Search - Kathy Smith: Shed the Pounds on DVD

Well rounded, fun, motivational, high caloric burn

A. Chandler | Austin, TX | 09/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Note: this dvd is compiled of 3 classic workouts that were formerly in VHS form and have now been re=released as a 3 dvd compilation.

First, I have to say that the "march to fitness" dvd on here is worth 5 stars alone. It's one of my most favorite workouts. But you get 3 total dvds in here so the price, I felt, was excellent.

Now granted, you are no doubt gonna laugh a bit when you slide this into the dvd player and are taken back in time to the 1980's with a Farrah Fawcett hairstyle, leg warmers, double socks (ala flashdance) and you'll be amazed that it was ever found "sexy" to workout without a sports bra (as you'll witness in the "starting out" workout) so that, well, you can guess what you see...which wouldn't be so crazy if there weren't a woman in her 70s on the dvd. But, that was 1980, Farrah had that poster out in the red one piece where she was um, "chilly" and the look was copied even in the gym, things have changed...thank God...
...and none of that hindered my workout one bit. But it can't go without mention because you are gonna giggle through some of this.

That said, I'll admit I am not a fan of all of Kathy Smith's workouts but she became famous in the 80s and, to me, this shows evidence as to one of the reasons why. I found her instruction very clear, I got a great workout, and the moves were timeless, in spite of the hair and outfits. (giggle)

March to Fitness was one of those rare dvds that you actually don't WANT to stop. It was truly FUN! This one was from 1993 so it's not such a time wharp feeling to watch it either. The music was from the dance hits of the 60s and 80s (but it's amusing to me that she says "remember dancing to this one?" regarding music in the 60s and, unless I danced in my crib, I never did. But again, I think the time warp feeling just makes it amusing) and there were some "dancing-band-style" marching moves that were VERY easy to follow along to (and I have two left feet, and no coordination) and offered great caloric burn...

...which brings me to the fact that I wear a bodybugg to measure my daily caloric expenditure. I mention this only because I can see the exact caloric burn a dvd garners by measurement rather than percieved exertion and this was high up there on burning the calories! And, since it was fun, it easily captured the 5 stars for me!

Negatives: yes, I know "jazzercise" was hot back then but working out to jazz music in some parts of the dvd wasn't my personal taste although I can't speak for others. We even did "jazz hands" moves a few times.

also "starting out" was too long, for me, in the warm up and stretching at a low heart rate so the caloric burn during this was minimal. yes, she made up for it in the other dvd segments, but I did wind up fast forwarding as I felt it was "overkill"

Conclusion: It's a steal for the price and although all 3 workouts offer much, the march to fitness is so easy to follow and so dang much fun, with great music that you will actually recognize rather than the typical non-copywrited instrumental tunes that are typical of today's workout dvds, that it's worth the price alone for the fun and the calorie burn.

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