I got this in a trade not too long ago. I thought it would be a great DVD for add-ons and I was right. It IS great, if you like quickie, tough add-on workouts. What makes them great add- ons for me is that even though they are short, they are straight through work. there is no chatty, time wasting, overdone set-up period, no half-time moves. It's just pure work. The moves are simple, and they work. And they move fast so you will get a secondary cardio benefit too (well, maybe not even secondary in the standing leg work, which will get your HR up). I am very happy with this set.

A side note: This workout set is apparently one of the first in the Beach Body oeuvre. This is noticeable in the production quality and the sets - they are not at all unsatisfactory to me - they are professionally done, just not as polished as later Beach Body works, such as Slim Series (and presumably P90X, although I don't have that one).

Arms-A succession of arm exercises done one time through for 45 seconds each, for a total of 10 minutes. This one is led by Tony Horton. He's not as 'funny' as in PHH (thankfully, for me). This one goes through a series of arm exercises, but Tony uses no weight, he uses isometric resistance. Debbie (Seibers) and another exerciser are his backup people, and Debbie uses weights. I can tell you not many VFers would be into this one because of the obvious (Tony?!? where are your weights???) but if you use weights it's a decent add-on workout (providing you use the mental isometric resistance he talks about, as WELL as those dumbells ). I did this workout once, two times through, for a good quickie upper body routine. I'd definitely use it this way again. I think it's unorthodox that Tony chose not to use weights for this workout, but it is a very decent quick sweater of a workout WITH weights, and it comes on the disc anyway.

Thighs & Legs (2 separate 10-min workouts but I am lumping them together for this review) -A succession of leg exercises done one time through for 45 seconds each exercise, for a total of 10 minutes. These are led by Debbie Seibers, and I have to warn you OR make your day by saying that depending on how much or little you like the leg work in the Slim Series, that will be the barometer on how much you like these moves, because they are all 'Slim Series' type lower body moves distilled into two power- packed ten minute sweatfests. One is filmed on a beach, and the other in a gym. One of them has some floor work (tablework) as well, but I can't remember which. These I wouldn't use for stand-alone workouts (as with the arms workout), but they are GREAT add-ons. you could also do them each twice through, for a great cardioish leg workout.

Abs-A great, powerful 7-minute ab routine on a beach with Tony leading, Debbie in the back witht he other lady again. You go through a succession of ab exercises twice through, for 30 seconds each exercise. this is a very good routine-I love it. and 7 minutes long, too, which I thought would be too short, but it wasn't.

Stretch-A good 10 minute stretch routine. I don't remember that much about it, except that I didn't dislike it, and that Tony holds the stretches a little longer than your typical cool down stretch in a workout, but not by much. Same background exercisers.

For some of the reasons that I like this set, it isn't very popular here at VF (no warm ups, very short workouts, etc.) But I think this workout set is like a pair of shoes. They either fit you or they don't.

Instructor Comments:
Tony is more subdued in this set than he is in Power Half Hour (I can't speak for P90X because I don't have it). Basically I couldn't stand his comical antics in PHH, but here he is palatable, and even slightly enjoyable.

Debbie is great - she is the same personality-wise as she is in the Slim Series, no-nonsense, caring but tough, and down to earth. she is fabulous.

Kathy Weller