DVD Giveaway Courtesy of Gaiam: The Firm 500 Calorie Workout

This giveaway has ended but you can check out current Fitness For the Rest of us giveaways by clicking on the "giveaway" tab on my left sidebar.

This weeks giveaway is courtesy of Gaiam/ The Firm! We all know Im a Firm girl at heart, so I was super happy that they were generous enough to donate TWO dvds to my wonderful blog readers! This weeks is The Firm: 500 Calorie Workout led by Kelsie Daniels. Kelsie is one of my favorite Firm instructors cuz she has a tendency to kick my bootay with her w/o's and this one did not dissapoint.

The Firm Direct has a web club you can try out for free for one month. Members receive a discount on all the dvds and equipment they offer in their store. There are also discussion boards and chats with the Firm MI's (master instructors). One of the things I like best about their boards is the nutrition information from their certified nutritionalist.

The club has a newer feature, where you can create your own customized workout calendar by inputting all your Firm dvds into the system. Then it generates a customized w/o calendar just for you! Its a fun way to do a Firm rotation.

To Enter this Giveaway: Mandatory Entry: Check out The Firm Direct and tell me something you learned. And leave your email address if you would like to be notified if you win :) Otherwise, just check back to see if you are a winner! I just want to ensure that more winners arent missing out on prizes.

Post a SEPARATE comment for each entry.

Optional Entries (after completing the mandatory entry above):

• 5 Entries: Check out the clip on The Firm Direct and tell me if you recognize anyone besides the MI's (shameless, I tell you...)


• 1 Entry: Follow my blog. Already a follower? Just leave a comment saying so


• 1 Entry: Facebook like The Firm (already do? Tell me so)


• 5 Entries: Re-blog about this giveaway and leave a link (leave 5 comments)


• 10 Entries: Purchase something from The Firm Direct THIS WEEK and tell me what you bought (I will verify the purchase). (Leave 10 comments)

This contest will end Sunday 7/5 at midnight. And the winner will be announced Tuesday 7/6 morning-so CHECK BACK to see if you are the winner! And I will have some more bonus entries before the week is over :)

Today's Review: The Firm: The 500 Calorie Workout
Kelsie Daniels, 2008
This is a 60 minute AWT w/o led by Kelsie w/ 4 background exercisers. Tina shows the beginner modifications. The set is one of my favorites-hardwood floors w/ the (fake) city backgound view from the windows. Kelsie uses one set of (5 lb) dumbbells but I used a variety; you wont need any other props for this w/o.

Kelsie alternates cardio and AWT strength segments thourghout this dvd. The sets are a nice length, so youre not switching up every few mintues, which I like. The pace is quick in this one so it was hard to use my typical Firm-heavy weights, I heavied up as much as possible and I am quite sore today! Kelsie does not waste any time in this one, but I didnt feel rushed or lost at all.

Her cardio is straightforward and athletic (love) w/out being boring or repetitive. She builds in intensity so its easy to amp up throughout or keep it lower intensity if you choose. You will see jacks, shuffle, grapevines, front & back V-steps, ham curls, etc. She puts fun spins on some typical hi-lo moves to really keep the w/o moving along and fun.

Her strength moves are all multi muscle and I found myself not able to go quite as heavy as I would have liked, but like I said-I am feeling it today so had I heavied up-I would probably have regretted it today! She combines a lunge with a bicep curl, squats with clean and press, side lunges-setting down the weight and picking it up, etc. What I really loved about her strength segments was that my heartrate really didnt drop at all.

She closes with a standing ab section that is used to cool down before you go down to the floor for more ab work and lying chest and tricep work.

I would rate this a higher intermediate- it is more challenging than most of the newer pinnk Firms. I really enjoyed this w/o and though its 60 minutes-I wasnt clock watching AT ALL! The time flew by and I was drenched with sweat by the end. Kelsie really makes the most of your workout time here.

 ( Custom cakes by Lindsey Lu. Phoenix custom cakes. Specialty Cakes Phoenix. Arizona custom specialty cakes. Specialty cupcakes phoenix. Custom Phoenix cupcakes  Phoenix wedding cakes Phoenix birthday cakes, specialty birthday cakes phoenix)