Real Fitness: Circuit Training

Keli Roberts
Year Released: 1993

Categories: Circuit Training (cardio and weights) , Step Aerobics


My background: I’m just getting back into exercising regularly after having been extremely inconsistent because of chronic back problems. I enjoy FIRM tapes (the combination of aerobics and weights), but I don’t want to use any of them right now because they’re either too advanced or I have a history with them and can remember how I “used to be able” to use a particular weight or do a particular move. I decided, of course, that I needed to buy new videos that are in the style of circuit training.

I absolutely love this video! I’ve loved Keli ever since Cher’s tape and I don’t know why I didn’t purchase this workout sooner! I like how the step portions keep my heart rate right where I want it (high end of my target heart range). I also like how they’re much longer than Step Reebok’s Circuit Challenge. Also, the strength segments are longer than Circuit Challenge and that made me feel like I was working harder.

The parts that were disappointing to me:
You do have to use bands during some of the segments because otherwise, you won’t get the same muscles working using dumbbells. That’s ok with me because I have the bands that came with one of Cher’s tapes but I prefer using dumbbells for most workouts now. I decided to use dumbbells for some of the exercises and bands for others and there’s not much time to switch between the two.

I also wish that the camera wouldn’t have moved so much. It wasn’t bad, but I would have liked to have seen the people on the right hand side of the screen more and would definitely have liked to have seen the 2 women on the left hand side - who showed the low impact modifications - for longer periods of time. Sometimes all that was shown was a quick shot and then the camera moved on.

It would have been nice if there had been more variety in the different strength segments rather than repeating the same moves for each one. The way it’s done, you get multiple sets for each exercise. I like hitting the same body parts multiple times but sometimes I like to use different exercises to do that. However, the exercises that are done are very effective. I also wish that some squats had been included as a lower body exercise. Instead, I think the only leg exercise is some lunges on/off of the step.

I know it seems like there are several things I’m disappointed in about this video but they really don’t take away from how much I love working out to it. My endorphin levels are quite high by the end of the workout and I enjoy every minute of it.

Grade: A-

Sharon Muha

01/24/2002