I have enjoyed using FIRM Upper Body, especially since I'm attempting my own version of the FIRM 90-Day Rotation (it makes a nice substitution for days when Upper Body is combined with a cardio tape). But after doing the video last night, I'm not quite sure it was worth the $29.99 that I paid for it. The workout breaks is pieced together from the Cross-Trainers, Tri-Trainers, and Blast Set (just from Core Cardio 1 & 2 and none of that horrid Bust & Butt) as follows:

• Warm-up with oof ball (Carissa from the Blast series)
• Pilates-type ab work (Better Body & Buns)
• One set each side of quad kicks over the tall box and one-arm lat rows (Prime Power Fat Burning)
• Four-limbed aerobics (Cardio)
• Push-ups, seated double lat rows, and hover squats with pelvic floor (PPFB)
• Push-ups (2 sets), pec flies, and pelvic contractions (Tortoise)
• Abs (Tamela from the Blast series)
• Floor aerobics (first section with Allie in Fat Blaster)
• Upright rows with militaries and side & front delt raises (Maximum Body Sculpting)
• One-arm lat rows (left side), tricep kickbacks, and bicep curls (Tortoise)
• Push-ups, bicep concentration curls, and tricep kickbacks (PPFB)
• Aerobics with oof ball (Carissa/Blast)
• Rear delt flies (MBS)
• Abs (BBB)
• One-arm lat rows (right side), tricep kickbacks, and bicep curls (Tortoise)
• Planks, push-ups, low back lifts (Fat Blaster)
• Abs: crunches and stabilization exercises (Dale/Blast)
• Side and front delt raises with plyometrics (Tamela/Blast)
• One-arm lat rows (right side), upright rows, one-arm lat rows (left side) (Strength)
• Sitting oblique ab work (MBS)
• Stretch (Carissa/Blast)

All the segments are woven together fairly smoothly. I suppose the exercises are grouped together into "giant sets" but it doesn't seem very scientific. The sequencing seems to be aimed at providing variety, but also is a result of editing considerations (one segment ends with moving the tall box and flows into the next where they are in the process of moving the tall box). If you're looking to fatigue one area for a particular toning/muscle-building purpose, this video (like most FIRMs) is going to be frustrating for you. The purpose of this video is more for work-out variety with the FIRMs, a nice tape to complement or to alternate with Better Body & Buns, Standing Legs, Prime Power Lower Body Shaping, and other FIRM lower-body tapes.

Modifications: 1. I use a 2# dumbbell in lieu of the Oof, jr. ball. I think even with the "fun and motivating" ball I would find the ball aerobics annoying. I just don't like my hands together while jumping around. 2. There are soooo many push-ups. Remembering forever Kiana's exhortation that a variety of exercises is more important than many reps of one exercise, I throw in some tricep push-ups, tricep dips, or some dumbbell chest presses during a couple of the latter sets. 3. There are also soooo many sets of one-arm lat rows. Therefore, during the last sets (the Strength segment), I get out a lightly-loaded barbell and substitute one set of overhand bent-over rows and one set of underhand rows. It's easy to do here because I can keep the barbell out for the upright row set that's in between the two lat row sets (Pam uses a barbell for the upright rows). 4. The segment with Carissa doing all those jogs and high-steps goes straight into Traci leaning over the tall box to do rear delt flies. Putting the head at the same level as the heart always makes me dizzy and nauseous, so I just sit on the box and lean over my thighs. 5. I don't like to do ab work at the beginning or during a work-out. I think it's important not to fatigue the abs when you still need them to stabilize during weight work. I just fast-forward through the ab sections. The ab sections are nice, however, as they are the more creative sequences from the Tri-Trainers and the Blast Set.

All in all, this tape is a keeper. I'm mildly annoyed when I have to fast-forward through the ab sections and I could do without the ball aerobics. For concentrated upper body shaping, Cathe Friedrich's Pure Strength and Maximum Intensity Strength would be far better. But as part of a FIRM rotation, it's a nice tape.

Instructor Comments:

Gretchen

11/19/1999