The Firm: Hips, Thighs, Abs (BSS3)

Pam Meriwether
Year Released: 2004

Categories: Lower Body Strength


This is one of the Firm BSS3 series workouts, led by Pam Meriwether with the standard BSS3 background exercisers (Libby, Stephanie, Lisa). They use the Firm Death Box and the Firm sculpting stick, neither pieces that I have or would care to use. I used the BSS4 Transfirmer box but felt that I got the most out of just keeping it simple and doing the exercises on the floor, BBH-Firm style. The workout clocks in at about 35 minutes with the first 20 minutes spent on the hips and thighs, 10 minutes spent on the abs, and about a 5 minute stretch. There is also a brief warm up for each section. The set is the BSS3 darkish background with fluorescent lights with each person working out on a different platform, and the music was quite good (pumping instrumental like the other BSS3s).

The workout has already been broken down so I’m just going to give my impressions. First of all, I wasn’t planning to purchase this upon preview (which is saying something since I’m pretty generous with my Firm purchases) because it looked like they overused the gadgets and because I have plenty of floor work options with my classic Firm compilations. But I decided to buy it because it was on a good discount (about $3 or $4 dollars) and to add to my purchase to get the free ship (LOL).

As I suspected, they really did overuse the gadgets and it seemed like they were going FAR out of their way to use the equipment in a “look what I can do” fashion. For instance they did table work ON the 14” step (not draped over) which was completely unnecessary and didn’t in any way benefit the exercise as far as I could see, and they did outer thigh lifts draped over the incline, using the stick as the weight, which just looked uncomfortable and awkward. But I digress. The actual moves, which I modified on the floor and with ankle weights, were intense and effective. Included were hydrants, inner and outer thigh lifts, and more table work with a weight behind the knee.

The ab work included leg walks and reverse crunches while hoisted on the incline, which I can’t decide is just REALLY hard or just exhaustive by way of being awkward. Whatever the reason, it was too much for me and I did the work on the floor, which was intense enough. They did some planks with elbows on the incline, which I thought was quite uncomfortable (I think I’ll try my elbows on the Bosu next time) but the plank work itself was intense. Then there was some floor work for the upper and lower (weighted) and then upper only (unweighted). I liked how they preexhausted the lower abs before working the upper. Usually videos overdo the upper abs and neglect the lower, but not in this workout! I thought the final stretch was nice and thorough.

So in conclusion, I would say that I enjoyed the moves and thought the workout was intense – if modified to suit your needs. I thought using ankle weights on the floor was much more comfortable and effective than using the sculpting stick and step (at least at a glance – I have to admit I didn’t actually try it the way they demonstrated). The workout can be easily modified depending on poundage used. Done as is, I would say it was low-intermediate. I still prefer the old Firm classic compilations better, but this one will be great for variety. I will reach for it semi-regularly. I wouldn’t say it’s a Firm must-have but what can I say, I got my money’s worth! Overall B+ if you don’t mind modifying.

Instructor Comments:
Pam is a good instructor. She is a little too over-cheerful in the BSS3 series and I preferred her more businesslike approach in the BBH Firm Strength. She also got to be astoundingly skinny in the later Firms which was mildly distracting but certainly not a deal breaker! She gave adequate instruction but really could have given more form pointers, in my opinion. I like other Firm master instructors better but she’s certainly not the worst (at least she doesn’t baby talk like Allie).

Emily B.

12/30/2010