I've done this video three times...that includes rewinding to do the aerobics twice in a row the first time I did the workout. I've used this tape as a followup to strength training, so my heart rate was somewhat elevated when I started. The warmup/stretch is fairly short, I think about 3 minutes. The aerobics section is a little less than 30 minutes. I would have liked a longer workout, but actually this has been working well as a followup, especially with Tough Tape because of the lack of ab work in Tough Tape. The workout incorporates several different types of aerobic activity including high-impact (jumps, jacks, jogging), box aerobics (they use what looks like a 6" box, I use my Step-Co step at 8"), step-ups on the tall box (12-14"), the "classic" four-limbed (or is it floor-land!) aerobics (both on and off the box), and at the end of the aerobic section, some dips off the short box and lunges onto the box. For the dips and lunges, they use a dowel and 1 weight...I used two weights, and my heart rate was pretty elevated. (I'd just finished MIS, so my legs were begging me to stop.) If you have any problems with your knees, you'd probably want to use a shorter box in place of the tall box during the step-ups. During the first box aerobics (step aerobics) segment, I placed my step horizontally because there are L-steps (or T-steps, as Cathe calls them) and over-the tops, and my heart rate doesn't stay up as high if my step is placed towards the TV. There's a cooldown/stretch following the aerobics before going into floorwork. There's a pretty good set of planks and pushups (wish it was longer--but maybe on the other two since they incorporate more strength-training). From what I understand (someone correct me if I'm wrong), planks are a yoga term. Basically, (at least on this tape), they're similar to a full-body pushup, except you're lowering your body all the way to the floor before pushing up again. There are four of these, followed by 8 pushups, and then two hover (?) pushups, where you lower for 3 counts and then lift up again. There are two fairly short sets of ab work. The first is pretty basic with crunches and obliques...the second has "rockin" abs, where you're in a crunch position and when you lower your legs you lift your upper body. It probably makes no sense the way I'm describing it, but it's a pretty good move. I can really feel it. The cooldown/stretch at the end uses the dowel.

Overall, I liked this video, but I haven't tried it on its own. I don't know if my heart rate would be as high if I hadn't done another workout prior to doing this one. I used my heart rate monitor, and the first time I did the aerobics my HR dropped out my target zone several times...particularly during instructor changes. However, the second time through (after I rewound), it only dropped out once. I also knew the routine better, so I'm sure that made a difference. (I didn't wear my HR monitor the third time I did the workout.) I like the variety of different aerobics that they do...the time really goes quickly. However, I would not rate this as an advanced workout. It feels more like an intermediate workout to me. I would rate the choreography as rather basic/moderate. I'll keep this video because it was fun, I liked the instructors, and I occasionally have those days where I just don't feel like working out as hard, but I hope the other two Tri-Trainers are more challenging.

Instructor Comments:
I liked all three instructors. They all seem to have very different personalities, but they complement each other very well. The only time I had any trouble with the cuing was during one of Allie's aerobic sections, but otherwise, the cuing seemed pretty good. I think someone else made the comment that the cuing on this video was better than the cuing on most Firms, and I would agree. Nancy has awesome abs, BTW.

Melissa F