Denise Austin: Hit the Spot Core

Good Body Sculpting Workout with the Stability Ball
This DVD has a 5 min. warm-up, three 15 min. sections: core/upper body, core/buns and core/legs, and an 18 min. total body segment consisting of exercises taken from the other 3 sections. You can select each workout individually or customize your workout and have the segments play in any order you choose. If you do core/buns and core/legs, you'll get a great workout for the lower body and abs. Those sections offer a wide variety of effective exercises. In core/buns you'll alternate between lunges and squats with dumbells and stability ball exercises. In core/legs you'll use your own body weight and work the outer and inner thighs and abs. For most of the ab routines Denise shows different levels of intensity. I wasn't crazy about the core/upper body section because it only has about 4 min. of upper body work. I think the workout would have been better with a separate core section. I also wish there was a stretch section. It didn't bother me to alternate between body parts...

Best body I have ever owned!
...And I am no longer in my 20's...

I use this DVD workout 2-3 times a week, and I have not only met my challenge to myself (which was to look like I did in a bikini photo on my honeymoon 11 years ago), but I have surpassed it. Why? Because now I am fit and toned, then I was justly nicely slim.

My advice is to ignore Denise's often objectionable voice and do the workout! Once I memorized the routine, I put music on and keep her track just loud enough for cuing. You can mix-and-match, but I prefer to go through the 5-min warm-up and each of the 15-min segments in one go.

Another good option is to run or do other cardio and finish with her 18 minute superset segment.

The workout is best for intermediate and above, but her reps are low, and there are often a selection of levels to keep you as easy or challenged as you want to be.

As a last testament to this workout I will say this:

After working with her DVD for three...

Good workout, too enthusiastic instructor :-l
Denise Austin really is a good instructor. The only problem I have with her is that she is a little over the top enthusiastic and talks a little too much and isn't always in time to the music or with her own counting.

This workout is good. There are four mix and match segments: core and upper body, core and legs, core and butt, and core and full body (which is made up from the other three segments). This way it's easy not to get bored. You use weights and a stability ball and you can always choose the level that's best for you. She makes it easy to find modifications.

If you want a good workout that is fun to do, go out and get this, but just be aware that somedays, you will need to turn the sound down.

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