FitPrime From The Ground Up

Heidi Tanner
Year Released: 2003

Categories: Circuit Training (cardio and weights)


IMHO this is one of Fitprime's best workouts. It has a variety of moves to keep you challenged and aren't the worn-out same ol' moves others employ. This is definitely not for beginners but all intermediate and advanced exercisers can use this for a long time and feel challenged by upping the weights.
The entire workout is done in your bare feet to draw strength from the stability of the foot, hence the name of the video. Heidi seems to know when to cue you and if you do what she suggests with your feet you will find it helps in targeting muscles in a different way. The workout offers a fun Mambo warm up you can really get into. You'll get to move into some challenging balance/weight work followed by boxing type cardio. On to the tall box, but not your ordinary tall box workout, you have to stay in the crouched position the entire time which will aid stability and really makes the muscles burn while performing the movements. More boxing movements like speed bag, jab cardio, followed by more original tall box work, squats, lunge mambo, pushups (but not the average joe either, all I'll say is keep the tall box handy), more cardio, great weighted back work (which I felt for 2 days!). Heidi's ab routine adds some spice to normal ab workouts, utilizing different moves and weights you'll get the variety you may be looking for.
The cool down and stretch are good, but I would've liked it a little longer. The only flaw with the workout for me was not enough upper body work. There is some, but nothing overly challenging or unique. Overall it's not your usual workout. Heidi encourages you to go beyond your normal intensity level. Some of the music is off with the routine, but not so much it's annoying. The quality of the video isn't as good as mass produced big production companies, but for a small business it is reasonably well. The DVD's video quality is much better. The set may bother some people, but it makes me feel like I'm doing a video camera workout with a friend in their living room. I love doing this one when I've had a bad day, there is just something about it that lifts my spirits. It's nice to have a workout that is realistic and you can see the instructor being challenged too with the balance moves.

Instructor Comments:
I've always enjoyed workouts with Heidi. I have them all from her Firm days and always seem to want to work out harder when she's instructing. Her cueing is excellent and she emminates the tough (give me more) and understanding undertone.

Lisa (leggy-lele)

05/15/2004