Review of Zuzana’s ZCUT Power Cardio DVDs
I think we’re all in agreement that I have a girl crush on Zuzana.
She has a soft-spoken, kind and approachable demeanor, and at the same time, creates these crazy intense workouts that leave me shaking in a pool of sweat. How can someone so nice make my muscles cry so effectively?
Oh, and I have serious ab envy.
I’m gonna go do a plank now.
As a fitness instructor, it’s always so refreshing to have the chance to take a class or do a DVD so you don’t have to think about your workout. When you’re used to creating them so often (and coaching along the way), it’s nice to zone out and just do it. Whenever I’m looking for someone else to kick my booty, I know I can count on a ZWOW. When I found out that Zuzana was coming out with a set of cardio DVDs
, I knew it would be something worth checking out since I love her online workouts so much. When I saw the price tag ($15 for the set), I decided it was destiny and ordered some.
I haven’t had a chance to try all of the workouts yet -I’ve done 4, plus the warm up and bonus abs workouts- but thought it was worth a little post, since quite a few of ya have asked how I like them so far.
Here are some details:
-It’s a 3-DVD set, which has 12 workouts, a warm up, cool down and bonus abs workout
-The set also includes a workout calendar, plus basic nutrition tips if you want to follow around. This is a helpful tool for scheduling rest days.
-Each workout is around 10-15 minutes and if you do the warm up and cool down each time, you still will not be working out for longer than 30 minutes. This makes it a fantastic option for those who don’t have a lot of time to workout, especially since all of the DVDs can be done at home with minimal equipment (chair, mat, something to jump over)
-Before each workout, Zuzana breaks down the moves with proper form so you know what to expect, and how to do it properly. The workouts are done in rounds for time, so the key is to complete them as quickly as possibly, while still utilizing proper form.
My thoughts:
-The movements are very high impact and intense, so I wouldn’t recommend them for fitness beginners or those with injuries. There are a couple of the moves that I’ve had to modify, since I knew I wouldn’t be able to complete the rest of the high rep set with proper form.
-I wouldn’t do these types of workouts on consecutive days. Like I mentioned, they’re high intensity, and it’s a better choice for your heart (it’s a muscle and needs rest, too!) to alternate cardio intensities. I’d space them out throughout the week, or use them as a tough cardio HIIT session after weights (which is how I’ve been using the DVDs).
-They are very, very similar to the workouts you can find for free online. However, Zuzana provides a ton of awesome content at no cost to her thousands of viewers, I’m assuming she’s primarily paid via YouTube ad revenue. I these DVDs are a great way to financially support her, and I love that these workouts can be done without an internet connection. (I take my computer to the gym and will do them in the training room, which doesn’t get a good WiFi signal.) On a non-workout related note, some of you may have read online about her troubled past, and she’s also been through a lot personally in the past year or so. From what I can tell, in addition to her abs of steel, she has a heart of gold. She’s built amazing success for herself and is proof that you don’t need to finish the same way you start.
I’ll definitely continue using the DVDs as a fun change-up in my workout routine, along with my beloved TurboFire, NYC Ballet Company and Physique 57.
Hope you’re all having a happy morning so far <3
See ya later today with a fun Valentine’s gift guide from Meg!
xoxo
Gina
New on the Family page: Toddler DIY Valentines
More posts about Zuzana’s workouts/BodyRock (which is now called DailyHIIT; Zuzana is no longer a host):
Winter Shape Up! Today is your Hill challenge and Ab burner. Pick any ab burner from my YouTube channel (or do a couple!) and for your hill challenge, you’re going to focus on resistance. If you need some ideas, check out this workout and this workout.
How’d you do? Make sure to check in by leaving a comment below! Two lucky winners will receive the same scarf I’m wearing in this pic, courtesy of White Plum Boutique.
I’ll also send a set of the Zuzka DVDs to each of the two winners, just because I’m enjoying them so much [sponsored by Bella and Caroline] 🙂
Congratulations to the lucy tank winner from yesterday!
Catherine C. said: Holy arm burn!!! Did workout 3 today and will be using tomorrow as my rest day…I’m gonna need it 😉
Send me an email to fitnessista at gmail dot com and we’ll get your prize on the way! xo
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Feeling stronger every day! I LOVED Workout #3. Definitely got my heart pumping. Can’t wait to go for a run tonight as we are getting as warm spell in Chicago (39 degrees)!
zuzana is crazy hot!!! candela!
Did the hills workout that you posted back in October. It was as hard now as it was back then!
I have to save my hill workout for a day when I can make it to the gym. I knocked out Workout 3 + the Plank Ab Burner in my living room this morning though 🙂
Boo. Ya. Thats how I feel.
Just did workout 3 for the second time! I’ll be doing the hills and abs tomorrow…can’t lift on basketball day (tomorrow) 🙂
Hills and Abs complete! It’s rainy and cold here in DC so I almost talked myself out of going– but then I remembered your video from earlier this week and got my butt over to the gym.
I’m headed to the gym in a bit to do hills on the treadmill…and I’ll prob do abs at home 😀 I did one of your other ab burners the other day and my abs were sore for 2 days! Every time I laughed or sneezed I felt it lol.
I think it’s awesome that you have videos on you tube for free. It’s rare to find someone who is willing to do that anymore 🙂
Oooooh abs… I will be be feeling that tomorrow 🙂
wow, workout 3 was no joke! legs were definitely feeling it after circuit 1 and then arms after circuit 2!!!
Great workout!
Don’t belong to a gym so couldn’t do hills today :-(. Instead I did a 4 mile interval run and an ab workout afterwards. I am super sore from workout 3 yesterday and I am wondering how it is going to go tomorrow. Dying to try the Zuzka videos!!
My workout girls (Miriam and Esther!!) and I are on a slightly different schedule, so we did Workout #3 again today. It was even harder than last time! Thank you for introducing me to Lacey’s workouts. I’ve enjoyed the change up in workout style this week. We also did a 4 minute Ab Burner (we didn’t have access to one of yours, so we just shouted out random Ab moves and changed ever 30 seconds.) Overall, it was another great WSU workout!
It makes me sad that next week is the end. 🙁
finished my abs and hills! Holy Zuzanna’s abs are on fire!
Switched it up and did my workout 3 today!
Since I’m a day behind, I just did workout #3. I loved it, but it’s taken me a few minutes to check-in because I can barely move my arms!
totally off subject, but I just saw a picture of you and the pilot in a U of A “coupled up cats” photo album on facebook, and the caption is “Gina and her boyfriend…” — so funny! but I love the shirts y’all are wearing. bear down 🙂
I started doing BodyRock workouts after buying a home and moving too far from a gym. I love them, even now that they’ve switched to DailyHIIT! I came along after Zuzana, but I’ve checked out a few of her free workouts online. I’d love to have one of her DVDs as another at-home workout alternative! And I love the scarf you’re wearing. I’ve entered two other White Plum giveaways, but I never win.
I’m off to do my workout for the day in a few minutes!
I’ll have to give a Zuzana workout a try sometime. I tried bodyrock a year or so ago and it’s just too sexual for me. I’m all for having a little inspiration but it’s just too much. Thanks for the review! 🙂
My muscles are CRYING. LOVE IT.
Loved workout 3! Energizing and intense
I had to mix up the schedule a bit this week, so tonight I did an ab burner but then a major HIIT session with a personal trainer, so i consider it equal to a WSU Week 3 workout sesh! It was intense ha! And i always love the ab burners, they totally work!
Ohhh, my abs are going to be sore tomorrow. I love Zuzana’s workouts. She is tough.
zuzana sure is an abspiration! 🙂 after working my arms to the max yesterday, today was a great cardio/ab day. tomorrow’s goal – keep straight legs throughout the each set of dips
Thanks for the DVD review! Have been following her workouts for a while and wasn’t sure how different the DVDs would be from the online workouts. Like that they are similar but don’t require internet. You could just write down the exercises and use a timer if you don’t have internet access but I always prefer to follow along!
Speaking of Zuzka… looked at those abs and then did an ab blast!!! haha Felt great 🙂
5 min plank is a killer and in already feeling it! Crazy how excited I am to be “sore” haha
I was SO sore today so I knew my body needed something less intense. I took a Zumba class (it’s more fun that workout to me) and a 20 minute walking hill workout on the tredmill. Ideally it would have been closer to an hour on the tredmill with running hills, but I knew my body needed a break. Topped it all off with about 15 minutes of abs. Light yet sweaty workout!
Thanks for the DVD review! I am definitely looking forward to finally trying some of z’s workout outs and adding them as HIIT with WSU workouts. I couldn’t believe how good the price on the dvds either – it was a no brainer and I love supporting folks like her and whenever possible. When will we be able to buy your dvd series? 😉 On good note, I definitely took your excuse buster segment and advice and forced my self to work out tonight after 8:00pm when I finally got home from work (I left at 5:30am). Before I hoped on the train to head back home I grabbed coffee to give myself a boost, read your blog on my way home and then worked out right away in my home gym. I did your Halloween hill workout on the spin bike and an ab burner after. My legs were pretty soar from workout 3 yesterday so I wasn’t able to push it as hard as I hoped, though I was so happy to have gotten through the workout. Thanks for your motivation 🙂 – L
Did Workout #3 and HIIT today. I increased my weights today and my arms feel like Jello.
Thanks for the dvd review! I am really wanting to try them out as I love her site and workouts.
I’ve been sick this week, but can’t wait to try Workout #3 once I feel better! 🙂
thanks for the awesome dvd review! I am going to check out some more of her workouts! loved workout #3 and planning to do hills tomorrow morning. thanks so much for the motivation!
I did workout 3. Zuzana has great workouts.
I did a private yoga session yesterday, so today it was workout 3. My arms are nice and noodly! Tomorrow am its a barre sculpt and spin class!
I’m laying here on my mat after doing the ab burn from September. Great burn! Did the Hallowlean hill workout just before this. Now I’m off to pickup some VDay goodies for my kiddos and hubby. Nothing like last minute! 🙂
Hill workouts are my favorite! I have exercise-induced asthma, so speed workouts are really hard for me. But I can do hills forever, so I was excited to see this in the weekly calendar. Anyway, hills and abs are done for the day! I’m loving the #wintershapeup — I’ve already gone down a belt notch. 😀
Did a ten miler outside today! Braved the cold weather because it was SO SUNNY! Hope I win!
I love body rock… she is insanely beautiful but extremely likeable as well, like you mentioned. I would love the oppportunity to win her DVD, but will still purchase in the likelyhood I don’t. It’s so nice of you to support your peers, thank you to the pups too.
The Hills were tough, loved it…. I did a circuit workout this morning that was all abs, done in 7 minutes, but sooo tough!
Happy Valentines Day.
Oh man my abs hurt so good. I needed that!
Feel amazing after today’s workout! It was exactly what I needed. Thanks for reviewing the DVDs… so curious to try them! Happy Valentine’s Day 🙂
Rocked out some Turbofire yesterday and then Workout 3 again this morning. Those walking and jumping lunges kill me.
I did the 6 pack in a sweater for my abs and it hurt so good. Love your workouts!
My abs were spent last night after the ab burner and they hurt of so good today!
After butterfly situps the day before, the plank session just about did me in! Thanks 🙂
I did yoga + workout 3 for the first time last night and it was my favorite to date. My lower body is much stronger than my upper body, so I loved all of the upper body action. Thanks for the reminder that I need to add pull-ups back into my routine! Happy Valentine’s Day to your sweet family!
I was stuck at home with a sick kiddo, so I did an ab burner 🙂
aww hope your little one is feeling better!
I had a bit of an off-day yesterday, both mentally and physically, but I got right back into the swing of things this morning with 3 rounds of workout 3, 2 different ab burners, and some hills… followed by some delicious protein pancakes. I feel so much better now. 🙂
Killer workout! The ab burner hurts so good!
we love Zuzana!! We have been following her for 5 years now, and Lori and I both look forward in trying out her DVDs soon!
I’m a day behind on checking in, but omg lovin that ab burner! Hill workouts always kick my booty too, so thanks for the motivation to get out there and rock it out!
holy ABS! I haven’t felt this sore since before baby, nice to know my abs are still there! whoaa! 😀
My legs are busted – spinning this morning after last night’s Zumba class really tired it out.