At the outset, I must emphasize that I'm not reviewing this item as a whole. Rather, I am only considering the abs workout. I never tried the buns section, so please consult other reviews if that's what you're interested in.At any rate, it is my hypothesis that more people have / will buy this video for the abs section than anything else. So, the good news first: I have lost nearly 40lbs in the past 4 months IN PART because of this exercise video. However, it must be noted that I also rode my exercise bike 15 minutes a day & have been under a exceptionally restricted diet of deli sandwiches, lowfat / nofat milk & cereal and soups. That said, this video did have something to do with my successfull weight loss.
Now the bad news: if you want results, you HAVE to be consistent. I know, I know; saying this is a bit like a broken record, but it's true. Doing this exercise video (or any other exercise video) a few times a week won't do you any good @ all. Trust me on this one.
You start out with a 5 minute warmup. So, the warmup + the 12 minute abs workout = 17 minutes. The workout itself is pretty much what I've seen in articles in magazines such as GQ. They might be tough @ first, especially if you're significantly overweight (as I was when I started). They will get easier gradually, IF you do them consistently. The trick of doing the exercises is to do 3 things simultaneously: 1) Breathe 2) Tighten up your stomach muscles - make your abs do all the work 3) Do the exercises themselves while doing 1 & 2. Just remember: if your abs are sore, that means the program is working!
Joining Kathy for the exercises are 4 people; 2 guys, 1 girl + Kathy's mom. Be forewarned, much of the commentary by Kathy's mom & one of the guys is exceedingly annoying. Once I got the sequence of the program down, I muted the sound ever after and did the program either in silence or with a CD going on the stereo.
One more note: pay attention to the way Kathy does the individual exercises. The other 4 people gundeck about 90% of them. If you do the program the way they do, you'll be wasting your time. I'm actually surprised that Kathy let the video out with so much of it half-baked insofar as the other participants are concerned.
I would highly recommend this video to anyone who wants to get in better shape and / or lose weight. Remember: if you happen to be obese, it will take more than losing weight alone to make you look good. Exercise programs like these are designed to reshape your abs, and that's what is needed to tighten up your stomach muscles.
