I've only done this video once, but here goes. I liked
this tape a little more than the Lower Body Shaping tape,
at least the first time around (that may change!).
This tape uses the same equipment that PP: Lower Body
Shaping uses: dowel rod, dumbbells, towel, stool.
With this tape also, my heart rate stayed in the lower
half of my target zone.
I think this tape has a greater variety of exercises
than the PPLBS.
It begins with low-impact aerobics with light weights
(3-5 lbs). Next are frontal kicks (using the dowel for
balance). Lat rows are next, and it's a pretty
challenging set. After doing frontal kicks on the other
side, there is a set of pushups, followed by seated
double lat rows. Next are hover squats with power
breathing. The next section is more low-impact, this time
with no weights. The next set of pushups is pretty
challenging. It incorporates 3-count pulses at the
bottom. Those were kind of tough. I noticed during the
pushups that the form of some of the exercisers was kind
of unusual. They had their knees positioned right under
their hips. I tried it (briefly), and it seemed to make
the pushups much easier, unless I did it incorrectly.
After that were isolated biceps curls, seated on the
stool, double triceps kickbacks, followed by French
press. There were squats with the dowel, and heavy hammer
curls with forward toe taps and dips. More French
presses, and then low-impact aerobics w/out weights. Next
was seated shoulder work with lateral arm raises, frontal
arm raises, and rear delt work. This was followed by
military presses. There was range-of-motion work,
including work for the obliques and power breathing.
Next was floorwork for the hamstrings, abductors and
adductors. For the hamstrings, you are in the table
position with the stool under your chest to support your
back. Their stool surface is much smaller than the
surface of the 14" step, but the step still worked
fine. Lying-side adductor and abductor work with a
dumbbell followed the hamstring work.
Ab work was very similar to the ab work in the other
Prime Power tape: it used a towel for head/neck support,
and was pretty much limited to crunches, lower crunches,
and oblique crunches.
I hope this isn't too detailed, but maybe it will help
those who aren't sure if this is the tape for them. I
felt good after completing both these tapes, but I didn't
feel wiped out. Of course, I'm one of the weird people
who likes to feel wiped out after my workouts -- at least
some of the time. Oh, I was also going to mention, most
of the time the music was pretty good, it complemented
the workout very well, but for a couple of sections, the
music did NOT seem to go with this workout. During the
first stretching section the music was "Stars and
Stripes Forever." It just seemed kind of bizarre to
me.
Instructor comments:
Stacy demonstrates excellent form, and like Kim
Bartlett in the other Prime Power tape, she's in great
shape.
Melissa F.
4/12/97
Melissa F. gave a complete description of this video.
I'll just add my comments. I've been doing advanced step
videos and FIRM videos for about a year. I did Prime
Power Fat Burning this morning for the first time and I
just don't know what to think. I didn't break a sweat,
didn't really get my heart rate up, and didn't feel like
I had worked very hard afterward.
I use The FIRM strictly for strength training since I
don't feel the cardio sections are really long enough or
challenging enough for me. I do think the cardio sections
in this video are little more interesting than some other
FIRM videos, though.
I was excited that the warm-up had a good aerobic song
I've heard before, but then the Stars and Stripes or
whatever it was really disappointed me. Also, doing inner
thigh work to waltz music seems a little bizarre, and
actually drowned out the instructor at times.
The upper body work was pretty good, but the lower body
sections weren't nearly challenging nor long enough for
me. I suppose that's why we need to spend more money to
get the Lower Body video. Next time I'll definitely use
ankle weights for the floor work. The broom handle I used
instead of the dowel worked well but, again, these
sections weren't very tough or long enough. Also, using a
towel behind the head to pull yourself up for crunches
seems to defeat the purpose. And the dowel certainly
isn't necessary while sitting on a stool for the final
stretch!
From my personal standpoint, this video would be good for
1) beginners, 2) older (define that as you will)
exercisers, 3) those of us who want to 'stay' in shape
and 4) days when you don't have the energy for a tougher
workout.
Don't get me wrong. It's a good video - even with the
hokey jungle set. It just doesn't totally work toward my
current fitness goals.
Joni O
4/30/97
General Comments: The Prime Power workouts are
produced by the FIRM under the name "Body
Labs". The tapes, to date, come in a plain black box
with a typewritten label. The workout takes place on a
tropical, jungle-like set.
The workout lasts about 45 minutes... and is much,
much easier than a typical FIRM workout. The weights are
lighter, the sets are shorter, and the low-impact aerobic
sections are a little bit longer than usual. I wore my
heart rate monitor, and found that my heart rate was near
the very bottom of my cardio-training zone through most
of the workout. I did, however, really enjoy the workout
and will continue to do it. I think it is an ideal
workout for off days. It also might allow an exerciser to
fit in more FIRM days in a week without worrying about
overtraining.
Some long-time FIRM users might notice... the cast is
all new. I think only 1 person looked vaguely familiar. I
don't know about everyone else... but I always enjoyed
seeing "familar faces" in successive FIRM
volumes. Anyway...
What I Liked About the Workout:
- The warmup was fun and efficient. It lasted 4
minutes. (a little longer than typical FIRM)
- I liked using the towel for neck support during
ab work.
- The delt work was pretty challenging and
thorough.
- The low-impact floor aerobics were a little more
choreographed... but still easy to follow. The
FIRM actually included some combination moves,
V-steps and grapevines.
- I liked the instructor. She gave good cues and
was easy to follow.
- I liked using the dowel during stretching for
balance.
- I *really* like using the stool for lower-back
support during the hamstring work.
What I Did Not Like:
- I did not like using the dowel during squats
because it stopped me from using weights.
Personally, I think squats are too easy without
weights.
- I thought the floor work for the inner/outer
thighs was too short & easy.
- I didn't like the "tick-tock" style
oblique stretches. I thought the FIRM said moves
like this actually thicken the waist???
The Jury is Still Out: I'm not sure about the music
for this workout. It seemed to range from classic
"carousel" music to more dancy music with
actual singing. (I've never heard a vocalist during FIRM
tapes before!) The music fit the workout moves but it
didn't match the jungle set. The only sound effects that
coordinated with the set were occasional bird and monkey
noises in the beginning of most segments. I'm also not
sure how I feel about the jungle setting. It was cute...
but I don't know if "cute" is a good thing in
this case.
It isn't distracting, but it also doesn't look as classy
as the FIRM's mansion setting.
Christine
Letsky
4/23/97
The tape is trash. What are they thinking? It's the
first time in 16 years that I've turned a Firm tape off
in disgust.
I hated it from the moment I had to stretch to the
U.S. Marine Marching Band. For the first time ever the
FIRM used a song with lyrics and the result was pure
lyric monotony. UGH.
When they got to the song that sounded like alarm
clocks were going off incessantly I had to turn it off. I
was about to lose my mind at that point.
The choreography is awkward. I thought I would like
the new dowel. I didn't. My heart rate almost completely
stopped during some very slow sections. Kick punches are
a drag.
I would recommend any other Firm video which is why I
was so shocked by how much I hated this one. I'm scared
to turn the other Prime Power lower-body tape on.
The instructor was the least motivational I've ever
seen in a Firm tape.
Carol
8/5/97
I received the tape today, so bear in mind this is a
first-time impression.
The jungle set and animal prints are different and
fresh, considering current fashion trends, but with time
will grow as dated as the avocado green and harvest gold
kitchens circa 1971.
The music is O.K. I rather liked the vocals in the
aerobic section. I did not have a problem with the music,
unlike some other reviewers. But it's not as good as the
music on Strong Heart and Strong Body tapes.
The dowel is worthless. I much prefer weights. The
lower body training is a waste of time for the seasoned
Firm Believer. I guess since these are "Prime
Power" tapes, they are preparing me (a middle-aged
Baby Boomer) for the cane and senesence....They are also
trying to ward off my need for Depends with all those
internal contractions--they get carried away with those
things. The aerobic section is not very aerobic, even for
beginners. One problem I have always had with the FIRM is
that their aerobics just are not aerobic enough for me,
albeit their weight sections more than compensate.
Summary:
This tape is good for beginning exercisers, people
who are resuming exercise after an illness or surgery, or
for those who want a easier tape on days they don't feel
like working out intensely.
The tape really also emphasizes internal pelvic
contractions and upper body work at the expense of
adequate aerobics and lower body toning.
Instructor comments: Nothing spectacular, nothing
terrible. Could be placed in a generic box with
"Video Instructor" written on it. In other
words, she's there, that's it. I prefer Susan Harris,
Tracie Long, Heidi Tanner, or Pam Cauthen. But she is
better than Janet Jones-Gretsky and Sandahl
Bergman....those instructors on the Classic Videos.
Professional performers in exercise videos aren't for me.
Amy Steppe
9/13/97
I like this better than Lower Body. However,although the title says "Fat Burning," this is not aerobic. Even doing high-impact for many of the moves, my heart rate didn't get up to the aerobic zone.
The weights segments are very good. It is primarily upper body work, but there are a few squats. The deltoid segment is pretty tough using 8-lb weights. I about died.
I really like the set. It's a fake outdoor setting -- they're really inside, but it looks real. I'm tired of looking at boring gym walls
all the time, so this is a nice change.
I would recommend this to beginning exercisers.
The instructor in this has some really great muscle definition. But I don't think she got it from this workout. She is very good at
cueing and demonstrating proper form. I think she would be very good in a traditional FIRM video.
Annie S.
9/15/97
I am a FIRM FANATIC, I have all of the FIRM Vids with the exception of the two new vides which just came out (Step and BootCamp), I purchased my first FIRM when it first came out in 1988? Back to the review, sorry...
I had not done this one in a while and it was great!!! not too hard, yet tough enough to let you know it worked. Gives a great upper body and lower body workout also great cardio!!! There are simply no videos like the FIRM, yet I have several others.
Instructor comments: Excellent great cueing!
Linda Rawson
daysfan@ivillage.com
3/17/00
This is one of the very few Firm videos that I actually sold....I didn't find it very challenging and parts of it were so corny it was unbearable (the marching band music especially). Having said this, I think this video would be good for a beginner because it is pretty easy in my opinion, compared with the other Firm videos I love like Tough Tape, Maximum Body Shaping and Firm Strength.
SassyGirl
sassydudo@hotmail.com
7/3/02
