The Firm: Ultimate Calorie Blaster (BSS4)

Stephanie Huckabee
Year Released: 2005

Categories: Floor Aerobics/Hi-Lo/Dance


The Firm's Transfirmer series Ultimate Calorie Blaster features Stephanie Huckabee leading, dressed in black and looking thin, but I did glimpse some muscles there. The other instructors featured in this workout are Allie, Allison (who shows beginner and low impact variations throughout), Annie, and Pam. They all look quite thin but not gaunt. Allie looks great! They're dressed in black and red, and there is none of that silly mugging for the camera that drove me nuts in the very first GT Firm workouts. In addition, you can actually SEE them when you need to. Stephanie's cueing is perfect, and she was motivating without being annoying or over-the-top.

The set is kind of sterile but not annoyingly so, and the music was more techno but I enjoyed it. In a cardio workout I prefer music of this type anyway. The workout is actually close to 47 minutes from start to finish, and on the DVD there is an 8 minute bonus abs routine which I did not yet do.

We start with an 8 minute warm-up which includes dynamic stretches, and uses light weights in part of it. I used two 5# bells and had no problems with this. We use the shorter section of the Transfirmer - the green part, which is 6 inches high. By the way, the Transfirmer is GREAT! I tried to tip it over and couldn't! It's very sturdy, well-constructed, and SOFT to step on!! My knees didn't complain at all doing this workout which is great because I really loved it!!

Next comes classic step without weights. Very basic choreography but not boring at all. No torquey moves or backwards things here. Nice linear moves with enough variety to keep you thinking and moving at the same time. You can easily increase the intensity by moving your arms more and making your step moves bigger, although you won't need to unless you're in super shape. This elevated my HR and that surprised even me! What was really nice was the softness of stepping on the Transfirmer! I was worried because I no longer do step, but this was fine for me!

Next comes what Stephanie calls a low impact section but it has some high impact modifications. Nothing too nuts, which was great for me! Allison is clearly visible at all times showing the low impact version.

Tall box climbs are next and we put the Transfirmer together making it 14 inches tall. This didn't give me trouble even though 14 inches is high for me, since we do the moves slowly. We don't use weights in this part either.

Then comes step on the blue portion, which is 8 inches tall. Again, I was worried, but no problem!! There are some over the top moves in this and moves off the side, but nothing that will twist your knee into strange positions. No jumping off or onto the step either. By this part in the workout I was SWEATING!! It's very challenging, and it creeps up on you!

Another tall box climb section follows, this time using light weights. Again I used 5# weights. We turn the Transfirmer vertical here and do straddle steps. This is the only part where I felt the step height was too high for me, but that's easily fixable. You can still get the benefits doing this part on the eight inch section. Other than that, this section really elevated my heart rate!

Floor aerobics again with plenty of higher impact modifications shown, but not necessary. Then we do step with the Transfirmer on the incline position. What FUN!! It's very stable and so soft to step onto! We then do classic Firm four limb with the Transfirmer in the incline position.

The cool down is done standing, then onto the floor for plank work and a final stretch. I give this workout a solid A!! I really loved it! I was quite pleasantly surprised, and can't wait to do the rest of them!

Carol
:)

Carol_is_fit

05/28/2005