(Next time I'll put in all the important things, like my name and date, before I hit the submit button!)

Save your money; see if you can rent this out instead.

I hate to say that about a Kathy Smith tape, because others I have and enjoy, especially Power Step and Kickboxing Workout, she's a bit enthusiastic but not overly hyper.

There are several things that grate me on this tape (and I'll talk mostly about the upper body section, since that's where most of the problems are). She's constantly whooping it up, she endlessly runs to people, the reps are too fast for the heavy weights/2nd track, and the set is uninspiring.

Whooping - I can't do any of the Crunch tapes nor Donna Richardson\'s Donna-Mite AT ALL. This is my biggest gripe about any tape. A bit of whooping I can deal with; anything beyond that, and the tape collects dust.

Endlessly running to people - Why does she run to a couple of different people to check their form or crack a joke or join back in on the reps? IMHO it disrupts the flow of the routine. I don't mind instructors checking posture or form, but isn't that better accomplished at a more measured pace?

I use the 2nd track, which means I use heavier weights than the 1st track. It seems as if this video is geared to the 1st track, which means they can go through the reps a lot faster (and do). A minor gripe, because I can slow it down, but then I feel I''m not getting the benefit of the tape. And why don't they show more of the 2nd track people?

I usually don't notice what a set looks like, simply because I don't care. It's the routine I usually care about. Case in point is the original Abs of Steel video. It's a completely minimalist set (some potted plants and cubed glass on a carpeted floor), but it doesn't bother me because the 3 ab routines are good (challenging).

This isn't the case with this video. Because the rountine didn't grab me, I noticed the set more. It's boring. It looks like it's in some sweatshop or something, and they've squished in as many people into a small space as they possibly could. (Yeah, it's a crowded video.) Plus, every now and then, the camera veers off to the left (I think), and you get to see some big electric fans, no doubt to keep the exercisers from passing out from being too close together. I'm sure they didn't want that showing up on the video - didn't someone edit the upper body section?

IMHO, it's not worth keeping even though the 2nd section (lower body) is bit better than the 1st section. I'd stick with Cory Everson, The Firm, or Cathe F. All in all, a disappointment.

Instructor Comments:
I like Kathy Smith. Usually, she's a bit enthusiastic, which is fine, plus she cues well. But she's too over the top on this one. She must have had too much coffee before she filmed this video.

NanB