Weight Watchers Get in Shape! DVD

I am coming back from a really bad fitness year, so I am on the lookout for workouts that are on the easier side without being boring and/or lame. I stumbled across this DVD on someone's trade list (and you can buy it at Amazon right now (kind of expensive) or eBay (more reasonable)).

I have to say that I really enjoy these workouts. There are three workouts on this DVD, all around 30 minutes. They are all circuit-type workouts, alternating segments of aerobics with light weight work. The three levels of intensity are:

Get Started! - marketed as a light intensity workout - very light beginner workout

Get Moving! - marketed as a moderate intensity workout - I'd put it at a high beginner level

Get Fit! - marketed as a high intensity workout - I'd put it as a solid, but not high, intermediate workout

Nancy Popp, the instructor, is backed up by a group of Weight Watchers members and one group leader. At various points during the workout, Nancy takes a break from the action and asks one of them a question - about her background, her weight loss, what she thinks about Weight Watchers, etc. Some of the answers were inspirational. Some were such ads for Weight Watchers that I laughed out loud. All sounded scripted. However, these exercisers do get into the moves and you have various people to follow with different styles and levels of intensity. There is a modifier who is pretty good, once in awhile its like she doesn't understand that she's doing a move that needs modification, but most of the time she does fine. Nancy was my favorite instructor from the 10Minute DVD she appeared on and I enjoy her style here. She does come across as stiff sometimes and doesn't always cue on time, but she also leads some fun workouts that put together standard moves in a fun way.

I love this workout! Lots of fun, the music is pretty good - basic, but not boring choreography and it's a circuit workout, so you work with weights some, too. I usually do all three sections together for a long circuit workout. I find Nancy friendly and easy to follow. (Re: Alta's comment about Nancy seeming stiff in the upper body - she was pregnant when they filmed this, so maybe that's why.)

Right off the bat, I'd like to say that these are good workouts. Wonderful for a beginner or low intermediate. Sadly, I cannot do them as there is too much choreography and the cueing is not excellent. The cueing is not BAD, but I am so defective that I need *excellent* cueing. I couldn't get past the warm-up in the most basic one, "Get Started"! :o

This won't be a detailed review, just some impressions. There are three progressively more challenging workouts on the DVD. All are around 30 minutes. They are circuit-type workouts consisting of three segments of aerobic and three of weights.

Get Started! - a Light intensity workout.

Get Moving! - a Moderate intensity workout.

Get Fit! - a High intensity workout.

The set and music are fine, nothing fancy. The instructor, Nancy Popp, is pleasant and motivating. She did seem a bit stiff though, especially in the upper body. While the ladies in the background were really getting into the moves, she seemed a bit awkward. I haven't seen Nancy in other videos, so I don't know if that is just her style.

I'd rate the aerobic intensity as comparable to Leslie Sansone's 1, 2, and 3 Mile workouts. But, to me at least, the choreography is light years past Leslie. I have no patience anymore to discourage myself with trying to learn things. It is a waste of the tiny ambition I have.

This was a loaner from a VFer. I'm glad I got to try it first. Again, I DO like the workouts and would recommend them. To someone who doesn't mind a leap up from Leslie's choreography.