Zumba reviews please

[Sarina D]

I have an opportunity later this afternoon to pick up a DVD exercise box set of Zumba.

I would appreciate as many reviews as possible!

Thank you in advance,
Sarina
---------------------
Heaviest weight - 403 lbs. (2007)
April 1, 2008 - 387 lbs. (This is when I initially started to lose weight…but was not on Atkins at this point)
Atkins start weight – 347 lbs. (July 19, 2008 – began Atkins)
1st major goal met -----100 lbs. lost as of Oct 2, 2008 - Hit 300 lbs. on this day – From April 1-08 when I initially begin to lose weight.
2nd major goal met - 151 lbs. lost as of Jan 13, 2009 - Hit 249 lbs. on this day.
3rd major goal met - Wed, May 13-09 - Reached losing 200 lbs. in just over a year and a couple of months.
4th major goal met – Reached “Onederland” June 6-09 – 198 lbs.
5th major goal met - My 1 yr. Atkins anniversary - Weighing 184 lbs. this day
Current weight – 174 lbs.
Goal weight - 150 – 160

My personal journey - Before and during - From 400 lbs. to 247 lbs. Not done yet!!!

[mizski]

Sarina, are you familiar with Zumba or ever taken a class? Not sure what info you are looking for...I have the entire set.

[Sarina D]

Hi Mizski,

What I was specifically wondering was....is it a real effective form of exercise? Will one truly lose weight with it and firm up?

I researched it last night and the video footage I managed to find was of people doing specific dance steps but they were preforming them very slow and I was a bit concerned by how slow paced the work out seemed.

Thanks,
Sarina
--------------------
Heaviest weight - 403 lbs. (2007)
April 1, 2008 - 387 lbs. (This is when I initially started to lose weight…but was not on Atkins at this point)
Atkins start weight – 347 lbs. (July 19, 2008 – began Atkins)
1st major goal met -----100 lbs. lost as of Oct 2, 2008 - Hit 300 lbs. on this day – From April 1-08 when I initially begin to lose weight.
2nd major goal met - 151 lbs. lost as of Jan 13, 2009 - Hit 249 lbs. on this day.
3rd major goal met - Wed, May 13-09 - Reached losing 200 lbs. in just over a year and a couple of months.
4th major goal met – Reached “Onederland” June 6-09 – 198 lbs.
5th major goal met - My 1 yr. Atkins anniversary - Weighing 184 lbs. this day
Current weight – 174 lbs.
Goal weight - 150 – 160

My personal journey - Before and during - From 400 lbs. to 247 lbs. Not done yet!!!

[Brook]

Zumba is cardio exercise and it's tons of fun and fantastic! You will burn fat with *any* cardio exercise that gets your heart rate up, and Zumba is no exception. As with most programs, you'll get out of it what you put in.

Will you tone up? Some, but if toning is what you're interested in, then a solid combination of cardio and strength training is what you need to be doing.

Remember- you may not necessarily "lose weight". You'll burn fat, but you'll also be building lean muscle mass.

[mizski]

Originally Posted by Sarina D

is it a real effective form of exercise? Will one truly lose weight with it and firm up?

I researched it last night and the video footage I managed to find was of people doing specific dance steps but they were preforming them very slow and I was a bit concerned by how slow paced the work out seemed.

Zumba is Latin dance cardio. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Here is a great Zumba YouTube video that shows it in action in a non-studio setting. It was this video that got me interested in Zumba.

BOSS WARNING: MUSIC PLAYS

The video is about 10 min long...try to watch the entire thing to get a good idea what Zumba looks like. Keep your eye on the gal in the black outfit in front...she is Tanya Beardsley, a Master Trainer for Zumba. Boy do I wish I looked like her when I'm doing it. Ummm...well, let's say that I don't. I have an absolute blast doing it though.

My Zumba DVD Set includes:

• Zumba Fitness Basics Workout
• Zumba Fitness 20-Minute Express Workout
• Zumba Fitness Sculpt & Tone Workout
• Zumba Fitness Cardio Party Workout
• Zumba Fitness Live! Workout
• Zumba Fitness Flat Abs Workout

The cardio workouts WILL help with weight loss and firming and the Sculpt & Tone and Abs workouts combine cardio with more specific toning movements. You will definitely work up a sweat and use your muscles!

I used the Basics and 20-min workouts the most as they just fit into my schedule and fitness level best. The toning ones are still a bit too advanced for me but I do put them on and do a little of them for variety from time to time. I really like this DVD set but don't use it as much now as I am using my Wii most of the time.

I think the DVD are more effective workouts than the Zumba classes I've seen as the classes don't seem to use all the movements that the DVD trainers do. However, the music in the classes is better as those instructors use popular songs that you recognize from the radio.

p.s. My DVD set came with 2 fitness toning sticks which mimic maraca sounds and are a lot of fun to use.

[Sarina D]

Originally Posted by Brook

Zumba is cardio exercise and it's tons of fun and fantastic! You will burn fat with *any* cardio exercise that gets your heart rate up, and Zumba is no exception. As with most programs, you'll get out of it what you put in.

Will you tone up? Some, but if toning is what you're interested in, then a solid combination of cardio and strength training is what you need to be doing.

Remember- you may not necessarily "lose weight". You'll burn fat, but you'll also be building lean muscle mass.

Hi Brook,

Thanks so much for the review, I appreciate it.

I agree with you about the solid combination of cardio and strength training....I most definitely have both in my workout routine now and have for this past year...what I hoping to do is mix up my cardio portion a bit by adding this Zumba collection to accompany my strength training.

The clip I had seen was very slow paced so I was concerned it wouldn't be a real "cardio" challenge but by the looks of what you and Mizski have written it would be considered a good cardio option.

Looks like I'll be adding this one to my collection of workout DVD's....I think I'm beginning to become a workout DVD junkie!!!

The other workout DVD collection I was looking at was "Slim in 6". Are you familiar with this one too? If so, any thoughts?

Thanks again,
Sarina
----------------------
Heaviest weight - 403 lbs. (2007)
April 1, 2008 - 387 lbs. (This is when I initially started to lose weight…but was not on Atkins at this point)
Atkins start weight – 347 lbs. (July 19, 2008 – began Atkins)
1st major goal met -----100 lbs. lost as of Oct 2, 2008 - Hit 300 lbs. on this day – From April 1-08 when I initially begin to lose weight.
2nd major goal met - 151 lbs. lost as of Jan 13, 2009 - Hit 249 lbs. on this day.
3rd major goal met - Wed, May 13-09 - Reached losing 200 lbs. in just over a year and a couple of months.
4th major goal met – Reached “Onederland” June 6-09 – 198 lbs.
5th major goal met - My 1 yr. Atkins anniversary - Weighing 184 lbs. this day
Current weight – 174 lbs.
Goal weight - 150 – 160

My personal journey - Before and during - From 400 lbs. to 247 lbs. Not done yet!!!

[Sarina D]

Originally Posted by mizski

Zumba is Latin dance cardio. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Here is a great Zumba YouTube video that shows it in action in a non-studio setting. It was this video that got me interested in Zumba.

BOSS WARNING: MUSIC PLAYS

The video is about 10 min long...try to watch the entire thing to get a good idea what Zumba looks like. Keep your eye on the gal in the black outfit in front...she is Tanya Beardsley, a Master Trainer for Zumba. Boy do I wish I looked like her when I'm doing it. Ummm...well, let's say that I don't. I have an absolute blast doing it though.

My Zumba DVD Set includes:

• Zumba Fitness Basics Workout
• Zumba Fitness 20-Minute Express Workout
• Zumba Fitness Sculpt & Tone Workout
• Zumba Fitness Cardio Party Workout
• Zumba Fitness Live! Workout
• Zumba Fitness Flat Abs Workout

The cardio workouts WILL help with weight loss and firming and the Sculpt & Tone and Abs workouts combine cardio with more specific toning movements. You will definitely work up a sweat and use your muscles!

I used the Basics and 20-min workouts the most as they just fit into my schedule and fitness level best. The toning ones are still a bit too advanced for me but I do put them on and do a little of them for variety from time to time. I really like this DVD set but don't use it as much now as I am using my Wii most of the time.

I think the DVD are more effective workouts than the Zumba classes I've seen as the classes don't seem to use all the movements that the DVD trainers do. However, the music in the classes is better as those instructors use popular songs that you recognize from the radio.

p.s. My DVD set came with 2 fitness toning sticks which mimic maraca sounds and are a lot of fun to use.

Hi Mizski,

Thanks so much for taking the time out to give such an awesome and complete description....sounds like a great addition to my cardio portion....thank you Mizski!!!! This sounds like a lot of fun and an effective cardio addition.

All the best,
Sarina
---------------------
Heaviest weight - 403 lbs. (2007)
April 1, 2008 - 387 lbs. (This is when I initially started to lose weight…but was not on Atkins at this point)
Atkins start weight – 347 lbs. (July 19, 2008 – began Atkins)
1st major goal met -----100 lbs. lost as of Oct 2, 2008 - Hit 300 lbs. on this day – From April 1-08 when I initially begin to lose weight.
2nd major goal met - 151 lbs. lost as of Jan 13, 2009 - Hit 249 lbs. on this day.
3rd major goal met - Wed, May 13-09 - Reached losing 200 lbs. in just over a year and a couple of months.
4th major goal met – Reached “Onederland” June 6-09 – 198 lbs.
5th major goal met - My 1 yr. Atkins anniversary - Weighing 184 lbs. this day
Current weight – 174 lbs.
Goal weight - 150 – 160

My personal journey - Before and during - From 400 lbs. to 247 lbs. Not done yet!!!

[Brook]

Sarina- Slim In Six is my "Go To" when I need to whip myself back into shape. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the workout.

I'm actually starting week 3 on Monday. Today is a day off for me

Actually, the workout is sorta monotonous and the music is terrible - LOL - but the results ROCK. Seriously. They are incredible. I just turn down the volume and crank up my own music. Do a search here on the board for "Si6" and you'll get an eye full, I assure you.

Zumba is a solid cardio workout. I have the set and I enjoy it. As mizski stated, I think the videos are a better workout than the live classes, but the music is definitely better in the classes. Can't have it all, I guess!

Like I said, you'll get out of the workouts what you put into them. (Squat lower, move bigger, tighten more, etc) People will give varying reviews based on their fitness levels. What is killer for one person can barely make someone else break a sweat, ya know?

Slim In Six, Power 90 (not enough lower body work, IMHO - but awesome none the less), ChaLEAN Extreme, Turbo Jam, Slim Series - those are my favorite at-home workouts. I use the dance cardio stuff to mix up my cardio days when I really need to stave off boredom.

HTHS

[Sarina D]

Originally Posted by Brook

Sarina- Slim In Six is my "Go To" when I need to whip myself back into shape. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the workout.

I'm actually starting week 3 on Monday. Today is a day off for me

Actually, the workout is sorta monotonous and the music is terrible - LOL - but the results ROCK. Seriously. They are incredible. I just turn down the volume and crank up my own music. Do a search here on the board for "Si6" and you'll get an eye full, I assure you.

Zumba is a solid cardio workout. I have the set and I enjoy it. As mizski stated, I think the videos are a better workout than the live classes, but the music is definitely better in the classes. Can't have it all, I guess!

Like I said, you'll get out of the workouts what you put into them. (Squat lower, move bigger, tighten more, etc) People will give varying reviews based on their fitness levels. What is killer for one person can barely make someone else break a sweat, ya know?

Slim In Six, Power 90 (not enough lower body work, IMHO - but awesome none the less), ChaLEAN Extreme, Turbo Jam, Slim Series - those are my favorite at-home workouts. I use the dance cardio stuff to mix up my cardio days when I really need to stave off boredom.

HTHS

Terrific, thank you!!!!! I'm going to try to get a hold of the Slim in 6 too....it sounds great!

Thank you for the other suggestions as well. I do also have the Turbo Jam and love it! I just added that to my workout routine last week and have noticed a difference...love it love it love it!

I'm the same as you, I end up suffering from boredom and need to mix the cardio portion up.....also my body is at the point that it's getting use to my workout routines so I sat down a couple of weeks ago and really changed it up hugely....I'm hoping this change will get me to goal in the next 6 months....I'm hoping to actually make it to 140 lbs....we'll see how it goes. I'm looking forward to adding these two box sets (Slim in 6 and Zumba) to my cardio collection.

Thanks for the tip on Power 90....the lower body workout is important to me due to my abs and inner thighs. Speaking of inner thighs.....I JUST discovered a killer thigh exercise last week...it's called Frog Squats...they LOOK all innocent and easy but man alive...I incorporated them into my routine and the first morning afterwards was a killer! LOL!!!!!!

Sarina
----------------------
Heaviest weight - 403 lbs. (2007)
April 1, 2008 - 387 lbs. (This is when I initially started to lose weight…but was not on Atkins at this point)
Atkins start weight – 347 lbs. (July 19, 2008 – began Atkins)
1st major goal met -----100 lbs. lost as of Oct 2, 2008 - Hit 300 lbs. on this day – From April 1-08 when I initially begin to lose weight.
2nd major goal met - 151 lbs. lost as of Jan 13, 2009 - Hit 249 lbs. on this day.
3rd major goal met - Wed, May 13-09 - Reached losing 200 lbs. in just over a year and a couple of months.
4th major goal met – Reached “Onederland” June 6-09 – 198 lbs.
5th major goal met - My 1 yr. Atkins anniversary - Weighing 184 lbs. this day
Current weight – 174 lbs.
Goal weight - 150 – 160

My personal journey - Before and during - From 400 lbs. to 247 lbs. Not done yet!!!

[Brook]

You should swap your workout routines up every 6 weeks to avoid your body acclimating to what you're doing. Keep it fresh and your body has to to build more muscle to keep up with the demands!

Frog squats- Ohhh, I know!