lernerj's Full Review: Crunch - Fat Blaster: The Next Step
When I got my first Crunch video, Crunch Cardio Sculpt, I couldn't believe I had found such a fun and effective 30-minute tape, and I knew I wanted to try out more Crunch videos. Since I have an aerobic step that usually goes to waste because my one step video, Kathy Smith's Step Workout, is deadly boring, I decided to try out one of Crunch's step routines. And thus I found Crunch Fat Blaster: The Next Step, which has quickly become my absolute favorite aerobics video.
Video Features
Crunch Fat Blaster: The Next Step offers a 30-minute step-aerobic workout instructed by Kendall Hogan, who some may recognize from an ESPN2 fitness show. Kendall leads a class of about 7 women in the step workout to an accompaniment provided by upbeat background music augmented by a live drummer. The class takes place in a brightly-lit dance-type studio. Some of the music is just basic dance-club type beats, and some is Latin-styled.
The workout begins with a warmup-paced combination which includes a few stretches and then proceeds into three faster-paced combinations, concluding with a slower, cool-down stretch. There are also three "cardio challenges" where you just do one move (knee repeaters, backward lunges, etc.) for 30 seconds or so as a way to challenge your aerobic endurance. These segments occur during the workout to help make sure that your heartrate stays up throughout. One member of the class demonstrates easier versions of some of the more complicated and high impact moves throughout the workout.
My Experience
I can't say it enough: I love this video! The only reason I don't use it for every workout is that I know I have to get in weight training and vary my routine in order to keep getting more fit. But this video is just so fun, it makes me want to get up and exercise, and every time I work out I reach for it.
I had never had a male aerobics instructor before, but Kendall is great. He is enthusiastic, motivating, fun, and even a little flirty. The women in the class, for the most part, look genuinely enthused, and they perform the moves with a spring in their step that makes it look like they are dancing for fun, not working out. This all-around enthusiasm, especially combined with the great live drums, puts an extra spring in my step as well.
The choreography is fun, and that too makes the workout enjoyable. Basic step moves (basic step, repeaters, side steps, alternating knees, going over the step, etc.) become much more interesting in these fun routines. Kendall teaches the moves and combinations slowly enough that you can pick them up easily but not so slowly that it becomes boring on your twentieth viewing.
There are some weaknesses to Crunch Fat Blaster: The Next Step, as there would be with any fitness video. Kendall makes several errors in his instruction that might confuse you--a couple of times he messes up right and left in his instructions, and at several points he says "same thing, guys," when he's actually starting something new. There are several points, too, at which one or another member of the class gets off the correct move. (Of course, you can see this as comforting rather than as a weakness of the tape, but it can cause confusion if you happen to be watching that student at that moment.) Some high impact moves, such as a cardio challenge consisting over power jacks, include no alternative, so those of us with concerns about protecting our knees have to make something else up to keep a good heart rate during those times. The cool-down is adequate for me but is a bit short and therefore might not be enough for everyone. In addition, people who are not familiar with basic aerobic and step aerobic moves would likely not get adequate instruction here. Moves like repeaters, mambos, and L-steps are just called out rather than explained. These can probably be figured out by watching, but if you do not have aerobics experience under your belt, be prepared to have a steeper learning curve on this one.
Conclusions
Whatever the weaknesses, I can't stop singing the praises of Crunch Fat Blaster: The Next Step. It's a rare video that makes you want to get up and exercise, to feel like you're dancing when you're actually doing step aerobics, which is one of the more challenging forms of aerobics. Despite the instructional mistakes and other problems, I simply love this video, and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys step, anyone who enjoys aerobics but has not enjoyed step in the past, anyone who likes to dance, and anyone looking to inject a little more fun into their workouts. This was perhaps the best ten bucks I've ever spent!
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