Keeping Fit in Your 50s 3-Pack (Aerobics / Strength / Flexibility)

I've been going through these DVDs for about a month now, one per morning, along with a couple of other exercise videos (a Pilates workout and a Tai Chi video) to round out the week, plus walking in the afternoon, and I've already begun to notice some improvements in my posture and flexibility. There are some deep bend knee exercises on the Strength and Aerobics DVDs that I can't do--when I was going through physical therapy for my knees, my therapist recommended against them--but Robyn Stuhr usually supplies an alternate exercise for those of us who have experienced problems with various joints. Keeping fit in my 50s is definitely different than it was in my twenties--no more jogging, for instance, and these DVDs take our changing bodies into account. Robyn even gives a brief introduction to Kegels during one of the strength routines.

Each DVD begins with an introduction, body basics, workout tips, and a section on 'know your muscles' before it gets into the core routines. Once you've watched these sections a few times, you will probably want to skip directly to the core routines via the menu. Each DVD closes with some upbeat, feel-good advice from Lisa Callahan, M.D., author of "The Fitness Factor," and Lillie Shockney, R.N., author of "Breast Cancer Survivors' Club."

Equipment needed: a stretchy Pilates body band; straight-backed chair; hand weights; and a thick book or step to stand on for two of the strength exercises. The exercises don't take up too much floor space, and I only have to move one easy chair out of the room in order to do all of the routines without banging into anything.

The "Flexibility" DVD runs for 81 minutes, with about 65% of the time spent in exercise.

The "Strength" DVD runs for 74 minutes, and the "Aerobics" DVD runs for 65 minutes with about the same percentage of exercise time versus the 'talking heads' segments.

The background music is soothing, in contrast to the whumpa-whumpa stuff found on many exercise tapes. The one minor annoyance other than the silent yoga routine was the occasional tricky camera angle. It's sometimes hard enough to position myself correctly for a particular exercise without having the camera cocking sideways for a shot of the beautiful Cindy, who didn't even start modeling until she was forty-nine. More power to her, but this is not a modeling session, so next time, keep the camera steady. Then the rest of us can figure out what she's doing without having to mentally rotate her position through a couple of dimensions!


Strictly for Beginners   July 1, 2004
42 out of 43 found this review helpful

As stated in the first review, if you are an avid exerciser you will not learn anything new from this series of exercise tapes. For the person new to exercise these tapes give a lot of useful information on form, muscles, technique and modifications. I am in my mid 50s, am an avid exerciser and I have to modify exercises due to arthritis in my knees, so I thought their approach to exercise is a good one. The moves on each tape is very basic and easy for a beginner to follow, which would definitely seem boring to an experienced exerciser. Both Cindy and Robyn have trouble keeping time with the music, and Cindy was out of step a few times, but I found this to be encouraging for a beginner. It clearly shows that not everyone is always co-ordinated, even Cindy Joseph! And in fact in the cardio video Robyn tells Cindy that it didn't matter when she missed a cue, the important thing was that she kept on moving. Isn't that what exercise is about? My only real complaint is the camera angle is at times a bit frustrating, it is cocked sideways some of the time getting a shot of the beautiful Cindy. But because the moves are quite simple, after doing the tapes a time or two anyone would have no problem following along. Our bodies do change in our 50s and in order to keep fit it is important to exercise and make modifications when necessary to avoid injuries. If you can hang with the funky camera angles, all in all a good place for the beginner to start a well rounded fitness program.


Deceptive Title, This is Strictly for Beginners   June 7, 2004
39 out of 46 found this review helpful

I turned 50 a month ago, and have been an avid excerciser for over 15 years, either at home using videos, or at the gym. I purchased the entire collection, thinking that perhaps I might gain some insight or suggestions on improving or modifying my routines. These tapes are boring, repetative and frustrating. I'm thinking perhaps the music was added after each DVD was recorded, since I can't imagine anyone being as rhythmically challenged as these two seem to be. The word "Keeping" should be removed from the title, since if you are already fit, these workouts will not keep you there. Actually. there are many other instructors with workouts for beginners that would definitely motivate a person new to excercising to continue working out. It's a shame, actually, this collection seems to perpetuate the myth that people over 50 need to slow down....I disagree!


got this for my mom   July 2, 2004
38 out of 41 found this review helpful

The title says "keeping fit" which implies you already have been fit and are active. My mom is not a die hard, but does walk and uses a stationary bike now and then. She found this work out to be not very challenging at all... so I would recommend this only to someone who has been *sitting* for 50 years.


A bit boring   March 13, 2005
D. McNaughton (Virginia)
24 out of 26 found this review helpful

I'm in my 50s and, having always been active, find none of the workouts very challenging. Too repetitious. Strictly for beginners.