Walk it Off with George! Walk Box & Burn

I’m reviewing this workout after previewing and doing it once each.

General workout breakdown: This walking video, which includes some boxing moves, lasts almost 47 minutes. The base steps include walking (or marching), side steps, wide march, out out in in, and the “Foreman shuffle” (three steps and a tap); the base boxing moves include bob and weave, cross, upper cut, hook, jab, boxer’s shuffle, and quick shuffle. The video begins with some shoulder rolls and a chest stretch and ends with a cool down, more shoulder rolls and another chest stretch, and stretches for the calf, hip flexor, and hamstring. The pace is what I would consider a moderately quick stroll.

Level: I’d recommend this to beginners with a little bit of experience since this is a longer video and since there isn’t a ton of form instruction on the punches. More intermediate exercisers could exaggerate the movements, particularly with respect to the legs, and use light hand weights to get a good workout. I consider myself at least at the high intermediate stage with respect to floor aerobics, and this video is on the easy side for me, but sometimes I want a workout that doesn’t involve going all out.

Class: 1 man and 6 women join George and Petra. One of the exercisers is of a plus size frame and three are of “normal” size, but what I love is that the “thin” background exercisers all look realistically fit, not the type of skinny that you only get with genetics. The background exercisers demonstrate variations when there are some.

Music: upbeat music with a good beat.

Set: interior studio space with muted lighting. A big sign in the back proclaims this is “George’s Gym,” and there are various pieces of boxing equipment, lockers, etc., lining the walls.

Production: good picture and sound. The camera shots were more or less helpful, but I think it’s best if the camera always shows the instructor when there’s a new move.

Equipment: sneakers.

Space Requirements: Ideally you should be able to take two medium-sized steps to each side and forwards and backwards, but if you have less space, just stay in place. (George says you can do this in a phone booth; that’s a slight exaggeration, but you don’t need a ton of space.)

DVD Notes: There are no chapters on this DVD, so have your remote handy to fast forward through the Warnings, GoodTimes logo, Walk it off with George! intro, and George’s description.

Conclusion: This is the fourth video in the Walk it Off with George! infomercial set; it’s the longest one and the only one with boxing moves. The first half is about the same intensity as the Fat Blasting Walk (minus the intervals), but last 15 minute or so of the workout proper is as intense as the Fat Blasting Walk intervals. This will probably be the toughest video in the set for those new to exercise because of its length and the fact that the more intense moves come towards the end.

At first I didn’t think I’d keep this one because I’d rather do something with intervals, like Walk & Box, but after doing it I think I will keep it for easier days because I like the last half of the workout. Also, I like the fact that Petra’s toned down here and George isn’t quite so repetitive in his comments.

This is a slight notch down in intensity from Leslie Sansone’s Walk & Kick. Leslie’s walking pace is a little quicker, she includes kicks, and she doesn’t take as much time to build up the punches. In other words, Walk & Kick would be a logical next step (pun intended!).