The Firm: Express Cardio (BSS3)

This was released with the Firm Box (aka death box) system so it uses an incline step. Its a 30 minute mostly cardio workout. In addition to the incline box you will need a light set of dumbbells. Stephanie leads with 4 background exercisers with Libby showing the beginner modifications. The set is slightly dim but not too dark.

Stephanie is a fantastic lead so you cant go wrong with this workout. It is a very typical Firm cardio workout. Mostly cardio, but some light strength work-dips, squats, leg press, bicep curls while keeping your heartrate up. None of the moves are truely unique to this workout but it is put together well and Stephanie cues wonderfully. There are no dancy moves or tricky choreo in this one.

IMO this workout is mostly step work, on the 6 inch (you can up it to the 8 in if using the TF), and on the incline. She also does a routine or two of floor cardio-tri-star, shuffling, grapevine, etc. Ther is also a nice set of tall box climb with light weights and a quick set of light weight leg press. She also does some of the cardio routines with light weights, so fast 4 limb work is I guess what they call it.

I would rate this a solid to maybe high intermediate workout done as is. WIth all Firms you can easily modify them up or down to suit your needs. Its a fun workout and you can work up quite the sweat in only 30 minutes. It definatley has a place in my collection and I use it frequently.

I was surprised to find so few reviews of this one. It was a real favorite on the Firm check-in here. I was puzzled that nobody seemed to like Ultimate Calorie Blaster until I tried this one - it's like UCB but better/shorter.

This one - IMO - is the most fun cardio tape on the Transfirmer. The time just flies. I get a decent workout (though less intense than Advanced Cardio, I find this more intense than say Maximum Cardio Burn).

I am an intermediate exerciser and fairly new to the Firm workouts. I enjoy the Firm cardio so far (not strength, though) and I liked this workout. It was a nice change of pace to use the incline. I was able to follow along fairly well, but the change from mirror cueing to direct cueing is a little confusing. The choreography isn’t terribly difficult, but trying to remember which way they are cueing was a little frustrating. This workout included some aerobics on the flat part of the box with no incline, some floor aerobics (which they call low impact, but that isn’t always the case), some four-limbed aerobics and toning on top of the box at its 14” point, and some four-limbed aerobics and toning using the box at an incline. I used a club step with risers for the incline, a high step and floor for the high box portions and club step flat for the flat, on box, aerobics. It is a fairly short workout at 30 minutes, but pairs nicely with other Firm 30 minute aerobic workouts for a longer routine.