Full disclosure: I received a free review copy of this workout.

In the past, I haven't clicked with Jessica Smith's workouts. The workouts themselves seemed okay, but I just couldn't get into the workouts because I didn't click with her. So, she was on my "no buy" list until this workout came out. I was going to ignore this workout until I started reading some reviews and it sounded good.

Jessica is alone in these workouts. The set is large and airy. It looks like a warehouse loft type setting with large windows in the back. I know the workouts had music, but I have no memory of it. I would assume it was standard workout type music?

This DVD gives four workout options, 3 workouts that come in between 25-30 minutes and one 4-minute tabata style workout.

Cardio Abs: This is a fun kickboxing routine that focuses more than usual on the core area. In general, she gives a low-impact move, then gives a high-impact version, then a variation with more power. Because she was already high-impact, the third power phase of the move didn't include a low-impact version, so I had to figure out what to do. Most of the time, it wasn't hard, but sometimes I had to think harder than I wanted to. Moves include exercises like knee pulss, twisting punches, standing side crunches, etc.

Total Body Abs Transformer: This is a strength routine that uses moderate weights. It was surprisingly comprehensive given the timeframe of less than 30 minutes. To accomplish that, she uses combo moves like a single leg squat followed by a side leg raise while doing a cross bicep curl. I thought the combinations worked well and the moves seemed fresh and innovative.

Concentrated Abs: This was billed as a standing & floor routine that hits your abs hard from every angle. Well, it does accomplish the latter part of that goal - hitting the abs hard. But, the standing portion is short, one segment, before the routine moves to the floor. I thought that Jessica's explanation of how and why crunches can be good was good and educational. Then, she has you do butterfly crunches. The routine also includes plank work, bridges, and more crunches.

Tummy Torching Tabata: This section is "only" four minutes, but you go all out for that time. She leads you through 20 seconds of work followed by 10 seconds of rest. There are four exercises and you do them two times.


I think these workouts are intense intermediate workouts (as opposed to easier intermediate workouts). Jessica does a good job of cueing and encouraging you to do your best. The moves themselves seemed fresh and she puts things together in a new way in these workouts. At the same time, the workouts are repetetive in that she repeats those moves too many times. This led me to feeling bored at times. Plus, there are a lot of moves that are hard on the knees and hands/wrists.

Instructor Comments:
I thoguht Jessica seemed to have acquired a new maturity and confidence in these workouts over the previous workouts of hers that I have tried.

Laura S.