Gilad: Step & Tone Workout

This is a good way to get a step workout and ballet muscle toning workout for someone short of time. The workout is not labeled ballet, but it does the same exercises for the lower body that a ballet workout does. The upper body workout should be done with no weights or light weights and used as a ballet upper body workout. Do not allow your arms to rest between exercises and it will be very effective. They don't make em like these anymore.

I got this DVD about a week ago. I love it. It is a complete body workout from beginning to end. I love the step aerobic patterns, plus the toning of the weights. I have been taking Step Aerobic Classes at the gym for 6 months during the winter months, and this totally gave me a much better workout. I love it because I can do it at home and still enjoy all my summer activities. I would recommend this to anyone from beginner to advance workout.

I love it that Gilad keeps the moves basic. This is a low-impact, effective cardio workout with light hand weights. The lower body and ab sections are very good. I like the older exercise DVDs that started on VHS because the production quality is better than some of the more recent DVDs.

Great DVD'

I use this in my rotation of other aerobic videos which are all Leslie Sansone videos. I find this one very challenging, but I never did bench step aerobics before. I just got this recently. I am still getting used to the foot moves. I haven't added the arms yet. He is very fast and I can't coordinate it all. Even without the arm movements I work up quite a sweat. The other exercises at the end are also very good.

This CD exercise is just Amaizing. I am 40 years old with Medium Fitness levels. I needed somthing for my entire body and this CD is just excellent, I have to move all my muscles I do really recomend it. Excellent

This is a great toning video. I was doing step aerobics with a different video and when I switched to this the weight started coming off faster. The ab part is as good as the step and tone part! Love it and would recommend it to anyone wanting to lose inches!

I first saw Gilad on ESPN for a morning work out....way back in the 1980's! If you are not familiar with Gilad, I think he still might be doing exercise shows on ESPN or Fitness channel. This video, like other Gilad videos, is very well produced. Gilad is in excellent physical condition, and hires dancers to workout along side him. If you have other Gilad videos, you'll see some familiar faces in this one. I originally had this work out in VHS format...so YES, it is outdated fashion wise, but an excellent workout nonetheless! You have to do the work out to know what I mean! Like other Gilad work out videos, this Step & Tone workout takes place on a beach in Hawaii, so the location is beautiful. Gilad's straight forward instructions and cuing, along with his enthusiasm, keeps you motivated throughout the routine. Equipment wise, you will need a set of light barbells (up to 5 lbs for women, 7 lbs for men). A step and some room! A mat for the ab work is needed as well. An oscillating fan is nice if you have one....but not part of the work out :) The actual steps in the step & tone work out are quite simple...basically step up/ tap down, with some V-steps and very little knee-repeaters. Gilad keeps the stepping simple so you can concentrate on your form and lift the weights properly without hurting yourself. If you are looking for "dancy steps", like "around the world" or "Z steps", etc. you won't find them here. The step & tone portion of the video is about 45 minutes, which include: Warm up Biceps Chest Shoulders Back & Triceps Combined Biceps, Chest, Shoulders, Back & Triceps (3 times thru) Cool down There is also abs and legs work and then a long cool down at the end. The key to successfully using this routine is to start off S-L-O-W-L-Y with light weights (like 1 lb set) and then building up as you get more fit. Please do this if you are not used to working out (and especially if you have NEVER worked out!. ) For example, when I started this video, I used 1 lb weights and only did the warm-up and the biceps portion and then would cool down. I did that for about a week (3 or 4 times). Then I added the chest portion, shoulders, etc. so I was increasing the time I was actually stepping, along with increasing the weights (in 1 lb increments). It is actually more beneficial as a whole to increase your stepping time than it is to increase the weights. I am now up to 5 lb weights and I can make it all the way thru the step & tone workout 4 times a week! In almost 3 months, I have lost 15 lbs as well and gone down 2 sizes WITHOUT DIETING....just exercising and turning my flab into toned muscles! I have started and stopped using this routine as different things happened in my life, but I always come back when I want to get back into shape. If you are willing to work hard and work up a sweat, this workout gives you quick results. Trust me, you will feel and look better in only a few weeks of using this workout 3-4 times per week.

This is good step aerobics program that includes toning exercises. The only criticism is that some of teaching of the routines should have been scaffolded.

The quality is terrible, so much that I can't even use the DVD. The video stalls and then jumps ahead. It's impossible to do the workout routine.