Startin Simple: Easy Aerobics

The workout begins with a warm-up routine, where you stretch out your muscles and then begin moving at a slow pace. It then moves into marches, side-to-side movements, and lunges. None of the movements were too difficult to follow (although sometimes they seemed out of synch with the music) and none were too hard on my knees. The workout then ends with a cool-down and stretch.

The leader is unusually encouraging, in a cheesy fashion, but for some reason I found it endearing rather than irritating, and the simple fact is -- the routine is perfect for me, so I can put up with anything. There simply aren't enough routines out there for people woefully out of shape who are dealing with knee problems.

All in all, if you're in good health and in any kind of reasonable shape, this routine will probably bore you. However, if you get winded walking up a flight of stairs, but want to get started on some kind of exercise routine, this is a great way to begin -- challenging but not too difficult.


too much chatter   December 1, 1999
15 out of 16 found this review helpful

This video gets high marks for content: it's do-able for those who need to exercise, regardless of age or level of physical fitness. It's also the right length, long enough to work up a sweat but short enough to fit into a busy schedule. It loses points, in my opinion, though, because Greg Smithey talks and talks and talks, through the entire routine. Chatter, like you're wonderful, etc. He's pompous and vain, for example he asks you to guess his age and then says he's over 40. That's so obvious and his attitude is just annoying. He also sings off-key! The chatter goes to the point where it's hard to want to use this video, even though it's great in other respects.


Yeah, it's cheesy, but...   November 8, 2000
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

The production values are crummy and Greg Smithey is flat-out embarrassing. That said -- I really enjoy the workout. It's enough to get my heart rate up and make me sweat a bit. The steps are not at all complicated, which is important when you're as uncoordinated as I am. And I must admit laughing at Greg is all part of the fun.


Great Beginner Workout!   January 10, 2004
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

My husband and I bought this video to help us get started in a workout routine. We love it! Greg Smithey is an enthusiastic leader who makes you feel good about exercising. His group of people look like regular people and not supermodels. We were couch potatoes before starting this tape and it was a tape that we could actually finish without collapsing in those first few weeks of exercising. We each lost 15-20 pounds in 4 months using a combination of exercise tapes we bought here. It is also good to do this tape on those days you need something easier even if you get to be more advanced. We have used it so much that we can now talk along with the tape which amuses us when we're exercising. We would love for Greg Smithey to put out a new video with a difficulty level between this one and his Buns Steel tape.