10 Minute Solution - Quick Tummy Toners [DVD] [2008]

This is just as good as 10 minute solution Blast off belly fat - in fact if you alternate between the two DVDs you will get a great selection of easy to follow ab workouts. The instructor is very friendly and encouraging. I never knew there were so many different ways to work that flabby tummy but without doing endless boring crunches. Theres no doubt about it - you do have to work extremely hard, but you will feel the results afterwards when your tummy starts complaining! There are five ten minute sections: crunch-free abs, yoga abs, bikini belly, ab & waist definer and sexy,sporty abs. In fact, in the sexy sports section she tells you which individual sports would benefit from doing the particular exercise in question.

There are loads of new moves I've never done before, and there are modifications throughout so you can work at your own level. I felt my tummy was worked from all angles, particularly the obliques - plus I felt my back being strengthened. I feel more than qualified to say that this DVD is good - having had two 11lb children I know all about having a fat, stretched tummy with an overhanging belly roll. I know I will never have a lovely flat tummy like the instructor, but sticking to one or two programmes every day I feel and look better and I have improved my whole tummy area. The overhang has considerably reduced and all of my stomach muscles are toned. Little and often has worked for me!

This is the first workout DVD I've ever owned. After every Christmas, DVD sections are stacked with minor celeb workouts, and it all put me off. That and the, ya know, having to workout. But, as it happens, it's not so bad, even for a total novice.

The DVD is split into 5 sections:

Crunch-Free Abs - this involves aerobic stretches on a mat. The exercises start off simply, and each set has options to make it more strenuous for more intermediate exercisers

Yoga Abs - balance moves of a fairly intermediate level

Bikini Belly - this is aerobics of the up and at 'em kind. She teaches a couple of moves at a time, and strings them all together, ending up with 15 different moves, and it's definitely not for beginners. I got lost and tangled and just wanted to get a plate of chips. Even she was sweating by the end and, actually, with a bit of practise, this will be my favourite section as you can truly feel it working as you're working

Ab and Waist Definer - more aerobic stretching on a mat. These are more complicated than the Crunch-Free Abs moves and require a lot more balance and a higher level of fitness.

Sexy, Sporty Abs - done on a mat, a huge variety of crunches... who knew there were so many types?! This is the most advanced of all the sections, so if you're a beginner, too, it will take an awful lot of practise. (That's probably the point, really. Uff.)

The DVD gives you the option of doing them all in one 50-minute go (!!!), one at a time, or it allows you to programme which ones you want to do and which order... I'm not sure if that's standard practise for workout videos but it was a brilliant touch, as it keeps it interesting and, presumably, works different muscles in different ways.

There are one or 2 issues, I have to admit. The music is just appalling. Really, really awful. The very worst tuneless dance muzak I've ever heard. The instructor - Jessica Smith - tends to say things like "Awesome job!" and "Uh huh. Uh huhhhh. Way to work it!" accompanied by a rather strained smile... slightly alarming it was, really. And, finally, they've been rather too liberal with the extended shots of her perfect tummy and *perfect* bum while gyrating and/or stretching. I expect they're put in there to encourage us ("See? Here's what you could look like!") but it made me want to lie down somewhere quiet with a scowl and a piece of cake.

But it's not her fault she's perfect... and she's clearly worked hard at it. Further, she's clearly passionate about it and enjoys it. You wouldn't want to have a pint down yer local with her, but she is an excellent teacher. And, most importantly, the workouts are genuinely good, and something you can grow into and actually use to measure your progress. So, all in all, tis bally marvellous.

The disc gives a simple, easy to understand overview of the programme and has a good menu that allows you to customise your workout. One complaint is that the music is a little intrusive and distracting and could have been edited better.
The title of this DVD is accurate as in the excercises are short and will help tone the abdomen however I would question their suitability for a complete newcomer to excercise. Certainly to do 'Crunch Free Abs' you would a good level of fitness and for the 'Yoga Abs' a background in yoga is needed. My daughter (a student physiotherapist who regularly does pilates) complained she had to watch the clip several times to understand the position used as the instructor rushed through the description so quickly and the instructions were hard to follow.
For those knowledgeable about 'core' excercises and how to perform them, this could be a useful buy. The fact the excercises are so short means even the busiest person could fit one or two into their day. For the beginner however, it is important that excercises are performed correctly to prevent injury and this disc does not provide enough detail to show a beginner what to do.