Fit By Tracey Walking Strong: DVD Review

I'm going to go out on a limb and bet that you know how to walk. Chances are, you even know how to walk on a treadmill. So why on earth would you need a fitness DVD devoted to walking?

Well, as the temperatures dip toward freezing, plenty of folks take their outdoor workouts indoors, and that includes those long, nightly walks that helped you stay so slim. But let's face it -- spending an hour walking on your home treadmill (or the one at the gym) isn't exactly the most exciting way to spend your time.

Fit By Tracey Walking Strong is designed to break up the monotony, bump up your heart rate and help you achieve a full-body workout, all on the treadmill. But, if you don't have a treadmill at home (like me), there's someone showing you how to do the workout on the floor, too.

Level of Difficulty
On the floor, it's super easy. On the treadmill, if you follow along with Tracey, I'd say beginner to intermediate, but there are so many opportunities for modifications that any beginner could follow along.

Next Day Soreness
None.

Who's It For?
If you enjoy walking outdoors but find yourself bored on the treadmill, this is a good option. It would also work for those with a good walking routine who just want to kick it up a notch.

Likes
It's easy to follow -- I particularly liked the fact that the speed and incline for both Tracey and the woman showing the easier modifications on the treadmill were shown on the screen. Also, the entire video is basically intervals. There are 11 five- to six-minute segments, and each of those is divided by exercises that take anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute, so it goes by quickly.

Dislikes
While they do a nice job of showing someone doing this workout on the floor, the truth is, you just don't get much from it that way. Not once was I out of breath or sweaty. Also, you need light weights, which isn't stated on the cover (and where do you keep them while you're on the treadmill?).

Bottom Line
I wish I had a treadmill in my home so I could give this video a fairer assessment. However, I think it's safe to say that it's a solid workout -- I've done the 4 mph on a 15-percent incline before, and yeah, it's challenging. But I can't recommend it for someone who wouldn't be able to watch it while on a treadmill.



Ready to take your walk to the next level? Here's how to turn your walk into a jog!