Here I was this morning....thinking how much I love this tape.... and how it seems like everyone on the Forum knocks it...and how it is the BEST tape for combos that I have ever done...and how I really should write a review letting everyone know how I feel....and then I logged on the the New Review Page! And there was a review from Mandy Lee, saying almost actually everything I feel. Her review is so true, in my opinion. So I have to back her up here.

This is also my favorite Firm tape (just beating out Tough Tape and Standing Legs). I use it more then any other tape I own. This is the ultimate combo tape as far as I am concerned. I use it almost every time I do cardio. I love the fact that all the box work is done at once,(my favorite section is the straddle and bicep section) and I agree with Mandy- done with a 10" box and 5 lb weights, it is tough! It will get your heartrate jumpstarted! It works faster to get you going then any other tape I have. Plus using your barbell for a fast segue into the tall box leg presses will keep your heartrate up there. Then once I am done with the tall box, I will pop in my cardio choice for the day and plunge right into Cardio Heaven!

What's really great about this tape is that you can use it with lower impact tapes and it will help to make them much more intense. Your heartrate is already going after doing the aerobics and tall box work, and it seems like adding on a lower impact will not bring your heartrate down that much. (as long as you are doing a lower impact that also keeps moving). I love to use Not-So-Tough Aerobics with this tape. If you leave out the abs and floor work, you end up with a 45 minute really intense low-impact work-out! I call it my own version of the Firm "All Cardio". I also like to use it with the last three sections of Gilad's Step Tape, or the first two sections of Step Max. Oh what the heck, I like to use it with ALL my cardio tapes. It's one way I avoid the warm-ups I hate.

After cardio is done- you can pop Vol 5 back in for a TOUGH set of ab work and great floorwork! I always feel this ab work! Or else I save the tape for the next day and do the end of the tape after my strength workout.

My current favorite Vol 5 combo is to do the Vol 5 aerobics & leg presses, and then do the first two sections of Step Max at 8". This way I avoid Cathe's funky warm-up (which I hate), plus I avoid section 3, which is too high impact for me. What a workout! The sweat is pouring down my legs with this one! That's the ultimate to me- when my legs are actually covered with rivers of sweat!

Some people complain about the cuing. I admit she makes some mistakes. But mainly I think that the pace is different from other Firm Tapes. Plus the routine is not complex and it is easy enough to learn. I have found that even Cathe F does not cue well all the time, so the cuing on this tape does not bother me at all. It is certainly easier to use then many other tapes out there.

You can use this tape in so many ways. Each section is a small gem to me!

Instructor Comments:
I find that I like LaReine Chabut very much. She seems really focused on the work-out, and I really like that in an instructor. She seems nice and friendly. I don't find her to be stiff at all. She has a healthy glow and a healthy figure.

Clare