Ok old Firmies - the new TLT's?

L Sass

L Sass

Cathlete
Not dissin' Cathe in any way b/c she's my idol. But I came to video exercise via the Firm, as I know many of us did. Just wondering what any Cathe-ites think of the new TLT's. Just hearing her voice and her exceptional cueing is soooo nice again. I just got them today and can't wait to get the kids down to bed so I can go watch. Give me your reviews please!

Lorrie
 
What does TLT stand for? I never did a FIRM workout. What were they like? Did they have a different instructor for every work out?


jes
 
Thanks for the update, Lorrie. I also ordered the new tapes but mine haven't come yet. I was wondering this week when they would arrive.
 
Jes - TLT is Tracie Long Training. Tracie was, IMO one of the best of the old Firm instructors when it still had the integrity of The Firm. She's got 4 new workouts: she leads 2, Susan Harris leads one, and Jen Carmen leads one. If you go to www.tracielongtraining.com there are clips of the new workouts. They're "functional fitness" - something I have to learn more about. They look quite challenging from what I've seen so far.

Lorrie
 
I'm a previous "firmie" also. It started me off in 2003 when I started on my fitness trek. The old Firm w/o's are still the best. Can't stand the new stuff though. Tracie was one of my favorites. I still have several of the older Firm w/o with Tracie as lead. I'll take a look at the website. Thanks.
 
Lorrie, I'm an old firmie and these look interesting to me. They are different from the old and recent firm. I have been doing Cathe souly for 3 years and it would be hard to try someone else, but these might be worth trying.


kim
 
99% of my workouts are Cathe but I bought Tracie's Functional Fitness and I do like it - I want to work more on balance and core strength and this workout seems to fit well with my Cathe workouts. I just ordered her new Better Burn- Better Buns workout for something different to try.

Besides, I sold some old workouts on Ebay and the Paypal money was burning a hole in my pocket and I have all of Cathe's workouts already!:)
 
They're FABULOUS!! They arrived today and I didn't do one because I'm not feeling well, but I previewed them all. Beautiful production quality and Tracie, Jen and Susan look great! One background exerciser in each shows beginner modifications and another shows more advanced modifications for some parts. They're functional fitness like her earlier workouts (Core Foundations, Dynamic Strength & Power, Functional Strength, Core Cardio and Core Strength) with some newer moves. The set this time is inside her gym in Charleston SC with windows overlooking the harbor in the background. The exercisers look well-rehearsed. The music is great and I heard a few new tunes from the TLP's.

Don't look for killer cardio or heavy weights - this is functional fitness but it's surprisingly kick-your-behind difficult. If you like this sort of training these workouts will interest you. If you're the hour long step workout without stopping or lifting heavy weights with more traditional set work kind of person, you may not like these.

I've been doing this sort of training exclusively for a little over six months since I can no longer do the high impact cardio and I got tired of re-injuring my shoulders lifting too heavy, and my core muscles and balance have never been better. But, to each her own.

I'll be happy to post reviews here if you'd like. I'll be posting them at Tracie's site and at VF. I'm doing one in the morning but I haven't yet decided which one.

You can check out clips of them at Tracie's site:

http://www.tracielongtraining.com/

Carol
:)
 
Hi
I just received mine and I echo what Carol has said. They look really great! The production, set, exercisers look good. There seemed to be alot of core work integrated into the routines (which I need) The workouts look challenging. They are very different from Cathe's workouts. They seem like they will be a nice balance to CAthe's . I plan on doing one or two tomorrow.
They seem much better than the new Benson sisters (oringinal firm creaters) I check out Metaboost and flexposture from netflix and they seemed really boring to me! I kept thinking of Darth Vader every time Tamela Hasting was breathing out in her pilates moves. Really annoying.
Jen
 
I received mine today. I did Better Bun Burner and most of the Strength one (I forget the names). I didn't finish because a)I workout out with Cathe this morning and b)had to put my son to bed.

Just as Carol said, the production is good and the scenery is nice. I haven’t finished previewing all of them yet, but the cueing is very good. I liked using the squishy ball too! I didn’t find them too difficult (yet) since I can’t squat down as deep as they can and I just can’t do planks worth anything being that I'm very pregnant now.
I've only exercised with Cathe, so I'm not a former Firmer.
I think these will be excellent add-ons to a Cathe workout.

Susan C.M.
[link=http://lilypie.com][img noborder]http://bd.lilypie.com/2BB3m5.png[/img][/link]
 
I did "Finding Your Core" this morning and here's my review. I also posted this on Tracie's site and on VF:

Susan Harris of Firm Volume 1 fame leads this 48 minute functional fitness workout filmed at Tracie Long's new gym in Charleston, SC. The windows behind Susan and two background exercisers show the harbor but this does not distract from the workout. The set is light and airy, the production quality of this DVD is perfect, and the music is just enough to hear without overwhelming the voice. Those of you familiar with TLP workouts will recognize some of the tunes and moves, but this is not a rehash of older workouts.

We start with a warm up incorporating dynamic stretching moves using the stability ball. If you've never warmed up holding a stability ball over your head you are in for a treat - your arms get a mini workout during this as well! In fact, there is a great deal of upper body work in this. The entire "core" is worked - from shoulder girdle to hips - not just the abs!

Alternating upper and lower body work is done both on the ball and using the ball as a balance tool. Often upper and lower body are worked together. I never used more than 10# weights and was struggling with these during some moves. The moves are traditional mixed with functional fitness moves. Think Core Secrets but much less repetitive, much less boring, and a lot more fun! Susan's cueing is good and she gives excellent form pointers throughout. One background exerciser shows more beginner type modifications and you can always see her. The camera work in this is top notch.

There is standing and floor work, and I like that it alternates. By the way, when Susan says use light weight ... use LIGHT weight. There are some rotator cuff moves toward the end where you do not want to be a hero and try to go too heavy. You will hurt yourself and defeat the entire purpose of the moves.

The last ten minutes are on the floor doing familiar core moves using the ball, but Susan adds her own special touch and your hamstrings will thank you for it! The stretch is complete and relaxing with yoga type moves incorporated.

This workout is top notch!! A+! I absolutely loved it!! I definitely "found my core"!!

Carol
:)
 
So Carol, I know Stephanie said they'll be putting a rotation together. Do you follow rotations? (I usually cannot) But how will you incorporate these into your Cathe workouts or vice-versa? Are you going to train exclusively with TLT for a while? I need to put a general program together for these, but I would like to keep my Cathe's in there too so that I don't lose the intensity.

Lorrie
 
I am really interested in these workouts, but being six months pregnant, they're on my after-baby purchase list. Please keep the reviews coming! They really sound great!
 
Carol,

Thanks so much for the post. The clips look really good and interesting. As soon as my funds allow, I will purchase them. I have always loved working out with Susan, Tracey & Jen. I would appreciate if you would let everyone know how you liked working out with TLT. I hate saying this, but I feel like I am cheating on Cathe, because I love Cathe & her workouts.
 
I've never done the FIRM workouts so I came to TLT fresh without any kind of bias or expectation. The idea of a funtional fitness work out really appealed to me so I pre-ordered all 4 TLT work outs.

I received mine yesterday and haven't done them yet (I'm waiting to get my squishy Xerballs which I ordered from Spri but haven't yet received), but I have previewed 2 of them: Endurance for Movement and Better Burn...Better Buns.

They look like excellent workouts. I'm not familiar with fresstyle, but I believe the Better Burn Better Buns work out would probably fit well into a freestyle program. Tracie's cuing is excellent, but I would disagree with another poster about the production quality. While it isn't bad per say, it is no match for Cathe. Some of the camera work misses the mark. Tracie works with 2 background exercisers and they are often out of view, especially tha gal demonstrating the simplified version. The camera often zooms in on some extraneous body part making it difficult to see what is happening with the arms and legs. That being said, it looks like a great work out and I can't wait to get my squishy medicine balls so I can get started! I would strongly suggest that you preview it first though, so you can get a feel for what the background people are doing.

ETA I think the TLT work outs will be great for someone that wants to prepare for the next level, i.e., if you have trouble with more advanced workouts like Cathe, I think these workouts will help increase your strength and endurance.

Michele
:)
 
I just realized I didn't describe the work outs at all.:eek:

They're kind of running together for me right now but I thought they were really innovative! There's a lot of stability ball and squishy medicine ball work, as well as clever use of rags and/or paperplates which call upon your core muscles. There's a lot of standing leg, hip, glute work as well. I think regular use of these workouts will help you to gain good strength, flexibilty, and balance. If these workouts don't strengthen your core, nothing will!

Michele :)
 
Truthfully, and this has nothing to do with the instructors themselves because I really do respect what they do, but I never follow anyone else's rotation. I make up my own based on what I know works for me and based on what I feel like doing. Then I get bored and change them anyway in two weeks! LOL!!

I've been doing mostly functional fitness and BOSU workouts for almost six months now. My core muscles and balance are better than ever and I'm not hurt all the time. It's wonderful!

I plan to do each TLT and then put together a rotation of TLT's, TLP's, a few of my favorite strength workouts, and a few of my favorites BOSU workouts. Then all I have to do is find a way to make myself STAY with that for six weeks!! LOL!!

Carol
:)
 
Michele I think Better Burn ... Better Buns would be great in a freestyle program! I'm thinking of doing that one tomorrow and trying also to do Jen's later in the day. I want to get them all done before Monday so I can figure out a rotation. I did notice in one of the others I previewed that the camera was off the beginner modifier for a while. I didn't notice that in Susan's this morning but I may not have been watching. I was too busy sweating .. LOL!!

Carol
:)
 
Thank you very much for the reviews! I'm interested in how you decide to rotate them.

My TLT's are touring the country with UPS & won't arrive until Tuesday. I can hardly wait.

Carole, your comments really hit home. I've been dealing with little nagging injuries. Right now, it's a tender shoulder. Sure hope that a solid month of functional fitness & cardio gets me back on track.

Debra
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top