The Firm - 10 Minute Target Toning [DVD]

I own quite a few of The Firm DVDs, and I must say this is quite a good one, definitely a step forward compared to the previous "pink series" which, although it does feature some very good workouts (500 Calorie and Bootcamp being two good examples, among many others), it does not go "all the way" on occasions, at least not the way Jillian Michaels does, the way I see it.

This is not the case with this workout. Target Toning is meant to be time-efficient to the max, and it does deliver in that respect. It is made up of 5 10-minute workouts, so you can mix and match them depending on how you feel on that particular day, or how much time you have. There is also a bonus total body workout, also 10 minutes long. Therefore, you can select one or several workouts or, alternatively, you can do the whole lot and have one 60-minute mega-workout. I do like this degree of flexibility, but my only objection is that they could have left the warm-up and cool-down as separate sections and then allow the user to customise the workouts accordingly. That way, you would only be warming up and cooling down once instead of having to go through all the process (which does not take long anyway) for every single workout you select.

Anyway, on to the workouts: Lean Legs, Fearless Arms, Abs-olute core and Bun Burn do exactly what their respective titles state: they target-tone specific problem areas. All of them deliver and you definitely feel it afterwards; that's the whole point in a short workout, of course: it must be intense to leave you feeling you've done something. However, none of them leaves you feeling exhausted, even if you do them back to back as I do. The Bonus Total Body Workout targets, as the title clearly indicates, your whole body, and is also very intense and time-efficient, as well as enjoyable.

The only workout I didn't quite like was Bikini Body Blaze. This is meant to be basically cardio which, to start with, is a contradiction in terms for a DVD which claims to be a toning DVD. Secondly, the exercises are executed at lightning speed by the instructor (Emily Welsh), there is no way you can learn the routine without watching this in advance at least half a dozen times and, at some stages, it does look as though she is performing the workout more to show how fit she is than to guide you through it. This alone put me off right away on watching the DVD for the first time, and it hasn't got any better the first few times I have done this workout, I must admit. The pace is frantic throughout and, to be quite honest, I think it would have been a better idea to include another target-toning segment (back, for example, to complement abs), instead of this rushed and quite pointless routine.

But don't let one single workout put you off. The DVD is very good for target toning and strength training. It is intense and to the point, and Rebekah Sturkie is friendly and cues well. I usually complement it with The Firm Calorie Explosion, which lets you customize your workout and is divided into 4 12-minute segments. That is REALLY INTENSE cardio (mixed with some light weights), more along the lines of Jillian Michaels. I'd dare say that doing 3 workouts in Target Toning + 2 workouts in Calorie Explosion (54 minutes + warm-up and cooldown) will definitely make you feel thoroughly worked out the next day. It is a combination that works very well for me. Go ahead and give it a try.

I bought this dvd as I was looking for something similar to The Firm - Total Body Toner [DVD] which I felt was starting to become boring and ineffective because I was so used to the routine. This workout certainly didn't disappoint and I found it really intense. It is tough but do-able, but I must say I am quite fit. I think you would struggle with this one if you're new to exercise. Not only does it combine a lot of body weight and resistance exercise but there is a little bit of cardio to it. Not too much though- it's not like your traditional Firm dvd which is what I wanted. I have so many of them and wanted a change which is why I opted for this. If you're just starting out I'd recommend 10 Minute Solution - Target Toning [DVD] or the workout I mentioned earlier. However, if you're up for a challenge, like to work up a sweat and really feel the burn then opt for this one. I would say I absolutely love 2 out of the 5 sections and look forward to them. They are the glutes and arms sections because there are lots of new exercises I haven't seen before, it is fun and you really do feel it working. After those two I like the legs and the cardio (bikini blast i think it's called - it's with Emily anyway). The reason they aren't included in my faves is because they are pure torture. I do it but I don't particularly enjoy it because in the first case your thighs burn like hell (during and after) and the cardio section is quite challenging in parts. Again, both are perfectly do-able and you know it's doing you good but you sure do need will power to get through it. Least favourite is Rebekah's abs section because to me it just felt like another cardio section and the moves seemed repetitive - some of them I was wondering what the heck they had to do with my abs cos it certainly didn't feel like it was working them. There is also a bonus section which has compound moves and is more like your traditional Firm-type moves working the whole body but to be honest by the time I've done the rest of the dvd I just don't have the energy to put myself through it.

Despite the criticism of the abs section I think it deserves full marks because it's a workout I look forward to and it is just what it says. If you want an easy workout this isn't for you but if you're up for a challenge, go for it.

I have to say don't bother on this one. I am not new to excercise but the pace of this is ridiculously fast and I didn't have a clue what was going on. This has gone straight in the bin.