SHAPELY GIRL: WALKING FIT and FABULOUS!

I have been doing Leslie Sansome's Walking workouts, which I like, but I like to have a lot of variety in my fitness DVDs so I bought this one to add something new. I have only done the Beginner's Workout (16 minute) and 30 minutes of the main workout, because no where on the box does it tell you how long each program/section is so I just kept going until I got to 45 minutes. The moves are basic but the pace is great (I got about 5500 steps on my Fit Bit after 45 minutes.) I am from Southern NJ so I am sensitive to the South Jersey/South Philly accent and Debra Mazda has one, so if you hate it, just be prepared--you will hear it. I found the following information, which is important for anyone considering purchasing this DVD, so you can see just how extensive this DVD is: The DVD has six different workouts: The Beginners is 16 minutes but it has a fast pace; the main workout starts with the same 16 minutes as the beginners, and runs 42 minutes in total; There are 4 pre-mixes: a 32-minute fit walk, a "bonus" track of 16 minutes, a long fit walk of 50 minutes, and a standing ab program 12 min long. So, as you can see, you get a lot for your money! I am looking forward to doing the other tracks now that I know what they are and how long each it, so I can better plan by workout.

I bought this video based on the reccomendations online, particularly those people who said that they had become bored by Leslie Sansone's dependence on her 4 basic moves. The DVD is to be commended for offering a number of ways to view the exercizes, including a number of "pre-mixes". I chose the 50 minute premix because I usually had been doing LS's 3 mile 40-45 minute walks and figured that 50 minutes would be pretty close. Once I got over Debra's NY/Philly accent and recognized walker Angel as a model/host from QVC, I got into the exercize. There were a number of new moves to learn, which were fun (the Sashay, the Wedding March, the Starburst), but they weren't explained very well- I think, though, that that is a function of the "premix", because presumably if you watched the video from beginning to end in the manner it was filmed, you'd know the steps and not need so much instruction. The workout took longer for me to break a sweat, but once I did, the sweat just kept coming (particularly with Debra's "quick feet" and "leg lifts"- they sound innocent, but they will kick your butt). The cooldown stretch didn't include a stretch or the lower leg, which I certainly could have used after the calf nightmare that is "quick feet". Overall, I'll use this occasionally to supplement my LS taapes, but I'm not replacing them entirely- I like LS, and don't have any propblem with her repetition (plus, I alternate betweeen a number of her workouts with their various "boosters", including the stretchy band, the walk belt, the weighted belt, and the hand weights- I never get bored because I'm using them in rotation). But I will add Debra to the mix every once in a while when I feel like shaking my hips.

I've used Leslie Sansone tapes off and on for a long time but I get bored with Leslie's chirpy chatter and the poor quality of the music, so I tried Debra Mazda's tape Walking Fit and Fabulous. I liked it so much I ordered the tape that incorporates weights which I liked even more. They're both tough, challenging and quick and the music is great. I've just ordered her step tape and feel like between the three of them and the occasional Sansone 5 mile tape I'll have it covered. I work out about 4 time a week and my only complaint is that I wish there was more a serious stretching segment at the end of all the tapes. The chat segment is good, but once you've watched it, you've watched it. An additional twenty minute yoga segment would be a great. I'm sixty six years old, in pretty good shape and Mazda's no BS working class approach suits me to a T.If you're listening Debra, more intermediate tapes with more stretching/yoga at the end. And while I'm at it, a better quality sound track and maybe the addition of an option of "music only". After you've done the tapes for a while, it's all about just getting it done.

Good vigorous DVD and, though I'm not overweight, I'm a psychologist specializing in food and weight issues, so it's very good to see overweight role models for my patients (who often avoid working out due to self-consciousness about body size).However, as noted by at least a couple of other reviewers, my copy of this DVD also had the same defect of stopping in the middle of one of the workouts. I didn't bother returning it because it seems to be characteristic of replacement DVD's as well (another website selling these had this same repeated complaint). At least one of the two workouts can be played without a problem, so that's the adaptation I've made.Please note that my rating is given independent of the technical defect--I wanted to separate the content from the DVD defect. However, I do think it is worth noting this because there's a very good chance of getting a problem DVD should you order this--caveat emptor!

As a certified aerobics instructor specializing in beginners and seniors, I found this to be a terrific series of workouts. The steps are basic but interesting, not at all intimidating for those new to exercise. Very safe (but not on carpet and modify the swivel in the side "wedding" move if you have bad knees). The cuing is excellent. The cast follows well and is an inspiration to the real-life average woman (and man). And, it should be noted that the instructor is mature and has succeeded at weight loss AND maintenance of said weight loss, which greatly adds to her credibility in her target audiences. The emphasis is on a healthy and gradual increase in fitness, which has been proven to greatly decrease risk of death, whatever a person's weight. There are premixes which permit short to very long workouts, adding to the usability of the dvd. I highly recommend this instructor and dvd.

I bought this DVD five years ago and have been using it - on and off - since then. It's one of my favourite get-fit workouts. I'd describe it as structured low-impact, medium intensity, aerobic, light cardiovascular exercise. (If you want to get a doctor's approval before taking up an exercise programme, use this description.)I RECOMMEND IT FOR:- Overweight people. These exercises can be done with obese bodies. The instructor herself has a stout shape. The four women exercising with her are very big, yet obviously to do the exercises with gusto, and this is motivating to watch. I find this so much more encouraging than other DVDs where the performers are all superslim professional models.- People who are unfit. If you normally do little or no exercise and want to build your fitness without overtaxing yourself, or if you want to get back into the swing of it after a period of illness and inactivity, this is DVD is a good choice. You need to be able to walk.- People with mild/moderate knee problems, because the exercises are low impact (that is, no jumping) and there are no squats, lunges and going-down-on-floor exercises that are impossible to follow if you have knee problems.- Women. Although men could do it as well, comments like 'we've got hips, girls, let's move them' would probably feel odd to a man.- Exercises who normally use walk-exercise DVDs by Leslie Sansone or Rosemary Conley and want variety with a different presenter's voice, a different style and a new repertoire of movements.PROS- The movements and sequences are easy to follow (except the so-called 'wedding march sidewards' that still throws me after 5 years)- The movements are not overly strenuous, and you can easily adapt them to your fitness level and to how you feel on the day, by making them bigger or smaller.- The instructions are simple and clear.- The instructor and performers are all big-sized women.- The movements are low impact and gentle on the knees.- You can choose how long you want to work out for, whether it's 10 minutes or 50.- The sequences build in intensity, so you can with fairly undemanding movements and then build up to the more hard-breathing ones.- This raises the heart rate and thus burns calories. You can feel your heart beating faster and your body getting warm/hot. That's the calories burnt.- A good workout for heart, lungs, and muscles. (aerobic/light cardiovascular)- The filming is clear and it shows the movements well. There are no video-editing gimmicks and distortions.- The music is unobtrusive, not jarring techno thuds.- New exercisers. The movements are uncomplicated (well, most of them anyway), and are put together in a simple way. Unlike some DVDs, there's no need to follow complicated choreographies.CONS- Sometimes the instructor gives cues way to early. She tells you what to do, but doesn't do it. Instead she says several times 'Get ready' and 'Are you ready?' and still doesn't do it. I think something went wrong with the auto-cue system she was reading from.- "You got it!" In the style of American instructors, she often says "You got it!" which I find annoying since she obviously cannot tell whether I got it or not. You might be doing a movement wrong or even (unlikely) harming yourself , and she would tell you you got it.- She doesn't always follow her own instructions. During one movement, she emphasises that the step must go to the side, not back. Yet her she herself steps back.- Some bits make sense only for Americans, such as when she talks about 'Size 2' and 'Size 4'.These quibbles are relatively minor, and don't spoil the effectiveness of the programme.

I am very pleased with this DVD, there are several different routines (of varying length) to choose from and you can go at your own pace. It's motivational without being condescending. It's good for someone who is just starting out.

She's awesome and and a great motivator :-) I love the exercises :-)But the DVD would be much better if two of the menus were removed. The ones for beginners and warm up.Everyting is on the third menu so it's just a waste time to look at them.The quality of the DVD could be better, it's not that good.

i like how simple this is there aren't very many movements that have you tripping over your feet and falling into the wall. i was concerned about how fast it went even when it wasn't doing the power walk especially for someone in the seriously obese range who has never done a workout in thier life, it might be too daunting and maybe overwhelming and while there is a beginners walk for those starting out there is no cool down for it, which i wish there was.i guess you could follow the short walk and just keep it to a pace you can handle.what i really love about this is i don't have to follow those uberskinny women who probably never been my size in thier life.the women working out on here come in a variety of what i call normal women and others call "larger" sizes.in my case, i have been working out pretty hard for someone my size and ability for a couple of weeks unfortunately i have been sick and had to take week off working out so today i clicked on the short 16 minute walk to ease myself back into it. didn't even break a sweat, in fact i even went on to do the full 12 min standing abs also (now THERE i broke a sweat!).i think i will be try out the full walk later this week,it will be gauranteed that i will break a sweat and it's a good cardio start to my pilates or yoga followup.if you are just starting out don't let the speed and the moves scare you if you don't think you can handle it just walk to the speed you can to the amount of time you can. what's important is that you are up and moving,strength endurance will follow. debra emphasizes this through the program.in fact i like this so much that when i get extra money i think i will get her 2 disc 'let's get moving'.

Love Shapely Girl Walking Fit and Fabulous. It's a great workout priced reasonably.