Leslie Sansone: Walk It Off In 30 Days

Growing up I wasn't into the one video of Leslie's I had tried (Advanced Walk Aerobics when her last name was Tommelleo) in the early 90's. I exclusively used the Jane Fonda videos, mainly the earlier and more difficult videos like her first, the New Workout and Workout Challenge. Jane's format stuck with me, and it was nearly impossible to persuade me to try another instructor, aside from a brief period of Tae Bo. Fast forward to 2014, at a much higher weight and out of shape. I gave the Walk Away the Pounds 1- and 2-Mile Walk videos a try. A nice pace (not too slow, not too fast - enough to get me sweating using the weights). I liked her. She was cheery, fun to listen to, and I felt accomplished finishing the video. I tried a few of her other videos, as well, and found them to provide a great workout. Then I tried this one out, and I'll say it gives you a heck of a workout. The DVD has 2 programs - Burn 30 (aerobics) and Firm 30 (toning and sculpting). The Burn includes the basic moves you have come to expect from her videos, plus some modified versions of sidestep and "boosted walking" - jogging, simply. Leslie and some of the participants behind her use hand/wrist weights for added intensity, but you won't feel intimidated by a class where everyone is performing to the max. There are various walkers not picking up the pace as much, not using weights, and doing less intense side steps/lunges/etc. You will do some squats in Burn 30 and prepare your thighs for quite a few sets of them in the Firm section. While the exercise class uses a full-size studio to film/perform this program, this and many of her videos can be done with minimal space. If you can't do double side-steps, I recommend doing single side-steps and taking them deeper. There are days when I did this with the 2x4 space at the foot of my bed with the DVD playing in my laptop. It's all about how intense you take the steps. I also live in an apartment with a floor that can't hide much movement, but with the carpeting and wearing shoes, too much of a racket isn't made. The plan this DVD is structured on is for users to do 'Burn' Mon/Wed/Fri, and Firm is done Tue/Thu/Sat. I often find I do more of the 'Burn', as I enjoy the aerobics much more, but this is a great cardio/toning combination that will surely work with a sensible eating plan. The original DVD release (I believe it was by Anchor Bay) gives you the option to play the program with music & vocals or just music - a great option once you master it. A number of Leslie's later DVDs between 2014-2018 had this feature. It is not a feature you can select if you buy the digital/streaming version, and later re-issues by other video labels may or may not have the option to play a music-only audio track. Note that when purchasing this and other videos that, when released by Anchor Bay, had two audio options. I dropped a considerable amount of weight utilizing this video and I'll say, even years later, that this is definitely my favorite program of hers. I like the use of the weights in the aerobics, the music is enjoyable, and it does make you sweat. Beginners and more advanced exercisers alike will greatly benefit from this program.

**Menu Screen** - Introduction to the DVD - Burn 30 Workout (with or without music ) 30 mins - Firm 30 Workout (with or without music) 30 mins ******Burn 30 Workout****** This consist of high-intensity aerobics. They are NOT miles. This is just a full blunt workout for 30 minutes. The major moves consist of bouncing with a fist pump in the air, jogging, the run-run-run, and a new move called 'skater' where you combine side step with a foot behind the other. You can use hand-weights if you want. PROS - Clock: The clock does show up, but only when 10 minutes remain in the workout and it stays until the end. I guess there's really no need for a clock. We all know how long the workout lasts. - Key execution movies: Leslie is excellent when executing her moves. She does not surprise you or switch legs - Music: The music is great. It forces you to be on key becuase the beat is very catchy. When you first do it, it may not seem like the music reaches out to you, but you have to give yourself a chance to get used to it. The music makes me feel young. The last song before the cool down is THE JAM! It makes you feel like you're on this serious mission. :p - Her Friends: All are like college-based age with one woman being Leslie's age (just guessing) and then a much older woman is in the back. I felt sorry for the older woman in the back. This workout was clearly not within her abilities. She could not keep up entirely. One other thing about them is that to Leslie's left (right side of the screen) are two women that are using weight. These women are like robots! They motivate me to push myself. There was one time I was tired of holding the weights, but when the scene switched to them still carrying it, I picked mines back up. CONS - None *******Firm 30 Workout******* This consist if toning your arms, thighs, stomach, and butt. The first part is a warm up with some brief jogging. You get right to work with squats of wide legs and legs close together. There is A LOT of squatting and lunges. I cannot stand lunges. So, I just substitute them with more squats. You'll do some lunge stances in position and then work on the arms. She'll rotate legs, but it gets you tired quick. I normally do not like floor work, but when it's with Leslie I'm more confident about it. One the floor, she'll start with the weights raised high over your chest and then tell you to bring your elbows out and in. Then she'll do chest raises with the weights. She'll then work hard on the stomach with the little crunches. The stretch is pretty short but involves leaning on one need with the opposite hand pointing out, and the last stretch is on your back with your arms over your head laying FLAT out. PROS - Clock: By the time you get on the floor the clock will appear and remain for the last 10 minutes. - You'll get a very good workout for the legs, especially when she gets you to lean in the lunge stance while doing the arm workout. CONS (VERY minor cons) - The music for this session is very nice. But the second (and last) song repeats 3 to 4 times in a row. This last song actually makes you feel like you're on a fancy beach somewhere in another country. It's really nice, but it can get old after a while. I usually have a big ear for music. - As soon as she says that you've finished the standing workout, QUICKLY get out that yoga mat, becuase she does not give you enough time to set that up. So either have already in place or close by. - I felt like the arm session was not competitive enough, but that could be due to the pounds I had. I only had 2 to 5 pounds. I would upgrade it to 6 or 7 pounds ****OTHER INFO***** I did the workout as suggested, doing them everyday. For the Burn 30, I burned between 188-205 calories. For Firm 30 I burned 89-92 calories. Because this workout is set up for 30-day challenge, having it only motivates me to actually do it everyday. That's the plus side of having it.

I've been using Leslie's videos for about a year and a half now, and have a dozen or so that I like to cycle through. This is one of my favorites. If you are new to exercise, this probably isn't the video you want to start with. I can do her 5 mile walks and don't start sweating until mile 3 - this one has me sweating not long after starting the walk. There are two segments, the first is the Burn 30 workout that you do Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The second segment is the Firm 30 workout that you do Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The Burn workout uses optional light hand weights and is fast. Even the warm up is on the fast side, and along with the usual side steps, kicks, knee lifts and kick backs, there are skaters, "step-step-run, run, runs", tap outs, double tap outs, moving kick backs, and arms go up, down and out to the sides several times. At one point, Leslie stops doing the arm moves and walks around to talk to the walkers while everyone else keeps moving the arms. You end with some squats before a brief cool down. There about twelve walkers, mostly women with two guys. Most of the walkers are on the young side, with two older women near the back. The older of the two does her darndest to keep up, but also modifies the moves as she goes, and she does not join the Firm workout. The Firm workout uses dumb bells, and starts with a peppy few minutes of standard walking moves. The Firm workout is all basic stuff, like squats with feet apart and together, toes turned out, rows, chest presses, lunges, etc.; there is also work on the floor for the abs and buns, along with the weights. It ends with a full body stretch. All in all, an excellent workout that is a great addition to my Leslie Library! If you like Leslie, and are looking for a more challenging walk from her, this is a good one. You can preview this DVD on YouTube from Collage Video or Anchor Bay Fitness.

I'm female, 5'7 and about 187 pounds, early 30s, mom of one. The higher calorie burn is from the aerobic workout and lower the strength training portion. I'm not a newbie but not advanced, I would say I'm somewhere above beginner. Keep in mind these calorie burns will vary depending on several factors. Now to my review! I discovered Leslie on YouTube. I needed something easier that day and she offered a nice and steady walk. I enjoyed it. I tried others she had on there and some for me were much too easy. Something I would do again if I needed steps or something to just get moving. I decided to check out Amazon to purchase a DVD (I'm also a huge Jessica Smith fan too and own several of her DVDs) and read reviews on a couple different ones. The reviews on this from fans were saying that this was more challenging than other workouts of hers. I have to agree! Hand weights are used in both. Both are a total body workout and one focuses more on cardio and the other strength training. I hate floor work, and the segment was short on the floor part of strength training and I didn't think it was that bad. Some movements I missed reps because my back and neck muscles aren't very strong but I could still do the movement and will get better as I do it more. It wasn't that crazy, and like I said I'm not a fan of floor work. You can make this more or less intense by getting heavier weights, not using weights etc. The cardio especially flew by, I had a good amount of time in peak HR. I was working hard but enjoying it, not doing super crazy moves , it didn't feel like a workout but I got a great workout. In order to have long term success you need to be able to keep up and want to do your workouts or you won't. I feel both Leslie and even Jessica I mentioned previously offer that. I love walking, kickboxing and barre the most and this had a slight feeling of all especially in the cardio portion of the workout. Plus weights used in both so you're toning and getting more of a workout! I would say that's a win win. Highly recommend this DVD and the price point too is great. I usually jump around with all my DVDs but I'm going to try and do this for a solid month and see what my results are using this combined with weight watchers.

As other reviewers stated, this workout starts fast and doesn't quit till the very end when you stretch. I was sweating towards the end of the warm up, which I was happy about. I have done Leslie's DVDs on and off for the past 3 years, and this one is quite a departure from her past DVDs. The music and studio are very modern, which I can't decide if I like. Leslie is as perky as ever, but it certainly seems that this workout is aiming for the younger demographic. Not that I'm old - I'm 29. But, one of the things I love about Leslie's other DVDs is her genuine nature and the "walking with friends" atmosphere she creates. She always says she just called up her friends to come work out that day, and it really seems that way. This one definitely had a more structured, stylized feel, more Hollywood for lack of a better word. The walkers seemed to be fitness models who were hired specifically for this DVD, instead of the regulars from her past DVDs who were her friends and employees. I am not saying there is anything wrong with this at all, it just was very different from the Leslie DVDs I am used to. But the workout - the workout was good. As I said, I got very sweaty, and I loved that it was only 30 minutes. It was very easy to squeeze in while my husband was putting the kids to bed. I absolutely plan to do the 30 day plan. I've already lost 15 lbs with Weight Watchers and Leslie DVDs in 12 weeks, so I'm excited to see what happens with this challenge. I will update this review after I do the Firm 30. I'm hoping it's feasible for me, I haven't done any toning work and I'm a bit nervous after seeing how challenging the Burn 30 was. (I could do the steps no problem, but if this had been my first walking DVD, it would have been more difficult.) EDIT: After doing the suggested routine of MWF Burn and TThSa Firm for 2.5 weeks, I am back to update my review. I have gotten used to the different feel of this DVD, and so far I am actually quite happy with it. My legs absolutely killed for the first week, which I was thrilled with. At first blush, the Firm portion seemed too easy, but then I made sure to carefully watch Leslie and the other "walkers" to make sure my form was correct, and sure enough, I was doing most moves incorrectly or without enough energy/focus on the areas each move targeted. I can already see a difference in my arms, and my husband notices too. I can feel myself getting stronger from this DVD, and I still love how easy it is to squeeze the 30 minutes into my day. I am excited to see the results at the end of this challenge!

I LOVE these workouts! There are two 30 min workouts on the DVD; one is strength training, & the other is strictly cardio. Leslie is her usual upbeat, encouraging self. The recommendation is that you alternate the 2 wrkouts 6 days a each week, taking Sunday (or another day of your choosing) as a 'rest' day. This is the 30 day challenge. I can now proudly say that two days ago, I completed the 30 day challenge. I feel it's very "do-able" but effective. I can see some lean definition in my arms, & tho I didn't take measurements before beginning challenge, I lost the few extra lbs I'd gained on recent vacation, & can definitely tell a reduction in my waistline. In the 30 min strength wrkout, you start out doing about 5 mins of Leslie's usual "walk" moves as warm up, then go right into using hand weights, doing squats & lunges. If you have issues doing squats & lunges, this is probably not the workout for you, lol. You also do bicep curls, & other upper body strengthening repetitions. It ends with about 10 mins on mat doing a few other arm exercises, & ab work. I'm very impressed that so much is covered in just 30 mins. I also like that both wrkouts show an on-screen clock countdown for last 10 mins. These will def be favorite 'go to' workouts for me. 👍🏾

I am overweight, 5'2 and over 253 pounds. I wanted to start working out, eat healthy and shed some of the weight, especially that of late i was starting to feel tired, no energy and very heavy. Being heavy it is sometimes impossible to keep up with some of the exercise DVDs out there, some of them are too difficult and too intense, they make you feel like a complete failure, but not Leslie Sansone's exercises. They might not be designed for those who want 6 packs and buffed muscles, but they definitely work to shape your body and give you the boost you need to start your weight loss program . I own a lot of her walking DVDs. I give this one a 5 star, i did it for 30 days as advised, and i lost 16 pounds. I also started eating healthy. I can feel the changes in my body and I also feel stronger and fitter. I will take the 30 days challenge for another month and see where it takes me. I recommend this DVD for anyone who wants to start exercising and losing weight. The DVD offers 2 exercise segments , burn 30 which includes her usual walk at home moves, Leslie uses 2 pounds weights through this exercise. The second segment is firm 30, which is a combination of body sculpting exercises for upperand lower body using weights 5 - 8 pounds. The last 10 minutes or so are floor work for Abs and back. You are supposed to alternate between the 2 segments , doing one each day for 6 days with one day off.

I've done this video several times and must say by far it is one of her most awesome works to date for the intermediate and advanced crowd. I own a lot of her videos and some are really tailored for those who are just beginning to workout or would like something low impact and friendly on the joints. I enjoy her videos because there is something for everyone unlike many other fitness videos out there. For those that are looking for a challenge, this incorporates cardio and strength training. I find it is not overly exhausting and like that it doesn't leave you wiped out. It seems to provide a great balance. I like the alternating schedule between the Burn 30 and Firm 30... gives you a chance to switch it up and not get too bored. I've lost 45 pounds in the past mainly doing her videos, so i know they work as long as you commit to pressing the play button everyday and put in the work! I have about 75 more pounds to lose and hoping to reach my goal this year. This video is just what i needed to "bump it up a little" (in Leslie's words lol) along with other activities i regularly do. Starting to do the 30 day challenge today. Will post an update....