Beachbody CIZE Dance Workout DVD Base Kit, Shaun T Exercise Videos, Dancing Fitness Guide for Beginners, Seniors, Easy To Follow, Low Impact, 6 Dance Courses and Ab Workout, 3 DVDs

OVERVIEWI'm a 50 yr old guy and I thought I'd give Cize a try. I'm not a BeachBody coach and have no affiliation with BeachBody. I just want to share my positive experience with Cize and give a middle-aged guy's perspective. Bottom line, I really like Cize and recommend it highly for people my age. Unlike some of the other reviews, which I imagine are posted by much younger and more fit individuals, the workouts in this set made me sweat like crazy. They are a real challenge for me, but very doable and FUN. The best part about it; however, is that while I get a very good workout, I feel energized after the workouts are over. This is very different from my experience lifting weights or doing an intensive aerobics routine, where I usually feel tired and exhausted after the workout is completed. In the beginning, my wife made fun of me when she watched me to the routines. Then she tried one and said, "Wow, this is really fun."In general, I love the dance routines, but didn't really like the abs workout or the cool down routines. The cool down routines are too short, fast, and are actually somewhat strenuous. The dancers don't really slow down from the routine which is odd, but then again, they're probably half my age and don't even notice ;-) The dance routines are definitely worth the price of admission. Below you will find my comments on each routine. Over time, I've added my sometimes changing views of each routine to give you a perspective of how you might feel with each routine after the first 1, 2, and even 5 months.Go to the bottom of the review to see updates on my overall perspective of the Cize program over time.REVIEW OF EACH ROUTINEDVD 1: Crazy 8's: 30 minutes. This is the basic introductory program. Do not skip this if you're a guy and have as little experience in dance as I do. This is a great primer. In the beginning I only did it once, but it was a good intro and I recommend you do this at least once because many of the moves from this routine are used in more complex moves in following routines. This concept of introducing simple versions of moves in earlier routines and then building on this in later routines is a common theme. I recommend going through the routines in order for this reason. You can jump straight to later routines, but it will be a lot harder because you won't have any experience with the simpler versions of key moves.* 12/13/2015 Update: I've gone back to this one and I don't like it that much. It feels more like an aerobics workout rather than a dance routine. Also, this one is much faster than all of the others. I much prefer the slower beat and more thoughtful dance routines in the others. If you don't like this one, don't give up on the program. Try the second routine, "You Got This" below. It's much different.* 3/24/2016 Update: Still not using this one.DVD 1: You Got This: 43 minutes. I did this workout for about a week before adding the first routine from the second DVD. I then switched back and forth between this one and "Full Out" on the second DVD. This is a great mix of routines that you can do for at least 2-3 weeks before moving to the next ones. I was able to learn this routine relatively easily (had it down after the third time I did it). I love this particular workout. I have lower back problems, and some of the later routines involve a lot of bending down which is a problem. You can always modify, but I really like this particular workout because its low impact and no bending down so I can do the full routine without needing to modify. It's a great workout for me and I'm drenched at the end of it.* 12/13/2015 Update: I still like this one a lot and include it in my regular routine at least once every other week; see 12/13/2015 Update comments under Full Out below.* 3/24/2016: I've gotten really tired of this particular routine and don't really include it in my workouts as much, but it was great for the first 3 months.DVD 2: Full Out: 34 minutes. This is one of my favorite workouts, along with You Got This from the 1st DVD. When I first purchased this program, I switched these back and forth from day to day. I find this workout to be a little more challenging and it also incorporates a few more jumping moves making it a mix of high & low impact. At first I couldn't go all the way through without stopping, but after the second week I was able to go all the way through without stopping to rest.* 12/13/2015 Update: I now have Full Out, Go For It, and Living in the 8's as my main 3 routines. These are far and away the best. I don't use You Got This that much - maybe once every other week simply because the moves are not as engaging as the 3 I just mentioned.* 3/24/2016 Update: I still love this one. It's really great.DVD 2: In the Pocket: 37 minutes. 12/13/2015 Update: This routine is not well positioned in the program. After doing Full Out, I highly recommend you go straight to Go For It. The reason I recommend this is because this particular routine is quite intricate, containing some fancy footwork and fast moves that I just wasn't ready for at this point. After I did all of the other programs, I came back to this one and found it much easier to do, especially after doing Living in the 8's. You can try it after Full Out, but you'll probably feel like the beginning moves are just too fast. To be honest, I don't really like this routine very much. Once you have the moves down, it's only about 1/2 as hard as the others and I don't really even sweat that much. It just doesn't feel like a very good work out. Shaun T pauses to go through all of the moves slowly more often than the others, which contributes to less overall intensity.* 3/24/2016 Update: I still don't use this one. It just didn't work for me, even a few months later.DVD 3: Go For It: 40 minutes. This routine is more complex than "Full Out" or "You Got This," but I still found it relatively easy, probably because it uses many of the moves from the previous routines and then modifies them in a small but important way that really works in the overall dance routine - and the move feels different from the way I was doing it before (more on this below). This one is definitely harder than "Full Out" on the second DVD. I still have to stop it and take a rest when I'm about 20 minutes into the routine. My goal is to make it all the way through without stopping. I had to stop with some of the earlier routines, but can do them all the way through right now, so I expect I'll get better and stronger and will be able to do this routine all the way through sometime soon. 12/15/2015 Update: I can do this one all the way through now without stopping. Still really like this routine - it is probably my favorite (this or Living in the 8's below...).* 3/24/2016: This is still one of my favorites. This and the "Full Out" are the ones I include on an ongoing basis to augment my current workouts.DVD 3: Living in the 8's. 51 minutes. "Wow - 51 minutes..." is what I thought when I first did this routine. It's a lot longer and you're going to feel it. The moves are more low impact, and it is a fairly intricate routine, but still very fun. While it is low impact, it's surprisingly strenuous. The first time I did it, I had to stop at about the 30 minute mark. When I'm first doing a routine, I tend to rewind a lot to better learn the move, so while I stopped at the 30 minute mark (20 minutes left), I probably did 60-70 minutes total workout including all of the rewinding. This is a good routine, and it also leverages many moves from the previous routines. One of the things that I like is that Shaun T. adds something to the basic move you learned previously which changes the look and feel of the move altogether. This is one of my favorite aspects of the program. In many other programs, they'll use moves from previous routines, but it feels like I'm being cheated because its the same old move from before. In Cize, Shaun T. will start with a move used previously, and then modify it. So it's easy for me to learn, but totally different and I don't feel cheated.* 12/13/2015 Update: When I first learned this routine, I didn't like it very much. It is now my favorite, along with Go For It. The pacing is absolutely perfect for me. Unless I've been working out regularly, I still have to pause and take a break to catch my breath once I'm about 2/3 of the way through it. When I was at the 6 week mark, I could go all the way through this routine without stopping; but Thanksgiving slowed me down ;-)* 3/24/2016 Update: I still like this one a lot, but since it's almost an hour, I typically don't do this routine during the week. I use it less often, but use it sometimes on the weekend when I have more time.At the same time I purchased Cize, I also purchased Shaun T.'s "Rockin' Body" (2 DVDs with 7 total workouts across both DVDs). I haven't tried these yet, but plan on integrating these with Cize. So far I've been doing Cize for about 5 weeks and I've lost 7 pounds. I'm not really trying to lose weight, but I've lost a little and wanted to report it. I just want to reiterate how much I've enjoyed the routines. I've been lifting weights, running and biking for over 30 years, and I was really needing a change of pace in my fitness. Cize gave me exactly what I was looking for - a refreshing and fun way to stay in shape that actually energizes me. Thanks Shaun T. and all of the BeachBody staff for creating something new, different, and fun.EDIT: Experience 1-month after initial purchase. 11/16/2015I've now been doing the routines for a month. I'm mastered all of them except "In The Pocket," which as I mentioned was not one of my favorites, but I'm thinking of trying it out again because it's the only one that is still kind of new to me. My favorite routines are Living in the 8's, Full Out, Go For It, and You Got This - in that order. At first I didn't really like Living in the 8's that much because I didn't like the moves that much, but now I do. I think Living in the 8's is the most strenuous. It's very deceptive because it starts out seeming like it will be easy, but the last quarter of the routine is actually very hard.I can see why some of the other reviews say that this exercise workout set of DVDs starts out well, then you get tired of it and want to move on. It's true that once you know the routines, there's not as much to look forward to, but right now at least I'm still having a lot of fun with the routines and getting a lot out of it. I'll provide another update in a month or so to let you know how things are going. So far I'm really happy with the purchase and with the routines.EDIT: Experience at 2 months after initial purchase 12/13/2015I just mastered In The Pocket, but don't like it that much. The main programs that I like to keep in rotation are Full Out, Go For It, and Living in the 8's. I still occasionally go through You Got This, but don't like the moves as much in this routine as compared to the other three. I think I'm at the point where I want to try adding another program into the mix. I purchased Shaun T's Rockin' Body at the same time as I purchased this program, and I'm going to try adding some of these in the next couple of weeks. I'll come back and let you know how that goes.EDIT: Experience at 5 months after the initial purchase 3/24/2016I originally purchased this product in late fall of 2015, and I've continued to post my thoughts over time. I used it as my only workout routine and followed the program per the instructions for the first 3 months. I was very satisfied with the results. Overall, I lost 11 lbs, got more lean, and felt great - and that met my target goals. After the first 3 months I got really sick (January 2016) and couldn't work out for awhile. It took a long time for me to "get back on the wagon" and start working out again. I just started in mid-March and I've been using a combination of Cize, Power 90, and Power Half-hour, and the first 30 minutes of the Yoga routine from P90X. In the long run, I imagine I'll always use Cize to augment whatever future routines or programs I do in the future. Right now I'm using it twice a week in a 5-day per week workout schedule.

I got this to try to ramp up my fitness level. First off I have dropped 40lbs in the past year or so by logging my food using "My Fitness Pal" app, logging my steps with just your basic Fitbit and walking at least 10,000 steps every other day. I originally tried every day but it hurt my back too much and so I decreased the effort. I am 57yo female with osteoarthritis of back (worst in lower back). I have been thrilled with my programmed progress of just 0.5lb per week so as not to feel deprived and just watching my food with the real progress in the walking. A desk bound worker, I was lucky to log 2K steps before this determined effort. Health-wise, I have high cholesterol and high BP treated successfully with meds. After 30lbs, getting down to ~205lbs (5'8"), I was able to half the blood pressure meds and may even get further reductions at next doctor visit in June. My cholesterol is fabulous with the meds and may even be reduced due to the weight loss as well. I was pre-diabetic but that is also in normal range with weight loss and excercise. Long story but wanted the history so the progress with Cize is put into context of already on the road to healthier me.After 1 month I have only gone through routines 1 to 4 per the calendar with 4 only just beginning. I will report back once 5 and 6 are mastered.1st routine, Crazy 8's, 30min, took me only 3 days to "master" and I did not like the move called "the Trip" which has you jumping on one leg and swinging the other back and forward while torso goes up and down. It is quite hard on the back/knee and is only done on one leg. I modified this move to toe touch to the back and switch off legs for each repeat of the sequence and found this fairly easy to do without back pain. Other than that, it is very important to go through this routine to get used to the moves which are used, albeit differently, in the other routines.2nd routine, You Got This, 43min, I LOVE LOVE LOVE. I sweat, I don't mind the length and find it a blast to do. I often do this in addition to other routines if I want more workout. It is low impact but nicely choreographed.3rd routine, Full Out, 34min, is a sweat factory. Higher impact, the Trip returns (but much less repeats and modification still works), and much more jumping around but I have also enjoyed mastering this routine, it took 3 days to be good and 5 to master, I then do this with the next routine sometimes.4th routine, In The Pocket, 37min, I am just learning so definitely need more time to master. Much more complex steps but is also fun to learn.The overall message is that by doing 2 routines I am actually doing around 8-9000 steps per my Fitbit so that should tell you that you move a lot in a very short time (it takes me 1.5h to walk 10,000 steps ~5 miles which is a good solid clip. I still walk and do a Cize or if the weather is lousy I do 2 Cize workouts and I am doing this 5-6 days per week so my stamina is great and I am enjoying learning the dances.It is so worth the money to have this, I have tried other Beachbody products but they were too intense and not for the recovering couch potatoe type like I was. I am also not very flexible but this does not matter in the dancing (in the cool downs, yes but I do the best I can as Shaun T says). In terms of weight loss, only 2lbs since I started so I am still on track but not accelerated. Of note I am not following the provided food plan since my current food plan is fairly balanced and still working well without feeling deprived. I do feel clothes are loser and we all know muscle weighs more than fat so.... I did repeat my measurements after 3 weeks with no real difference but I can feel my sore muscles so I know I am getting a good workout. I can also recommend googling for reviews; one review I read recommended how to increase the intensity by making sure you flex your muscles in the various positions to almost double the calorie burn. I am now doing this for those routines I have mastered and notice more sweat is the result as well as more muscle soreness. I think you can overdo; when I was doing 2 a day for several days my back screamed and my ankles started to ache so I cut down to walking plus 1 routine every other day and 2 on the alternate.I will check back in after all the routines; I know I appreciate updates when I see them on items after much longer usage.11May16 update: I have mastered all 6 workouts now and can even do "the trip" on one leg in the various routines that require it. Since I started I have dropped 2 inches from my waist and hips each and inches lost elsewhere as well. I have lost ~10 more pounds bringing my total lost to ~50lbs this year and definitely have noticed the toning of my legs from the dancing. My absolute fav dance is the last one, it is 53 min long to learn and do with <3min to Sia's Chandelier and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I do go back to the others that I still enjoy, 2, 3, 4 and even 5 (my least fav that I repeat). I never seem to go back to 1; too repetitive. I mainly do these at least every other day but avg 5 of 7 days most weeks, still walking and also doing some weights to try to tone ams and abs some more.I do not regret this purchase at all and will continue to use these DVDs.