The Firm: Cardio Sculpt (BSS1)

Allie Del Rio
Year Released: 2002

Categories: Circuit Training (cardio and weights)


I don't know that I love this workout as much as I do many of the older FIRMs with the classic set and louder, more choreographed music, but I do really like it and enjoy seeing Allie and the other FIRM instructors in a new setting. Jen just radiates in this one (even moreso than she does in Body Sculpt) and the other 3 instructors are glowing and fun to watch too.

The warm-up is fun and energizing. I always get a bit off balance with the kick-dip-kick. I think that throws me off because the dip is back at an angle so I lose my balance not going back straight. So I've been trying to remember to just go back straight and I do better.

Push-ups are my least favorite exercise, so to start out the workout with them just doesn't spark my interest. (I'd rather have something fun and upbeat -- for example -- I just love it when Cathe starts Rhythmic Step off with the rhythmic L -- so much fun!) So what I've been subbing (because I can get some more push-ups just a few minutes later) is some short box step sequences (just basic ones like Jayne did in Volume 6) but with some fun jumps and lifts here and there to get me a little more energized.

If I compared this workout to the layout of other recent Inter/Adv. Circuit Training videos (Karen Voight's Cardio Sculpt, Kathy Smith's Fat Burning Breakthru, Breakthru Body Blast, Denise Austin's Ultimate Fat Burner), I'd say that Cardio Sculpt has the opposite formula of the others. The others do more cardio, with shorter strength training segments in between, whereas Cardio Sculpt is more weights with an occasional cardio burst. I've always enjoyed cardio work more than weight work, so I wish there was a little more cardio in this one, but the weight work is solid too, so that's nice.

The cardio segments are very simple to follow and are all low impact -- reminds me of the cardio segments in the Basics. My favorite cardio segment is the 3rd one with the short box and the weights. The music is fun and the moves are in sync with the music. And it's a bit more challenging than the other cardio segments.

The fun with the weight work begins for me after that 3rd cardio segment when we sit on the tall box and do the oblique work. It's innovative, refreshing, yet accomplishes something. From that point on, I get energized thinking I'm getting to do something fun and new. I also like how challenging those front arm lifts are. I tried them the first time with 5 pound weights and there was no way I could lift them. Surprising! I ended up doing it with 3 pounders.

I don't use the box with the table work though. I did the first time through (and with the weight behind the knee) and didn't feel like I was working that hard. So since then I've done the table work on my knees and elbows with ankle weights. Much more effective. And I don't use the box for the push-ups either -- much too awkard. Nor do I stand over the short box for the plie' squats. They probably were just trying to save on space or not move the box around or show that there are many uses of the FL or maybe this helps with form for the beginners. But for me, it just seems to not be necessary for all that they use it for.

I liked that they gave you 3 different options for hand positions in the ab work, but I haven't been able to get comfortable with the crossing the arms like she does for the 2nd stage. The bulk of my wrists makes me hit the floor earlier nad it bugs me, so I've just been going straight from the 1st position to the 3rd, which makes it more challenging anyway. I like the long lever leg work with the abs. Seems to work the lower abs well.

Last note is on the music (no pun intended :)). It's good music, but not GREAT like in previous FIRMs. Again, comparing it to the many other recent Circuit Training videos out right now, the music is very similar. But I miss the great music of the past FIRMs.

All this being said, I really do like this workout. I just had to personalize it to help me get the most enjoyment out of it. I'd give FIRM Cardio Sculpt an A-.

Instructor Comments:
Allie was bright and bubbly as usual. Her cuing was right on. I wished that she would have announced the specific lower body move coming up instead of just saying "Get your weights for heavy lower body" because I use different weights sometimes for squats, leg presses, or lunges/dips. But I'm sure I'll get used to which set is coming up next as I do this more.

Renee Allen

04/13/2002