Slim in 6: Ramp It Up

Debbie Siebers
Year Released: 2002

Categories: Total Body Workouts


Review:
I was lucky enough to find a Si6 2-DVD set at a used book sale for just $3!  Although I had previously tried several of the Slim Series workouts and had found them to be somewhat boring, being the vidiot that I am, I couldn't pass up such a great deal. ;)  Plus, I was still curious Si6 as VFers tend to rave about these workouts.

Slim in 6 is filmed in the same indoor studio as Slim Series.  As with all Beach Body workouts, there is a countdown clock showing you exactly how much time is left in the workout; a sidebar also ticks off as each chapter is completed.  The music can be somewhat strident and annoying, but luckily, there is a "music off" option.  Debbie works out with two background exercisers, Tracy and Greg.  Debbie does not mirror cue, and she sometimes counts reps unevenly from side-to-side.  However, she does frequently show modifications for the exercises.

Ramp It Up!, as the title suggests, is designed to take you to the next level once you have mastered the first Si6 workout, Start It Up!  At 48 minutes, it's significantly longer, and although it includes many of the same basic moves as in Start It Up!, it also adds several additional segments, including brief jogging transitions, more standing abs work, an extended resistance band (actually handled tubing) section focusing on the upper body, a lower body floorwork segment performed on all fours, and finally, longer floor abs and yoga stretch segments at the end.

The exercises are as follows:

*Warm-Up, 4.5--virtually the same as SIU, but ends with a brief jog
*Plie Phase, 2.5m--slow moves, then sped up
*Standing Abs, 1.5m--alternating oblique crunches and side crunches
*Lunges, 3m--reverse lunges w/knee ups and alternating front lunges
*Standing Abs, 2m--repeat previous
*Hamstrings,2m--standing curls
*water break, 15 sec
*Band Work, 9m--rows, 1-armed shoulder, biceps, triceps
*Floor Work, 6.5m--on forearm all 4s, both bent and straight leg lifts; bent leg push-ups between legs
*Abs, 6.5m--various crunches
*Stretch/Yoga, 6m--a few basic yoga positions including standing forward bend, exalted warrior, and proud warrior, all performed while still wearing athletic shoes

This workout definitely does kick it up a notch from SIU.  I enjoyed some of the additions, including the standing hamstring work and the band work, but didn't like others, such as the floor work (I hate moves on the hands & knees), the crunches (felt repetitive & unnecessary after the standing abs work), and the yoga (I HATE when instructors attempt yoga while wearing shoes!).  However, I can see how this workout would be effective, and given that it is well-chaptered, I may still use it by picking and choosing the parts which most appeal to me.

Instructor Comments:
  Debbie is friendly and quite perky--she can be a bit TOO perky, although she isn't over-the-top.  She can be a little off-the-beat with her counting though, which may bother some people.

Beth C (aka toaster)

05/15/2009