Abs of Steel 2000

Tamilee Webb, Donna Richardson, Tracy York
Year Released: 2001

Categories: Abs/Core


This is an odd video. As the other reviews note, the beginning aerobics section is very basic and simple. There's little to no intensity with the low impact moves (mostly leisurely-paced grapevines and step touches with lots of marching in place), and except for a brief segment with jumping jacks (modified to low impact by Donna), there is no high impact. The aerobics section indicates that this is a tape for beginners. The abs section, however, is for intermediate to advanced exercisers. I suspect that the person who would enjoy the aerobics would find the abs work too challenging and the person who loves the ab work is not ever going to want to do the aerobics. So it's unclear to me just whom this tape is designed for.

Tamilee leads the first few minutes of aerobics, followed by Donna, and then by Tracey. Cueing varies wildly from segment to segment. Tamilee cues so poorly that even Tracey and Donna mess up several times. It doesn't help that the camera is sometimes on their faces during a choreography change so you can't see what they're doing. Throughout Tamilee's segment, Tracey and Donna both grin madly--I like to imagine because they're in pain over how badly she's cueing! Donna really shines during her segment, however. Excellent cueing, good explanations of the moves, lots of enthusiasm and sincerity. Tracey is also good.

The abs work is really superb, however. One of the best ab workouts I've ever done--much better, with one caveat, than Keli Roberts's Abs and More, in my opinion. The one caveat is that there's not enough lower ab work. I had to finish off with another couple of sets of reverse curls for balance. Upper abs and obliques are worked extensively, however. As in the aerobics section, Tamilee leads first; this time, followed by Tracey and then Donna. Tamilee doesn't count during her segment and she forgets one set of obliques--but it's easy enough to pause the tape and finish it up. Tracey and Donna give lots of excellent pointers on form. The tape finishes off with a pleasant stretch.

If you can find this video cheap, it's definitely worth owning for the abs portion.

Instructor Comments:
All three are enthusiastic and energetic. For me, Donna really steals the show: so lively, fun, and professional.

Elisabeth

04/26/2002