Search - Kathy Smith Timesaver - Lift Weights to Lose Weight, Vols. 1 & 2 on DVD

One of the best available!

westcoaster | CA | 06/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I also don't understand the one-star rating by one reviewer. I have a graduate degree in exercise science, and many years of experience as a personal trainer (focusing on women & weight/strength training) and I found Kathy's dvds to be outstanding. She provides guidance about proper form in a number of ways with each and every exercise. She often starts a new set with instruction (verbally & by demo'ing herself) the right form without any weights in hand - sometimes also by using a smaller version of the movement first and gradually easing into full range of motion. For example, with her squats series - first you do some reps with no weights and by only squatting a little ways down, then a few deeper squats, and finally a few full squats. Throughout these "warm-up" squats, the screen shots include front & side views of Kathy's strict form which really is correct. THEN you pick up your handweights if you want to use them and move into the actual squats sets. On top of that, Kathy also walks amongst the men & women working out on screen with her, stopping to comment on specific aspects of their form, which enables you to see proper form frommany different angles, and also demos how "proper" form can in fact look slightly different with different body types, and/or with modified versions of some exercises.In addition to all the above, she also includes verbal reminders along the way ("make sure your knees are tracking over your toes... chest up, neck relaxed..." etc). I found her verbal cues about form to be just the right amount - enough to help you ensure your own proper form, but not so constant you wish she'd just shut up. :)These DVDs, especially #2, have everything you'd need for a very intense & effective upper & lower body strength training routine. At the same time, they are great for beginners who are new to any sort of weight training. The primary difference will be the amount of weight you use with each exercise. And Kathy even provides guidance about that as well - "your muscle should be fatigued by the time you've done 8-12 reps - if not, you can increase to more weight..." She also makes a point of mentioning when she herself is using a lighter or heavier dumbbell from one exercise to another. Your increases/decreases might not always follow hers - amt of weight or even +/- direction - but it should be fairly clear that it's totally normal not to be able to use the same set of dumbbells for every exercise.I have tried a lot of different weight/strength training videos & dvds. To be honest, I wasn't really sure Kathy's would impress me very much. I was looking for something that would really challenge me, and decided to take a chance since Karen Voight's "great weighted workout" isn't out on dvd yet. I have been extremely pleased with Kathy Smith's Lift Weights to Lose Weight dvds. Vol 2 of LWTLW series has quickly become one of my favorites. With 4 full 20-minute routines (2 upper body, 2 lower body) plus an additional abs workout, you can easily pick one session per day or mix & match for a whole-body workout. And there are many exercises in each lower & upper body routine that also target core strength - something you won't necessarily find in many other strength tapes/dvds (although fyi - Karen Mann's "The Works" box set has some great core strength and "functional strength" exercises too - the kind of strength you use for picking up your child, carrying groceries, climbing ladders to change lightbulbs etc - all those "awkward positions" we all face every day). I highly recommend this series!"

Tough enough for a former Marine.

Erik Olson | Ridgefield, WA United States | 03/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After gaining a waist size on my pants, I decided to eat less and work out more. A decade ago I got in great shape by doing a lot of aerobics. But since then, I've drifted away from the health club scene. I didn't want to rejoin one, so I created a home aerobics studio in my garage. The DVD format offers a more flexible workout experience than VHS (no rewinding, easy navigation), so I bought a 13" TV with a built-in DVD player. As for exercise equipment, I went for dumbbells, ankle weights, and a rubber-coated Body Bar. Then I stocked up on different exercise DVDs that utilized these accessories, along with ones that relied on body mechanics or were applicable to my martial arts training (such as Pilates and kickboxing). For now, I've avoided workout programs that require less traditional equipment, such as steps, balls, and so on (although Vol. 2 of this set includes a bonus ball workout).

One of the first exercise DVD sets I bought was the Kathy Smith Timesaver - Lift Weights to Lose Weight, Vols. 1 & 2 two-DVD package, and I've used it a lot. Both volumes contain separate upper body (20 min), lower body (20 min), and abdominal/back workouts (7 min) that use dumbbells and ankle weights, along with one's own body weight, in exercises that help burn fat and tone muscle. You can mix and match the workouts from the main menu to fit your schedule and training routine. Each DVD is quite different; so don't worry about them being redundant. The Vol. 1 workouts have two concurrent stages based on using lighter or heavier weights. Stage 2 is for heavier weights, and is cued by a color bar and text that tells you to stop and recover while the Stage 1 users do more reps with their lighter weights. For further visual aid, one side of the room does Stage 1, and the other Stage 2. As for Vol. 2, during some segments Kathy demonstrates exercises on the main screen while the group workout recedes into picture-in-picture mode. And unlike Vol. 1, the stretching segments on Vol. 2 break away from the group workout to Kathy on a beach by herself (the black and white photography and dreamy ambiance is certainly a change).

The advanced stages on both DVDs are tough enough that I have to take an easier position to finish some exercise sets (although after about a month of consistently working out I'm getting closer to completion). That's cool, since the difficulty level is right at the point where I won't get frustrated or bored and feel like I wasted my money. Kathy Smith is a good workout leader who makes the time go by fast, and despite a couple of close calls she stops short of becoming an annoying cheerleader type. Her exercises hit center mass on their target muscle groups, and aren't too hard on the joints. For example, my ACL-reconstructed knee doesn't act up during the lower body workouts.

Yes, there are some awkward verbal cues, but so far I've yet to see a video workout with perfect calls and transitions. After repeating the two DVDs a couple of times, I remembered where I needed to pay more attention and got better at following along. There's no warm-up on Vol. 1, but in the introduction Kathy advises you to complete one before beginning the main workouts. And like other reviewers, I was skeptical about the "unique rotational twist" in Vol. 2. But it does force you to work on your balance, and Kathy's statement that it helps build "core" muscles seems reasonable. Overall, the pros outweigh the cons by a long shot. My personal favorite of the two DVDs is Vol. 1 because it's a more straightforward workout. But Vol. 2 is great when I need a change, so I'm happy I went with the two-pack.

Despite some minor issues, this is a great two-DVD exercise package. Highly recommended for adding some solid home workouts using weights and body mechanics to your schedule.
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Good, basic exercises

peejay | San Antonio TX | 05/26/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Both of these workout programs are really good. They are simple to follow, exercise all parts of the upper and lower body, and are over in a flash. I can't tell you how much better I feel after I've done one of these workouts. Sometimes I use these programs for my "off" days, when I feel like I just can't face an hour workout, and I always am happy when I've done them.

The key to these videos is really using heavy weights. If you aren't tired by 8-12 reps, as Kathy says, you need to increase the weight. If you use weights that are too light, you won't see the results you want.

I've only given them four stars because of a couple of small details. In the first video, I don't think the back exercises (only about 1 minute) are necessary. Most of us have lower backs that are too strong; the problem is our abs. On the second workout, I hate the abs section. I just cannot stand pilates, so I just do the abs section for the first video or make up my own.

Overall, though, these are excellent value workouts.
"

GREAT DVD's - Lots of Variety, Great Workout, Results!

Joy Howard | SLC, Utah | 04/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I LOVE these Kathy Smith DVDs. There is enough variety in the moves to keep you building muscles, by changing the moves slightly or using bigger weights. Kathy keeps you informed of all your options. Vol. one I feel works me harder, but Vol. two is the most enjoyable to do (for me.) I love both the abs sections as well. I think Kathy does a great job at describing the moves and reminding you of using correct workout posture. On both the abs sections of Vol. 1&2 Kathy does a really good job of describing how to do CORRECT ab work. It really makes a difference when you do it right and sometimes it takes someone just describing it in the way you understand. I was very happy with this purchase and highly recommend it."