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Crunch Total Resculpt
Fitness instructor Kendell Hogan will get you "chiseled" during this 40-minute energetic and fast-paced DVD, comprised of two 20-minute routines: The first will tone your thighs, buns, quadriceps, and glutes; and the second will work your back, biceps, triceps, shoulders, and chest.
Hogan, who is definitely chiseled, is enthusiastic without being saccharine, and the all-female cast of background exercisers clearly enjoys his instruction on a Crunch workout set with its upscale gym-type background.
Each routine in Total Resculpt begins with a low-impact, four-minute warmup, including progressive floor moves and marching variations, followed by a brief stretch. From there, you'll segue without interruption into a nonstop series of weight-bearing exercises--keep your water bottle close by, because you won't have time to run to the kitchen for hydration without missing the next set.
The lower-body workout includes lots of lunges, plié squats, dead lifts, and reverse lunges, done with a set of dumbbells for added resistance; Hogan uses the same weight for all movements, but you may want to have two or three sets of different weights to challenge yourself as needed. Many of the lower-body exercises include arm and shoulder movements for more of a total-body training effect.
In the upper-body session, there are multiple sets of hammer curls, tricep kickbacks, and overhead extensions, as well as upright rows and pushups. Floor work concludes the upper-body routine, and you'll be glad to plop down on a mat by that time, though it will be another tough few minutes before the workout ends!
Varying slow and fast repetitions throughout the routines will work your muscles to fatigue; you'll feel it the next day. There are no dedicated abdominal or core exercises on this DVD, but many moves do involve using the core muscles. That said, if you want to really strengthen your midsection, you'll need to supplement these workouts with additional tummy training, such as crunches or stability ball moves.
Hogan concentrates on form, with an emphasis on correct posture and body alignment: "Lean from the hip," he coaches during the dead lifts, and his advice to "Keep the abs nice and tight--support your back" will motivate you during the tricep kickbacks. His cueing is excellent--you won't be wondering what is coming next--and the captions are typo-free and well-synchronized with the video.
Total Resculpt is a wonderful and efficient DVD for intermediate exercisers, though beginning and advanced home gym bunnies can benefit from it with the proper weight adjustments. No modifications are shown for different fitness levels or for variety, however; all of the background exercisers are doing the same thing. Despite this drawback, and although no abdominal exercises are incorporated into the workouts, the DVD will make you sweat and make you sore in the best way, and Hogan will make you smile through the agony.
Released in 2006; about $15 (DVD only). See Anchor Bay Entertainment for ordering information. Also available from online DVD rental services.
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