Cindy Crawford A New Dimension

Cindy Crawford used the routines in this video to get back into shape after her second child. With the help of fitness expert Kathy Kaehler, she designed this workout to help new mothers ease back into fitness. Although I've never had a child, I was interested in the variety of workouts that this video had to offer and decided to give it a try. Throughout the video, Cindy and Kathy work out together in various settings, and Cindy is also shown working out alone in her bedroom and on the beach; at times, images of Cindy with her baby and her husband are woven in as well. The background music includes some popular hit songs but is generally unobstrusive.

Workouts A and B are both short (12 and 16 minutes, respectively), fairly gentle routines to help you slowly get used to moving your body and beginning to work your muscles.

Section A starts with a gentle upper body stretch, moves into slow plies and lunges, and continues with just a bit of abs work (Kathy shows how to modify if your abs muscles were torn during labor). This section ends with Kegel exercises and pelvic tilts, both of which are included in all three workouts. Section B begins with a 4-minute warmup and stretch using a chair. It then moves into a segment described as cardio, but it is really only a few minutes of side to side moves, knee lifts, etc. which can be performed with or without light weights. Next are a few sets of squats and lunges using playing cards which you pick up off the floor, and then it's on to the floor for pelvic tilts, Kegels, and a bit more abs work. As an intermediate exerciser, I found these first two segments too easy, and I was disappointed by the lack of cardio and upper body work. Although I don't expect to use these sections often, they are likely to be perfect for their intended audience of those trying to get back into fitness, especially since the time went by very quickly in both workouts.

To my surprise, the third section made a pretty big leap from the first two, as it was actually quite challenging. Again, there was not much cardio work: only two short cardio segments were included, and as in Section B, these consisted mainly of very basic moves such as knee raises and side kicks (the second segment used light weights to increase the work). On the other hand, the toning segments in this section really worked the muscles, particularly in the upper body. After a brief stretch, Section C begins with upper body toning using the weights and working shoulders, biceps, and triceps. Next is the first cardio interval (4 minutes), and then a lower body focus which includes plies and lunges (again using the playing cards), glutes work (using a chair for balance), and more upper body with push-ups against the chair. Following the second cardio interval (3 minutes), there is additional toning work for the arms using the chair, a tough push-ups segment (with Kegels inbetween), some pretty strenuous abs work, and finally, pelvic tilts. This section ends with a 2-minute stretch.

I will definitely continue using Section C when I want a full-body strength workout that I can do in a relatively short (40 minutes) period of time. Although I think those new to or returning to exercise will enjoy the gentleness of the first two sections, keep in mind that it might take you quite awhile to work up to the third segment. This is definitely a video which allows for growth and which can provide some benefit to all but the most advanced exercisers.

This video saved my body. After having two childen close together, I needed help fast. Cindy came to the rescue. This is the first video that I ever did. Two years later and 20 pounds lighter I still do this video weekly. In the last few months, I have tried several others but none compare to this one. Cindy's video is fast paced and not boring; furthermore, she gives you 3 different routines to hoose from. This is a good overall workout for anyone.

This tape is excellent for women that have just had a baby! I started doing this tape 6 weeks after having my daughter and after 7 months, I have lost 50 pounds. The exercises really target the areas that get flabby when you are pregnant: tummy, thighs, and butt. I have just recently started doing other tapes, so I have to give a lot of credit to this tape!

There are 3 separate workouts and it's just Cindy and Kathy Kaehler. There's an intro by Cindy, talking about working out after pregnancy and some video of her and her baby and husband.

Workout A: 12 minutes/4 minute warm up/ 6 minute workout/2 minute cool down. This is mainly stretching with some lunges, squats, plies, kegels, abs and pelvic tilts. It's recommended for use the first 2 weeks working out after giving birth. No equipment.

Workout B: 16 minutes/3 1/2 min warm up/10 min cardio/2 1/2 min cool down. The warm up includes stretches, side step, knee lifts, calf pumps, plies, back, shoulder, hip, quad, calf stretches. You need a chair. The main workout is primarily cardio: marches, knee up/overs, back crossovers, squats. There are "card squats". You use 10 playing cards, put them on the floor next to where your foot will hit when you lunge. You pick up a card when you lunge. Then onto pushups, kegels, 2 count pushups, pelvic tilts, 2 count crunches, reverse crunches. The cool down is yoga type stretches. You need a chair & 10 cards.

Workout C: 41 minutes/ 3 1/2 warmup/35 minutes interval workout/3 1/2 cooldown. The warmup is stretches, squats, hamstring stretch, and some yoga moves. The main workout starts with weights: overhead press, lateral raises, tricep kickbacks, forward & backward lunges, tricep dips. Cardio follows with a march/squat/kick combo, knee up w/biceps curls, knee crossovers, side step with arm work, and a squat/jump combo. More weights follow with lat rows, rear leg lifts, push ups off chair, cad squats (pick up cards when you squat). More cardio that resembles the Firm's 4 limb movement with a grapevine/knee up/side kick combo. More weights: isolated bicep curls, plies, pulsing push ups, kegels, 2 count push ups, hamstring lifts, abs--reverse crunch, cross over crunch, 4 count crunch, and pelvic tilts. The cool down is a nice set of stretches.

The production value is very high. There is nice music, some vocal. The video changes between Cindy exercising on her own on a beach, to Cindy and Kathy working out in Cindy's apartment, with other video tricks thrown in. In between workouts there is video of Cindy and her son. I didn't find the change of scenery distracting, but I was only previewing. Cindy's form was ok. The cardio sections are short, so I don't think that your heart rate will stay up in your zone. I think that this tape is good for its intended audience (new moms) and for beginners and low intermediates. I will probably use this tape on days when I'm in a hurry but want to do something or a very light day. It would also be good to use when coming back from injury or illness.