Do the Hustle: Cheryl Burke’s Disco Abs

I'm always looking for ways to make exercise not seem so much like... well, exercise.  And taking the time to get to the gym isn't always doable with my schedule (despite me working from home).  I really enjoyed the  Zumba class I took (and can't wait to go again).  So when I saw Cheryl Burke's Disco Abs on Amazon, I had to give it a go. I heard that Cheryl Burke is the Jazzercise spokesperson, as well as being all over Dancing with the Stars (which I don't watch --  I'm a So You Think You Can Dance-er -- but I've seen her dance in clips), so I figure if anyone is going to get me doing disco, it'll be her.

The DVD contains 5 workouts over 3 discs: Boogie Buns & Thighs, Disco Abs, I Will Survive Cardio, The Beginner Hustle, That's The Way I Like It Abs.  This review will be in 2 to 3 parts because there are 5 workouts over 3 discs. I've only done two of them thus far.

The Beginner Hustle

This was a fun, easy-to-follow, engaging 10-minute routine. The steps were really easy to master and Cheryl's instruction wasn't overbearing, but just right. I was a little amused by the overly zealous girl in the white sports bra to Cheryl's right, but overall the 'backup players' were pleasant and palatable, unlike some videos where you just want to clock  their cheesy smiling faces. You know the ones. I'm looking at you, Leslie Sansone. (I do love her workouts, but the older videos are so hokey with Randy in his bike shorts and the woman with the ripped abs and plastic smile. Gah!) But I digress. Again.

I wouldn't really qualify The Beginner Hustle as a "workout".  It really feels like more of a warm-up. A 'workout' implies there's going to be a cool-down. Now, I realize that in 10-minute workout, there's barely time to get your heart rate up before it's time to cool-down again, but if you're going to call it a "beginners workout", there should be a beginning, middle and an end.  If I were doing that workout as a total novice or someone extremely overweight or injured, who might need a less intense program, I'd be sort of left hanging with a mildly elevated heart rate and no resolution, sort of fitness blue balls, if you will. So, my recommendation would be to either follow it up with a walk or a DIY cool-down or, if you're up for it, roll right into the next workout, I Will Survive Cardio, or any of the others in the collection.  I'd give this one 4 Donuts simply because I just don't feel like it's a full 'workout', but otherwise, I think it's fab.

I Will Survive Cardio

This was totally hilarious, fun and definitely a workout.  I mean, it's not hard so don't feel intimidated by it, but it got my heart rate up, it made me sweat and miraculously, I didn't feel like a complete tool pointing Travolta-style at the sky in my living room. *points*  I hustled, I grapevined, I egg-beatered and otherwise got my Saturday Night Fever on at 6am in the morning. 

The first 15 minutes of the routine she teaches you various moves and in the last 15 minutes, you put them all together until you're shakin' your shimmy all over the living room. The music is great -- actual disco hits, not some cheesy bastardizations to avoid royalties.  The only thing missing is the light-up floor, platform shoes and a lot of lip gloss.  My bunny Lulu eyeballed me like I was insane, but I was having fun!

There's a handy little countdown clock in the corner to let you know how much more time in your workout -- love that -- but found I didn't really need it.  I often am a clock-watcher when it comes to exercise, but this time, the 30 minutes was up before I even knew it.   I think this workout gets 5 Donuts from me. It was easy, it was fun and it went by fast -- what more can a girl ask for?

All in all, I got 40 minutes of cardio in without praying for it to be over, cracked a smile or two while doing it and look forward to trying the other workouts.  I'll definitely be doing these again, so the repeat-factor is high.  I have so many gathering dust, but this time, I'll be a disco fool!

*points*

I give this 4.5 donuts.