Aerobics & Toning

[Jane1721]

Originally Posted by Lucky Star

I'm sorry to hear this - ugh!
I am so over burpees being in every workout, and often done at a breakneck pace. These days I'll only do them once in a while, slowly & carefully.

Thanks, Gina! Yeah, I'm over burpees too. I used to like them, but after hurting my back, which took three months to fully heal, I am never doing them again!

[cherimac]

Originally Posted by Jane1721

Thanks, Gina! Yeah, I'm over burpees too. I used to like them, but after hurting my back, which took three months to fully heal, I am never doing them again!

I hear ya on that. I can do them but hate them and honestly feel like they're an accident waiting to happen in most DVDs because they're done at warp speed.

[Exercise Diva]

Originally Posted by Lucky Star

I do what I call 'lateral' upright rows. IOW instead of straight up I pull the weights on a diagonal, extending the elbows more to the side. This incorporates my upper back (sort of pinching my shoulder blades a bit) and rear shoulders. It feels safer to me.

Thanks - I will give that a try!

[ilovemybirds]

I agree! I think the BBH Firms are based on sound science. There is a little bit of everything: cardio, weights, stretching, and it is done at a moderate enough pace that it is less likely to injure you.

[Taramisu]

Originally Posted by Lucky Star

I do what I call 'lateral' upright rows. IOW instead of straight up I pull the weights on a diagonal, extending the elbows more to the side. This incorporates my upper back (sort of pinching my shoulder blades a bit) and rear shoulders. It feels safer to me.

This is a really good suggestion, I don't really like upright rows either and won't do them with heavier than 8 pound weights. I am going to try this from now on.

Speaking of Firm, I have been on a major Firm kick lately. Years ago I had over 40 Firms, I got rid of many of them and got down to 10 or so. Well, I have been reacquiring some ones I previously got rid of, mainly BSS ones through Swapadvd. Total Sculpt plus Abs from BSS2, Complete Body Sculpting from BSS3, Jiggle Free Arms and Supercharged Sculpting from BSS4, I also rebought Maximum Body Sculpting from Mary. I am waiting for the Tough Tape 2 remaster to come out from Fitness Favorites, which should be soon then I will have all my remasters.

While I have enjoyed experimenting with other instructors in the past couple years, the Firm just works for me. I like the slow pace and the ability to go heavy. As far as the Pinks go, I haven't clicked with most of them, too much going on at once. I do like Total Body Toner and Hi Def Sculpt though quite a bit, those are more my speed. Get Chisel'd is pretty good too but I treat that as a lighter weight workout, just moves too fast for heavy weights. I am going to try Cardio Sculpt Fusion today, I think I may like that one too for something different.

Overall, I am really enjoying revisiting the Firm! I need to try and stick with it and see what kind of results I get, since I have dropped a bunch of weight and my eating habits are better I think the rewards may be impressive!

ETA - Someone mentioned forward lunges, I either do static or reverse lunges, or I will do forward lunges onto an incline. I don't have my Transfirmer anymore, but I do have a club and high step and a set of slanted risers. I usually just use the high step topper and put one slanted riser underneath it for forward lunges and incline aerobics. It works pretty good and is more stable than if I use the club step to be honest.

[geojill]

If you don't mind my asking, what are the BBH Firms? I'm sure I'll do the forehead slap when I hear it, but I can't think of what it could be right now.

[jeanniem]

The original firms from the Benson sisters and Anna's husband Mark H.

[Taramisu]

Originally Posted by geojill

If you don't mind my asking, what are the BBH Firms? I'm sure I'll do the forehead slap when I hear it, but I can't think of what it could be right now.

The BBH Firms are considered the Anna Benson Era. The Classic Firms are the first 6 Volumes, BBH is really the "mid-era" I believe. So anything from 1993-1999 which would be the Tortoise/Hare, Firm Cardio/Strength, Tri-Trainers, Super Shapers, Blast Series and of course all the parts videos that were compiled from those series. After that the Firm was sold and that's when we started seeing the BSS series. Then the Pinks, then the Wave, then Firm Express.

Tri Trainers were Fat Blaster, Maximum Body Shaping, and Better Body and Buns. The Super Shapers were Super Sculpting and Super Cardio, the Blast series were Cardio Burn, Power Cardio and Maximum Cardio.

The parts videos that were made from all these are Tough Tape, Tough Tape 2, Total Body Shaping Mix, Bust and Butt, Cardio Split, Upper and Lower Body Split, Tough Cardio Mix, Cardio Step Mix, Core Cardio 1 and 2, Sculpted Buns and Thighs. I am sure there are more but I am blanking out on them.

There there are other parts videos, Floor Legs, Standing Legs, Tough Aerobic Mix, and Light Aerobic Mix, those were compiled from the first 6 Classic volumes.

HTH...

[Emily B]

I have so many old Firms, and they worked so well for me in the past. Unfortunately, I only own them on VHS and no longer have a VHS player. I can't imagine paying to buy them all over again on DVD. They are great workouts and gave me the best results of anything. Of course, I was in my 20s when I was using them, so I'm sure that didn't hurt!!

[Lucky Star]

Originally Posted by Taramisu

The BBH Firms are considered the Anna Benson Era. The Classic Firms are the first 6 Volumes, BBH is really the "mid-era" I believe. So anything from 1993-1999 which would be the Tortoise/Hare, Firm Cardio/Strength, Tri-Trainers, Super Shapers, Blast Series and of course all the parts videos that were compiled from those series.

All pre-Goodtimes Firm videos were BBH (Anna Benson, Cynthia Benson, Mark Henricksen, the Firm's creators), from the "classic" 6 total body workouts beginning in 1986 up to - but not including - the BSS videos (Body Sculpting System, distributed by Goodtimes).