The Firm: Prime Power - Fat Burning

Stacey Milner-Collins
Year Released: 1996

Categories: Circuit Training (cardio and weights)


General Comments: The Prime Power workouts are produced by the FIRM under the name "Body Labs". The tapes, to date, come in a plain black box with a typewritten label. The workout takes place on a tropical, jungle-like set.

The workout lasts about 45 minutes... and is much, much easier than a typical FIRM workout. The weights are lighter, the sets are shorter, and the low-impact aerobic sections are a little bit longer than usual. I wore my heart rate monitor, and found that my heart rate was near the very bottom of my cardio-training zone through most of the workout. I did, however, really enjoy the workout and will continue to do it. I think it is an ideal workout for off days. It also might allow an exerciser to fit in more FIRM days in a week without worrying about overtraining.

Some long-time FIRM users might notice... the cast is all new. I think only 1 person looked vaguely familiar. I don't know about everyone else... but I always enjoyed seeing "familar faces" in successive FIRM volumes. Anyway...

What I Liked About the Workout:

  • The warmup was fun and efficient. It lasted 4 minutes. (a little longer than typical FIRM)
  • I liked using the towel for neck support during ab work.
  • The delt work was pretty challenging and thorough.
  • The low-impact floor aerobics were a little more choreographed... but still easy to follow. The FIRM actually included some combination moves, V-steps and grapevines.
  • I liked the instructor. She gave good cues and was easy to follow.
  • I liked using the dowel during stretching for balance.
  • I *really* like using the stool for lower-back support during the hamstring work.

What I Did Not Like:

  • I did not like using the dowel during squats because it stopped me from using weights. Personally, I think squats are too easy without weights.
  • I thought the floor work for the inner/outer thighs was too short & easy.
  • I didn't like the "tick-tock" style oblique stretches. I thought the FIRM said moves like this actually thicken the waist???

The Jury is Still Out: I'm not sure about the music for this workout. It seemed to range from classic "carousel" music to more dancy music with actual singing. (I've never heard a vocalist during FIRM tapes before!) The music fit the workout moves but it didn't match the jungle set. The only sound effects that coordinated with the set were occasional bird and monkey noises in the beginning of most segments. I'm also not sure how I feel about the jungle setting. It was cute... but I don't know if "cute" is a good thing in this case.
It isn't distracting, but it also doesn't look as classy as the FIRM's mansion setting.

Christine Letsky

04/23/1997