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DVD workout series
- Challenging
- High energy
- Delivers quick results
- Over before you know it
- Not for beginners
- Over-the-top instructor
The Physique 57 program was initially offered only as a class in Los Angeles and New York City. The series combines isometric exercises and orthopedic stretches to help followers sculpt a feminine but lean body. The workout earned notoriety as a favorite of fit celebrities like Kelly Ripa, Christy Turlington, Parker Posey and Kim Raver and was later made into a fitness DVD collection. Individual DVDs can be purchased separately, but the Complete Physique 57 Workout Kit (*Est. $60) comes with all three DVDs (Classic 57 Minute Workout, 30-Minute Full Body Workout and Arm and Ab Booster 30 Minute Workout) and the necessary ball and pump. The workout incorporates Pilates-style and dance moves with lively music. The entire series is given high praise, with reviewers saying that the 57 Minute Workout is effective, challenging and doesn't feel as long as it is. Reviewers note that this is not a workout for beginners and should be used by those with an intermediate to advanced fitness level. The 30-Minute Full Body Workout is the favorite in the program, offering a solid, overall workout in a short period. It should be noted that instructor Tanya Becker is a polarizing figure. Some find her upbeat commentary entertaining, while others note that they eventually had to put the DVD on mute.
Reviews of the Physique 57 program are plentiful. When the videos were first released in 2009, they garnered much media attention and were named by Real Simple, the Los Angeles Times, Fitness and Woman's Day as one of the best fitness DVDs of the year. Amazon.com features just more than 20 user reviews. More can be found at QVC.com, but those found on Amazon.com are far more detailed.
| The Complete Physique 57 Workout Kit 3 Disc Set With Exercise Ball | |
(35 reviews) In Stock. |
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Our Sources
FitBottomedGirls.com is a healthy living and fitness website that provides the most comprehensive database of current fitness DVD reviews. Their reviews are detailed and balanced. Each video is rated on six criteria: instruction, long-term likability, music, fun factor, whether it meets expectations and overall. The complete Physique 57 collection is included in a roundup of DVDs that claim to make you sexier. The DVD collection earns the highest ranking (4.5 stars overall), beating out Susan Hyatt's Rockstar Workout and S Factor 1: The Beginning. The reviewer says that this is a workout that will make you feel the burn, but notes that toward the end of the workout the instructor's comments become annoying.
Review: UnderReview: A Sexy DVD Round-Up, Jenn Walters, Dec. 3, 2009
FitBottomedGirls.com provides the most in-depth database of fitness video and DVD reviews. Here, the editors select their highest-rated yoga and Pilates DVDs. Each DVD receives a very brief caption and links to a more detailed full review. Physique 57 earns the number-two spot, with editors guaranteeing that you'll feel the burn.
Review: The 10 Best Yoga and Pilates DVDs We've Ever Reviewed, Editors of FitBottomedGirls.com, Jan. 5, 2011
3. Amazon.com
Twenty-four users weigh in on The Complete Physique 57 Workout Kit. The series earns a perfect 5 out of 5 stars from 21 of these reviewers. Reviews are substantially more detailed than those found on other retail sites. Reviewers say that this program is challenging and delivers results, and that even the longer 57-minute routine goes by quickly. Some reviewers do note that the instructor's commentary style is not for everyone.
Review: The Complete Physique 57 Workout Kit, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of June 2011
4. QVC.com
QVC.com offers nearly 50 reviews of the complete Physique 57 Total Body Workout. Eighty-three percent of customers say they would recommend this product. User-generated reviews are generally quite positive, but not as detailed as those found on Amazon.com. The only negative remarks come from reviewers who say that this program is far too challenging for beginners. Others say that this delivers a fast workout that leads to results that you can see in mere weeks.
Review: Physique 57 Total Body Workout with 3 DVDs & Fitness Ball, Contributors to QVC.com, As of June 2011
5. Woman's DayDetails/Subscribe
Woman's Day's Abigail L. Cuffey selects her favorite must-have exercise videos. The DVDs cover a wide range of categories, from dance to yoga to strength training. Cuffey has clearly tested each video, but her remarks are somewhat short and lack the detail of other review sites. Physique 57 and in particular the Physique 57: Express 30 Minute Full Body Workout DVD earns a spot on the list, with the author saying the DVD explains why this program has gained such widespread popularity.
Review: 10 Best Fitness DVDs, Abigail L. Cuffey, March 3, 2010
6. Real SimpleDetails/Subscribe
Real Simple writer Sarah Smith selects seven workout DVDs as the top picks in this undated roundup. The reviewer notes that the videos were tested, but does not specify who tested them or how many videos were tested in total. Smith includes brief captions as to why each DVD was selected, but does not provide in-depth reviews on each individual selection. The entire Physique 57 is not selected, but the time-sensitive Physique 57 Express 30 Minute Full Body Workout, which is part of the collection, is named the Fastest Overall Routine.
Review: The Best Workout DVDs, Sarah Smith, Not Dated
7. Fitness MagazineDetails/Subscribe
This article selects 10 workout DVDs as top picks for 2009. Each DVD was tested by real women, and the review includes feedback from these testers. Reviews also include the estimated number of calories burned and necessary equipment. The reviews are more credible than many other sources. While the entire Physique 57 program does not earn a spot on the list, one of the three DVDs, Physique 57 Express 30 Minute Full Body Workout, is selected as the Best Butt and Thighs Makeover. Reviewers say that while this is an overall toning program, users will notice the burn in their lower half. Unfortunately, the article is more than two years old. Fitness Magazine's Top 10 Workout DVDs of 2011 is a better source of more current workout DVDs.
Review: The Best Workout DVDs of 2009, Sarah D'Angelo
In this 2009 article, Los Angeles Times writer Melinda Fulmer suggests several more advanced workout videos. She urges caution when recommending these videos, suggesting that these workouts are not all appropriate for beginners. The trendy Physique 57 is recommended, with Fulmer noting that not everyone will find trainer Tanya Becker endearing, but that you'll get a solid workout.
Review: DVDs Fit to Get Fit To, Melinda Fulmer, Nov. 9, 2009
CollegeCandy.com is a site geared toward college-age women, who contribute content. Here, one contributor gives the Physique 57 DVD collection a stellar review, saying that the program delivers fast results. While the review is detailed, it provides no negative feedback and does not comment fully on the instruction or the feel of the DVD.
Review: Body Blog: Physique 57, My Secret Workout Weapon, Contributors to CollegeCandy.com, April 2011
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