Leslie Sansone: Ultimate 5 Day Walk Plan

I have several Sansone DVDs, which I just started doing last year, but this easily my favorite and for several reasons. It's perfect for the motivationally challenged, people who are short or time, as well as for those who want to control their workout--whether they're relatively in shape or not. One of the things that I didn't like with her other DVDs was that I couldn't choose what I wanted to do, and this sometimes discouraged or bored me. Some days I only wanted to do a mile, while other days I wanted to more than that, or perhaps add in some muscle toning, since it's the heart of losing weight and getting in shape. I am also the kind of person who needs to psyche themselves out a bit to do something, and stopping to change DVDs or what not tends to stop me from exercising. I am not one for baby steps, nope! I also appreciate it because I live in the foothills and love to walk, but doing a good walk here feels more like a strenuous hike, and/or it's close to 100 degrees out. No thanks!While I was more consistent with her workouts when compared to my other DVDS, such as The Firm or Zumba, I was still struggling with staying on top of it and it would sometimes worsen joint issues. This is why I found this particular DVD perfect for my needs. I've been doing it several times a week and fairly consistently, but not religiously, ever since mid-March. I try to do a minimum of 5 miles a week, but I sometimes don't get to and sometimes I'll do more. There was a week or two where I didn't hardly do anything since I had exams to take and had gone out of town (going back to school in my 30s). I also do not diet, but try to be somewhat smart about what I eat and watch my portions to a degree. I've so far lost close to 12 pounds since mid-March just doing this DVD, gentle/stretching yoga and the occasional (i.e. rare) 10-minute Pilates, and it's now currently the end of May. Not bad for not being overly consistent and mostly doing 2 miles each time, I'd say, especially since it feels so effortless due to the easy movements when compared to other things that are high impact.I love that I can choose to do one of the pre-programmed selections, but I often just pick the ones I like the most. I can do it sick, tired, or aching from certain health problems and having a desk job, and I can make it more challenging when necessary. Basically, short of popping the DVD, I have virtually no excuses not to do it. I usually wind up feeling better when I do them, too. I sometimes tell myself I am going to do the warm-up along with a mile and a cool down, but will often toss in an extra mile or so, just in case. If I don't feel like doing that extra mile later, I don't do it and will skip to the next part, but I'm usually having such a good time with it that I always wind up doing more. Somehow, picking out segments also doesn't feel so time consuming, but that is obviously all psychological. I also love the fact that I can add more miles than the usual 3-5 found on some DVDs if I want to, plus add in the muscle toning or stretching if I want to do that as well. This makes it useful well into the future, especially for those who want to intensify their workout later. I believe you can choose up to 10 different selections, including duplicates of the same segment.I love the film set on this DVD for some reason, which looks fresh and energizing. Even the clothes they wear are cute and not as distracting as some of the ones in the other DVD. I appreciate the color coordination based on miles, too, and feel that was a good touch. The four women, while slender, are healthy looking and there aren't so many people to distract me or put me off, unlike some of her other DVDs, yet they give me something to look at. Some people have mentioned how they don't sweat. They do sweat, but these are also broken up--meaning, they do it different times. I kind of use their healthy bodies as inspiration to get back into shape, rather than hating on them. They're realistically fit. I also really like the music in this one, much more than some of the other ones I have, which is great for motivation.So far, my favorite miles are red, purple and blue, which I tend to do the most, but I will also mix-and-match them with green or yellow. I believe two workouts--I think yellow and blue--have some very modified jumping jacks and jump rope, which I'm really not into. Sometimes I'll do them and sometimes I will just do something else. There are pauses between tracks/segments that last several seconds, but I just walk in place or keep moving. Yes, the pace can vary at the start of each segment, which may not be ideal for people who want high intensity, but I kind of consider this interval training, where you raise and lower your heart rate/muscle usage to challenge your body more--kind of like the P90x theory, just mellower and less insane tut. I also like the fact that I can make the most of what I'm doing by making bigger movements, and I later plan to incorporate leg and wrist weights.All in all, this is great for all around muscle toning and calorie burning, but without the jarring, bootcamp-style repetitiveness found in other workouts. It feels good to do and I never have a moment where I'm wishing we could just finish with a certain move, like arms, because she mixes it up perfectly. It's mellow and easy enough to feel natural while you're doing it, making it good for motivation purposes, but i find it's far more effective than walking or using my treadbeast. The customization of this DVD is also great for those who want control or to vary their routines. It really gives you more bang for you buck. Highly recommend.

i admit: i hate exercising but love the energy i feel after i do so. Simply put, i get bored exercising and just dont have the motivation to do so. I'd say i am a seasoned DVD fitness exerciser as I have a good collection of quality vids from Cathe, Christi Taylor, firm to Dasha Libin's Kettlekickboxing. I consider myself intermediate as i am returning to watching my weight and regularly doing fitness vids.Now put in the picture: Leslie Sansone just walk 5 day plan. wooohoo. i really look forward working out. This video just makes me smile. Love Leslie here as she is motivating and just pleasant to be with. Yea so what if she talks alot? it makes time go faster. Her companions in all the segments are fun to watch too and also make me smile. I have owned older vhs Leslie and this is different. You just dont walk here and pump your arms. You do side steps, kicks, etc along with arm movements. You can go as fast as their pace or even faster and i find my HR still going up and i do break a sweat. I think this vid has helped me tone my legs more (i am never the skinny leg gal type and have thick short muscular legs) and helped me cardio-wise.Dislikes: music could be better. there are some annoying shrilly dance music, but eventually you kind of block it off after a while.format: each mile is one color. blue mile = 1 mile. green mile = 1 mile etc. Toward the halfway end of the mile, Leslie will pick up the pace a bit more.be careful if you have an old DVD player: when i pressed on the monday (or any of the daily workout days) workout, it would only let me do one colored mile, instead of the monday miles (which is 2 or 3 miles). I can only do the create your own workout where you programwhich color mile(s) you want to do. i still like this b/c i can chose what i want to do....so really not a complaint. just a heads up for those who own older dvd plyrs. there is also a mini-weight training part but quite beginner level so i dont do it.In summary: awesome video. my to-go vid as intermed. exerciser b/c you can go faster than Leslie's pace (which is already fast in 2nd half of the mile). Video is FUN and Leslie's chatting and her companions just make the video pleasant and thereby making the workout go faster. in 15 min, you have done a mile.....now that's better than doing absolutely NOTHING. if you have owned older leslie vid, try this one: it is more than just walking in place. A++++ vid.