The Firm: Firm Parts - 5 Day Abs & Tough Tape 2

For the longest time I've bounced around with several different exercise programs. Most of them were/are good . But "THE FIRM" is the only program I've found to have quicker results than the others. I won't bore the viewers by listing all of the countless programs that I've used or tried over the years. But I will say that bouncing around has cost me a lot of money. I bore very quickly with exercising, which is probably why I switch up so much. Though even then I try not to get so caught up in the latest hype. Recently I was in love with HULA and before that it was ZUUMBA.There are very few forms of fitness I haven't tried, except Sports, Yoga, and Pilates. One can't go wrong with Low Impact Aerobics unless you're not in good form or exercising to strenuously. Any form of Dancing is good. Most of the programs available are designed to help the exerciser to lose weight, which is okay. But after the weight is loss, something is missing: Muscle Tone.I bought this program because I got myself into a bit of trouble. I'm getting married at the end of this year and I've been neglecting both my eating and my exercising. When one can't seem to get away from Fried Chicken, Pizza, and various Fast Food Chains, it can really wreck havoc. Though I'm not much for buying these sorts of food, they are always being made available to me, thanks to various family members. Fortunately over the years I've had enough discipline to exercise, which has kept me in fairly good shape but it hasn't kept me from putting on a bit of weight.Aerobics are good but combining them with weights are better. I've gotten quicker and better results using "THE FIRM" than I have from only using "JOYCE VEDRAL" for example. Her programs are "STRENGTH TRAINING" while one's body developes beautiful small muscles. I think that's wonderful except I don't have time to do an hour of one of her programs and an hour of aerobics too. Of course I've tried weights on one day and then aerobics the next day, but what I didn't say was I can get awful lazy about exercising. THIS IS WHERE "THE FIRM" COMES IN. By combining the two, I can save alot of time. I believe that the reason why "THE FIRM" EXERCISE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE ON DVD ARE BECAUSE THEY STILL REIGN SUPREME AMONG EXERCISE PROGRAMS. "THE FIRM" CLASSIC PROGRAMS ARE STILL IN DEMAND, BECAUSE THEY WORK.I bought this selection because I had "5 DAY ABS", back in the 1990's. While I used it, it worked. I like the way it is broken into a day at a time or the entire program can be used all at once, especially if you're in a hurry to shape up. All of the "AB WORKOUTS" are from the "CLASSIC FIRM WORKOUTS". But combined this way, various programs don't have to be switched up. With TOUGH TAPE 2, I recall the program but I don't know if I ever bought this separately. It too, is a combining of various parts of the "CLASSIC FIRM PROGRAMS". That is probably what I actually remember. I like "THE FIRM PARTS" PROGRAMS because parts are combined together from other "FIRM PROGRAMS" shortening them into a manageable time frame, allowing the programs to be more appealing to not only FIRM EXERCISERS BUT ALSO TO OTHER EXERCISERS AS WELL.I'm so happy to report that I am getting back on track with "THE FIRM". It makes no difference how many times I stray I always find myself returning to "THE FIRM". I would never tell any exerciser not to try anything else. But if your time is important. And you want to get into shape quicker with visible results, "THE FIRM" CLASSIC PROGRAMS ARE THE ONES TO BUY. The only thing I dislike about "THE FIRM PROGRAMS" ARE the initial start out extra expenses. A STEP BOX is needed, a Two by Four, a Dowel, an Exercise Mat and of course, WEIGHTS OF VARIOUS INCREMENTS. You may be able to get away with not using a Dowel, and a Two by Four, but eventually you will need a Step Box, Mat, and Weights.So for all of you who have a special occasion coming up, DON'T PANIC. JUST BUY AND USE "THE FIRM". YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID.

I bought this DVD to replace the 5-Day Abs I had on VHS. If you do the 5-day Abs every day, you will feel/see a difference in a few weeks. There are very few workout DVDs I like in which I think the ab potion is worth anything, so I typically do this as my ab workout. You don't really need the Fanny Lifter for 5-day Abs. You can use a stool, a milk crate, a small wastebasket, or something about that height on which you will rest your feet. Can you spare 6 to 9 minutes a day to do some top-notch ab work? If you have the will, this is a pretty quick, yet effective way to do abs.Tough Tape 2 was just a bonus for me, but it has become by FAR my favorite workout tape. Yes, it's old. Yes, one of the instructors is annoying and has laughable form when the camera shows her lifting weights. She only leads one segment anyway, and you will get past her very quickly. Most of the instructors are excellent, motivational, and easy to follow. I drip buckets of sweat whenever I do this workout. I began using very light weights, and I now use the 3 to 8 pound weights recommended. A few questions answered:1. Q. Do I really need the dowel/stick for this? A. No, you do not have to have one. It's only used in a few segments. I did find, however, that when I began using a mop handle for balance (especially for the dips/kicks segment) when the "dowel" was used, I got a far better workout. The dips and kicks are tough to do correctly!2. Q. Do I really need the fanny lifter for this? A. The answer to this one is yes. I already had an aerobic step, and I did try this workout. Once I got the fanny lifter...WOW, what a difference. The first time I did the workout with the fanny lifter, I could barely walk down the stairs the next day. A step is not as tall as the fanny lifter, and the height makes a tremendous difference.3. Q. Is this really just segments from other videos? A. Yes. But you know what? I really like that aspect. It's not boring, and I enjoy the switching and the variety. Once you have done the workout a few times, you will become accustomed to the transitions (move your box, get your weights, etc.)This is a challenging, fun workout. If you are more of a beginner, I suggest you start slow, do what you can, and work your way up. I know someone who started with bottles of barbecue sauce instead of weights. Work your way up. They payoff is worth it.p.s. One of the instructors really reminds me and my sister of Kendra from "The Girls Next Door." The voice, the look (though she's not blonde and has a very different body type), and the athleticism make us speculate...could this be Kendra's aunt or something? Hmmm. You decide. Also, if you are a fan of Jen Carman from some of the current Firm videos, you get to take a look at her when she was superbuff. I prefer her look now, but it's interesting to see.

If you include the 5 day abs in your workout routine, you will begin to see results. I did it for more than 13 works, and got my first set of abs appearing. It is a good invetment

Great DVD!