Tae-Bo Workout
 | Average Customer Rating: Recommend Billed as the "future of fitness" and hawked by numerous celebrities, Billy Blanks's Tae-Bo actually deserves much of the hype it's receiving. A mixture of boxing punches and martial arts kicks, Tae-Bo is fun and easy. One of the best elements of this four-tape set is that the first tape (which is 40 minutes long), Tae-Bo: Instructional, lays out the movements you need to successfully complete a workout. Once you've mastered the steps, you… Product details and pricing info |
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208 Customer Reviews Posted
- This is GREAT!
- I find the Basic Workout and the 8 minute workout particularly exciting, inspiring, FUN. I am toning up, and losing weight. I do a full workout every day as well as the 8 minute workout in the mornings before work. I look forward to doing my workouts. I particularly like Billy Blanks in his blue outfit :P
- 2003-06-21, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Get real.........
- Hmm. Let's see, these will end up in your next yard sale. Buy something that you'll really use, not these.
- 2003-04-07, 2 of 55 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Effective, although imperfect, workout
- Despite all of its drawbacks (cheesy music, cheesy sets, miscues, uneven repetition of exercises on each side, some missing information on proper form, an instructor wearing too tight spandex), Tae-bo is an effective workout that can boost your energy, metabolism, and confidence in addition to making your heart and other muscles work. If you're interested in starting an exercise program, this isn't a bad place to start. You will probably get more use out of the DVD if you are somewhat out of shape than if you are fit. Be aware that you should do additional stretching before and after working out and that at some time you will have to figure out how to make the transition from the easy and not very exciting Basic level to the difficult and more interesting Advanced level; there is no Intermediate level. (You can try combining the Basic and 8 Minute--actually 14 minute--workout.) I personally wasn't thrilled enough with Billy Blanks and this DVD to stay with Tae-bo; I now use Kathy Smith's Kickboxing DVD. I am grateful to this DVD for getting me back onto the path toward fitness, but I don't miss it much.
- 2003-03-19, 12 of 13 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Mixed feelings on this set- READ THIS before buying
I have two very conflicting feelings about this set of videos. On a positive note, by doing the basic video regularly in combination with the Crunch gym's Turbo sculpt video(and much healthier eating), I lost over 30 pounds in just under a year. The first 20 dropped off in 3 months, but those last 10 took longer requiring serious dietary changes(i.e. less fat and sugar, more fiber and protein).
The video made me really work up a sweat, and was fun for releasing stress, and I do give half credit for the weight loss, and credit the other half to diet. However, I found the step from the basic to the advanced video was too challenging. Plus the advanced is twice as long and twice as hard. The directions on form taught in the instructional video are never reinforced in the later videos. This becomes evident when the people in the background often look sloppy and are doing variations on the same exercise. I won't even begin to critique the set, music, or lighting because the lack of focus on correct form is DANGEROUS, not to mention it really minimizes results.
Blanks focuses on speed and quantity, rather than quality. Mostly he just counts to the music, which is less helpful than comments never said like "keep your foot parallel to the ground" or "make sure your wrists are straight". Plus the rest of the class is counting, so why is he taking all these breaks? After taking an actual local kickboxing class with a great instructor, I learned that my punches and kicks were totally wrong. The form is really important, and many things that I now know were never discussed in the instructional video (like wrist, leg, and foot positioning)! The class that I took actually made my muscles sore (in a good way), which never happened with Tae bo.
Now, I no longer do these videos. I have maintained my current weight for a long time by using a variety of videos from Crunch and Minna to name a few. These have much better instructors with more emphasis on correct form (except for Blanks' Crunch workout which got horrible reviews). The Crunch or Minna Lessig videos also offer options for beginner exercisers (with a demonstrator) and challenging add-ons for the advanced. These are much better to grow with (I am still using them, but with heavier weights, but my Tae bo videos are collecting dust!).
If you really want these videos, I would suggest taking a kickboxing class first so you can learn the proper form. Form is not only essential to prevent injury, it is essential for working the correct muscles in the most efficient way possible!- 2003-03-10, 33 of 39 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- The Best Workout!!!!
- I can't even find the words to tell you how good Taebo is. I tried everything to lose weight after my daughter, (I mean EVERYTHING). Nothing worked. I then bought my first set of Taebo tapes. I went from 150 pounds to 125 pounds in about 2-3 months. I got to the point where I did it every morning, and sometimes at night. I am not going to lie though. It is very hard at first, but once you get the routine down, it is amazing. Don't get discouraged though. Billy Blanks was a pure genious when he developed this workout. I recommend this to anyone who wants to try to make themselves stronger and leaner. These tapes will do the trick. You'll be amazed at what your body can do.
- 2003-01-26, 5 of 5 people found this review helpful, Rated:
