Bottoms Up! Middle Body
Joyce VedralYear Released: 1995
Categories: Abs/Core
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This tape has 20 minutes of ab work plus the warm up and cool down. There is a lot of information on diet and nutrition at the end.
I have mixed reactions to this tape. I like the contents, but I don't like the format. There are 5 supersets which means 10 ab exercises. Each superset is repeated three times with 15 reps. The exercises are great, and I like Joyce's instruction.
The problem for me is that I never do so much ab work at one time. I do my ab work after other workouts and I do about 10 minutes tops of ab work about 4-5 times a week. That's why the format of this tape bothers me. When I use this tape, I stop after the first 3 supersets and save the next 2 supersets for my next workout. I guess that's not such a big deal but I don't like it. So I use The Firm ab tape, the Crunch ab tape, the Reebok ab tape, Abs of Steel, etc., instead of Joyce's tape. I wish she would have made her ab tape in a format similar to the tapes that I like.
So, I don't recommend Joyce's middle tape for the reason of format. If, however, you like to work your abs for 20-plus minutes at a time, this is a good tape. The exercises are good and challenging enough. The dialogue is funny, and I always like Joyce!
07/11/1997
Very intense 20 minute ab workout - I like Joyce, but she is not for everyone. She makes you feel like you are part of the workout, talking to you like a friend. I really like her and the workout is continuous, not instruction in between moves, just flows right along and I really do feel it. 20 minutes for abs is great. The quality of the tape is not good, but I listen more than I watch. I may try her other tapes.
04/05/1998
Like the other two videos in this set (Upper and Lower Body), Joyce has you do supersets of exercises. She has you alternate between upper, lower, and obliques. I really like this video because I felt like all my abs were worked evenly and boy was I sore the next day. By alternating back and forth your neck is spared from too much strain because you rest it while working your lower abs. Even though I try to use good form at all times, I do find my neck gets stiff if I do a tape that does a lot of crunches without a rest period. A good solid tape if you are looking for something that has traditional ab work and is only about 20 minutes in length.
Instructor Comments:
I like Joyce. She is entertaining and motivating as well as chatty on this video. Don't know how she did it while we were working out abs, though! I can't talk and crunch, but she can!
I have been using Joyce's Middle Body workout for a few weeks now and can I say "Oh MY!!!" My abs burn not only during the workout, but for several hours afterwards! I have been doing Trish's Ab Attack (and love that video, too), but even Trish advocates changing your ab routine every 3 weeks. This video has 5 groups of exercises: Super Set #1 includes Lower Body Crunch and Upper Body Crunch. SuperSet #2 is Clam Shell Crunches and Oblique Crunches, SuperSet #3 is Side Oblique Crunches and Pec Crunches, Super Set #4 is Curling Lifts and Knee Raise Crunch, Super Set #5 is Ceiling Crunch Reach and Oblique Curling Reach. So, you do the first superset, rest for 15 seconds and then repeat the set 2 more times. Each exercise is done for 15 reps, so you would do 45 Lower Body Crunches!! It is definitely a comprehensive ab tape for 20 minutes and I think it is worth having in my collection. Joyce moves a little quickly through the reps, but I am getting better at keeping up the stronger and fitter my abs become. Definitely give Joyce a try - the workouts are effective and Joyce keeps you smiling. Her website is www.joycevedral.com and she has excellent service if you order videos from her - I haven't heard of anyone waiting more than 2 days for shipping from her website. I am 29 years old and if I can look 1/2 as good as she does when I am in my fifties, I will be psyched!!
Instructor Comments:
In the early 90's, when I would see Joyce's picture on her Bottoms Up! book, I would think she looked weird or the picture looked fake. I guess because I had never seen a woman in her 50's with the muscle tone that she had before. However, I am now so glad that I have purchased her videos, based on some good reviews here at VF. I really like her - she is very encouraging and motivating. She says stuff like, "we can do anything", "I am here for you - I won't leave you behind" and I get the impression she is very real and down to earth.
