Crave Results

Crave Results offers a variety of exercises and equipment. As instructor Angie Miller says in her Introduction, she wants to challenge the muscles to work in different ways. In this DVD, Miller uses a step platform, dumbbells, and resistance tubing, but her background exerciser, Kris, shows all the moves using dumbbells only. The workout is set in an attractive indoor studio, with Miller instructing live. The music is upbeat. Choices from the Main Menu are as follows: Introduction - Play All - Warm-up - Core Work - Stretch - PRE-MIXES.

The full workout--including warm-up, six cardio-toning blocks, and stretch--comes in at just over an hour (63 minutes). Given this, one of the reasons why I was interested in this DVD was the shorter pre-mixes, which includes segments of the main workout. The premix submenu lists the following options:

TUBING, 27m - Blocks 5, 6, Core

WEIGHT WORK, 33m - Blocks 2, 3, 4, Core

POWER SET ONE, 30m - Blocks 1, 3, 5, 6

POWER SET TWO, 30m - Blocks 2,3, 4, 5

The easiest way to describe this workout is to offer breakdowns of each individual segment/block, which I have done below.

WARM-UP (6.38m) - This is a cardio-based warm-up to get the heart rate up. Miller begins with marches, quickly adding a basic onto the step, step straddle, and hop. She also uses the step for knee repeaters and then moves into a side-to-side squat and hamstring curls before repeating the entire sequence. She ends with a few brief stretches on the step, targeting the hamstrings and calves and finishing with cat stretch.

BLOCK ONE - Miller starts with a lunge forward onto the step while holding a pair of dumbbells. She adds a core knee hold and squat to this sequence. Next is a side squat with bicep curls and a squat-knee-squat move. Each segment ends with a cardio burst: the first is a pulsing squat with one foot on the step, then crossing over the step.

BLOCK TWO - Holding one weight, Miller begins with an alternating side lunge. She adds a core knee hold and curtsey pulses to this. Next is bicep curls, again adding the curtsey. The cardio burst is plyo-based, a plie squat with a "stick" hop to center.

BLOCK THREE - Again holding one dumbbell, Miller starts with a reverse wood chop, eventually adding an overheat reach and then increasing to tempo. This is followed by a plie squat with overhead pulse, adding in a heel lift. The sequence is repeated on the second side. The cardio burst consists of a simple side-to-side step moving into a side-to-side hop.

BLOCK FOUR - Miller uses both dumbbells for this segment, which begins with a slow deadlift; she then adds a reverse fly to this move. A tough move follows that involves squatting to set down the weights, reaching overhead, and then squatting to pick the weights back up. Miller continues to use the dumbbell for alternating tricep kickbacks and a rear straight-arm tricep lift. For the cardio burst, she performs a simple squat with overhead raise.

BLOCK FIVE - For this first tubing segment, Miller starts standing on the step with the tube under one foot for reverse lunge; she adds an extension and then a balancing butt kick. After completing the second side, she stands with both feet on the tube for biceps curls with variations, including a rotator cuff move and side bicep curls, adding side reaches. The cardio burst uses the step for a side hop and stick.

BLOCK SIX - This segment also uses the tubing. Miller steps on the tube for a one-arm row, using different tempos/angles and completing both sides. She also performs sumo squats with the tube. The cardio burst does not use the tubing; Miller simply performs a jumping jack, then adds a "low jack," or pylo move.

CORE (9:19m) - Although Miller incorporates core moves throughout the routine (via balance and twists), this is a nice add-on. It starts with a stretch leg kick front. Next is a deadlift-like move, a one-legged floor reach, adding in extension of the back leg. On the floor, Miller performs plank, a push-up, and a side plank in a flow; she concludes with eight push-ups.

STRETCH (4.56m) - Miller targets most of the major muscle groups in this stretch. She includes a hip flexor lunge, runner's lunge, and lizard lunge. Coming to standing, she performs neck stretches, chair pose, standing forward bend to twist, and shoulder stretches, and she includes with chair pose plus a deep breath.

I'm surprised that the name of Angie Miller isn't more familiar! I've used DVDs from Miller in the past, and I've always enjoyed her low-key personality yet precise cuing. She generally offers intermediate-level routines, but she always includes modifiers showing less intense options. This DVD was given to me by a friend; I was happy to have the opportunity to re-visit with Miller in this intense routine.

I had tried other workouts by Angie Miller, but couldn't get into them. When I acquired this DVD, I figured I probably wouldn't like it, but that it was worth a try. And, boy, was it. I ended up really enjoying this workout. It combines strength work with cardio bursts to give an engaging hour-long workout.

In this workout, Angie uses the step and shows all the higher impact options and her one background exerciser, Chris, demonstrates the easier (but still challenging) modifications on the floor. Given my bad knees, I really appreciated the options given in this workout.

There are six blocks of strength moves with cardio bursts at the end of each strength block. The exercises are mostly multi-muscle compound moves and the cardio is in short bursts, designed to get the heart going and improve endurance. Throughout the workout, Chris uses one set of weights while Angie uses weights until the last two strength blocks when she switches to bands. Personally, I thought it useful to have two sets of weights easily available, a lighter set and a heavier set. But, there will be no prompting to change weights as they use one set.

Angie cues well in this workout. She talks a LOT, but it's almost all about form pointers and healthy ideas, etc. I find her really engaging and fun in this workout.

One of the best things about this DVD is that it gives you so many options. You can use weights or you can use the band in the last two blocks. You can use the step - or not. There are also premixes included on the menus and they add a LOT of flexibility. Those premixes include:

Tubing Work: 27 minutes using blocks 5 & 6 plus core

Weight Work: 33 minutes using blocks 1, 2, 3 and 4 plus core

Power Set One: 30 minutes which includes blocks 1, 3, 5 and 6

Power Set Two: 30 minutes which includes blocks 2, 3, 4 and 5

This 63 minute cardio/ strength w/o is led by Angie w/ 1 backgrounder who shows modifications. The set is super cute- almost a huge living room look to it. You will need dumbbells, (optional) tubing, and a step for this workout.

The bulk of the workout is strength work but is paced quickly so your heartrate will get up there. Between the strength sets Angie adds in a cardio burst. Lots of compound moves & she changes the tempo of the work to keep your muscles guessing. And she adds in tons of balance challenges! She also includes a core section at the end.

The fist portion of the workout Angie uses dumbbells. Angie uses one set of light dumbbells for this but I used multiple sets & heavied up as much as possible- which really upped the intensity of the work. Exercises include: clean & press w/ a knee lift, side squat off the bench w/ biceps, pulsing squats over the bench, side squat off bench -knee pull - clean & press, curtsy dips & bicep curls w/ a side lunge-knee- OH press, pliet- torso twist- w/ a heel lift & OH press, dead lift- rear delt fly, etc.

The second portion is tubing (the mod uses dumbbells). Moves include: band dip w/ rear glute raise on step, lots of bicep variations, hopping onto the step, lat row & high pulls, rotator cuff work, sumo squats, jacks & power sqauts, etc.

Done as is w/ light poundage- I would say this is an intermediate- heavying up really provided a great sweaty challenge! I really found this workout unique and fun! Angie is very chatty but super like-able (she says "ya" a lot). Her cuing and form pointers were spot on and she is obviously a very knowledgeable instructor. Easy dvd to break up or do in whole. I received this dvd to review.