Fitness DVD Reviews: Crunch - Boot Camp Training (1999)

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

29 Jan 2007 01:00 PM

Since I was talking about boot camps last week, I thought this would be an appropriate DVD to review for our fitness DVD review program. The DVD is called Crunch - Boot Camp Training. Before I even begin my review, let me say that this DVD is going to stick around for a little while - I want to use it again and that's an endorsement I don't make to every fitness DVD out there. There are only a handful that I have every really repeated the usage of - Crunch - Boot Camp Training is definitely one of them.

Four Sneakers

First and foremost, I rank this as worth 4 sneakers. If you don't remember the rating system, this is an excellent rating, it means the DVD offers solid instruction, maintains the individual's interest and it will be worth repetition without getting too bored too fast. This is not a beginning DVD, it's targeted more towards the intermediate and advanced audience.

The Fitness DVD offers an intense workout and while it may only be 30 minutes long, it left me dripping and exhausted. It's broken into a series of seven and a half minute segments. They use a combination of techniques to build upper, lower and core body strength and the push-ups --- oh the push ups.

I've never been a fan of push-ups, but she wants you performing them and every segment increases the intensity and the demands of the push-ups. The instructor, a woman named Susan Hitzman, tells you flat out, she would rather you give her four excellent push-ups instead of 12 sloppy ones. But honestly, by the third segment - my arms were spaghetti and I think I managed three excellent ones and then just stopped because I was ready to break my own nose if I tried to push up any harder.

Progressively Harder

The segments get harder and more difficult across the board and when they call it boot camp, they aren't kidding. This is not a DVD for beginners - not even the most ambitious beginner is going to feel like repeating this experience. For me, this was a maximum intensity workout - it kept me motivated and it kept me pushing harder and harder and harder. It was designed to strengthen, to tone and yes, to burn calories.

They don't yell at you and they don't grind you down, but I guarantee that if you work at this three to four times a week - you're going to see results. I'll check back in with you next week on how my progress is going with this DVD - oh and it's worth mentioning here that despite my regular workout - this still kicked my butt.

Have you used Crunch Boot Camp Training before?

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Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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