10 Minute Solution: Dance It Off & Tone It Up

THE WORKOUT: 10 Minute Solution: Dance It Off & Tone It Up ($14.99 at Amazon)

REVIEW BY: Sophia

WHO CAN DO THIS: Not me. The moves were just too fast and tricky. If you think you can dance, give it a try.

THE BREAKDOWN: I’m a big fan of the 10 Minute Solution series and the 10 Minute Solution: Fat Blasting Dance Mix, also with Jennifer Galardi, who is featured on this workout, is among my favorite workout DVDs. It had me doing a reasonable facsimile of dancing the first time through.

This one …not so much.

The two toning segments using a toning band (included) are great. I really like fitness bands as an alternative to weights. The 10-minute upper body tone up and 10-minute buns and thighs sculpt segments here are fast, simple and feel effective.

But the other three segments…oy vey is mir.

I started with the High Energy Fat Burner because I was feeling high energy. Turned out my energy level was not a problem but my coordination (or lack thereof) was. The footwork wasn’t as tricky as the hips and abs wiggles were and when she added the arms, everything went completely to hell. Steps are broken down and change too quickly for me.

The Dancer’s Abs segment was no better. I did fine through the warm up but when the choreography kicked in, I was just flinging my stomach in all directions.

OK. So maybe I’d been ambitious by not starting with the Sexy Slim Down segment, which promises “easy-to-learn-moves.” If you just sit and watch the DVD, they do look simple, but just try to keep up…And I as much as I begged for a count to follow, Jennifer just ignored me and kept on dancing. Fact is, I gave up before this segment was done, feeling bad about myself.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I got sweaty but I didn’t have that happy post-cardio glow.

BUT IS IT FUN? Not for me—except the toning segments.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll either feel like a dancer or a klutz.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Supportive shoes, uncarpeted floor and rhythm.

FINAL WORD:I could get all determined and spend more time trying to master this DVD but probably won’t. Workout time is limited and I don’t like to squander it flailing and feeling frustrated. If, like the Dance Off the Inches series, this series included a tutorial on the steps, I might give that a shot. But as it is, this DVD will probably gather dust, unless I pop it in sometimes for the toning segments.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through the link above.