Rating: 
Summary: Aaaagh!!! I can actually FEEL my muscles now!
Review: What a fun concept- aerobics and boxing (and/or martial arts). Not that it hasn't been introduced before. Still, there's something about the way Billy Blanks presents his moves that seem very....masculine, instead of the foofy, supermodel way done in previous "kick boxing aerobic" videos I've seen. While said videos generally feature some well-known model with just-done hair and full makeup, Billy has selectd people who started out with him and lost weight and became strong through his program. He also has several DIFFERENT kind of people, not just cutsie-chicas with a recent dye job. I was amazed at how out of shape I was- I expected to just breeze through the "basic" tape and move right into the "advanced" tape within a week. NOPE! This particular workout gradually builds your strength and endurance. The non-girly moves make you feel powerful and strong, and (hint-hint, guys) it's a workout I think most men won't mind doing alongside their women. I was surprised to find that after one workout with the "advanced" tape, I went to put my jeans on the next day and they slipped right past my shelf-like hips. Magnifico! Worth the $$$, effort and time. If, like me, you've become lukewarm to the typical workout video, try TaeBo- you won't be disappointed (if you faithfully follow the program).
Rating: 
Summary: Basic and Advanced Video Worth It, but Forget Instructional
Review: All in All, a good workout. The 8 minute is just too short, and the instructional is almost useless. The Basic and Advanced are pretty decent.
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Summary: Fun!!
Review: Iwent into using these tapes very skeptical, but i came out a believer. I didn't think that doing martial arts as an exercise would do anything, but after about 10 minutes i was sweating and feeling the burn. This works i would take advantage of this if i were you.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic first-time workout video experience!
Review: I had never used a workout video as a get-in-shape tool before this one. Only recently I moved from a very large city with many gyms to choose from to a small city with few options, workout-wise. I really wanted to try kickboxing or Tae Bo as a way to get in shape, but couldn't find a class. So, I took the plunge and bought this set of tapes - AND I LOVE THEM! I feel strong, lean and badass! I like Billy's motivational style and the workout is intense and satisfying. I have lost weight, although that wasn't the original goal, and I have much better muscle tone. I also think my coordination and balance are improving. Buy it, pop it in, sweat and prosper!
Rating:
Summary: An exciting but tough workout
Review: For the last ten years, I have tried more than 15 different workouts starting form Jane Fonda's workout and ending with Cindy Crawford's Shape your body, but I assure you that the Tae-bo basics and advanced tapes are something different. After only two days of excercising the advanced tape, I felt that my body has become more firm and strong. Yet I advice any one who has not been excercising for a long time to start with the the Tae-bo basic for one week at least before getting into the advanced workout, other wise it will cause you severe injury. Tae-bo gives a total body burning workout, and helps you to lose weight along side with a suitable diet, but it does not spot train some of the areas that you need most. To get the best results, I personally alternate between the best different workouts that I have, for example, I make two days of the week for a total workout like Tae-bo, another two days for yoga excercises,and the rest of the week for a spot workout that concentrates on certain problem areas such as Cindy Crawford's Shape Your Body. My sincere advice to any one is to never believe that one kind of a work out can solve all your problems, you have to train your body, and make it used to practicing more than one kind of a workout. The Tae-bo is exciting, energizing, and raises your enthusiasm, it makes you sweat a lot and helps you lose a bit of weight,it makes you feel better about yourself and it has helped me personally to reduce a lot of depression, but it does not reshape your body. Its disadvantage is that it is tiring and very tough. I've practiced it alone for two months. It helped me in burning some excess fat, but it did not shape my body in the beautiful shape that I desired. Along with other excersises it worked very effectively for me, but I only lost 3 pounds in 2 months and a half. Most important, Tae-bo is effective, but it is not magic as the advertisment says!
Rating:
Summary: A good workout
Review: The instructional video is good for a one-or-two-time viewing to make sure you are doing all the moves correctly to avoid injury. Then you can set it aside. The 8 minute is good for an afternoon pick-me-up, after all, any exercise is better than none. The basic video is good for getting the moves down and a great starting point for those of you who want to join the TaeBo craze but haven't exercised in a while. The advanced video is a tough workout. I mostly do the advanced tape so that's what my review will focus on. All in all, it is a very good workout, you will find yourself sweating by the end of the tape, and you will see results (I've had the tapes for a year now and they really do work) but I must bring up some points that I think are significant (and some that aren't too significant but worth mentioning). Some of the double time sets are too fast for me to actually get my foot planted the right way and it makes my knees hurt if I do it wrong. What I do is, when he says double time, I pick up the pace as fast as I can that enables me to still use the proper form. If you want a video where the instructor mirrors you in motion and voice, this isn't it. He says left and goes to his left, leaving you going the opposite direction if you do "your" left. What I do is ignore the "left/right" cues and just follow the direction they go--makes it much easier. He also does more reps on one side than the other which drives me insane. He'll get involved in talking to the viewer and forget that he's got a class behind him that is in the middle of their fourth set on one side when they only did two on the other. On the less significant side, the coloring is very red, and the coloring is also almost faded, I guess you could say. I don't have this problem with other videos, so I know it has to be an isolated incident. All that aside, you will see results in your body with this video, it is a good workout, so I only took the one star away. I have liked it, used it, for over a year now.
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Summary: Note: to new exercisers and those who want to lose weight
Review: While Tae-Bo works well, those who have just started exercising or are trying to lose weight should know that if you exercise too hard, you could actually be teaching your body to store fat, instead of burning it. If your heart rate exceeds 85% of your maximum heart rate, your body actually begins to store fat instead of burning it and begins to produce acids which burn and strain muscles. To find your maximum heart rate, divide 220 by your age. For those who haven't worked out in a long time (if you are starting a new exercise routine), those who are trying to lose weight, those at high risk for injury or heart problems or those who are just not feeling 100% one day should work out at low intensity for a longer duration and from 55% to 65% of your maximum heart rate. (Just divide your maximum heart rate by 55% to 65% or anywhere in between) For best results, increase the length of time not the intensity. This lower intensity helps you maintain your exercise for longer periods of time. When exercising for weight loss or starting a new exercise routine, longer duration is more important and much healthier than a higher intensity. -Exercise: Maintain Heart Rate at 55-65% of Max. -Duration: Build up gradually to 30-60 minutes per work out. -Frequency: At least 3-4 times a week. You should also be breathing comfortably during your workout. I have found that ignoring the "double time" sessions on the Tae Bo Basic tape helps to stay in that 55-65% range. Some Helpful Tips: -Avoid foods with high fat or sugar before exercise and avoid exercising right after a large meal. Wait at least 2 hours. -Spread out food intake to small snacks throughout the day. -If you are exercising in the mornings, eat a light breakfast and drink fluids (but not coffee). -If you prefer exercising in the evenings, avoid eating one single large meal. -Complex carbohydrate snacks will help increase your energy level and improve endurance. Good sources of complex carbohydrate are: soups, vegetables, whole grain breads or cereal, pasta and starchy vegetables such as potatoes. -It is also good to drink fluids throughout the day and before, during & after exercise that lasts 30 minutes or longer (especially in warm weather). Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day sipped slowly (not gulped).
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Summary: Taebo Instructional Video
Review: Over a year ago, I had an ovarian tumor on my uterus, that needed to be surgically removed. To make a long story short; I began taken estrogen for hormones replacement. The drug caused accessive weight gain all over. I worked out consistencely for 2 hrs-a-day, 4 days-a-week, as well as participating in multiple sports. I didn't lose 1 pound; unwanted weight was continuous for several months. My weight before estrogen 135 lbs., and 4 months later my weight with estrogen 190 lbs. I've choosen a new routine Taebo Instructional Video: The Taebo Instructional video is now my estrogen. Within 6 1/2 weeks, I'd dropped 2 dress sizes, lost 3 1/2", and 24 lbs. I feel great! Thanks to Billy Blanks for keeping me in shape and happy. "Its not what you do, but how you do it, and do it with a SMILE". Taebo, "The BOM"
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Summary: marvelous
Review: best workout I could ask for. for someone who cringes at the thought of having to exercise, this really pumps me up!
Rating:
Summary: I Like it!
Review: I have had this collection since it first came out. During inclement weather, and especially during the winter, I rely on the Basic workout tremendously. The instructional video could just as easily be a short portion at the beginning of the basic workout that you could fast-forward through, since you will watch it once. The 8-minute workout is more like "cheating". I have found that I can make the Basic workout into a very good session by concentrating on form and putting some strength into my punches. I definitely fatigue a wide variety of muscles, and feel confident and powerful after each and every workout. Like with any video, I get bored with the music, since it doesn't use popular songs but repetitious music. Just mute the tv and add in your own music,and you're good-to-go.
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