The Firm - Firm Basics: Fat Burning Workout

You can control the intensity by increasing your weights, making the workout a good one for longtime Firm Believers.

Perhaps this tape did not have the commercial success of the original series or the new one. That is too bad, because it is gem that should not be overlooked by anyone who thirsts for Firm workouts.


GREAT!   April 30, 2002
12 out of 13 found this review helpful

Fantastic tape for beginners. Not much needed in the way of equipment. (mop handle, chair light dumbells) I use this one on occasion after softball or another strenuous activity. The workout is easy to follow and evenly paced. Just starting??? I recomend this one!


Great beginner's companion tape to Sculpting with Weights   April 29, 2002
35 out of 35 found this review helpful

The first Firm tape I found was Firm Basics: Sculpting with Weights and I was very impressed with it. I like their approach to weights and aerobics in short enough bursts that I never get bored with either. Feeling like I needed more cardio, I bought Firm Basics: Fat Burning. The two are a great combo for beginners, alternated every other day with a day of some other activity in between to allow muscles to rest. Now that I've been using them for several months, I am moving on to more difficult Firm videos. I highly recommend these to anyone just starting out or just starting back. At 45 minutes, they are the right length, and you can do them in your living room without having to move all the furnitute. Having to buy props was a little annoying to me at first but I use a broom handle and backless chair instead of a dowel and stepper so all I had to buy was 5, 8 and 10 lb dumbbells. I will definitely return to these videos when I need a light workout or if I stop exercising for any length of time. A mere 6 months ago I called myself "the world's laziest woman" and I hated exercise because rep after endless rep was so boring. Now I am hooked on the Firm, getting fitter by the day and I am an exercise goddess!


A Cure for Exercise Burnout   October 21, 2001
30 out of 30 found this review helpful

I have been working out with videos, running, and weightlifting for 6 years now. Whenever I get burnt out, I turn back to this tape (and also The Firm's Not So Tough Aerobics) to pull me through the rough spot.

The Firm Fat Burning is fun, Jennifer Carman gives great verbal cues & is warm and friendly. I feel like I am working out with a pal. It's a total body workout, so you get the ab workout in there also. I have found that I can make this tape as challenging as I want to by "heavying up" the weights.

The hover squats are exhilarating, but I like the aerobic segments the best. The music is also really great.

If you decide to buy this one, you'll want a 12 - 14" step-up box. It is worth the investment if you decide to workout with The Firm workout videos.

Another great thing about the Firm is that they always include a warm-up and cool-down stretch. This has helped me with some of my neck and back problems.

Of all the various exercise programs and videos I've done in the years I've been working out, I have always come back to the Firm. They are the best workouts with fabulous results in the least amount of time. Best of all, they are FUN.


[money]wasted for me   August 14, 2001
8 out of 13 found this review helpful

Okay, I know I'm going against the grain here, but I really don't like this tape at all. Sure it has a couple of things going for it, like the production value is great and it is low impact like it claims, BUT.... It says it is for "moderate/intermediate" exercisers. I don't think so. I consider myself to be at that level, but my heart rate wasn't raised at all. In fact I didn't even really feel like I had done any aerobics at all. I could have worked up more of a sweat strolling through the mall. Maybe the toning sections are better, but I wouldn't know. I couldn't do most of those exercises because I don't have all the equipment that you need, none of which is listed on the back of the box under the equipment needed listing. All that's written there is that you need light weights, no mention of the stool, pole, or extra little bit of wood to put under your heels. I tried to adapt those exercises somehow so I could do them, but for most of them you really need the equipment to perform them correctly and effectively. Interestingly, all those items are available for sale in the little catalog that came with the tape. I suppose I will eventually find someway to to incorporate this tape into my routine, but right now I feel very angry about this tape ... I only gave it one star because I couldn't give it any less. No more Firm tapes for me.