Maximum Body Shaping (aka Maximum Body Sculpting, Aka All-weights)

Tracie Long

Categories: Total Body Workouts


This workout has been broken down very well, so I won’t go into a lot of details. This is a total body (mostly) strength training workout led by Tracie Long, in the old school Firm mansion set.

What I Liked
• There aren’t as many reps and sets in this, so I can go comparatively heavy during the workout. The pace isn’t too quick either (not too many quick reps), so I can go heavy
• I can easily transition between sets. While the pace isn’t as deliberate as Firm Cardio or Firm Strength, it isn’t as quick as Super Sculpting, so I can transition my weights between exercises without rewinding.
• There’s only one leg press section per leg and you “pause” like every 4 counts, so it doesn’t feel endless. There’s also an unweighted leg press section. Not sure why that was added in there.
• There’s a bit of cardio with plyo jumps, a bit of kick boxing, and marching. Simple stuff, but a nice break from strength and it does raise up the heart rate, unlike the cardio in Firm and Strength
• I feel worked out, not wiped out! This could be due to the weights I used, but I also think that the pacing and sequencing of exercises had a lot to do with it.
• There was some actual isolated chest work with the pec flyes!
• Tracie demonstrated what not to do, and cued well. Always reminded you to breathe.

What I Didn’t Like So Much
• I wish the dvd had more sumo squats (or just general inner thigh work), calf raises, and deadlifts. You have to work the inner and back leg muscles just as much as the front.
• The music. I usually like the “sounds like I stepped onto the set of Designing Women” music, but this sounded more like “I stepped onto the set of a bad spy movie”. I can’t describe it, but didn’t love it.
• I feel like the workout had no personality, unlike other Firm workouts.
• Bridge work was way too short!

What You May Want to Watch Out For
• There are the typical Firm dips, lunges, and tall box climbs. Be prepared to adjust.

All in all, this wasn’t a bad workout, and it was decent for a 45 minute total body workout, just not one I’ll reach for often unless it’s just called for in a rotation. I like my workouts with more fun and personality, and this just didn't have it. I hope I warm up to it, as I really adore Tracie Long as an instructor.

Instructor Comments:
Tracie is professional, warm, and lovely! Greatest set of legs I've seen in awhile. Very strong looking calves. Bet she could kick a door open. Tracie gives great form pointers, and I love that she also demonstrates what not to do.

bubbles76

02/06/2015