Denise Austin: Quick Burn Cardio

I love Denise's encouraging peppy style, and I've always loved aerobics, but I'm 45 with dodgy knees and ankles. My only complaint with this workout is that there are so few modifications given for people who can't jump around or do deep lunges and squats. Jumping, lunges and squats make up the majority of the first part of the workout. Kadija, or maybe it's Camilia--she goes fast, I can't catch the name, the chick in the front that grins this big smug grin the entire workout)--anyway, she says that Kadija is the one to follow for low impact, yet Kadija is jumping around with everyone else 90% of the time, doing all the lunges, squats, etc. I wish Denise would have had a low impact person who would have stayed low impact throughout the video. It's hard to figure out your own modifications because Denise moves along so quickly. For me, the entire first part is a bust.But the second cardio segment with weights is great and that is low impact. Still, I wish she had spent some time explaining things, like...what weights to start with and how often she would recommend working on arms/doing each segment per week. Everyone on this DVD looks to be in fantastic shape, and everyone is holding unmarked black weights. 3 lbs? 5 lbs? 10 lbs? More? It's impossible to tell. She also doesn't go much into form, so if you're new to weights definitely start lighter because there's a lot of swinging the weight around. That aside, the cardio weights section is a great workout and short--only 24 minutes that fly by. I started to see improvements in my arms and oblique definition in only a couple of weeks.I came back to edit my review and change the 4 stars to 5 because it really is a great exercise DVD. I wear a heart rate monitor to check my calorie burn, and if I do the whole thing with little to no jumping around I burn around 400 calories. YMMV, especially if you can follow Denise. Overall, it's a fun workout that passes quickly. If you're not looking for high impact, lots of squats/lunges, etc you may want to pass on the first cardio section, or plan to watch it first to figure out your own modifications.

Pros: solid workout, good variety of exercises, hits all body areas, can increase or decrease intensity as you need to, can do any part or all of the workout, Denise is a great motivator and you feel good while doing her workouts. Cons: Cueing is terrible, but if you know Denise, you already know that. Watch it through once and you'll be fine; workout moves quite fast; little to no instruction on form; not for people with back problems - some aggressive twisting with the weights in hand, and as I said, it moves fast. Also, this workout takes some balance - have a chair handy if you have any issues with balance, or modify your workout. It is high impact. The one model who is supposed to be doing the low impact version sometimes does, and sometimes doesn't. So you need to know how to modify the workout to low impact on your own. Lots of lunges. This is fine for me, some might not like it. If you don't like the lunges, just don't do them all. You'll be doing other things at the same time. Denise is the queen of multi-tasking the workout.If you're new to Denise, this is not the tape to start with, in my opinion. Her Boot Camp video is better, with more instruction on form, it moves a little slower, and the workouts are also customizable. This workout will go into the rotation b/c it's very solid from a workout point of view but it will never be my favorite.

While I am mostly a yoga/dance person I did this today and it made me feel happy and radiant. I am actually very grateful I did it today for it changed my mood and made me feel ready to handle anything that came my way.It was just what I needed to feel better from the tension in my life. I felt joyful afterwards.I liked this cardio tape a lot because a) it has a lot of deep stretching intermixed with the cardio that make you feel soo good, b) the cardio moves are mostly low impact, and if they are not you can easily make them so, c) I started feeling very very good before 8 minutes into the video ...I didn't have to wait long at all. By the time the warm up and one section (today I did the intervals) was over I felt fully exercises in only 25 minutes, d) the positive energy of Denise. I cannot wait to try the weight cardio. I think that will feel very very good.If you are looking to lose weight this tape will help. I don't do these tapes to lose weight. I am thin. I exercise for the mind body well being benefits. This satisfied that very nicely.Funny I usually wear yoga clothes with minimal support. Today I put on a more sporty pair of exercise pants and a colored exercise bra....not my usual uniform. I actually enjoyed wearing these clothes! Every kind of exercise has it's benefits and joy and this is one of them.THANK YOU DENISE!!!

I did read the reviews before buying, so I was aware of the brief 20 minute workouts. I typically do 50 min to an hour in the morning, so I will use this in addition to another DVD. I like Denise's personality (although as many have pointed out, her cueing is horrible.) and some of the movements in the one workout I did so far (cardio), were really effective (ie: abs. I can definitely feel it today!)What needs improvement: the sound quality on this DVD is terrible! I had to turn the volume way up, and still couldn't really hear the music or Denise.

This video (more precisely the weight training portion) has now become one of my favorite Denise Austin videos. And I have alot of Denise's videos! As the mom of a toddler, I don't have time to do 45-60 min videos anymore so I need workouts that are 20 min or less, 30 min tops. I love this video because it accomplishes everything I need in a very time-efficient manner. I love that there are new moves that are easy to learn, not repetitive, and fun to do. It's a solid high intermediate video. I don't do the cardio as often since it is more high impact but when I do, I always get a good sweat going on. :) And who doesn't appreciate a good sweat? I have a lot of videos, but always come back to those total body, cardio + strength + stretch videos and I think Denise's videos fit the bill perfectly.

Denise know her stuff and how to burn calories. I am impressed with the set of exercises she has put together. I find it tough and she moves into the next exercise quite quickly. I'm not really fit, but I know my body is working hard. The problem is she does not always give proper cueing to lead you into the next exercise nor does she give enough alternatives, if your are worried about the impact on your joints. Because she does not explain fully what you should be doing, I had to pause the dvd player so that I could follow along and get into the right position. What I'm trying to say is Denise is very good at constructing exercises that will work your body, but is not brillant at cueing and explaining the form you should have and also giving you enough alternatives. If your fit and young its a good DVD and I am working out alternatives for the exercises I am worried about. So if you want a challenge then I would recommend this. I am still happy that I brought this DVD.

This is a really a QUICKBURN if you rushed for time. You get a really good workout on both programs...Cardio and Strength. Love it!I would say this is a more of an Intermediate to Advance DVD...beginners can work this one as well...you would just need to modify the exercises to low impact moves...but a great workout!

This is a good workout video. However, I find I don't sweat like I do when I do say, a Jillian Michael's workout.

its a good workout but i didn't feel like it worked me as hard as other work outs do, i find that she moves to quickly into moves and when the moves are almost done then she explains it, this was not for me

An intermediate level workout that emphasizes cardio for a total body workout. Not a lot of room is required in your home to complete this DVD. High intensity and low intensity exercises offered. No hand weights or exercise mat is required. Denise's voice can be faint/quiet/raspy at times, making it difficult to follow along.