Walk Strong 3: The Complete 8 Week Home Fitness Program for Women Ultimate DVD Collection [20 Workouts on 6 discs, wall calendar included]

Jessica has created another fantastic, well rounded, program in the Walk Strong series. But please take heed of her note that it isn't recommended for beginners. It is the next level up in the series and it is challenging.I am a woman in my mid 40s. I consider myself a moderate level exerciser. I don't like extreme workouts but I do like to challenge myself and spike up the intensity when I can. I exercise to keep fit and feel good (a flatter belly is a nice side effect) but I also exercise with a longer range goal in mind. I want to walk tall and strong for as long as possible, and keep my brain fit, as well as my body. So, to that end, I LOVE that Jessica incorporates balance work into nearly every workout, has moves that can challenge the mind, and has a variety of intensities and styles of workouts.I waited to write the review until I had done at least one workout from every DVD, but I have also watched all of them from start to finish.Disc 1: Foundations and Flexibility: I have done the Deep Stretch and I enjoyed it and found it relaxing and a good stretch. I tend to skip these because I average 5 days of exercise a week and don't want to miss a cardio or strength day, but I do need to make it a point to stretch. This is a good one. Foundations looks like it will be great for hitting the proper form and alignment but I'm not sure how often I'll repeat it. I'll do my best with Yoga Strength and Stretch because I find yoga a challenge.Disc 2: Cardio Cross Train: I have done 2 of these. I love cardio. I was suprised that she considered Cardio Step Jam a moderate workout at first because I love step aerobics and it can be vigorous. However, she alternates sections using the step with sections staying on the floor and it did keep it moderate. Cardio Hit! was a fun kickboxing workout and had some intervals in there that kept it challenging. I'll enjoy returning to this one. Boogie IT also is focused on intervals and looks like it will be fun but definitely keep my heart rate up there!Disc 3: Sculpt: I have only done Cardio Interval Sculpt thus far. Wow. It was intense! I had to pause the DVD half way through to catch my breath. Definitely don't do these without being sure your energy is at 100%! The same looks like it will be true for Metabolic Conditioning. Fun, intense, and not for days where my energy is waning. Barre Sculpt is a different kind of workout but I've learned in the past that barre work is no joke and I know my glutes and legs will be screaming.Disc 4: Strength: I did the Total Body workout today and learned where I could increase my weights and where I was just right. The laying down to standing or kneeling exercise at the end was deceptively difficult! What a functional exercise. The Lower Body uses the step if you wish and I can only imagine how tough it's going to be! The only negative that I have to say about the 3 workouts on this disc is that while she tells you about the drop set technique and that it's o.k. to drop down, none of them ever do. I think it would have been helpful to see one of them comment that they needed to and do so... to sort of give us extra permission and reassurance that it's o.k..Disc 5: Fusion Mix: If you've loved her other fusion workouts, these won't disappoint. I did Tone & Flow and it was a lot of balance work and a good workout. I had tired shoulders and dropped my weights from my usual with her fusion workouts and I'm glad that I did! The Barefoot Cardio Core should be fun with the ball. Pilates & Yoga, I'm glad to alternate with the pilates because yoga usually drives me crazy. It's a goal to do yoga or stretch well at least once a week going forward,Disc 6: 15 Min Mix: These are great! I've done 3 of these so far. I've done the Total Stretch twice, Add On Abs and 1 Mile Motivation once. I think I'll use these quite often.I am a little on the fence about the set, only because I think at times, Jessica looked a tad washed out. But also bear in mind that I don't like to sit in a restaurant facing a window and looking at my companions because the contrast gives me a headache sometimes... so maybe I'm biased against people agaist a window. The ocean and palm tree are pretty. :)It was nice to have Debbie and Beth with microphones so we could hear them comment from time to time. One of my favorite parts of Walk Strong 2 series is hearing the interaction of Debbie and Jessica. I usually do a mix of fllowing Debbie and Jessica but I think that for these, I will be following Debbie a lot, so I'm grateful for her modifications. I will rarely be following Beth but she is inspiring to me and maybe I can amp it up some day!I plan to enjoy this series and get stronger and stronger, because I have a lot of room to grow. I'm grateful for this next step.

This is an amazing workout series. It has a little of everything, cardio, strength, barre, yoga, pilates, fusion... The quality is great. The set is beautiful, and Jessica picked really good music. The workouts are effective and fun. Those 30 minutes pack a punch, when you are done, you feel worked out. And another plus is that she doesn't forget the core and incorporates it into every workout. There is zero dread factor.Here is a more thorough breakdown of how I felt about each workout:Cardio Step Jam - Really like it. The moves aren't complicated, and doing the workout with 2 risers gives me a good workout...my legs feel it!Boogie I.T. - This is the only workout I'm not a fan of. The moves feel awkward to me. But 1 out of 20 is not bad!Cardio Hit! - I love this one. The music is good. The kickboxing is great, as always great form!Metabolic Conditioning - This one is tough! It kicks my butt, but in a good way. It's the best combination of cardio and strength.Cardio Interval Sculpt - This one is sneaky. It doesn't feel too hard when doing it, but my whole body feels it for a couple of days. I really like it.Barre Sculpt - I liked this one a lot. It was very unique. The moves were quite different...fresh, and I got a good workout.Total Body - This is a very effective and thorough workout. It hits every muscle group...in 30 minutes!Lower Body - I love this one. The time flies by, and I'm able to go really heavy, because she keeps the moves slower. She also gives active recoveries with no weights, which allows me to stretch out my hands.Upper Body - Excellent workout! There are some new moves/combos. Things are a bit different from other workouts, one of them is we start on the floor with chest work. I would say it’s not just effective, it’s fresh. The music was awesome. Loved it!Barefoot Cardio Core - This one is quite nice. I feel like it gives a good core workout.Tone + Flow - Excellent workout! I used a couple of sets of dumbbells, but I stayed light (5 - 8 lbs). Compound moves done as a barefoot fusion flow.Pilates + Yoga - Really liked this one as well. It incorporated some of the best moves from Yoga and Pilates.Foundations - I didn’t do this one, I watched it. It’s a great introduction for a beginner, showing form and tips for various exercises.Deep Stretch - Really enjoy this one. It’s not rushed, we just go from move to move, using a pillow/rolled up towel to assist us.Yoga Strength + Stretch - Really good yoga practice - deep and relaxing. I really enjoy it.The 15-minute videos include: 1-Mile of Motivation, Total Body Training, Streamline Sculpt, Add on Abs, Total Stretch. These are really good. I like to do these as a 2nd workout in the afternoon.

This is one of the only exercise dvd sets you need! Although it may be pricey, it has 20 different workouts with a great variety. Jessica Smith is a leader in the fitness field, and it’s clear by the research that seems to have gone into this new set. I am an advanced exerciser, and I have often purchased difficult exercise DVDs that require strenuous output. While that is all well and good, my body has suffered from that type of exclusive training. Jessica is all about building bodies, not tearing them down, so while she includes some advanced programs in this set ( always with modifications), she also includes easier flexibility, stretching, and functional workouts. All are meant to be rotated for optimal, holistic fitness.Furthermore, Jessica’s genuine concern with her audience’s healthful approach to fitness makes her a joy to follow. Her sweetness and compassion for her audience cannot be faked. The dvd quality is also aesthetically pleasing— both visually and with a nice tract of music that you don’t hear repeated on every other exercise dvd. There is a poster detailing a weekly plan of approach. The programs include a countdown clock that mentally helps as you work through each program. Yes, it’s an expensive purchase, but it is a quality product. The customer care given by Jessica—for any fitness concerns you may have—is incomparable. Truly, I have purchased dozens of exercise dvd programs in the past: you cannot go wrong here if you are looking for a comprehensive fitness program that is kind to the body, but effective as well.