Customer Reviews

Crunch: Turbo Sculpt [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I liked this video when I first bought it several years ago. Now that I've sampled lots of different fitness videos, I realize that TurboSculpt has some strengths and weaknesses. I like the fact that it's about 30 minutes long, which makes it good for people who don't have much endurance or time to work out. There's also no jumping up and down involved, thankfully. All of the major muscle areas - arms, abs, legs, gluts - are covered, with a few different exercises for each, although a limited number of reps. What I didn't like is that the cardio section is extremely limited - about two minutes and that's it. AND, most importantly, after using this video religiously for three weeks, I didn't see any visible improvement in strength or toning. (I was following a strict, but healthy low-fat diet and I wasn't cheating! ) When I switched to the Firm video line, I saw a major improvement (dropped a skirt size) in the same period of time, sticking to the same diet.

All in all, I think Turbosculpt is a good video for time-pressed beginners. People who are in the intermediate range probably won't get as much benefit from this tape as someone who is just starting to work out.

I really enjoy strength training and toning videos, and TurboSculpt is my all-time favorite. This video is fast, and it really produces results. As time progresses, you can increase the difficulty by using heavier weights. One caveat---I loaned my copy to a friend who had never done strength training, and she found it very challenging and was sore for a few days afterwards. So if you're new to weight work, you might consider doing some of the moves without weights or with extremely light ones.

I would recommend this video to other intermediate exercisers who are looking for something to do when they don't have time for a 60 minute video. The instructor is energetic, and explains each exercise very clearly. The backup exercisers hoot and holler throughout the routine (as if these buff ladies are really getting tuckered out by a few squats) which might irritate some, but personally I find it entertaining, and it gives me something to chuckle at while I'm working out. The most effective segment is probably the abs, they don't skimp even though its only a 30 minute video. My only complaint is that there is too much lag time- sometimes this occurs because as each exercise is being explained, you're standing there doing nothing. In addition there are these "motivational" blurbs thrown in between segments. Of course it dosen't take much sense to realize that you can just keep doing the previous moves until the routine starts up again.

This is one of my all-time favorite workout videos. You get great all over body toning in 30 minutes. The instructor (Debbee Sharpe) is easy to listen to and gives clear instructions on how to do the exercises. I don't have a lot of experience with weights but she makes it easy to follow the exercises and get a great workout. If you don't have a lot of time, this is a great video for you.

I've been training with weights for eight months and found this video to be very helpful to assist me in attaining that next level. This is not for the beginner because it is fast paced and a real work out. A definite purchase for any body already working out!

When I first purchased Turbo Sculpt, I was disappointed: the quality of the video seemed poor and the "whooping" and hollering of the participants was annoying. However, the quality of the workout itself was pretty good, so I wound up using the tape for several years before eventually outgrowing it. Here's what I liked/disliked about this video:

LIKED
*relatively short (30 minutes) allover toning workout
*alternates upper and lower body toning exercises (or combines the two) rather than doing ALL upper and then ALL lower
*the exercises were challenging but doable
*there were no push-ups

DISLIKED
*the instructor's chattering was annoying
*the other participants are constantly "whooping" and hollering in a way that seemed fake
*some parts of the workout are very tough (a long series of bicep curls while doing squats), yet others are too easy (very little focus on triceps; a short abs segment)
*overall, I failed to see major results from this workout

Some of the previous reviewers mentioned that there is not enought cardio on this tape--in fact, there is NO cardio because it is a TONING tape, so if you're looking for cardio, look elsewhere. Before you buy this tape, I would recommend viewing a clip on collagevideo.com, and if you can tolerate the instructor, you might like the tape, especially if you are looking for a shorter toning workout. However, I would recommended that you check out Kathy Smith's Lift Weights to Lose Weight instead if you want to see real results.

I have used this tape so many times, it's beginning to wear out. It's a toning tape that really focuses on all of the major muscle groups and I've seen great results. For beginners, it even provides a bit of a cardio workout. The one problem I have is that now that I know the tape and don't need "breathers" in between various exercising, I find that the instructor takes too long between each set as she describes the next exercise. This detailed explanation is, however, what appealed to me when I started the tape. I've now made up for the delay by starting each set early. I'd recommend this tape for someone with limited workout time who would like to see more definition to her muscles.

I used Turbo Sculpt years ago and enjoyed it immensely not only for the great results that I got but for the fun and the time factor. Sometimes it is difficult to get a good aerobic workout as well as a toning routine all in one day, but this video does it all in just about 30 minutes. In fact I lent this tape to a friend and now I had to purchase another one because it never was returned to me. I've missed it terribly and can't wait to get my second copy.

This is a great workout but the background noise is absolutely unbearable! I highly recommend doing this video but providing your own music as the sound in this video is so staged you could call it a play! Still, it's a great workout in a surprising 30 minutes and I would recommend it to others.

Debbee Sharpe leads you through this half hour routine which is not a bad one for those with limited time. There is a variety of exercises which hit all the muscle groups in a short time, some of these being compound movements which work the upper and lower body at the same time while providing a little extra challenge. You will need one set of dumbells ranging from 2-10 pounds. Debbee and her crew appear to be using anywhere from 2-5 pound weights, one of them being a man who is pointed out to be using slight heavier weights.

You start out with a simple warmup, then you move into the standing portion of the workout starting with plies with upright rows, then you will do some calf raises, then more plies with front deltoid raises, some of them alternating. Then you will move into a set of lunges, first alternating legs, then you will do static lunges on one leg, then the other leg with more alternating lunges in between. There are some pulsing reps for the static lunges which add a little more intensity. The standing work concludes with step squats in combination with bicep curls, one legged squats and one arm tricep kickbacks, and rear deltoid raise. The entire sequence is repeated a second time.

Once you are done with the standing work, you move to the floor for more weight work starting with pec flies, then ribcage pullovers. Then you lose the weights briefly and do some hamstring work with ankles crossed, heels on the floor and toes in the air. Then you grab your weights again and repeat these exercises again. Finally you do some brief ab work, traditional crunches with some tempo variation, reverse crunches and oblique twists are what you will see in this segment.

Debbee Sharpe does a decent job leading this video, she takes time to explain proper form and is pleasant and motivating. She makes little comments in order to give those an extra incentive to keep going. This routine is short, but hits everything in the alloted time. I would consider this routine to be beginner/intermediate level, advanced will not find it challenging.

The only negatives in this video is that it's recorded in EP mode, which I don't quite understand since most of the Crunch videos are recorded in SP mode. The other one being the whooping of the background exercisers, which is common in Crunch workouts though it is worse in the aerobic videos. It is apparent that they are having fun, but it's a bit much sometimes and can be distracting for those who are really trying to concentrate on their form, etc. So if you are one that dislikes noisy participants, you may want to steer clear of this one.