I know their are alot of mixed reviews of this workout but I happen to really like this tape. The first section with Barbara McDermott is sprints. She has a recovery period using the same routine but she does that so you don't have to keep thinking about choreography. The sprints are fun, not too intense or hard to learn but they did get my heart rate up and I had fun with it. This section lasts 36 minutes.

The second section is stepping/toning intervals. Maria has fun and easy to learn stepping routines with intense toning using the step. I only used 5lb weights and really felt it. The first toning section you lunge onto the step doing up right rows, the second section you do dips off the step doing bicep curls and the third section you do squats and side leg adductions using the step and doing military presses. She does enough of them to really fatigue the muscles. This section is 33 min. long.

The third section is my favorite. It took more time to learn the routine, but once I started to catch onto the moves I had a total blast. She incorporates some sprints in the middle that really have your heart rate soaring and then you do one more short step routine and end with a tough ab workout and stretch. The stepping lasts 30 min. and the ab work lasts 6 min. I really liked the fact that the choreography was easy to learn, fun and intense.

Instructor Comments:
I liked all 3 instructors, Sharon has a very friendly personality and a fun upbeat routine.

Two complete workouts - workout 1 with Greg, naturally, is a winner - his warm-ups are like a low impact mini-workout - your heartrate goes up right away. He does 38 minutes of hi/lo that is mostly hi. Lots of turns, pivots, jacks, sashays, plyometrics - he makes every workout a lot of fun. I can't say enough about Greg. I love every one of his workouts on every CIA tape he has ever done. After the hi/lo comes a very short (4 minute) ab workout that was quite good - I did it twice to extend it.

Workout 2 - I just watched about 10 minutes of this "weird" workout (I can't call it a workout) - it was yoga on the step - strange - not cardio at all - most participants I've ever seen on a CIA. I am not going to waste my precious time and do this "workout." The tape is worth it just for Greg.

Greg is the best male hi/lo instructor I have ever seen. I would love for him to do a step workout.

maryann parker