The Good: Fun, fast moving workout. Great ab section. This would be a good workout for exercisers moving beyond the Firm Basics. It would be a very light workout for experienced exercisers. I use it on active recovery days when I want to keep my heart rate below 60% & avoid weight work, but want to get my muscles warmed up. The Bad: This is marketed as an intermediate to advanced workout - it is not. It is supposed to deliver shape "your entire body with weights, while its high intensity phase (28 minutes) delivers maximum calorie burn." The sculpting & toning segments are very short so even if you loaded up on weight, you wouldn't get much toning. Even with modifications, I can barely get my heart rate into the training zone. The tri-trainer format provides long, awkward transitions between instructors. Users have to keep moving. Many of the positive reviews from experienced exercisers describe major modifications. I'm not a big fan of pausing a tape while I do extra sets, much less rewinding. This is not a bad workout, it's just not the workout promised by the Firm.

Instructor Comments:
Different attributes that really have nothing to do with the workout are often irritating. Firm reviewers often complain about the make-up, cold personalities, & breast implants. My irrational annoyance with this group of instructors was with Nancy Tucker. I couldn't get thoughts of skin damage & cancer out of my mind. Lisa Kay leads a terrific ab section, but her voice is very emotional & she sounds likes she's about to burst into tears. Allie Strickland has an appealing manner & infectious smile, but had the poorest cuing.

Debra Lester