The Firm Wave

The Firm Wave - Rock Solid Abs

Carol Bartram — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:11:21 +0000

Well, what can I say about the Rock Solid Abs DVD? It challenged my abs in so many ways that I was still feeling the burn two days later. For an innovative and inspired workout for the whole core, you really can't beat this DVD, presented by Master Instructor Allie and her gang. Cute-as-a-button Emily is back as Beginner Girl - by the end I was Lay-On-The-Floor-And-Moan Girl!

Once again this torture-fest lasts 30 minutes, and also on the DVD is the 20 minute express version, although if you going to do 20 minutes of this you might as well bite the bullet and do the full 30 and feel the burn.

Just as a matter of interest, where do they find all these stunning instructors? I am an instructor and I sure as hell don't look like that! All these girls have legs that reach up to their neck and they can touch the floor from the crest of their wave just by bending their knees slightly. I was leaping from side to side like a demented frog to keep up with them. Remember some of us have short, stubby legs, guys!

On this DVD we have a different warmup concentrating on getting your core moving, so we have a lot of side bends, side squats with a little wiggle, and rotation to start off with. If you have any kind of back issue do these turns very gently and don't push it. Then we go to one-leg balancing and Allie says, "If youre wobbling, thats ok - you will see us wobbling too." I see no wobble! Show me the wobble!!

Next we move to floor level and some frog jumps, then it's laying on our side over the Wave for what we call Mermaid in Pilates. Don't worry about it if you simply get no movement at all to start with - these exercises isolate the oblique muscles in your waist like no others, and in this position there is no other muscle to assist. Persevere with this and make sure you are not hoisting yourself up by pulling with the shoulders, or twisting your spine; as your waist muscles strengthen you will get some movement. This exercise will absolutely carve muscle into your sides -- believe me you will know about it when you feel the ache!

Then we roll prone over the Wave for leg and arm extensions that are working buns as well as your core and shoulders. I could quite happily have just laid there panting for the rest of the session, but no, Ms Torture Queen and her evil henchmen were now sitting on the crest of the Wave to work the lower abs by raising the legs. It pleased me to notice that even their cheerful smiles were becoming grimaces by now, call me a miserable devil! I want to feel their effort, I want to feel their pain. If my abs have to suffer, so should theirs!

You can actually see the shape of the six-packs on these girls, which tells me they are too thin (miaow!). I too have a six-pack in my midriff. It just happens to be covered by the rest of the Wal-Mart shopping as well!

Now we come back to standing and rock on the Wave, squat and rotate on the Wave and even use one leg to rock on the Wave. Please don't give up if you can't balance on one leg at this stage; give it time and you will - this is really concentrated exercise for your whole body.

Back on the floor again, it's now time to add the exercise band for some resisted sit-ups and rotation work. And finally, when my entire midsection is shaking like a jelly, Ms Torture Queen has pity on us and we get to the stretching part of the workout. The stretches are done seated, which isn't suitable for everyone, including me; if you are very stiff around the hips and pelvis, don't force yourself into these positions. You can always stretch your major muscle groups from a standing position.

And that's it. Another stunningly-produced workout from the Firm; varied, innovative and very, very effective, whether you are a new or seasoned exerciser. With The Firm Wave Deluxe package, which includes these two extra CDs, you will have enough workout ideas to last you a very long time. These are all you need to completely reshape and tone your body from top to toe!

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

The Firm Wave - Rock Solid Buns

Carol Bartram — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:18:28 +0000

I always enjoy reviewing the firm DVDs. They are, without exception, professionally presented and beautifully choreographed, and all those stunning instructors never have a hair out of place. Even by the end when I am wheezing, red-faced and sweating there is not a hint of runny mascara or tired, quivering muscles in sight. And theyre all still smiling. I am wickedly jealous!

This DVD promises Rock Solid Buns with a 30 minute workout. It also has a 20 minute express option taken from the main workout. The title makes me grin here in the UK, buns means cupcakes. Rock Solid Buns here in Yorkshire refers more to your lack of cookery skills than the tone of your derriere!

We start with a nice warmup with The Wave anchored, as they call it. I call it curve-up so it stays still when you step on it. This is a different warmup to the other DVDs, which is a nice touch to stop you getting bored. We have Master Instructor, Alison and her quartet of girls for this workout, with Lesley being the Beginner Girl this time. It pleases me no end to see a workout with modifications given for new or unconditioned exercisers - so often these workouts are about presenters looking good as they leap and twirl rather than producing a workout that anybody can do without doing themselves harm or being put off exercise for life.

I really take my hat off to the Firm for that - in the past I have seen celebrity DVDs that should have carried a hazard warning. I would even recommend the Firm Wave workouts to my mum, who is accident-prone and has been known to pull a muscle whilst lifting a teapot!

After the warmup comes work with hand weights; we have wide squats (think Sumo wrestler stance), lunges, and then the added challenge of knee lifts included to work your core and strengthen your balance. The girls make the jump lunges look easy, but believe me, theyre not -- my thighs were complaining even more than my buns! My only complaint, as with the other DVDs, is that you can't often see what Beginner Girl is doing; if they moved her into camera just behind the instructor it would be better.

Now we get to use the fancy pink exercise band; the Wave is now curve-down with the band threaded through. If you wish you can just use the bands to balance with or more experienced exercisers can stand on one leg and use the bands for added resistance. This is hard! Those of you out there who find the pink exercise band too easy can always replace it with a tougher one -- they are very easy to come by.

It's amazing what can be done with a stretchy band! Lying on the floor comes next (I was nearly there already!) with the band hooked over one foot to add resistance for shoulder bridge and side leg lift. Both great exercises to sculpt and tone the butt from all angles.

We finish with a lovely stretching session to lengthen out and relax your tired, quivering limbs after a dynamic and enjoyable exercise workout that will, done regularly, give you buns of steel!

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

The Firm Wave - Deluxe DVDs

Carol Bartram — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:17:17 +0000

The Firm Wave is a great piece of exercise equipment in itself, but if you upgrade to the Deluxe version you get an elastic exercise band and 2 extra DVDs to amuse yourself with if amuse is the right word. One DVD promises Rock Solid Buns and the other Rock Solid Abs; I did the Buns one first and my poor little buns and legs threatened to leave home. Talk about a workout!

Im going to wait 3 days before I do the Abs one. I think Ill stay in bed until then to rest up and prepare myself. Anyone who says they did not get a workout from the Buns For Masochists cant be doing the same DVD!

So here are my reviews, written as soon as I crawled to my feet and limped back to my desk to rest my soon-to-be Rock Solid Buns and Abs :)

The Wave Deluxe DVD 1 - Rock Solid Buns
This DVD promises Rock Solid Buns with a 30 minute workout. It also has a 20 minute express option taken from the main workout.

If you already have a Wave you can purchase the Delux DVDs by clicking the banner ---->>>>.

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

I’ve read that using the Firm Wave can damage your ankles and feet. Is this true?

Carol Bartram — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:53:45 +0000

Not unless you had something wrong with your ankles and feet in the first place, or you are using The Wave for several hours a day over a long period!

The Wave may make your ankles and feet ache a little at first, as the design of the Wave makes you engage muscles that you dont normally use, but this should soon wear off as the muscles strengthen and stabilize.

It makes sense to have a health check before you start any new exercise program, especially if you are older, very deconditioned, or have any kind of pre-existing health issues. If you experience any swelling of feet or ankles when you use the Wave, I suggest you see a doctor as soon as possible.

Stepping or surfing on the Wave is low-impact exercise, provided you dont perform any of the hopping or jumping exercises, and will strengthen your feet and ankles without stressing the joints. As with all exercise programs, you should vary your routine regularly, to avoid exercise plateaux and overuse problems.

I recommend using the Firm Wave 3 times per week, with at least 1 day off in between, for a maximum of 30-40 minutes each time. I also encourage my clients to have a break from their Wave routine every 6 weeks or so and do something completely different for a few weeks, like hiking, cycling or swimming.

The best fat-loss and toning results come from a varied program of exercise that you can keep up in the long term preferably for the rest of your long and healthy life!

To read The Firm Wave Review please click the link.

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Pilates Instructor & Personal Trainer)

The Firm Wave DVD4 – Express Abs (10 mins)

Carol Bartram — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:26:06 +0000

This is the extra DVD you get with your basic Firm Wave kit and its a different workout again (albeit a short one at 10 minutes).

We get Emily as instructor on this one, blonde and as cute as a button. She gives the usual instructions about being safe, and then has us sitting on the rocking side of the Wave and well, rocking. Make sure you sit up tall and dont let your back slump; its more challenging than it looks.

Pressups with feet on the Wave follow (good variation). Ive said it before and Ill say it again follow Beginner Girl unless you are a seasoned exerciser and know your own strength; Im pretty strong, but I found some of these progressions quite hard, and nearly landed on my nose at one point! And yes, pressups do indeed work your abs, along with practically every muscle in your body, apart from your tongue. And if you huff, puff and curse as much as I do while doing these, your tongue will get a workout too. Like we girls need one!

You may find the worst thing about pressups is how tough they are on the wrists. Its important to stick with them, even if you hate them, as pressups are practically the only exercise to strengthen the bones in your arms, which weaken drastically in later life and can develop osteoporosis (brittle bones), resulting in painful fractures which are slow to heal.

Im not trying to scare you; doing some weight-bearing on your wrists can reduce the risk of fracture by as much as 50% as you get older. My mum does 2 pressups, rests, then does a few more, and her latest bone scan showed that the exercise was definitely having a beneficial effect. But boy, does she grumble at me for making her do them! (Any other odd feelings in the wrist or hands, such as pins and needles, should be checked out as it could be a sign of RSI you need to see a health professional).

Standing on The Wave and twisting follows, then were back to the floor to sit on the crest of the Wave for some more exercise, then its lying on the floor, feet on Wave for Pilates-type crunches and double leg lifts. My abs were protesting (loudly!) by this point, but yet another exercise followed prone over the Wave this time, raising arms and legs in a swimming motion.

Some nice stretches followed, to finish the workout off. It may only be 10 minutes, but it felt longer! My abs, waist muscles and back felt like theyd had a really good exercise session, and like the other DVDs, I was impressed with the sheer quality of presentation and the great range of exercises shown. All youll ever need for toning, trimming and weight loss.

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

The Firm Wave Speed Slimming System - DVD Review

Carol Bartram — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:25:15 +0000

It was like Christmas, Fourth of July and all our birthdays when the Firm Wave package arrived. Bearing in mind that Bob and I are both mature adults, we squabbled over who should be first to open the box. Our 13-year-old daughter separated us and insisted we take turns taking an item out; I think she has a career ahead in United Nations Peacekeeping.

Along with the Firm Wave itself came a mat, an instruction chart, a Healthy Eating guide and 3 DVDs, along with an extra Express Abs DVD free. All for $99!

So Im going to work my way through the DVDs and try and give you a flavour of what to expect:-

Ride The Wave - DVD 1 Review
This is a 10 minute instructional DVD to give you the flavor of The Firm Wave.

Ride The Wave - DVD 2 Review - Speed, Slim, Sculpt
Youll need to have some light handweights for the second DVD which is 31 mins long.

Ride The Wave - DVD 3 Review - Rock It Off!
This is a cardio-based workout, with some weights exercises to add to the calorie burn and toning.

Ride The Wave - DVD 4 Express Abs
This is the extra DVD you get with your basic Firm Wave kit and its a different workout again (albeit a short one at 10 minutes).

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

The Firm Wave DVD3 – Rock it off! (40 mins)

Carol Bartram — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:18:13 +0000

Where, oh where do they get these titles? I had to send Bob out of the room for sniggering!

This is a cardio-based workout, with some weights exercises to add to the calorie burn and toning. After reviewing the T-Bow DVD and finding that the cardio bit was just taken from the main workout, I was braced for disappointment with The Firm Wave cardio presentation.

It was different. Woo-Hoo! And not just a bit different completely different. Again, an instructor with four pals, a different one being Beginner Girl this time, and a routine to blow your socks off!

The warmup combines Aerobics and Step, and is rather faster and more challenging than DVD2, but it will definitely teach you loads of moves. Many people I know are wary of going to Step or Aerobics classes because they feel self-conscious about getting all the moves wrong and in my experience, even so-called Basic classes are way too complex and are more about what the instructor can choreograph and perform, rather than what the class are capable of. So half the class never come back again, because they feel they were rubbish at it, their self-confidence is down in their boots, and they are put off class exercising for ever. Which is a shame, because exercise classes are a wonderful way to lose weight and tone up.

By the time youve done this Wave cardio routine a few times, youll have all the confidence you need to go to a gym class. Its clearly and slickly presented and great fun, while not being too complicated.

One thing you never see them do is take a drink of water make sure you keep sipping throughout or youll get dehydrated.

Hand weights come next, with some toning moves for arms, legs, and back. Theres some really good, innovative stuff here; Im going to borrow some ideas to use in our classes thats how well-thought out and original this is.

Next comes more cardio, and another Step routine (beginners may get a bit left behind here, but dont give up. Just shuffle and hop like I do; 2 moves behind and using the wrong leg. It all counts as exercise!)

Now were into rocking with weights. This engages your core and challenges your balance; the floor exercises will work muscles you were unaware of! Quite a lot of getting up and down here, so get up safely. More aerobics over and around the Wave even Miss Perky the instructor was sweating. Lots of Boxercise-type kicks front and back to work legs and buns.

More weights work this time balancing on the Wave curve-down. I was panting like an old dog by this point. Again, all muscle groups are worked, until I felt my legs were going to leave home and live in Hawaii. Another aerobics routine followed, for those of you still alive!

Ab exercises followed Miss Perky the Torture Queen still wasnt done with us. Crunches, Reverse Curls and Leg Extensions target the mid-section from all angles Feel The Burn!

Finally comes the cooldown, followed by a full body stretch; feels so good. That was one hell of a workout! In a good way, I mean do this one regularly, and results are guaranteed.

This Firm Wave DVD includes a 20 minute workout, taken from the above, which is perfect if you are short of time. Be safe, pick the level you are ready for, and enjoy!

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

The Firm Wave Introduction. Meet The Elephant

Carol Bartram — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:30:34 +0000

Yes, it's time to meet the Elephant (otherwise known as Bob the Dancing Donkey. My husband, for my sins). I was determined to convince you that anyone can use The Firm Wave - and trust me, if Bob can, so can you! Notice his elegance and join in with me laughing while he wildly flaps his arms like a demented Dracula. Bob weighs in at 170lbs, and the Wave copes with his prancings admirably, and is still in one piece by the end. Mentally, I'm not sure I am, and Bob never was!

Don't make the same mistake he makes while stepping off the Wave - he just leaps off with no regard to his safety. You should step carefully off it, otherwise you could injure yourself. So, enjoy the video and I hope you have as good a laugh watching it as we did making it :)

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

The Firms Wave - Opening The Box

Carol Bartram — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:29:21 +0000

A short video to introduce The Firm Wave. If you're like me you like to know exactly what your getting for your hard earned money. I therefore open the box and show you! You'll see I had already opened it (you didn't think I was going to wait for my husband to video it before I opened it did you!) but I still pretend to be excited :) Actually I was I just love getting new pieces of exercise equipment to play with.

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

The Firm Wave Exercise Home Videos

Carol Bartram — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:28:16 +0000

I always like to show any piece of exercise equipment I review in its worst possible light! Anyone can make a piece of equipment look fabulous if you put a sleek and shiny fitness model on it. So I've looked around for the most inelegant and clumsy model I could find to help me demonstarte the Wave.

In the end I picked my husband Bob. He has no style and trust me when I say this no idea how to do aerobics at all. If he can use the Wave so can you.

Without further waffling I introduce you to The Firm Wave and Bob the dancing elephant!

1. The Firm Wave - Opening The Box
Ohh what fun I wonder what goodies are inside!

2. The Firm Wave Introduction - Meet The Elephant
Can an elephant dance? Watch this video of Bob on The Wave and find out.

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

The Firm Wave - DVD 2 Review - Speed, Slimming, Sculpt (31 mins)

Carol Bartram — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:44:02 +0000

Now who can resist a title like that?

Youll need to have some light handweights for The Firm Waves second DVD, but I wouldnt bother shelling out megabucks on some designer ones, as most of the big stores do their own brand at a fraction of the cost. For this workout, not only do you get a perky instructor, but you get four of her perky little friends as well, all of whom are introduced by name (nice touch). We are informed that one of the girls will be doing all the moves as a beginner (low-impact and without carrying weights). Great idea if you are a beginner, or very out-of-condition, youll be challenged enough performing the moves without waving handweights around as well. If I gave my mother weights to do this workout with, Id have to tape all the windows and put a tin hat on the dog!

If any guys are doing these DVDs, theyll be loving this 5 stunning, toned babes in skimpy workout gear. Bob kept tripping over his tongue.

The warmup is slick and very professionally done - and quite fast - but all the Step moves are basic, such as Heel Digs and Side Taps. Youll probably have to go through this a few times before you get it. Bob and I did this workout together, and I was weak with laughter watching him trying to master Straddles and Knee Lifts. A dancing bear would have been more graceful!

Then come the handweights, to sculpt and tone lovely, lean limbs think lunges, side squats with bicep curls that kind of thing. And yes, its effective without weights (just not quite as effective, but safer). The Wave is still curve-up. My only minor grumble is that sometimes you cant see what Beginner Girl is doing, as shes off camera.

Then The Wave goes curve-down; now you balance and rock while doing the moves. Core engaged, muscles working, calories being burnt. All good stuff! Different exercises for back, legs, arms and shoulders all clearly taught, with lots of reminders about correct posture and safety.

From here we move to floor level for arm, chest and shoulder exercises (aka pressups), adding leg exercises in to trim those buns, and then its time for Ab Crunches and other waist-whittlers, before our instructor takes us through a full body stretch. This is an essential part of any workout dont you dare miss it out!

And thats it excellent, full-body workout in half an hour. Miss Perky and her team were still smiling and I was knackered! Im reasonably fit, but I felt like Id had a really good workout, even without using weights, and I enjoyed it all I can thoroughly recommend it.

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

Ride The Wave - DVD 1 Review

Carol Bartram — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:14:19 +0000

This is a 10 minute instructional DVD to give you the flavor of The Firm Wave. A perky instructor beams at you and gives good, clear instructions on how to get safely on and off the Wave this is great for new exercisers. Too often these DVDs start off like a runaway train, leaving you floundering behind, trying to keep up, and ruining your confidence. This ones good; Id recommend it to my mum a lifelong non-exerciser with the co-ordination and core stability of a bowl of jello!

You do a warmup based on Step moves, Wave curve side up (and therefore stable), and then move on to using the unstable, surfing side. Lots of teaching points are given, along with how to check your posture is correct; you learn that standing with a foot on either side is Horse Stance and 1 foot forward and 1 back is Carving the Wave. Well, its different! A lot of thought has been put into this.

So now youve done Step; rocking from side-to-side, and back and forth. Arm moves like curls and rowing are added, but you can leave those out to start with if you feel unstable. Time to get down on the floor and put your hands on the Wave in a pressup position. This is Trimming the Wave; it works all your upper body and core muscles, and youll find it hard at first. Dont even attempt to progress to resting on your toes until you are stronger! Joking apart, if your core is weak and you go onto your toes in a full pressup position, your lower back will end up taking all the strain and you could pull a muscle.

The workout ends with stretches. Even though its only 10 minutes in length, its a wonderful introduction to The Wave, and particularly suited to beginners. Well Done The Firm!

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

Can I do Pilates on The Firm Wave?

Carol J Bartram — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:32:58 +0000

Can I do Pilates on The Firm Wave?

Yes, you can. In fact, I think the Firm Wave is such a versatile piece of equipment and can add so much variety to a Pilates routine, that I regularly teach a whole class on one!

If you already do Pilates, youll know how great it is for working your core, flattening your stomach and sculpting long, lean muscles. The Firm Wave Workout adds an extra challenge to your body, and you can use it in lots of different ways. Curve side up, the Wave gives a non-moving surface to work on, while still providing challenge to your balance, which makes your muscles work harder. Try standing on 1 leg on the Wave and doing knee lifts with the other leg youll see what I mean!

At mat level, the Wave is even more versatile. Lie over The Wave on your front to work your back muscles harder than you would lying on the floor; balance on your side for leg lifts, and lie on your back over the Wave to add extra work for those ab crunches! Attach exercise bands to the Wave to perform Power Pilates moves by adding more resistance; tone muscles and burn lots of calories in a short time!

So whether you are experienced at Pilates or just starting, the Wave can make a big difference to your workout, supercharging your moves to get that great shaping and toning that only Pilates can give fast! And The Wave costs under $100 you dont get many Pilates sessions with an Instructor for that low price!

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Pilates Instructor & Personal Trainer)

Is The Firm Wave Suitable For More Mature People? I Am In My Late Forties.

Carol J Bartram — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:29:45 +0000

Is The Firm Wave Suitable For More Mature People? I Am In My Late Forties.

The Firm Wave is suitable for all age groups you just need to take a little more care if you are older or have not exercised in a long time.

The general rule is to get a check up from your doctor or practice nurse if you are female and over 50, or male and over 45, especially if you have any health issues like raised blood pressure or diabetes.

That being said, once you have been cleared to exercise, working out at a moderate level of effort with The Firm's Wave is beneficial to all kinds of conditions including those listed above.

I would advise starting with just 5 -10 minutes exercise every other day, and working up to 20 minutes. You will probably feel a little stiff at first, the day after your exercise. This is perfectly normal and is called DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness).

It will wear off in a day or so a warm bath will help, as will a gentle walk round the block. Wait until your muscles have returned to normal before having your next Wave session. You will find that the DOMS next time is not so bad, as your muscles are getting used to the exercise.

Do not use DOMS as an excuse to give up! If you are very sore, you were too enthusiastic too soon reduce the intensity of your workout a little and your body will soon adapt. This advice holds, no matter how old you are you are never too old to start exercising, and it will do you nothing but good, providing you use your common sense and work out safely.

If balancing on The Firm Wave is a problem for you, or you feel a bit scared and unsteady (perfectly natural), either start on the stable side of The Wave, or hold onto something fixed until you get the hang of surfing The Wave.

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Pilates Instructor & Personal Trainer)

I live in a small apartment. Would The Firm Wave Exercise System Fit In?

Carol J Bartram — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:17:50 +0000

I live in a small apartment. Would The Firm Wave Exercise System Fit In?

This is where The Firm Wave Exercise System comes into its own! The Firm Wave requires only a small amount of floor space, is completely portable, comes with its own mat and can be easily hidden away in a closet or stacked tidily against a wall when not in use.

Furthermore, it is the only piece of home exercise equipment that I have come across that can be used for Cardio, Toning, Pilates and Stretching just on its own, or with an exercise band attached. Its brilliant, and amazingly good value for money at under $100.

Most home exercise equipment only has one function cardio or toning and is no use for Pilates. For example, a treadmill will give you a great cardio workout, but wont tone your arms and shoulders or work all your core muscles. And the pounding impact of running on a treadmill makes it unsuitable for anyone with neck, back or knee problems in fact, it could make them worse.

And a treadmill takes up a massive amount of space, is noisy and can cost over $3000! Oh, and did I mention how ugly they look? Not something you want to look at all the time, even if you have a folding one; try fitting that in an understairs closet!

The Firm Wave Exercise System can be pulled out of the closet and set up in seconds just put it on the floor and start surfing! Calorie-burning, muscle-sculpting and ab toning The Firm Wave can do it all!

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Pilates Instructor & Personal Trainer)

Can The Firm Wave Exercise Tone my Butt & Thigh Muscles?

Carol J Bartram — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:13:52 +0000

Can The Firm Wave Exercise Tone my Butt & Thigh Muscles?

Absolutely! The Firm Wave excels at working the butt, thigh and calf muscles, to give you a toned and shapely lower body. And the more toned your muscles are, the more calories you will burn off. Even when not exercising the afterburn effect of a workout with The Firm Wave will have your body using up its fat stores for hours afterwards!

Heres how it works. Rocking on the Wave makes your leg muscles work much harder than when on a stable surface like a treadmill. And, unlike a treadmill, theres no impact. So theres no strain on your joints. Which is great news for all of us, whether young or more mature.

Surfing on The Wave works your butt, back and front of leg muscles, and also your inner and outer thigh muscles. Exercising on the other side of the Wave, i.e using the Wave for Step exercises, builds muscular endurance in all the leg and hip muscles and works the heart and lungs.

But The Wave Exercise benefits dont stop there! If you attach elastic exercise bands to the sides of the Wave, it is possible to do resistance exercises for the lower body, such as squats and lunges this type of exercise literally blitzes fat off butt and thighs, producing a neat, shapely outline. And the Wave can also be used for mat work exercises, such as leg lifts, done lying over the Wave, for even more toning!

And you neednt worry if you dont know what exercises to do to get the results you want; the Firm Wave comes with several truly inspirational DVDs to show you how to get the body YOU want, with results guaranteed in just 10 sessions. Sensational!

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

If I Buy The Firm Wave Exercise Equipment Will It Help Me Lose Weight?

Carol J Bartram — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:12:38 +0000

If I Buy The Firm Wave Exercise Equipment Will It Help Me Lose Weight?

Absolutely! Thats if you use it and dont just stuff it in a closet and forget about it!

The Firm Wave will help you lose weight in 2 ways; when you surf on it, curved-side down it gives you a great cardio workout strengthening your heart and lungs and burning lots of calories.

And because this side rocks, your core and abdominal muscles have to work hard to balance. Which flattens your abs and increases the calorie burn. And it isnt mind-numbingly boring like some forms of cardio exercise in fact its fun! Especially if you put on your favorite music that has a driving beat. Youll find yourself surfing to the rhythm and singing along at the top of your voice. No more tedious exercise where you watch the clock; your workout will be completed before you know it.

And thats not the only way The Firm Wave Personal Gym will help you lose weight. To burn the most calories, your body needs to develop muscles, as muscles use up calories just by being there. Ladies, you wont get big, bulky man muscles, so stop worrying! The Firm Wave will help you tone and reduce the size of your thighs and butt, and also sculpt shapely arm and shoulder muscle no more saggy underarms!

Just turn your amazingly versatile Firm Wave so its curve side up, attach some elastic exercise bands to it, and you can do a great toning workout.

So the Firm Wave Exercise Equipment can help you lose weight in 2 ways and at under $100 it's a great price and practically unbeatable!

Good luck,

Carol J Bartram

(Pilates Instructor & Personal Trainer)

What makes the Firm Wave Workout Such a Good Fat Burner?

Carol J Bartram — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:11:29 +0000

What makes the Firm Wave Workout Such a Good Fat Burner?

Any exercise you do on a regular basis will help you burn fat. Even a walk around the block will burn a small number of calories.

In your search for a fat loss product your goal should be to find an exercise system that meets the following criteria:

Burns many calories in a short space of time
Is easy to use
Can be used at home
Is fun to-do
Is multipurpose
Doesnt cost a lot
Actually works

The Wave will do all of the above and more and is so simple to use a child could do it. The Wave will enable you to get a great fat-burning cardio workout and if that wasnt enough can also be used for strength training.

Strength training is the missing part to most peoples exercise program. Cardio is great but when combined with strength training you will see your weight loss goals become a reality. Strength training will build muscle and muscle is your fat-burning machine.

So in one piece of exercise equipment you can have it all. Fat burning, muscle building and toning all in a single piece of equipment costing less than $100.

I know the Wave System works because I use it myself in my own training program. Its fun and if your prepared to use it for 20-30 minutes a day, two to three times a week it will give you fantastic results.

To learn more about the Wave please visit The Firm Wave Reviews page and discover how people just like you have reached their fat loss goals by Riding The Wave.

Good luck,

Carol J Bartram

(Pilates Instructor & Personal Trainer)

My Tummy bulges! Can The Firm Wave Exercise System Help Get Rid Of My “Pouch”?

Carol J Bartram — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:09:45 +0000

My Tummy bulges! Can The Firm Wave Exercise System Help Get Rid Of My Pouch?

Many exercise systems claim to be able to banish the dreaded Pouch, but very few actually can! The Firm Wave is one of the exceptions, because it works those tummy muscles in several different ways essential for toning that most problematical of problem areas!

Many Ab exercisers just focus on the external ab muscles and dont touch on working the internal ab muscles which are by far the most important. You can do ab crunches all day, but your tummy will still bulge, as the internal muscles havent been worked as well.

This where surfing on the Wave will give great results fast! Because you are on an unstable surface, all your core muscles have to work to help you balance including your internal abs and waist muscles (the ones deep down, near your bones). These muscles only wake up when they are forced to balance you, and the rocking movement of the Wave gives them a great workout that youll really be able to feel!

In addition, The Wave, other side up, gives a great platform for doing Pilates exercises on. Pilates was specifically designed to sculpt the deep muscles of the body, giving great shape and inner strength to your core and postural muscles, and strengthening and shaping your back muscles you will find any aches and pains caused by weak stabilizing muscles just disappear when you do Pilates on The Wave.

Instructions, a handy wallchart, and several easy-to-follow DVDs make doing Pilates on The Wave a fantastic way to banish those tummy bulges for good!
All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

Is The Firm Wave Workout any Good and Will It Help Me Burn Fat?

Carol Bartram — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 11:04:47 +0000

Is The Firm Wave Workout any Good and Will It Help Me Burn Fat?

The Firm Wave Workout unlike many other home exercise products on the market will do exactly what it claims. It will give you a great cardio, calorie burning, strength training and stretching workout.

I am a Personal trainer and Pilates Instructor and I'm always surprised when my clients spend $100's sometimes $1000's on weird and wonderful exercise equipment - which turn out to be complete rubbish. They are seduced by the promise of fast fat / weight loss and assume that just by buying the equipment they will magically lose weight.

If only life were like that, there would be no overweight people - and I'd be out of a job!

The Firm Wave is a great piece of kit as it's inexpensive and has no moving parts (so it can't be broken). If used regularly it will help you firm up those wobbly areas (Thighs, Buns, Arms and Tummy).

However, if you're just going to buy the Wave, use it for a couple of days and then hide it under the bed then don't waste your time reading any more of this article. Just leave this page now and save yourself some money.

If, on the other hand, you are ready to make a change and will commit right now to using the Wave 2-3 times a week then go ahead and take a good look at it. Then buy it, use it and watch your body slowly shed that extra fat. You'll feel better, look better and you can pat yourself on the back, knowing your weight loss journey has begun.

The wave is not a Magic Bullet but combined with a sensible eating plan, it will help you with your weight loss goals.

To discover what the Wave can do for you, take a look at my Firm Wave Review page now and rock yourself slim. You won't regret it - after all, what have you got to lose? It's very inexpensive at under $100 and will last you a lifetime.

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Pilates Instructor & Personal Trainer)

If I Buy The Firm Wave Will I Be Wasting My Money?

Carol Bartram — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:53:30 +0000

If I Buy The Firm Wave Will I Be Wasting My Money?

If you use it no I don't think you'll be wasting your money. At $100 the Firm Wave is I believe good value for money, it's almost indestructable and should last you a lifetime I believe it's a great investment.

If spending $100 is going to leave you short of money then please don't buy it. There are many ways to lose weight that will cost you absolutly nothing.

You could walk a little more, do body weight exercises like press ups and squats or a multitude of other activities, anything that will help you increase your activity level.

The Wave can help accelerate your weight loss by providing a fun, high energy cardio and strength training routine it's not essential it's just a useful tool. What's important is you actually do some form of exercise and I've discovered from my Personal Training clients that fun equipment like The Wave can help keep them motivated.

So, if you're ready to turbo charge your weight loss and you have $100 to spare then don't even think about it just buy The Wave Exercise System today. It will be one of the best investments you've ever made.

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

The Firm Wave Frequently Asked Questions

Carol Bartram — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:50:29 +0000

The Firm Wave Frequently Asked Questions

Many people won't make a purchasing decision until they are convinced they're not going to be wasting their money. I have the same fear - there is nothing worse than buying something only to discover you've been tricked and that it just doesn't work no matter how hard you try. You get discouraged and suspicious of similar offers.

The Firm Wave is not one of these. If you are prepared to use the Wave, it will work for you. How do I know? Because I use a similair piece of equipment in my own training and also recommend it to all my clients.

I get asked a lot of questions about the Wave, so I have put together the most commonly -asked questions here - so that you can be confident and feel good about purchasing The Wave.

Question:

If I Buy The Firm Wave Will I Be Wasting My Money?
Good question. No one likes to be ripped off. Learn why buying The Wave is such a great idea.

Is The Firm Wave Workout any Good and will it Help me Burn Fat?
This is probably the most often asked question I get asked about the Wave.

My Tummy bulges! Can The Firm Wave Exercise System Help Get Rid Of My Pouch?
We all hate the Pouch. Can rocking on the Firm Wave help to get rid of it. I'm sure you've guessed the answer, but read the article and see how.

What Makes the Firm Wave Workout Such a Good Fat Burner?
Rocking yourself fit sounds like a fun thing to do but why does it work so well. Discover the secret.

If I Buy The Firm Wave Exercise Equipment Will It Help Me Lose Weight?
Good question. Why buy it if it doesn't? You'll be pleased to know the answer is yes, it does. Follow the link and find out how.

Can The Firm Wave Exercise Tone my Butt & Thigh Muscles?
Yes it can tone your thighs, butt and a lot more. Surfing on The Wave works your butt, back and front of leg muscles, and also your inner and outer thigh muscles.

Can I Do Pilates On The Firm Wave?
When buying home exercise equipment it's important that it can do multiple jobs. The Firm Wave is not only a great Fat Burner but you can also include it in your Pilates Workout. Follow the link and discover how.

Is The Firm Wave Suitable For Mature People?
The Firm Wave is suitable for every age group If you are older you just need to take a little more care. This article will explain what you need to do to exercise on the Wave safely.

I Live in a Small Apartment. Would The Firm Wave Exercise System Fit In?
Yes it would. This is one of the advantages of the Wave. It takes up hardly any room and can be easily stored under the bed.

The Firm Wave Personal Gym Reviews

Carol Bartram — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:47:31 +0000

The Firm Wave Personal Gym Reviews

As a Personal Trainer, I'm always suspicious when I hear home fitness equipment advertisers claim things like:-

"Get A Firmer Leaner Body In 10 Workouts - Guaranteed!" or

"Cardio Fat- Blasting-Lose-40lb-In-40-Days-Workout!".

Most of us have been taken in by these types of claims in the past. We start off excited about how, this time, with this new Super-Duper All-Singing, All-Dancing, No Effort Required piece of equipment we really will be able have the body we dream of.

Dream on.

They're hardly ever what they are cracked up to be. We use them a few times and lose interest - maybe we shed a couple pounds, but because they don't give the type of workout our bodies need to shed fat and tone muscle at the same time, results are limited. We are disappointed and give up in disgust. Again

So, is the Firm Wave just another piece of exercise junk or can it REALLY help you with your weight loss goal? Well, I truly believe it can! Read my review on The Wave and decide for yourself - then go visit The Wave's Website and discover for yourself how Riding The Wave is not only fun but, used regularly, will most definitely help you to shed that excess fat. That's my professional opinion, and I'm sticking to it!

The Firm Wave Review

I'm always looking for pieces of exercise equipment that my clients can use at home. Pieces of equipment that arent too bulky or complicated or look like theyve come from the set of Star Trek. After all, who wants their spare room cluttered up with weird gadgets, because - let's face it - exercise equipment isn't the prettiest-looking stuff on the planet, is it?

We all know that we need to exercise and burn fat. And lets have the truth here - how many of us with our busy lives can get to the gym on a regular basis or even to an exercise class? And I'm afraid that paying the gym fees without turning up will only make your bank balance lighter, not your body! So wouldn't it be great if there was a piece of exercise equipment that didn't take up much room, was easy to use, could be set up anywhere in a couple of seconds and could be hidden away out of sight when finished? Oh, and on top of all that didn't cost very much?

Well here it is.

It's called The WAVE workout.

It's the brainchild of a company in the US called The Firm. This company specializes in aerobic, cardio and muscle workouts for full- body toning, and have recently come out with this piece of equipment called The WAVE. It's a curved piece of plastic with one stable side and one rocking side.

The stable side, like the T-Bow, can be used for Step-type exercises. Using hand weights as resistance will tone muscle and burn even more calories. Threading exercise bands through the holes in the WAVE enables you to work at the muscles such as your shoulders and chest to produce sleek, toned muscle and a nice outline.

Best of all, riding the WAVE is fun! No more boring workouts plodding away on a treadmill. Rock and Step your way to fitness using just the WAVE!

I think this is a seriously good piece of equipment. And at under $100 I think the WAVE will be the next big thing in the exercise and fitness market. Many of my clients have already expressed an interest in it. I'm delighted by their interest, as I've told them before that I don't care what they do, or use, as long as they exercise - as far as I'm concerned they can hop on the spot, if that's what floats their boat!

So what do you get for your money?

Well, you get the WAVE personal gym and you get several DVDs showing you exactly how to use it. These DVDs cover aerobic workouts, toning workouts and even a specific abdominal workout. That's not bad value for money! You also get a healthy eating guide and a handy wall chart showing you the moves you can do with the WAVE. And here are just a few of the benefits that riding the wave will give you:-

Aerobic calorie-burning exercises.
Muscle toning and sculpting
Core strengthening
Pilates and stretching.

One piece of equipment that can do all this? And hardly take up any floor space? Wow!

So the answer to the question "Can I Get A Firmer Body In 10 Workouts" is yes. You will feel better and it's even possible your clothes may not be quite be as snug as before you started.

But we all know that long term weight (Fat) loss is not something we can achieve in just 10 workouts. It requires commitment from you to eat sensibly and exercise regularly not for 10 workouts or even 100 but for the rest of your life.

That said I believe the Wave is a fantastic tool in helping you achieve weight loss success. It's fun and will do what it claims. It's one of the few pieces of Home Exercise Equipment I recommend to my Personal Training clients and actually use myself.

Don't wait any longer - Surf The Wave today!

Click on the link NOW and see what the Firm WAVE System at TheFirmWave.com can do for you.

The Firm's Wave now only 3 payments of $29.95 (plus S&H). Get visible results in just 10 workouts!

To help answer any remaining questions you might have about the Wave please visit my Firm Wave Frequently Asked Questions Page.

All the best,

Carol J Bartram

(Pilates Instructor & Personal Trainer)

The Firm Wave

The Firm Wave - Rock Solid Abs

The Firm Wave - Rock Solid Buns

The Firm Wave - Deluxe DVDs

I’ve read that using the Firm Wave can damage your ankles and feet. Is this true?

The Firm Wave DVD4 – Express Abs (10 mins)

The Firm Wave Speed Slimming System - DVD Review

The Firm Wave DVD3 – Rock it off! (40 mins)

The Firm Wave Introduction. Meet The Elephant

The Firms Wave - Opening The Box

The Firm Wave Exercise Home Videos

The Firm Wave - DVD 2 Review - Speed, Slimming, Sculpt (31 mins)

Ride The Wave - DVD 1 Review

Can I do Pilates on The Firm Wave?

Can I do Pilates on The Firm Wave?

Is The Firm Wave Suitable For More Mature People? I Am In My Late Forties.

Is The Firm Wave Suitable For More Mature People? I Am In My Late Forties.

I live in a small apartment. Would The Firm Wave Exercise System Fit In?

I live in a small apartment. Would The Firm Wave Exercise System Fit In?

Can The Firm Wave Exercise Tone my Butt & Thigh Muscles?

Can The Firm Wave Exercise Tone my Butt & Thigh Muscles?

If I Buy The Firm Wave Exercise Equipment Will It Help Me Lose Weight?

If I Buy The Firm Wave Exercise Equipment Will It Help Me Lose Weight?

What makes the Firm Wave Workout Such a Good Fat Burner?

What makes the Firm Wave Workout Such a Good Fat Burner?

My Tummy bulges! Can The Firm Wave Exercise System Help Get Rid Of My “Pouch”?

My Tummy bulges! Can The Firm Wave Exercise System Help Get Rid Of My Pouch?

Is The Firm Wave Workout any Good and Will It Help Me Burn Fat?

Is The Firm Wave Workout any Good and Will It Help Me Burn Fat?

If I Buy The Firm Wave Will I Be Wasting My Money?

If I Buy The Firm Wave Will I Be Wasting My Money?

The Firm Wave Frequently Asked Questions

The Firm Wave Frequently Asked Questions

The Firm Wave Personal Gym Reviews

The Firm Wave Personal Gym Reviews

My Tummy bulges! Can The Firm Wave Exercise System Help Get Rid Of My Pouch?