The Firm: Tri-Trainers: Total Body Fat Blaster (aka All Cardio)

Lisa Kay, Nancy Tucker, Allie Del Rio
Year Released: 1998

Categories: Floor Aerobics/Hi-Lo/Dance


Maybe I'm the only one who loves this video. It isn't KILLER, but maybe that's why I like it. It is fun. The music is fantastic, the instructors are good, and the activity changes every few minutes so it's never boring and time flies by. No endless combinations to learn and then do over and over. Just the right amount of high impact-- won't kill your knees, but keeps your heart rate up.

Your heart rate will stay in your training zone for the whole "high intensity" sequence" if you work hard. I use a 10" box for the small step aerobics. I find that when I'm done with this video, I feel energized and pleasantly sweaty.

I wish people wouldn't dog this video because it "isn't hard enough" and there isn't a lot of weight work. That's the point. This is a "fast and light" workout, like the Hare, and is far better than the Hare. This is perfect to use the day after heavy weights. The weights here are mostly used to increase aerobic intensity.

After the nightmare that is Core Cardio I, I find myself appreciating this video more. Its warmup and cooldowns are very thorough. The ab work is thorough and tough ("rock and lift" hurts!). I think this workout is excellent for any intermediate or advanced exerciser as long as you can deal with semi-easy choreography. It's tough to be in a bad mood after doing this video. It's very uplifting and you'll be humming the tunes in your head all day. Wish I hadn't waited so long to buy this.

Instructor Comments:
All three of these instructors are pretty good. I particularly like Allie Strickland... go figure, because I can't stand Jennifer Carman and they have the same kind of personality. Nancy Tucker is pretty nondescript and no-nonsense. Lisa Kay gets a little too worked up about a move at times. :) I like her because she has a realistic body-- even a little tummy bulge. I'm glad to see the FIRM respecting different body types. There are even a few people in this video that I'd consider to be overweight-- it just shows that many shapes are fit.

Sara Whitney

04/14/1999