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MPEX Fitness Products: "BodyShaping - Ab Blaster Plus" (1996)

This was a companion VHS tape with the purchase of Ab Blaster Plus, along with a proper workout routine.

'Consult your physician before you start exercising with BodyShaping. Follow the exercise carefully.'

You're reading the very first fitness-related VHS review here on KCU Network, and because the author himself can't wait to start an exercise routine going into the warm weather season, it's time we talk about it. This tape came with a purchase of the Ab Blaster Plus that my parents bought back then. While they, including myself, used it periodically, it wasn't until I ran through our VHS library and found that this tape has survived for decades. Since we're here, let's take a look.

Beautiful!
Splash Title screen
Fitness instructor Kathy Derry!

It's a very short workout video, coached and taught by Kathy Derry who happens to be A.F.F.A. Certified. Upon research, A.F.F.A. means, Athletics and Fitness Association of America. Looking at the screenshot of the typo, the correct acronym is A.F.A.A. Anyway, Kathy is the instructor of the video teaching two sets of routines: One for beginners or beginner level, and the second is the more advanced routines. Each routine is roughly five (5) minutes long, and watching both, they're very much the same with the advanced being a little more intense with some changes in position.

Ab Blaster Plus Beginner Workout
Crunches with arms crossed
Oblique crunches

Starting with the beginner level, the first are basic crunches; Second are reps for upper abs with the arms crossed; Third is lift and tilt of the pelvis; Finally, the fourth gets a bit tricky with lift of the pelvis and repping the upper body. Next are crunches for the oblique area both left and right sides. That's about it for the beginner level workout!

Ab Blaster Plus Advanced Workout
Crunches with the legs up

Now comes the advanced routines, as this one starts with basic crunches but done much faster; Second are upper abs with the arms crossed again, but also done faster; Third is the lower abs but this time, the legs are lifted up; Fourth is also the upper and lower abs workout, but again, with the legs lifted—the trickiest one so far. As usual, next is the obliques, both left and right, but the addition of faster reps. To wrap up the exercise is a simple, bodily stretch as a relaxation technique. Not too bad, but not as extreme as I thought. The exercise video ends with the same montage used in the intro.

Videos like these aren't sold separately/individually but it harkens back to a time when exercise was all the rave, especially the Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons era. The lovely Kathy is a humble instructor herself and her instructions are very easy to follow. As for the Ab Blaster itself, I'm not sure of the results many people got after using it given that internet wasn't available in most households that time. However, even though I was young and partook in sports back then, wanting a more toned body, this exercise machine worked nicely. I eventually bought an imitation of it as I started college and it helped me do basic sit-ups. Recalling that time, I didn't see results though that's not because of the equipment itself, but more because of my poor diet. Because I've gotten more attentive to health and diet, my food choices back then were so bad I really don't want to remember nor talk about it (yes, junk food and more of it). Had I taken in a better diet, I think this tool would definitely work but people's mileage may vary.

Workout videos like this still stand the test of time, even if you don't have the exercise equipment used in the video. Growing up and watching a handful myself, almost all which were shown for free on cable subscriptions and nowadays on YouTube, things have come a long way but exercise remains timeless. Only difference is the pace, the style, the routine and is very available to and for everyone regardless of age and body type. Unless you're a big exercise video collector or one who studies and needs ideas for a workout, this is a neat little presentation showcasing what this Ab Blaster is capable of and the wonders it did for those who owned it back then, like we did. Whether you asked for it or not, back then it was cool and awesome to receive a supplemental VHS tape to go with your purchase and this was one of them.

FEATURE PRESENTATION5/5

ARTWORK4/5

CONTENTS4/5

QUALITY5/5

PLUSES
  • Kathy Derry, a certified fitness instructor.
  • Short and to the point.
  • Even without the equipment, the exercise routines are still doable today.
MINUSES
  • Never re-released on DVD.
  • No hearsay on the product's success nor the results.
  • Unusual typo on the lower-third introducing Kathy Derry.
90% (A-)
Fan Rating
PROFILE
Title BodyShaping: Ab Blaster Plus
Description Develop great ab's [sic] in 20 minutes a day
ISBN / Bar Code number --
Video Format 1.33:1 (4:3) / Full screen
Audio Format Stereo
Tape Count One (1)
Genre Fitness / Exercise
Run Time Total time: 0:15:44
Language(s) English
Subtitles --
Closed Captioning ???
Rated --
VHS Release 1996
Specification Color
Produced by High Bar Productions, LTD.
Cover Design --
Cover Photo --
Production / Company High Bar Productions, LTD.
Product / Item Number ???
Copyright ©High Bar Productions, LTD.
All Rights Reserved 1996
Other Formats ???
Quoted Reviews --
Other --
Credits
©High Bar Productions, LTD.
All Rights Reserved 1996

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