kathy Smith's Personal Trainer (DVD) (Kathy Smith) Price

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Customer Reviews of Kathy Smith's Personal Trainer

It's not Ben Hur, just a workout DVD
Over the past year and a half, I have been a quirky sort of workout junkie. It was only a matter of time before Kathy Smith and I crossed paths, so to speak. *G* I admit to being somewhat disappointed by this DVD at first. I was sort of expecting something like you can find in Sharon Mann's "The Works" series. I had also read that Smith is a great fitness trainer with some challenging workouts. The cardio section, which has a lot of dance/hilo moves, was not very long (30 or so minutes, I think) and not challenging for me, but that is because I've done too much tae bo and boot camp workouts. I think it might be alright if you have been out of the loop for a while. The yoga section was okay, but again it's like the cardio section... It will do the job if you've been out of that loop for a while and it is only 30 minutes long. That leaves me with the body sculpting section. Now THAT part did make it worth my money! *G* I had a set of free weights that had gone unused for too long, and Smith made them feel happy and needed again. The body sculpting section for the upper body is 20 minutes and for the lower body is only 10 minutes, but that one IS more than what I can handle right now and I am already feeling and seeing results. These exercises are good if you have been out of the loop a while and/or if you are pressured for time and need a quick workout just to keep it all toned for the other, bigger routines. I also will add that Smith has a very high-pitched voice and her style very cheerleaderish which does annoy me from time to time depending on my mood. I'd rather not try to smile while I am doing my pushups. But I understand about the positive attitude and all. I just do that part different, focusing on the inside towards my heart. It works better for me that way.

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Good workout, good variety
There seems to be a wide range of opinions on this one, but I've been very happy with this video for the most part. I rented it and I have done it a few times now and am about to buy it. Yes, it's true that during the cardio segment there are a lot of whoops and cheers going on which is definitely a bit much, but I've gotten over it. It also involves fairly complicated steps that frustrated me the first time, but already on the third go, I've gotten it down, and now I'm enjoying it. I do agree with someone else who said that the video would be even better if she had at least included one or two other cardio workouts on here. I like different sections offered, though, and that's what makes this DVD worth buying. You can do cardio one day, arm strenghtening another day, legs another day, yoga, etc. The strength training for upper and lower body are definitely strenuous and you can really feel it working (man, was I sore the day after my first time doing the arms!). Be aware that you need free weights for the arm portion - they recommend three different pairs of varying weights, but two would probably do. I use three pairs of 3, 5, & 8 pounds each. I actually had to work up to doing the entire leg portion because, as short as it is, I couldn't finish it all the first time. That's good, though. I don't want a video to be a piece of cake the first time. I want something to work up to. I haven't tried the yoga yet, but everyting else is definitely recommended if you're not a total beginner (it would probably be too tough for someone new to workout videos). I actually don't think Kathy Smith is that annoying as someone else has suggested here. She's encouraging and upbeat, but it's not as if she has that girly, feel-good demeanor that Denise Austin has. (I actually like Denise Austin anyway--her little comments provide some comic relief, even if that's not how she intends it), but I think I prefer Kathy Smith's style because she seems more truly athletic and less girly than Austin, she doesn't blab so much about random things, and I think she gives a bit more info about the proper form of the moves, etc. I recommend this video as well as Kathy Smith's Kickboxing DVD and her Functionally Fit Fat Burner. Those are both great cardio workouts (in fact, based on the cardio section alone, they are better), but this one includes more (with the strength training and yoga, etc) so it's worth having. I'm getting all three to keep things interesting...

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I always keep going back to this one.
I've tried numerous workout videos, but I always seem to come back to this one. I really like this video because I don't get bored with it. Since there are different workouts, you can mix and match what you do from day to day to break the monotany. And, Kathy is really easy to follow. She explains the steps so that you know you are doing them right. And she lets you know in advance when to change moves. With other workout videos, I find myself doing the moves fast trying to keep up, and although I get a workout, it's mainly just me trying to quickly do the moves, but I don't think the moves are benefiting me the way they should. But I don't feel that way with this video. I like the cardio segment, although I could see how you could grow out if it as you get more advanced. But the weights segment even gives my boyfriend a good workout. Lastly, the abs segment, although short, is the most effective ab workout I've ever done, as long as you are doing it right. And actually, whether I decide to go jogging, or do another workout video, I always pop this DVD in to do the cool down stretching, because it really works the right muscles after a good workout. Yeah, she may be a little "cheerleader-ish" from time to time, but I'd rather hear that than listen to the robots from The Firm.