Customer Reviews

Tae Bo: Fat Blasting Cardio [VHS]

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a good workout but not as cardio intensive as the Get Ripped Advanced workouts. If you can get through the Get Ripped Advanced Workouts then you will have no problem with this. I have been doing Tae Bo for a long time and I have no problem getting through this workout. Personally, I think the "Total Body Fatblaster" is more cardio intensive and gives a better workout. However, it is 55 minutes while this workout is only 45 minutes, which is nice. If you are a beginner or have never done any of Billy's workouts then you will find this workout difficult. He does alot of kicks and punches with and without the bands. You need to know what you are doing so you don't injure yourself. As always, his warm-ups and cool downs are a bit short. Overall, I gave it 3 stars because compared to his other workouts, I don't think it is as cardio intensive. If you have been doing Tae Bo and Billy's workouts for a long time, then you may find that you can get a better workout with some of his other tapes. For advanced users, I would recommend the Get Ripped Advanced Workouts, Total Body Fat Blaster, and the Cardio Bootcamp before this one.

I just bought this from another retail store similar to Walmart on sale for $12.99. You do not need the bands mentioned here - you could easily use 3 - 5 pound ankle or arm weights so I'm not sure what the fuss is over the bands. Most people who exercise somewhat regularly have those anyway.

I enjoyed this workout immensely. Some parts were a bit too fast to focus on correct moves...however every single person (even the guy not using the bands) was sweating in this tape and you really feel like your heart rate is up there.

I enjoyed how Billy addresses you once in a while right in the camera stating to punch higher or to keep going - I found him very motivating.

Unlike some of his other high intensity tapes, I enjoyed this much more. I feel like the very high intensity tapes can strain the back if your moves aren't right on the money.

I found no section on the DVD that outlines moves and he goes right into moves without explanation - so know your moves first, get your own bands from Walmart, Target, etc., and grab a big bottle of water and towel you're going to need it. Just keep in mind that you can start without the weights and add the weights later making this a versatile DVD and workout.

I'm a professional athletic trainer, martial arts instructor, and all around fitness nut. I ordered this dvd expecting something new. The title of "Fat Blasting Cardio" had me in hopes of finding the ultimate Tae Bo workout that would really challenge me. Boy was I disappointed! If you have watched any of the previous tae bo videos, you will see most of the same moves recycled here.

And even more disappointing is the fact that Billy hasn't bothered to remove the flaws found with the previous workouts: He (and the background people) still looses count during the workout; both sides are not worked equally; both the warmup and cool down are not long enough (increasing the chance of muscular injury or soreness); and there are still some potentially dangerous movements (such as the jumping jack-sidekick combos) that could cause serious injury to your knee joints, no matter what condition you think you're in.

One plus is that, unlike some of the other videos (Cardio Circuit 2, for example), he does cut down on some of the more ineffective movements, like the one where he bends down and does a knee raise, which he says is for abs yet is not as effective as doing a simple crunch on the floor or even a side knee raise.

Still, one would think that after so many years of producing Tae Bo videos/dvds, he would revamp it and not keep putting the same old thing out under different titles.

Let me start this review with this: I started this workout at 412 lbs, and I'd never worked out before. Never. I would get winded walking up a flight of stairs. So when I popped in the Billy Blanks' Fat Blasting Cardio DVD, I didn't think I had a chance in the world of making it through the entire workout--let alone half of it. The first few days, I was only able to make it through 15 minutes (including the 3 or 4 minutes of stretches), huffing and puffing like mad. After a few days I was able to force myself into doing half an hour. Wthin 2 weeks, I was able to make it through the entire 45 minute workout.

How did I do it? The key for me was pacing myself. I didn't punch too hard or kick too hard, and if there was a workout that I thought would do damage my body (such as the jumping jacks--bad for my knees), I substituted that section for a different move, such as jogging in place. Once I got more stamina and could keep my wind, I would punch harder, kick harder, and exert as much energy as I felt I could sustain. It's good for beginners, but also good down the line when you have the stamina to put more energy into it.

This video is great for beginners who need little breaks to catch their breath. Billy does a few sets of the technique slowly to make sure you have it down, then a set or two quickly, then you walk it out and move on to the next move. You won't be going strong non-stop for a full 45 minutes.

The moves are simple enough for anyone to do. You do punches and kicks and knee raises, with just a few jumping jacks thrown in. Jabs, hooks, uppercuts, speedbag, front kicks/back kicks, side kicks, all in different variations. It's cardio designed to keep your heart rate up, but it won't wear you out. I have yet to purchase the bands, but the workout is great even without the bands! On the video, there's even one guy in the back who doesn't use the bands, so they aren't absolutely necessary.


You'll only need about a 3' x 5' area in front of your television to do this workout. I just push my desk chair to the side and have plenty of room if I adjust my body a certain way for left kicks and right kicks. Just be careful not to punch or kick anything!


As someone who began Fat Blasting Cardio at over 400lbs, I definitely recommend this for beginners looking for a do-able workout routine. Billy will keep you motivated and excited to keep going. Definitely worth the money!

I have added Tae Bo to my work out and have really worked my way up from, just watching through many parts, to at least walking in place in some parts, to jogging while he did his leg kicks to now being able to get all the way through a 50 minute work out with out my heart coming out of my body. You will lose weight and inches and feel really great. This tape is a great addition to his normal insanity and his daughter Shellie is really hurtin' for certain so you know they are getting in a great workout along with you. As always Billy is the most encouraging coach on any tape I have, and I love his personal style. This is a must have for intermediate workouts and if you get the bands you will have a great advanced workout in your arsenal when you can't get to the gym or outside for that 5 mile run. I did only give it 4 stars cause as usual Billy sometimes does not tone evenly on each side, but this is really only a minor issue in a couple of places. If you have worked out with Billy before, you are already aware of this short coming of his tapes.

I have only used this DVD twice so far (bought only to use when I couldn't get out to the gym) so I can't comment on any results that I have seen but I can tell you that this workout does keep your heart rate up. What I don't care for is the following: It gets really old listening to the people on the dvd hootin and hollerin, clapping and yelling out cardio every ten seconds! I also noticed that Billy is not consistant when it comes to doing certain exercises equally on each side. There is one point in the DVD that the excerise count should be 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and he has you stop on 6 but on the other side we went to 8. And another point where we did more kicking on one side then on the other. The fast pace of this workout is also not good for someone who has weak knees or recovering from an injury. I found it difficult to use proper form when they get into the cardio mode of the dvd (mostly the kicking). I will continue to use this on and off because it is a good cardio workout. I didn't have the proper bands so I substitued with very light weights.

A fast paced workout, not for beginners or the faint hearted, I found it a bit much with the bands. I felt it working and toning but all that pace with resistance bands may be for a more advanced level person. Still, a great workout.

I have been looking for an exercise video that really makes me sweat for a long time. It always seems like as soon as I get warmed up and start burning some calories, the exersize video is over....
NOT this one. It took everything I had in me to get through this video the first time. I thought I was going to pass out on the living room floor. After three weeks of doing it three to four times a week, it is getting a little easier. If you really want a tough work out that melts the fat away, this is the one. I have lost three pounds in two weeks after not being able to lose any weight for over a month.
I really like how the people in the video are all in amazing shape and they all seem to be enjoying the work out. (They are all sweating profusely as well!) I love that they all count out loud together and whoop and yell when it gets tough. It helps me keep going. The moves are very rhythmic and fun and I find myself wanting to do kicks and punches while I am doing mundane things like house work. Billy Blanks sometimes urges you along in a way that almost sounds like he is rapping to the music, which makes it interesting and upbeat. (Move your butt, c'mon, move your butt!) Haha. Very fun, very hard video!

I use this particular DVD everyday. I purchased the Boot Camp Elite Box set, but I come back to this one because it seems to be the most effective way to get a full body workout. I like this one better than the other Fat Blasting video because if you don't have the bands you can still get a very good cardio workout. I got the red bands in the Boot Camp Elite set and I really don't like them, and I wish I had the black bands he uses in this DVD to get the most effective workout. I highly recommend it, and if you workout and watch your diet you will really see results!

I have been working out for months now- two to three times a day. Forty- five on the treadmill, 35 minutes on a bike and weights. My trainer said I needed to do something different- with an all over body workout to tone and challenge my body. As a former athlete, the other exercises where becoming old hat. Well, this video challenged me from the start. I like the instruction, the music. Billy Blanks does explain things, but yes, once in a while he does more reps on one side than another. I usually get bored with tapes- but I am excited to do this one. I just ordered the resistence bands he uses, and two other Tae bo DVDs. Please note- I had already mastered his introduction instructional tape some years ago. I would recommend this. I STILL break a serious sweat.