Customer Reviews

Crunch: Fat Blaster Plus [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is a good workout for the intermediate, especially one who doesn't have time for a 45-60 minute cardio workout. The workout depends on fairly challenging choreography, and demands a lot of ability to change leads quickly and master moves like the "grapevine" and "mamba". This video doesn't spend a lot of time getting you accustomed to moves or choreography; it assumes you are already proficient in this ability and skill.

In fact, in some ways this workout can be VERY frustrating. For one, the camera angle tends to change at the EXACT MOMENT you want to SEE where the instructor's feet are going! All too often, in this very lower-body intensive workout, you see some useless view of someone's upper body--I'm sure it's supposed to be inspriational to see how the instructors are all excited about this workout, but I find it irritatingly useless when it comes to figuring out how the combination's supposed to go!

However, for all this annoyance, it's not a bad workout. It may have to demand a bit more patience to get the choreography down than the Tae-Bo series, for instance, but it's not impossible; it's for those ready to take on a challenge and won't be discouraged if the first time they don't quite master everything!

It's also fairly low-impact--there are some high-impact moves, but these are easily modified and you still get a good workout.

I'm also pleased to find a workout that's easy to squeeze into a less-than-an-hour framework, but the exercise is still is a challenge.

I love this video because it is challenging enough so I do not get bored with it, yet not so difficult that it is hard to learn. I could feel my leg muscles getting tight halfway through the workout. It is high energy and a lot of fun to do. I would recommend it to people somewhat familiar with aerobic moves who are looking for a good workout.

I bought this video in hopes of getting a easy to follow video that would help me feel good with daily exercise without a lot of hassle. Much to my surprise, this video was extremely frustrating-it was very hard to follow the instructor and anticipate what was about to happen next. Half the time, I stood there watching the video wondering where she was and where it was going. This in light of the fact that I am not a novice at aerobics and even a former ballet dancer,I couldn't even keep up. It bummed me out-and after the third try-I gave up. A big dissapointment it was. Not to mention that all the hollering during it is extremely annoying. I tried, but in the mail it goes for a return.

For anyone who remembers the ESPN show "Fitness Pros", the instructor will be a familiar face. Tracy is insanely energetic and gives good cues. The movements are sometimes simple, sometimes more difficult to get but are always challenging. She takes you through a bunch of "intervals" where you work above your normal aerobic state for periods of a minute or less each. Interval training is the hot new way to train your heart to recover more quickly from strenuous activity and speed up your metabolism for hours afterwards. As with most Crunch tapes, the short time frame means not as good of a warm up or cool down, but the cardio section is great and well worth the effort to learn the moves. A lot of fun. END

My main concern with videos is they can become boring quickly! I've been doing this video for 10 weeks, about 3 times a week....I don't get bored and I am still sweating during the workout. Tracy York's enthusiasm and fast paced routine keeps you motivated and ready to come back for more. Worth the money!

I assume this isn't a beginners workout. It wasn't that is was too hard, it's just that the instructor assumed I knew all the moves, which I didn't and I had a difficult time keeping up. I managed to work up a sweat though and with time and practice I'm sure I'll learn it. It seems like it can be alot of fun.

I bought this tape, and when I tried to do it I got so frustrated. I think it's for more intermediate fitness levels, those who know the moves or something. I have done step aerobics, and love it, it's much easier to follow. This was really annoying, so much so that I threw it in the trash, only after literally pulling the tape out of the cassette!

Since I can only exercise when my daughter takes her nap, the length of this workout is ideal for me. It's about 5 minutes to warm-up, 20-something-minutes of aerobics, and 5 minutes to cool down. I sweat every time, but it's not so hard that I don't look forward to exercising with it. It took me three times of working out with the video until I got most of the moves, but now that I know them all, it still never gets boring.

I liked this video a lot, and it is a wonderful aerobic exercise. Tracy gives you a lot of energy and is very encouraging. I like that there are little segments, so when i'm short on time I'll only do one or two segments. Its great everyone should own it.

I think Tracy York is one of the most underrated choreographers out there. I started out exercising with the Buns of Steel Platinum series, and her aerobics segments were always the most fun -- especially in Buns and Abs of Steel 2000 for Beginners and Hips and Thighs of Steel (while the last one definitely takes time to learn, it's a blast once you get it!). This workout definitely takes some time to master, but if you like dancy workouts, its worth learning. It helped me move up to intermediate workouts. Plus its short, so I still use it on days when I'm running late, or as a short cardio before doing weights. Moreover, although I own more than 100 videos, its the one that I consistently return to when I need some motivation or familiarity. And one comment in response to people who complain about Tracy's failure to slowly explain each step. If she did, the video would have a fairly short shelf life because you'd be bored with the slowness as soon as you learned the routine. Most good routines just take a little time and effort to learn; it's that simple.