Customer Reviews

Crunch: Master Class Sculpt [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I like this video because the exercises feel really effective, and they are interesting enough to make me look forward to working out with this tape. It works the muscle groups one at a time, and covers legs, buns, back, abs, chest and arms. It's a good alternative for those of us that can't afford a gym or fancy equipment but want to do toning exercises. One set of hand weights (2-5 lbs.) are recommended for the upper body workouts. One negative point that the video is a little long (about an hour) although the time flies. Another problem is that some of the movements seem a litle awkward, especially the ab exercises. But the legs, buns, and chest sequences make up for that. Overall, I highly recommend this video.

I have been working out for many years and periodically buy new videos for variety. At first I was critical of the looks of the video (seemingly cheezy) until I did the workout regularly for a couple of weeks and realized that this was one of the best - complete body workouts I'd ever spent an hour doing. You don't kill yourself trying to do the work and are therefore pleasantly surprised to see the amazing results you get from a slow and focused, well explained routine. I've already bought it for a number of my friends who hate the thought of a frantic, panting workout. They love it too and you should see the results!

I remember Nancy Popp from the ESPN Fitness Pros program and I'm very excited to see her again. I will admit that her outfit for the video is a little ridiculous, but the exercises are not. The first time I did the video I found myself drenched in sweat and really felt "the burn". She has a variety of exercises for the entire body and divides the time evenly between standing exercises and floor work. You find it hard not to enjoy her New York accent and the "Oh Ye-ahs". Unlike many videos, the camera is kept on the instuctor the majority of the time allowing you to see the full movement. The movements themselves aren't complicated at all, but you can feel them working.

I just bought this video and I am disappointed after working out for 45 minutes I didn't even break a sweat. I love the Crunch Boot Camp video - it's a great quick workout video but I wanted a video with more time this one is not it. I am ready to sell this video now. I am looking for a good workout video 45-60 minutes that will work the entire body and give you a good sweat.

This video is definitely fun, and it went by pretty quickly. I got really sweaty, but didn't feel as sore as I expected the next day. The instructor uses a lot of combo moves-like flowing from a front lunge into a back glute lift, or squats into a side leg lift. I think this gets your heart rate up better than doing single isolated exercises, but for me at least I feel like I get better sculpting from single movement exercises. That's not to say you don't work, and she throws in a lot of pulse segments where you go to the peak of the movement and then hold it there, pulsing about 8 times. As far as exercise form, I felt that some of the standing leg combos were somewhat dance-y, so if you're someone who prefers a more athletic, precise form to your sculpting workouts, this might feel awkward. However, if you've felt that most sculpting workouts are robotic and stiff, and enjoy aerobic dance/hip hop cardio, this might feel more graceful and less repetitive. The workout contains several different combos working each muscle, so while you work each muscle group several times, each set feels new and different(and distracting), instead of about a million leglifts, where all you can think about is how your leg is going to fall off. Regarding treatment of each area of the body, the lower body is good, especially glutes and outer thigh, but there wasn't much going on for the quads. Upper body felt a little skimpy, but it was sufficient, and again, less repetitive than many other videos. However, where this video blows others out of the water is the abs. About halfway through the ab segment, you will want to die, I promise you. A lot of videos have disappointing, quickie ab segments, but this one feels endless, and it hurts! She does several variations of crunches, lots of lower ab work(another place other videos fall down), and way too many of those pulsing sequences. To sum this one up, it's a great video, and aside from the horrifyingly endless ab segment, goes by quickly. The combo moves and flowing style feel refreshing and this is a great addition to your workout rotation. I also LOVE the Kathy Smith Secrets Of A Great Body videos, which provide quick, extremely focused sculpting for every major muscle group, although significantly less ab work. Adding this video to those ones will help you keep boredom away, MURDER your abs, and get you looking great nekkid in no time!

This video is definitely fun, and it went by pretty quickly. I got really sweaty, but didn't feel as sore as I expected the next day. The instructor uses a lot of combo moves-like flowing from a front lunge into a back glute lift, or squats into a side leg lift. I think this gets your heart rate up better than doing single isolated exercises, but for me at least I feel like I get better sculpting from single movement exercises. That's not to say you don't work, and she throws in a lot of pulse segments where you go to the peak of the movement and then hold it there, pulsing about 8 times. As far as exercise form, I felt that some of the standing leg combos were somewhat dance-y, so if you're someone who prefers a more athletic, precise form to your sculpting workouts, this might feel awkward. However, if you've felt that most sculpting workouts are robotic and stiff, and enjoy aerobic dance/hip hop cardio, this might feel more graceful and less repetitive. The workout contains several different combos working each muscle, so while you work each muscle group several times, each set feels new and different(and distracting), instead of about a million leglifts, where all you can think about is how your leg is going to fall off. Regarding treatment of each area of the body, the lower body is good, especially glutes and outer thigh, but there wasn't much going on for the quads. Upper body felt a little skimpy, but it was sufficient, and again, less repetitive than many other videos. However, where this video blows others out of the water is the abs. About halfway through the ab segment, you will want to die, I promise you. A lot of videos have disappointing, quickie ab segments, but this one feels endless, and it hurts! She does several variations of crunches, lots of lower ab work(another place other videos fall down), and way too many of those pulsing sequences. To sum this one up, it's a great video, and aside from the horrifyingly endless ab segment, goes by quickly. The combo moves and flowing style feel refreshing and this is a great addition to your workout rotation. I also LOVE the Kathy Smith Secrets Of A Great Body videos, which provide quick, extremely focused sculpting for every major muscle group, although significantly less ab work. Adding this video to those ones will help you keep boredom away, MURDER your abs, and get you looking great nekkid in no time!

Great workout. This is a wonderful toning workout that works all the muscles in your body. It's good for both the intermediate and the advanced exerciser. The Crunch series, as usual, delivers.

Nancy Popp leads this 60 minute sculpting class, she is working out with several fellow female exercisers, all of which appear to be in excellent shape. A younger Minna Lessig is one of the participants. You will need one set of dumbells ranging anywhere from 2-5 pounds which is appropriate for this routine as many of the exercises are done in combination. It should be noted that the weights are only used in the upper body segment.

After a simple warmup consisting of toe taps, grapevines, shallow squats, knee lifts, and marches you go into the standing portion of the lower body work which is all done unweighted. You start out with squats, slowly adding variation to them such as inner thigh squeezes, outer thigh lifts, and cross steps along with some "stylish" arm movements. Following this you will go into lunges, done stationery while lifting the back leg, then you will combine them with the squats done previously. Next are plie squats done with some variation, pulsing reps, slower count while adding pelvic tilts and a little hip movement to each side. Finally you will go into one legged squats while lifting the back leg adding small pulses, then you will finish out the standing portion with more plie squats. The next portion of the lower body work is done on the floor starting with outer thigh work. You will do clams, leg lifts with the leg bent at a 45 degree angle, then adding rotation, then straightening the leg and pulsing the leg upwards. All these elements are done twice each, repeating the entire sequence a few times. Then you will work the inner thighs in a similar way, first lifting the leg, then adding pulsing reps, bent leg lifts and adding more pulses. These components are then combined and repeated a few times. The entire sequence is repeated on the other side.

Upper body is next where light weights are used, only one size is used throughout the entire workout. You begin with tricep, shoulder and bicep work, starting with overhead presses with palms facing outward, then moving into overhead tricep extensions with palms in and out. The last part of this combination is hammer and supinated curls for the biceps. Then you will combine all three of these segments and repeat. The next segment is all shoulder work, done in the same format, starting with front deltoid raises, some alternating, then side deltoid raises and finishing out with rear deltoids. Again all three exercises are combined and repeated. Chest and back work conclude the upper body portion which is done kneeling. You will start with more rear deltoid raises, raising both arms up and lowering one arm at a time, arms in a straight position. Then you will do double arm rows, then combining then with tricep kickbacks and finishing out with rhomboid squeezes. You will then lie on your back for chest work, bench presses with some tempo variation, chest flies and a move Nancy calls scoops are part of this segment. Following this you will do a few minutes of ab work, traditional and double crunches, oblique twists, all with some variation are what you will see in this segment. Then you stretch out.

Nancy does a nice job in this workout, her experience certainly shows in this video, she is very good with form pointers and helpful tips, etc. Plus she is very encouraging and has a nice personality. I am not sure who picked her outfit though, it is a bit odd. This is best described as a toning workout, don't expect big muscles here although they are all covered in this workout. The workout is a bit long, but otherwise decent and better suited for beginner/intermediate levels. The only negative would be the whooping from the background exercises, it isn't severe by any means, but definitely noticeable. I myself find it distracting and sometimes irritating but that's just me.

I really love the Crunch workout videos because the instructors are always fun and motivating. This one really works a lot of muscle groups I didn't know I had. But, I have seen results from using it at least once a week. I feel stronger and my clothes fit better so I would say it is a success. My schedule is so busy that it is sometimes hard to squeeze this one in, but when I do have time, it is refreshing and fun. I recommend it if you really want to tone your muscles on your entire body.

I absolutely love this video! I have tried many other workout videos, but this is one of my all time favorites. The instructor, Nancy Popp, is very enthusiastic which helps me to stay motivated. The exercises were especially effective in shaping and toning my shoulders, waist, and glutes. If you can spare an hour each week I think its worth it. The only downside is the cheesy music, but then again all workouts have bad music.