fbpx ;

Cindy Crawford’s Shape Your Body Workout

Photobucket

Make no mistake: Doing Cindy Crawford’s 1992 Shape Your Body Workout will not make you a supermodel. It will, however, prove to you that supermodels look good wearing anything, even if it is big hair, high-rise shorts and puffy socks.

With two strength-based workouts of about 40 minutes, the video also includes a bonus 10-minute segment. For the longer segments, Cindy works out with her trainer, Radu, who only occasionally jumps in to adjust her form and whose main purpose seems to be counting very quickly. This speed theme was carried throughout the entire video. While the video contains effective moves, it lacks the modern emphasis on form that is now commonplace in workout videos.

With beach, roof top and studio locations, the sets weren’t bad, but it would have been nice had the director picked one location. The camera jumped from Cindy on the beach to Cindy in the studio to Cindy on a roof top—all during one move. If that wasn’t discombobulating enough, some shots were black and white, and some were in color for pure sensory overload. I also won’t be complaining about generic background workout music in the future. While this video featured pop music, a song by Seal, for example, it just seemed distracting to have real music in a workout video.

Both of the longer workouts had nearly identical warm-ups. With neck stretches, shoulder rolls, arm and hip circles, everything seemed to go by at a lightning pace. I had to slow the neck moves down to what I felt comfortable with. Cindy may look good flailing her hair about, but that’s not my style, and I would imagine that if I had a neck doctor, he would yell at me for doing these moves.

The first workout has you doing variations of standing leg swings and lunges with kicks. For each set of moves, you do three sets, so it gets rather repetitive. Moving to the floor, you use a chair to do butt lifts and leg lifts, three sets of 10 push-ups and three sets of different upper body moves using weights. For the abs, you do three sets of three moves: crunches, full sit-ups and jackknifes, working the obliques. It would have been great had Radu stepped in and given pointers on form and control, instead of just counting as fast as possible. With the speed at which the moves are done I never did all of the reps, instead preferring to do moves correctly with good form. Swinging my legs as quickly as Cindy didn’t seem to be as effective, or good for the back.

The second workout threw in some of the lower-body moves from the first workout, with additional weight training thrown in for an emphasis on theupper body. Three sets of a couple of different lunge and squat variations, combined with the leg swings worked the butt, quads and inner thighs. The arms do get a killer workout, with three sets of 10 of eight different moves, including bicep curls, overhead presses, front and side raises, and French presses, to name a few. My arms were burning after this was done, even though I couldn’t do all the reps because of the speed. HaveImentionedthespeed? For abs, you do three sets of four crunch variations, again so fast that I could only get in 14 real crunches to her 20.

The last workout proves that you can get some toning in even if you’re short on time. Cindy, in her high-rise jean shorts, does 10 minutes of squats, lunges, push-up variations, crunches, sit-ups and butt lifts. She also makes me want to bring back the now-dorky high-rise cut-off jean short. OK, maybe not, but she looks adorable in them.

FBG Rating (Out of 5):
Instruction: ★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★
Music: ★★
Fun Factor: ★
Meets Expectations: ★★
Overall: ★★

Fit Bottom line: While the moves are mostly basic and effective, I would hesitate to recommend this DVD to people who aren’t well-versed in proper form. —Erin

Photo grabbed from www.photobucket.com.

FTC disclosure: We often receive products from companies to review. All thoughts and opinions are always entirely our own. Unless otherwise stated, we have received no compensation for our review and the content is purely editorial. Affiliate links may be included. If you purchase something through one of those links we may receive a small commission. Thanks for your support!

Comments

19 Comments
  1. Alli S. says:

    I am so glad you reviewed this workout! It gets a lot of bad reviews, but I have to admit this is my favorite workout. I started doing it when I was a senior in high school and go back to it all the time. It is my old standby. I saw awesome results. Toned up nicely. I am sure there are some movements that I don’t have proper form, but I have never had a problem. The music and variety in settings is one my favorite features since I get very bored watching basic home video workouts and the music is so cheesy, I can’t stand it. The other thing I like about it is that this workout kicks my butt! I had a hard time keeping up with the reps at first but it didn’t take long for me to catch up. I might be one of the few that loves this one, but it works great for me! Her Next Challange workout is pretty awesome too although a wee bit long.

  2. Nitmos says:

    See, for me, the fun factor is a 5. But I’m really just watching it and drinking beer. I agree with the other ratings.

  3. tfh says:

    Radu! I’d forgotten all about Radu.

    I’m still looking for the video that WILL make me a supermodel, though.

  4. Stacy says:

    Lol, I remember working out to this video in high school. I pulled a muscle and went back to the safety of my Kathy Smith and–dare I say it–Richard Simmons videos.

  5. Marcy says:

    Wonder if she still does these workouts LOL. After having a kid (or is it kids?) she still looks amazing.

  6. Erica says:

    I use to have a Claudia Schiffer legs video that sounds exactly like the Cindy video…..maybe the same producer makes all of the supermodel workout videos? The shifting locations is totally annoying! The Claudia workout was also wayyyy less than a workout.

    Jenn- I feel like a total grandma too talking about how the Jonas Brothers dress hahah….are we turning into our mothers 😉

  7. Sagan says:

    Okay! So if I try this I’ll wind up with big hair?

    …no? Oh.

  8. kjl says:

    Ah, this brings back such memories. My sorority sisters and I used to do this workout on VIDEO in college when it was practically brand new. Even then I remember noticing how bad her form was!

  9. peacefuljoy27 says:

    I’m about to start doing this workout again for the first time since 1993. It was the first workout video I ever did. I was a junior in high school. I did it every day for about a month before I started getting tons of compliments, and a LOT more attention from the opposite sex. It’s a hard workout, but I’ve done countless others since this one and none of them can compare to the results I got from this one.

  10. Anonymous says:

    I’m with Alli…This is the only workout I’ve ever stuck too, and I had amazing results with it. I accept that for a beginner this workout is too much, but as long as you know the proper form…and know to go at your own pace…the moves really workout what they are supposed to…I also find myself modifying it everytime to fit how I feel, reps, skip some moves that I feel I can’t do right and do a few more that I can…The music and locations make the video move right along and before you know it you are done…and boy for the first few times you do it…you feel it…I could not even get on and off the toilet seat my hammys were sooo sore. I got this when I was in college in 92/93 and put it away after I looked great..kept weight off for years..then marriage..and now baby…so I am ready to get back into it..body doesn’t remember moves so well, but my memory does so again I can jump around to fit my needs…AWESOME WORKOUT!!

  11. Lola says:

    I used this workout back in high school and again in my early twenties with great results. I know some of the moves are questionable but nothing whips me into shape like Cindy!

  12. Heidi says:

    Completely disagree with Erins “stereotypical” all models are bimbo type review… I used to work out to this video back in the day during my high-school days when I couldnt afford a gym membership/personal training sessions… the programme does work, the excercises are effective and def helped me get back into shape. I would recommend the videos for anyone unsure of how to start an excercise routine, looking to improve their overall fitness levels. I’m 31 today and am looking to revisit the workout and incorporate some of the moves into my exisiting cardio/resistance training routine…Who cares about what shes wearing or where shes training.. i actually thought the editing was quite clever and kept the video non repetive and interesting…I’m looking forward to trying out Cindy’s new Dimension video post baby….as for this particular workout I too have done countless others and none of them compare to the results I got from this one. Don’t dismiss this unless you have tried it yourself.. takecare and have fun – Heidi

  13. Erin says:

    Heidi: Your comment made me go back and revisit my writing in this post. I don’t feel that anything I said could be misconstrued as saying that all models are bimbos. I commented on clothing and hair because it’s a Retro Review, and well, styles of long ago typically strike my funny bone! I’m also not saying that the workout isn’t effective. My concern is for someone who has never worked out before and doesn’t know proper form or who thinks that the speed with which they do the moves is typical. I’m glad it works for you; I just want newbies to know that they should take things at a pace that’s comfortable for them should they try this DVD.

  14. AmyMOhio - on sparkpeople says:

    I love this video… in fact I just ordered this and Cindy’s Next Challenge on DVD…. I have my plan in place for this week…but I’m thinking Cindy next week!

  15. Yvonne says:

    Does anyone knows how much cals you burn during these workouts – I have been doing them for 3 weeks now and are on a 1200 cal plan – only lost 1 kg in these 2 weeks. What should I be doing extra?

  16. Marta says:

    Yvonne, you need more cardio – like walking or swimming or cycling or running. I disagree with Erin. Cindy’s workouts are great!

  17. Carrie says:

    Does anyone have list of the exercises for this workout video??? I used to have it written down so that I can do the exercise while watching tv and I would love to do that again!

  18. jj says:

    I love this Video! I bought the video in 1992 – as a young fit mom of 2 toddlers it was challenging to exercise until I found this. And, yes, Cindy kicked my ass!I was always into sports, so I knew proper form. At work older women were making fun of us 20 somethings walking around like very old women – we would say ohh, that bitch cindy! (cuz she REALLY kicked our ass! it was funny because you could tell who was doing it) I liked the music – the aerobic videos prior to this were soooo boring and talk about repetitive – young sister you do no know! Loved Seal…In a world full of people only some want to fly…Isn’t that crazy? CRAZY! Still my go to when I need to jump start my workout, my young toddlers grew up and do it too – we wore out the VHS tape and my daughter bought me a dvd on amazon.
    In her defense she does advise to watch the video ALL the way through the first time…If you were discombobulated, I’m guessing you didn’t do that…

  19. Carole Moore says:

    Loved this workout video!! I was at my most fit with these workouts! I misplaced my dvd, and can’t find this anywher! 😪😫

Comments are closed.