Zumba Exhilarate Body Shaping System DVD Set
Zumba Exhilarate Body Shaping System DVD Set Reviews
I was in my best shape ever when I was going out dancing once or twice a week (in my late 20s)--lots of salsa and belly-dance moves that work the abs without crunches that put you on the floor and kill your neck and back. Times have changed, and so has my figure since I quit dancing. I resisted buying into the Zumba craze for while, ever since I saw the commercial once at 3:00 a.m. for the original set. I hesitated, first because everything looks great on a 3 a.m. infomercial; I figured it was the latest infomercial fitness fad. I've been disappointed by lots of work-outs that promise "dance moves you can take to the club" and then turn out to be nothing but club outfits, generic music, and aerobic exercise moves that would get you laughed out of a club. Then I read the reviews, and it seemed like everyone who had the set started out in the classes first. I've never been to a Zumba class and never wanted to work out in a room full of strangers--thus my reason for buying a home workout set to begin with. The price was also intimidating, and way more than I've ever paid for any of the other "dance party" workouts that found their way into a yard sale. Still, I want to get back into the shape I was happy with, and there were a lot of positive reviews, so I went for it. I did my first workout last night, with the Activate disc, and was sweating immediately. At first I saw a couple aerobics-style moves and thought "here we go again." But those were few, and were incorporated well into the dance routine. Mostly there was actual, genuine, hip-swinging, shimmying, dancing--I had a little trouble keeping up. I can see just how rusty I've gotten, and I'll have to work up to finishing the whole disc. Still, time flew by way faster than it does on the treadmill, and this was a lot more fun. I was absolutely sweating more, and my whole body knew I'd been working, but I barely noticed because it felt like dancing and not working out. Some of the moves can be a little tricky, especially when you're trying to keep up with pros. When I got tripped up trying to follow the instructors, I just looked away from them and danced with the music--keeping hips and pelvis in motion. When I needed to catch my breath I just stood front and did hip circles till I could pick up the pace again. I still think the price is a little steep--especially since the little foam plugs that hold the discs in place had already popped off when I got it (it was new and sealed.) But they can be stuck back down with a dot of glue, so no big deal--minus 1 star for price and packaging. The picture and sound quality is very good, and the music is actually enjoyable--not like canned "exercise music" that comes with most workout DVDs. Some of the verbal exchange between the instructors comes off phony (and a little cheesy), but overall the mood during the workouts is light and fun. I'm not a fitness guru, have been in a gym once in my life (hated it), and am not using Zumba as a warm-up for, or addition to, any other exercise routine. Right now, this new Zumba series is my only workout since my treadmill needs maintenance. I've read a lot of reviews for fitness DVDs, equipment, and supplements, and they say things like "I use this every day, walk 5 miles, do free weights combined with cardio, cut out all soda and junk food, and I've lost 6 pounds!" To me, those reviews aren't very helpful: first, a person working out that much is already in shape and has little or no weight to lose. Second, when you make that many lifestyle changes at once, results of SOME kind are inevitable--and can't be credited to anything specific. Did the workout do it, or the lack of candy bars and soda? To really determine how well this routine works for me, I'm going to do Zumba and not change anything else for now. (I already eat mostly low-carb, but I cheat sometimes.) I'll give it a few weeks, see what results I get, and then update. UPDATE 6/16/2011: It's been 2 weeks today since I tried Zumba for the first time. I haven't changed my eating habits; I eat exactly as I did before (including 6 oz of mint cookie crunch ice cream almost daily), and I'm not taking any diet pills. I've done the Step by Step disc once, and then only the Activate disc so far. To date I've lost 7.5 pounds, and it isn't water weight--it doesn't fluctuate or pile right back on as soon as I eat solid food. The only explanation is that I'm burning more calories than I'm eating, and the only thing that I'm doing different is Zumba. Any activity or workout that gets you moving fast and sweating hard will do the same thing. Pretty much all workouts work, I know that. I also know that it only works if you actually do it, and if it's tedious, boring, painful--or even largely inconvenient (like going to the gym)--I won't do it, no matter how amazing the results would be. The difference with this is that it's fun enough that I'll actually do it more than once or twice and then give it up. You stay on your feet, not on the floor (like with crunches and pilates). There's no straining your neck, breaking your back, or losing your will to live 10 minutes into the session. You're moving and working enough to burn fat and calories, but it's not so strenuous that you can't make it past the first few minutes. Don't get me wrong, I have moments where I struggle with some of the steps, and on occasion I get frustrated trying to keep up--but at least I'm moving. I don't work for the company and am not already sports-model fit. I'm an average 30-something female trying to get back in 20-something shape (and take off some quit-smoking weight). My reviews are honest because I rely on other people's honest reviews to help me make my own decisions about products here. So, I'm going to keep doing Zumba and add some other changes (like giving up my ice cream--so sad) and see how I do. For anyone interested, I'll put a couple beginner survival tips that helped me in the comments. Good luck.. this is my Zumba Exhilarate Body Shaping System DVD Set reviews
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