What a fun, fun video! I tried 2K02 last year with great reluctance since I am not a fan of CIA videos. It ended up being my favorite new video of 2000, and I couldn't wait to see what Mindy would do for an encore. Never fear, her two latest, Extreme Intervals and Action Packed, are even better than 2K02!

Action Packed is two advanced workouts on one tape - 45 minutes of step and 45 minutes of hi/lo (including warmup and cooldown). Each workout is broken up into four little miniroutines with a power segment tacked on to each. Wow - these power segments are TOUGH. They really get your heartrate up there so even though the workouts are shorter, you'll get a great intense workout. The music is fantastic, and Mindy is a hoot as always. Her cuing is not great, and some of the moves are tricky, but you will catch on. This is not a dancy tape but not quite as strictly athletic as 2K02. Oh, and if you are not a big CIA fan you will be glad to know there is no taking it from the top 100 times! Action Packed Step:

This is a fun, different, tough step workout. As usual for Mindy, the warmup is really a mini-step routine and there is no stretching, so I would advise a brief warm-up/stretch on your own before beginning. Actually, the choreography in the warmup was the most difficult for me to pick up. Don't be discouraged though - you'll catch on.

The first routine is a high knee (not hiney, girls, as she will remind you) then a pivot step, diagonal, and a fun little move called the "Waitress". Then you stomp down the step, front kick, back kick, jack on the step. The stomp part took me a few runs to get, but once you do it is FUN. The power segment is slow jumping lunges on the step, followed by double-time. You run through this a few times, then it's on to section 2. This is another fun one that also takes a couple of runs to get down. You basic up, quick lunge down, jack off the side, over the top, then pivot turns with a slow V and quick jumps. The power section on this one is not as exhausting as the others, but warning: Mindy gives NO cuing on this power move so you have to watch to see what she is doing. It helps to think that you are making a big capital "I" across the step. You put one and two together, then throw them away and move on to three. Three and four are my favorites. Three starts with a repeater-stomp, then you turn to the back on the step and do two skis and a run on the step, repeater off the back and over, three jacks back to the front. The power segment is super quick jog alternated with slow leaping jogs where you lift one knee and touch your foot. Whoo. Then on to combo four. Pendulum fans rejoice!! Mindy uses it here but calls it a tick tock. This combo is superfun and the music is YMCA - fun! This is the hardest power segment. Squat off the side of the step then turn 180 degrees and squat the other way, followed by double time. Then you put three and four together, then just for fun you do that last power segment again. By this time I am dripping sweat and exhausted, but Maria gets her second wind so we do the power segment AGAIN. I am cursing poor Maria. A brief cooldown, then on to.

Action Packed Hi Lo:

I am embarrassed to admit I love the step portion of this tape so much that I have only done the hi lo twice. The first time I got frustrated with some of the moves, but the second time (last night!) it was much easier to follow. Her style here is somewhat like Kari A. in Two the Max. The structure is the same as in the step - four miniroutines with each followed by a power segment. The power segments in the hi lo are even tougher than those in the step. One will remind you of those dang jumping lunges from Interval 8 in Interval Max. I haven't done this one enough times to break down all the moves, but after doing it last night and having a blast I will definitely be doing this one more often, so I'll break it down later if no one else has.

Be sure to stick around for the cooldown where she thanks all her fans from VF!! Brings a tear to my eye. And there are some funny bloopers at the very end you won't want to miss.

Overall this is a great tape for the advanced exerciser. However, I must caution that her cuing is not always stellar. There are a couple of moves she just jumps right into and you are supposed to follow, which can be frustrating (what the heck is that leprechaun thing?). But don't give up after one try! By the second time I did them I had them almost down pat, and now I just fly around beaming the whole time! And these workouts are great when you want a tough intense workout in a shorter period of time.

Instuctor comments:

Like I said her cuing could be better, but you'll forgive her because she is so funny and likable and motivating. One of my favorite instructors - I am so glad I found her. Again I can thank VF for that!

Grade: A-

Melanie Hutchinson