Leslie Sansone: Walk at Home - The Big Burn- 2 Miles of Intervals [DVD]

I have been doing the WATP dvd's for almost a year. This DVD makes it way right to the top of my list in rotation.Let's list the PROS of this DVD:1. Music only option (for those of us who are veterans to the WATP series and can follow the steps without instruction)2. New music to follow3. The BOOSTED/JOGGING intervals are EXCELLENT. They aren't just at the end of the DVD or miles. It starts about 8 minutes in and lasts for about 12 minutes. That's 12 minutes (thereabouts) of BOOSTED/JOGGING. It's alternated between kicks, knee lifts, and jogging up and back.4. Fast paced, doesn't take 30 minutes to break a really good sweat. You should sweat through the entire DVD.5. If you are looking for an excellent DVD to repeat (back to back play), this gives an excellent middle of the week or weekend buster to the same old workout.6. Same great arm, leg, and (dare I say it) aerobic workout!Now let's list the CONS:1. Leslie has a couple of spots where she is off on her sequences. But hey, noones perfect and after watching this JUST ONCE, put it on music only--you can do it without her telling you what to do and it makes it simpler.2. Could be longer. Yeah, yeah...I am glutton for punishment, but I would LOVE to have an interval training DVD that did the JOGGING/BOOSTED WALKING for more than 33 minutes. But in a pinch it's a GREAT workout.That's it! I strongly recommend this particular DVD for anyone who is looking to add a little something extra to their standard workout. It's just extreme enough to make a difference in the overall performance of workouts and easy enough to do everyday if that's what you choose.Well that's enough for me, time to use this DVD again!Happy walking ;-)Shonene

The ladies at my work and I walk to Leslie DVDs each day at lunch. Our favorites are:Leslie Sansone: Walk at Home - 5 Mile Fat Burning Walk because we can pick two of the five one-mile walks each day, so we are able to mix it up (and they give you mile markers every half mile, which makes it seem to go more quickly). This one also incorporates a two-minute "Boosted Walk" at the end of each mile.Leslie Sansone: 5 Day Slim Down because we can pick which of the two-mile workouts we want to walk to (one of which uses hand weights), again giving us variety.But this one quickly became a favorite too. It does lack the mile markers and use of any extra equipment but it gives you a nice, but not too hard, work out. We definitely sweat. Leslie is off on some of her cues, but that seems to be the case with her other DVDs too. Also, with this one you only really have one option, and that is to do this exact two-mile walk, whereas with her other DVDs you can mix it up each day so it won't be so repetitive.If you have other Leslie DVDs and enjoy doing her walks, then this will be a great addition to your collection. Midway through this two-mile workout she incorporates three sets of two-minute "Boosted Walking" (jogging with kicks and knee lifts mixed in). This added interval training will get your heartbeat up there and make you sweat if you weren't already. The jogging and such is manageable because each boost is only two minutes long.We love walking with Leslie. If you are looking for a way of exercising that will get you results without pushing you to the limit, you will find that with Leslie's DVDs. (Note: Due to the "Boosted Walking" in this one, it might not be for beginners.)

Don't let the production quality of this DVD scare you. It's not a problem (you're doing this for exercise, right? not to watch a DVD!), and the workout is great. This is a good routine to move to if you've done the basic Walk Away 1-2-3 milers already (the ones with the 2 lb weights). Currently I alternate between the WATP 3 mile, which I shorten to about 2 miles (30 minutes) and the Big Burn. That way I do a half hour workout 3 times a week, about the limit of my tolerance for exercise. I shorten the 3-mile WATP by doing the warm up then skipping to the middle to do the second half with the weights.My advice is to listen carefully to what Leslie says: tummy tuck always, lift the feet high and kick high when she says to do so. It makes the workout a bit harder, but you will see results faster. I needed to flatten my belly, but I had to give up on her ShortCuts Abs video because the curls and crunches were hurting my neck (and it wasn't much fun either). But it turns out there's another way: if you pull that belly button in ALWAYS during these aerobic workouts, as she says repeatedly in the Big Burn, you get an abs workout as well. My stomach is flattening now, so it works. I'm not as convinced about the results of the triceps exercise in 3-mile WATP, but then it's pretty short. Maybe I need to do more of those (they're nasty, though, so maybe not...)The cellulite, yes and even dimples in my hips/thighs that I used to have? Gone. After only a few months of WATP. Adding Big Burn is helping to keep it off.One more word of advice: especially for the Big Burn, in humid weather, set your AC to 70 degrees or less if you can. You will still sweat, but much less than if your body is encased in humidity. Keep in mind that you drip with sweat when the air is already too full of water to accept any more from you; the AC will dry out the air so your sweat can evaporate - much more comfortable.Think you're too old to do these exercises? I'm 66. Have fun and feel good about yourself!