I’m sure you all know my love for Core Fusion by now. I’ve been taking classes at Exhale Spa for several months now. I was really starting to notice some results. I felt stronger after every class and even noticed some nice leg muscles in pictures! Unfortunately the price of a membership is way too expensive for me and I ran out of classes. I’ve been sitting back and waiting for the classes to go on sale at RueLaLa again but who knows when that will be. I obviously do not want to stop Core Fusion completely and lose my results. I’ve been in search of a different option to continue the classes. I do have a few of the Core Fusion DVDs: Exhale: Core Fusion Body Sculpt
About Exhale Core Fusion: Lean & Toned
Lengthen, strengthen, and transform your physique with Core Fusion Lean & Toned. This program targets all the major muscle groups in five 10-minute segments, each focused on a different part of the body. You can tailor your practice to time constraints, or do them all together for an invigorating total-body workout.
Bringing the mind/body spa experience home, Elisabeth and Fred teach Lean & Toned like one of exhale’s nationally renowned Core Fusion classes. Subtle but intense moves increase your heart rate, helping you burn calories and lose weight as you tone. Soon you’ll have flat abs, firm glutes, chiseled arms, and slender legs. And since the unique Core Fusion approach mixes stretching and sculpting moves, your newly defined muscles will be long and lean. Reshape your body, and enjoy the workout the celebs are raving about! Includes 5 min. bonus stretch.
Husband and wife team and Core Fusion co-creators Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp have over 50 years of combined experience teaching Pilates, Lotte Berk Method, yoga, and dance–disciplines that comprise the Lean & Toned workout. They are founding team members of exhale, a leading mind/body spa with locations in the U.S. and the Caribbean.
It was very exciting to watch the video because Fred, Elizabeth, and the 3 other instructors in the video are all my instructors in real life! The DVD offers the following workout options:
PLAY ALL
*Play All Without Introductions
PICK A SEGMENT
*Upper Body Tone & Stretch (9.5 minutes)
*Thighs Tone & Stretch (9 minutes)
*Flat/Round Back Tone & Stretch (9 minutes)
*Gluteal Tone & Stretch (9 minutes)
*Pretzel Core Toner (10.5 minutes)
*Bonus: Stretch (7 minutes)
The first time I only did the Upper Body and Thigh Tone section but the other day I did the entire DVD at once. The DVD starts with the same warm up we do in class (knee raises). It then moves onto planks, push-ups, and triceps on the ground. This was all pretty challenging for me but maybe a little longer in a real class. Next comes arm exercises using weights. I remembered from the first time I did the DVD that the arm workout is actually very short. The first time I used 3 pounds but the second time I was able to use 5 pound weights. I was pretty disappointed with arms. It is much more challenging in class to the point where my arms are burning and I can’t even lift the 3 pound weights by the end. There was a long arm stretch after which I felt was way too long for the short amount of arm exercises. I know stretching is important but I would rather do 80% arm work and 20% arm stretching. This was more like 50/50.
During Thighs Tone and Stretch, the DVD instructs you to use a chair as the barre. I used the top of my TV instead because my chair is a rolly chair and I thought I would fall over.There were 3 portions of thighs such as leg lifts, lunges, and standing in a V while moving up and down. I enjoyed thighs. It burned but not quite as much as in an actual Core Fusion class.
Next was flat and round back for abs. In class, gluteal is always after thighs so I was a little confused. I had some trouble with flat back against the wall because I don’t really have an open wall in my room where I can see the TV. Next time I will move some furniture. I did it against my couch and did the best I could. I had an easier time with round back and really felt this one in my abs. I always enjoy this section of class since I can hold my legs up in the air.
Gluteal was pretty similar to a real class. It involved holding the chair (or TV in my case) and doing leg lifts. Pretzel Core Toner was pretty hard as well. I’ve never experienced pretzel mixed with abs so it was a nice little surprise. The C-curve lasted pretty long but 5 minutes in that position always seems like a decade to me! I had one little issue with C-curve….
Daisy decided she wanted to me lovable and take a nap on my belly! I was fine with stopping abs a bit early because I honestly hate C-curve! I just really suck at it. I would rather cuddle with my kitty 
The DVD ended with a nice bonus stretch which included butterfly and stretching the legs against the wall.
I think this DVD is a great option for people who don’t have access to the live classes. It is an amazing workout and will give you a nice idea of what a live class is like. I have trouble doing long DVDs at home because I get distracted easily but I could see myself turning this on and doing one or two segments at a time.
Want to win your very own copy of this DVD?
The awesome people at Acacia, the company that produces all Core Fusion DVDs, is offering to giveaway not one, but THREE copies of this DVD!
How to Enter:
1) Leave me a comment telling me why you want to try this DVD.
2) Tweet this giveaway! Write: “@MissyMaintains is giving away 3 copies of #CoreFusion Lean & Toned DVD! Enter here: http://bit.ly/9wWnFx
3) “Like” the Missy Maintains Facebook Page. If you already do, suggest to 5 friends and let me know below.
4) Link back to this contest on your blog. Comment with the link below.
I will choose 3 winners this Friday, May 28th at 10:00 am.
*Giveaway open to US residents only*
Good Luck!
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i would love to try this DVD because I heard that it is one of the best dvds out there.
also, it would be great to get ready for the bikini session!
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i tweeted this great giveaway!!
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I’ve done Core Fusion in the past and it’s great! It would be great to do in the living room when I move and can’t find a Core Fusion class in London. =(
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I tweeted this giveaway!
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I want to try this because I want to get rid of my post-baby belly. It sounds like a super fun way to do it. Plus its swim-suit season and I want to be able to look as sexy as I feel.
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I have heard so many great things about this DVD! I’m in a bit of a workout rut right now and would love to introduce something new!
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I would love to try this DVD because the Core Fusion DVD’s seem to have a great reputation, and this DVD would be great for cold winter days, when it’s hard to leave the house for a workout, but I still want to get one in!
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You are hereby tweeted. =) http://twitter.com/AlexaTC
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And, I SUPER like you on facebook.
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I’d love to try it because I’ve always found it difficult to work on my core. I’m good about running (legs) and doing weights (arms) but I tend to lack focus on my middle. It’d be great to have some good instruction!
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I love these classes at the gym but I think it would be great to have a dvd at home. Sometimes the classes are not offered at convenient times and it would also be great to do some core fusion work more times per week.
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I am always looking for a great, challenging home workout dvd!
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I’ve never done Core Fusion, but I think this would be a perfect DVD to include in between my workouts.
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I tweeted!
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I’ve been wanting to try Core Fusion dvds, I’m trying to get toned for summer time.
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I have tweeted about this giveaway!
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This DVD sounds great and I’d love to mix it in with my current workouts!
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I’m a FB fan and shared on my profile: http://www.facebook.com/#!/heatherhurd?v=wall&story_fbid=128714930479228
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I’ve heard great things about this DVD and I’m a fan of at-home workouts on my days off from the elliptical. Sounds like a natural fit to me! Thanks for the great giveaway!
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I’ve been dyinngggg to try this! I don’t live close to try a live class (nor can I afford it) so it seems like the perfect option. I own the core fusion body sculpt, but sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated with at home workouts.. so it would be nice to switch it up. Thanks!
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I would like this dvd to bring along while a travel as well as try at home because i’ve heard a lot of amazing things about core fusion!
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I have been hearing so much about these dvd’s! I just tweeted!
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I’d love to try this DVD because I don’t own any workout DVD’s yet!!
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hbobier @ Basil Vodka Reply:
May 25th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
I’m sorry, what? How do you not own a workout DVD? Not even the Shred? Well. This is news.
I hope you discover how awesome workout DVDs are in the very near future. Because they are awesome.
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I would love to try this DVD because I’m in need of a pre-summer tone-up! That and workout DVDs are like crack to me. I own a lot. Mostly by the infamous Denise Austin. What can I say? That girl knows how to make your abs burn.
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I am looking for new ways to mix up my work out routine and this seems perfect!!
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i would love to work core fusion into my exercise regime and hopefully see amazing results.
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I definitely would love to try this out – I need to work my core to balance out hunching over a desk all day!
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I would love to win this dvd because I don’t have access to a core fusion class!
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I need to mix up my workouts, I feel like I’ve been doing the same thing for too long, this DVD would really help out!
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I tweeted!
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Cause i have to try the newest video!
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I just starting trying out the CF DVDs through Netflix and want to start investing in them. Would love to use this one as the starter to the collection!
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Tweeted this awesomeness…
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…And liked the [beep] out of it on FB!
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I want to try it because I’ve been reading about it for so long!
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I want to win this workout DVD b/c I live in a VERY small town (there’s no gym at all) so I rely on workout vids to keep me active and in shape. I’d LOVE to try the Core Fusion DVD b/c I always hear everyone raving abt it and I feel left out!!
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HA I was having the same issue with the wall section…I had to move my end table to get some space…
Daisy is too cute!
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I want it because I might have time to do the individual segments on breaks and between jobs.
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Now that my normal gym is on summer hours (I work on a college campus), I can’t get there before work so I’ve been living on workout DVDs and I’d love to change things up with a new one!
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I have heard great things about Core fusion from a few bloggers and there are no classes around me to try so this would be a great substitute!
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I would love to try this DVD – I bought Body Sculpt two weeks ago, and I’m in love with Core Fusion!
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Sounds like an interesting DVD. I just started Weight Watchers today so I’m motivated to exercise more so that I can eat a little more, lol. Hope you’ll pick me as a winner!
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i have tried a couple of the other core fusion dvds and also managed to get myself to a few classes and i LOVE it. i would love to win this one
thanks!
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i would love to try this because i just joined a gym, but it doesnt offer any classes so i need something to shake up my routine!
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I would love to try this DVD because I heard Core Fusion is a great workout and I don’t have Core Fusion anywhere near me to go to a class! Plus from what you talked about, made it so interesting that I would love to try it.
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I would love to try this after reading about it on your blog. Sounds like it leads amazing results!
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I keep hearing great things about the DVD and would love to try it out!
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Thanks for the opportunity! I would love to win this DVD because I used to always do workout videos but recently stopped. It would be great to start again with something new!
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I want this dvd because it would be a verrry long commute to get to a real core fusion class!
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I would love to try the core fusion workout because you’ve spoken so positively about it!
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