Leslie Sansone: The Tone Every Zone Walk

I'm a big fan of Jessica Smith and have all of her DVD's but I like variety so I decided to try Leslie Sansone. The first LS DVD that I purchased was Walk It Off in 30 Days. If you have seen my glowing review, you know that I absolutely love it! This one incorporates strength training in two segments; both lower and upper body and the third segment is a fast-paced 20 minute walk. I did the whole 60 minutes together for a complete workout session. I would estimate that I burned about 250-300 kcals. The lower segment focuses on the big muscles of the lower body using very few moves. Leslie keeps things simple with squats, lunges, and plies - that's about it. These moves are the biggies that really burn calories and fatigue the muscle. The upper segment focuses mainly on chest, back, and shoulders with a bit of biceps and triceps - again, the moves are simple but you get the most bang for your buck by using them. I was fatigued by the end but only because I used heavier weights (8 - 10 lbs.). I'm at an intermediate level and am used to doing these moves so if you're a beginner use light weights at first. Leslie also incorporates walking into these strength segments which I found very helpful to stretch out my muscles and get some cardio in. Cardio and strength together is great for boosting metabolism and calorie burn. The last segment of fast-paced walking is just fun to do. Leslie walks with a large groups and there's chatting and laughing and everyone is just having a ball. Leslie meets and greets everyone at the end of the segment and I just had to smile. It honestly felt like I was walking with a group of friends - very enjoyable and fun! That's how working out should be - it should never be something that you hate doing. It took me forever to figure this out...really. It makes sense: If you don't look forward to doing it, you will never stick with it and it's just such a drag. Find exercise that you love to do, and you will naturally lose weight without even having to think about it. Anyone at any fitness level can do these workouts - younger, older, whoever, whatever. This is a great place to start for beginners but if you are more advanced, just add more weight and amp up the cardio in the walking segment. Adding hand weights is a terrific way to burn more calories too.

I have a handful of Leslie Sansone DVDs and enjoy doing them when I feel like some easier exercise, but I never felt her DVDs offered a complete workout. While I realize that strength training is very important to health, I don't enjoy going to the gym so I need a strength routine I can easily do at home. I love that this DVD combines cardio (via fast walking) with strength training because it provides a well rounded workout that will get you in better shape than cardio alone. The music is upbeat and motivating, and I love the music only option, as Leslie's chatter can sometimes be a bit much for me. I enjoy this workout so much that I've been doing segments of it every day, and it leaves me feeling energized instead of exhausted. In a way, it's structured similarly to something like Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred in that it alternates between short bursts of cardio with strength moves, so it seems to go by quickly. Unlike the 30 Day Shred however, I don't dread doing it and have to talk myself into it each time. It also doesn't involve jumping which hurts my knees and annoys my neighbors. While you certainly aren't going to get ripped doing this DVD, I think if you combine one of the strength portions with the fast walking portion (maybe alternating between upper body and lower body every other day) you would get a full body workout and maintain a healthy level of fitness (and that's all I really care about). I will admit that I sometimes substitute more challenging strength moves like push ups for some of the easier moves she does, like standing bicep curls. The only complaint I have about this DVD is that she doesn't do any moves which specially target the core, so I usually add a few planks into the mix. There's also no stretching segment, so it's important to add that in yourself. Overall this is a fantastic DVD that I look forward to using every day. I highly recommend it and think it could be a great way to introduce some easy strength training into your routine!

I have been a fan of Leslie Sansone's walk workouts for a long time, but I have never owned one that had such an emphasis on strength training and toning. I did all three segments of the workout for the first time today (they are 20 minutes each, for a total of one hour), and I think it's fabulous. The upper body and lower body segments alternate between toning and fast walking, and the final segment is fast walking only. The three segments may be combined in any way. Also by using heavier or lighter weights, it is easy to adjust the intensity of the toning segments. So this workout can be light or challenging, short or long, depending on your needs for the day. As always, Leslie comes across as warm and encouraging without being annoying or seeming fake, and everyone in the room seems to be having a good time. She makes me feel like I'm doing something great for my body without punishing myself to the point of injury. I especially enjoyed her weight loss advice in one of the segments. If I had one criticism, it would be that I wish the camera angles allowed me to follow along with the steps being performed at the end of the fast walk segment, when Leslie walks around the room and thanks each of the background exercisers for joining her. While it is really sweet, it is impossible to see the exercise part. I just had to tell myself that it didn't really matter since it was the cool-down anyway, and I just marched in place in time to the music. Directing an exercise video should be really, really simple--always make sure you can see at least one person's feet and/or arms (whichever is most relevant to keeping up at that particular moment), and make sure the person on camera is doing the moves correctly. Easy peasy, and it annoys me more than it should when that doesn't happen.

I absolutely love the workout...a nice steady burn, I can make it easy or harder depending on how I feel that day! No matter which I choose I get a beautiful hour and my body loves it. Other work outs by different trainers are certainly more challenging but I always feel like doing this one because it doesn't feel difficult or like a drag to push thru. Makes it easier for me to enjoy working out, getting a good hour in with no stress and feeling great that I worked out 6 days this week with no struggle. Leslie is so sweet too! She makes you feel happy and she looks great! Like a normal healthy beautiful woman!!!

Diese DVD ist in drei 20-Minuten-Teile untergliedert. Erstmal kommt das "Upper-Body" Workout. Leider kann ich zu dem nichts sagen, da ich verletzungsbedingt meinen Arm nicht so bewegen darf und viele Bewegungen meiden muss. Workout 2 ist "Lower Body" Also Kniebeugen, Ausfallschritte etc. Dazwischen - wie bei Workout 1 auch - immer wieder kurze Cardioteile. Zu diesem Teil kann ich sagen, dass es mich etwas unterfordert, ich habe es zweimal hintereinander mit je 5 kg Hanteln gemacht. Workout 3 ist ein reines Cardiotraining. Mein Fazit: Zusammen, also alle drei Teile zusammen, ergeben ein tolles Training. Ansonsten ist es auch gut möglich, nur ein Workout zu wählen wenn es mal an Lust und Zeit fehlt. Die Intensität bei den ersten beiden Teilen kann man gut mit dem Gewicht der Hanteln steuern oder eben die Workouts mehrmals hintereinander abspiehlen. Mein Fazit: Gute DVD! Kann man kaufen

I have a few Leslie sansone DVD’s but this one is a nice change as you do dumbbell moves interspersed with the usual walking bursts. Good to have a change.

Only buy this if your DVD player plays region 1 DVDs. it contains some great workouts combing walking with strength training. Recommend if you have some weights.

This program has quickly become one of my favourite exercise DVDs. I am a senior with osteoarthritis in my knees. The DVD is divided up into Upper Body, Lower Body and a Fast Walk: 20 minutes each. Because of my knees, I am unable to do the lower body workout. But the upper body and fast walk workouts are great. I do one right after the other, for a super 40 minute session. About a year ago, my upper body strength was abysmal, but since I have been working with weights I have much more confidence that I can keep myself safer. On a number of occasions, I have been able to save myself from bad falls and I attribute that to simply being stronger. I have the ability to catch myself and grab onto something before I face-plant myself on the floor or pavement. This particular DVD really challenges me and I look forward to becoming even more strong and fit. Thank you so much for the wonderful program, Leslie!