Search - Kathy Smith's Personal Trainer on DVD

Susan D. from ASTORIA, NY
Reviewed on 7/30/2010...

I have had this DVD for a while now. I really like it. I am bored with it now, of course, but the cardio routine is good, challenging and sweat inducing. I haven't done the wait training so I can't comment on that. This has kept me active and I have lost weight using it.

New technology, old material

S. Friedman | Austin, TX | 03/26/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The DVD format has great potential to provide a better home workout than VHS. The music sounds better, you don't have to fast forward or rewind, and you can customize the "order" your workout. The concept behind "Personal Trainer" is that you can create your own workout routine from a menu of different exercises; cardio, sculpting, and stretching. This is a great idea that doesn't live up to its promises. For starters, the material isn't new. All of the workout segments are excerpts from older Kathy Smith videos. Kathy is a great motivator and has put out some good videos, but this DVD has a cheap "cut and paste" feel to it. It just gives you the sense that they wanted to get a DVD on the market for the sake of putting out a DVD. Kathy's "Kickboxing" DVD is a much better use of the technology. The 20 minute cardio workout (from "Cardio Fat Burner) is way too dancy for my taste, and too short to provide a good workout. The personal advice section from Kathy even suggests that you augment this workout with 20 minutes of walking. The sculpting an toning section (from "Lift Weights to Lose Weight" and "Functionally Fit/Lower Body") is more effective, but you do need a weight bench to do the routine. The yoga routine from "New Yoga Basics" is nice for a change of pace, but not worth the price of the entire DVD. The section that I'll probably keep returning to is the abs and back strenthening section. For 7 minutes, it's a good routine. The "extra" features are pretty worthless, they include Kathy's bio and catalogue of videos. If you're looking for something new, you're not going to find it here. I'd wait until Kathy puts out a DVD workout containing new material."

Nothing new!

September | 05/03/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

". . . I looked high and low to get a fitness DVD and I washighly disappointed with this compilation of Kathy Smith's previousworks. Since I am a Kathy Smith fan I already own every workoutsegment that is on this DVD. It is nice being able to forward quickly to the segments that I want to exercise with. But the cardio segment was from her Timesaver series and is definitely not my favorite, too dancy. Too bad they couldn't come up with any new material to add."

Easy and Fun Workouts

September | Trevose, PA USA | 05/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Normally, I'm not a fan of workout videos, but since one of my biggest complaints about them is fast forwarding or rewind to specific sections, a DVD seemed like a much better choice. Sure enough, I love this Kathy Smith DVD. I can do only the sections I want or I can follow one of Kathy's training schedules. The warm up is okay, but it quickly becomes boring after doing it everyday. There's no challenge to it, so it sinply becomes a matter of doing it because one should. It does give a decent warm up, and really prepares one for the Cardio workout.The Aerobics/Cardio section is more based on dance than I expected, but that thrilled me since I had been bored of the normal jumping jack routines that I expected. It took me about five days to learn the routine to the point where I can do it perfectly, but I liked mastering the moves. The section is a little short and I wished there had been a longer thirty to forty minute Cardio section, in addition, but this one still managed to give me a decent workout. After two weeks of it, however, it's becoming a little too easy.The same can be said for the leg workout. Short, effective, and fun but a little too easy. However, in this section, Kathy does offer a few hints to make the workout more difficult. The arm section is difficult to me, but this might be more because I have weak arms than because the workout itself is hard. It offers to distinct levels of challenge which is nice, but I've only tried the easier level.The abs and back strengthening section is very short (clocking in at about five minutes) but it is difficult. I wish it was a little longer because I doubt that a five minute workout even if done every day would be that effective.The yoga section is simple and relaxing. It offers a nice amount of stretching for the legs and back. I haven't done it many times, but my mother loves it since the other parts of the workout are too hard or too fast for her. I wouldn't recommend it to someone looking for a yoga workout, but it is a nice way to unwind at night.The cool down (stretching) section is nicely done and really stretches the legs and spine well. It doesn't work the arms nearly enough, but it's forgiveable considering. I've already felt an adjustment in my flexability and I think it's because Kathy emphasizes holding stretches the correct way for a good amount of time.Overall, I'd suggest this fun workout to people who like dance aerobics and who are at a beginner or intermediate level of fitness. Those who want a hard, long workout or those who are uncoordinated should probably look elsewhere."