Fat Burning Workout

This 70 minute 1988 tape is nearly 40 minutes of fat burning, topped off with effective cool down and floor stretch.

The program is well structured and divided into six segments, these usually average 5-6 minutes and when doing the workout, it can seem much longer. Fat burning charts and exertion charts pop up periodically.

Kathy's exercise group consists of about six other students, average, plain looking people, no fluff to distract you. You will see Modifiers, a person who will perform the lower impact version if needed. Also, inserts pop up to show the particular muscle that is working at the time and its proper name.

Music is tolerable. Steps are very easy to follow, and are done without constantly changing, I like that!

Sections One through Six focuses on arm and leg movement working theouter thigh and buttocks, leg work, knee lifts, obliques (waist), biceps, triceps, middle back, hamstring lunges, focus on quadriceps, gluts, inner thigh, hips, efficient cool down and stretch

There are a few select exercise video tapes I prefer and Kathy Smith is one. This is one of the better tapes because it includes Fat burning and muscle toning in the same steps! You get it all done with this tape. Excellent......MzRizz.


Something for everyone   March 12, 2005
E. A Larimer (Somerset, PA United States)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

If you can get past the dated outfits and nondescript music of the eighties, you will probably enjoy this workout, no matter what your level. The premise of this workout is that a longer, lighter workout burns more fat than a quick, intense one. So the goal here is to keep your heart rate at the lower end to allow a longer workout, thus more fat-burning. But if you are advanced, there's no reason you can't add more range of motion (or strap on wrist and ankle weights) for more rewarding results; if you're a beginner, just turn the tape off when you've had enough but DON'T forget to cool down a little with a little walking around the house). Enclosed in the video is a "Fat Burning Nutritional Tips" booklet, which pretty much advocates high carbs, low fat - she doesn't differentiate between good and bad fats, but she DOES recommend your carbs be the quality kind - whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, etc.

The 55 minutes are broken down into a warm-up, 6 workout segments, and a cool down/stretch. The six workout segments are interval training: aerobics mixed with some strength and toning exercises. The steps are easy to follow and pretty basic. The toning includes your typical lunges, squats, arm and shoulder work (using your body only for resistance - or pick up a set of weights and really work it), as well as even some back exercises.

If you are a beginner, this video serves as a really good starting point. I consider myself advanced and can make it through the whole thing quite easily, but with a nice sweat, thanks to the extra energy I put into the routine.

This workout is simple enough that most people can catch on during the first time through the video. This fact is enough to bore me after the third or fourth time (I require constant challenge for the most part), so I'm glad I borrowed this from the local library instead of buying it. You can buy this one on ebay for a couple dollars and for that reason, it's a good one to add to your collection, even if you only do it a few times a year, mixed in with your regular workouts. If you're new to the workout world, this could, quite possibly, be the video that you do until the tape breaks or until you decide to move it up a level.

LEVEL: All
EQUIPMENT: None
YEAR: 1988
LENGTH: about an hour



Still the best video for weight loss and toning!   October 17, 2001
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I own many exercise videos and always come back to this classic, easy-to-follow video because it's a sure-fire way to lose weight and tone your upper and lower body. I've been using this workout tape off and on from my 30's to age 49. It has proved enjoyable and do-able for all fitness levels - and the only tape I've ever used that increases your metabolism. My weight just drops as soon as I start doing this tape on a regular basis - at least 3 times per week! The best exercise video in my experience!


Fun low-impact workout   December 21, 2004
wintersongs (The Golden State, USA)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

This is a 40 minute, mostly low-impact workout. It is divided into 6 sections. There are form pointers and modifiers, even basic human anatomy lessons on the names of the muscles worked - such as the quadriceps, latissimus (sp?) dorsi, deltoids, etc. I like these lessons; I, for one, have heard of the names but don't know where they are located, and after doing this workout, I can finally put a "face to a name." This workout burns fat AND educates you! There are also two places to check your pulse and two places to check your exertion rate.

This is a super fun workout! This video was made in 1991 but this did not feel dated at all. In fact, most of the moves are still done today - such as step taps, repeaters, hamstring curls, and mambo cha cha chas. The choreography is simple and easy to follow. She likes to use arm circles.

The moves connect to each other extremely well; moving from one move to another is very smooth. This is important because moves that don't mesh together make the workout choppy, clumsy, and frustrating to do. Kathy does a great job of creating combinations that flow from one move to another very well. One such example: walk 4 steps to the left, followed by 4 repeaters followed by 4 step touches.

Kathy herself is pleasant and mild. There is no squealing like in her Timesaver Lift Weights to Lose Weight video. I think her favorite way to cue is to start with "Take it...," whether it's "take it back," "take it up," "take it from the top," etc. because she says that a lot. She has 6 background exercisers, and except for the occasional and minimal cheering and whooping, they are supportive but not a distraction.

I thoroughly enjoy this workout. I'm not bored at all and Kathy chooses combinations that are fun to do, hence making this workout very fun.