The first fifteen minutes of this three-part abdominal tape is a great introduction to ab toning for beginners. After a thorough explanation of correct body alignment and breathing technique for crunches, Leisa Hart starts with a torso stabilization exercise before teaching the basic crunch. She teaches every move clearly and precisely and is patient and encouraging. Leisa never rushes. You have plenty of time to learn and perform the four exercises. Advanced may find this section pretty tame, especially if they've been doing long and repetitious ab routines. But it's a well-designed routine with frequent stretches that allow beginners time to rest and recharge between sets of upper, lower and oblique crunches.

The next fifteen minutes is for intermediates. Here, Leisa teaches variations of standard crunches, using leg lifts and pulses to add intensity. She even does an unusual seated routine for the obliques. This section has less time between sets; one set melts into the next. This segment doesn't have a warm-up, but it does have a cooldown/stretch.

The 5-minute bonus section is challenging. It starts with an advanced version of upper crunches that uses a 3-pound dumbbell on your chest or extended above your head. Lower ab crunches and a unique leg-press crunch are next. These exercises are intense when done slowly and correctly. Doing this entire 35-minute workout in one sitting is overkill for the abs. It's best used broken into shorter segments and added to other workouts that have no ab work.

This tough workout targets the abs and torso with a unique format. Instead of doing endless reps of standard crunches, Leisa Hart builds ab combos like an aerobics routine: showing one move and gradually adding variations until you're doing multiple crunches for the abs and you feel the burn. Leisa begins the workout by thoroughly explaining neutral position and reminds you to return to it often as the workout progresses.

The first two exercises focus on torso strengthening and the lower back. The next 15 minutes focuses on three different ab routines. Leisa introduces and practices one exercise at a time, then combines them into a long routine. In the first routine both legs are bent, and feet are on the floor. In the second routine the feet are extended forward on the floor, and the ankles are crossed. Both routines include many combos of upper and oblique crunches. In the third routine the basic reverse curl position (both legs bent and feet lifted off the floor) is used for upper, lower and oblique crunch combinations. In the five-minute bonus routine a new combo of upper and lower ab crunches is built, this time with both heels resting on a chair.

Leisa does a full body stretch after each routine. She's very encouraging and excellent at teaching the exercises and cuing proper form. The tape ends with a relaxation routine -- six minutes of standing and lying stretches on a beach, melting into the yoga relaxation pose -- just feet from the crashing waves. This workout is easily divided into five-minute routines.

The original Abs of Steel 2 video cover calls this a super-challenge workout that will push your fitness to the limit. Its new Classic cover calls it an intermediate or advanced workout. With seemingly endless sets of very tough abdominal work, the original description still proves to be more accurate. This workout is aimed at the advanced exerciser who wants to go for the burn. This tape has two 15-minute ab workouts, but only one short warm-up and stretch before the first workout and minimal stretching after each one.

The first one-on-one workout is standard lying on your back ab work. Assorted sets of upper, lower, oblique and combo crunches are performed with various leg positions. Multiple sets of each variation are done with different tempo lifts and holds or pulses at the top. Every three minutes a set of push-ups is included as a "breather." Whew! After this 15-minute section, Tamilee does only one stretch. More are needed.

Workout Two is even tougher. You do multiple sets of oblique crunch variations at different tempos while lying on your side. After a much needed push-up break, you roll onto your other side and repeat. After another set of push-ups, Tamilee introduces sit-backs -- straight back first, then with a twist to either side, and finally lowering all the way to the floor. Two stretches end the workout. My abs were fatigued and needed to stretch more than this. Tamilee gives lots of breathing and positioning tips throughout and cues well, but this Classic (original) Steel video doesn't have an inspiring set or a good soundtrack. The workout is showing its age, despite the flashy new cover. Some of the exercises can be stressful for the low back.

Here's your chance to take a mini vacation and exercise simultaneously. Claudia's ab workout is part of a series of four workouts that were filmed on a rooftop in Prague, on a sunny beach in St. Barts and in a warm, sunlit studio. As the video cuts from one location to another, you're visually stimulated by the flashy editing and on-screen graphics and left wondering..."Did Claudia really do as many reps in a row as I have?"

Perfectly Fit Abs begins with 200 reps of four standing exercises for the obliques -- a unique routine. Next, you go to the floor for 280 reps of five exercises, including upper, lower and oblique crunches. The icing on the cake is the power combo of mostly upper crunches for 180 more reps. The best part of this workout is that Claudia does at least one stretch after every 60 or 80 reps-otherwise she (and you) could snap like a tight rubber band.

Kathy Kaehler does the instruction and cueing in soft-spoken voice-overs. Kathy demonstrates the correct form for the exercises in small on-screen insets so follow her, not Claudia. The five-minute power combo alone is one tough ab routine. However, there are many less repetitive, more entertaining ab workouts you could spend your time on.

Ab Assault targets the abs and core stabilizers with fifteen different exercises in four different positions: lying face up and face down on the ball, seated on the ball, and lying face up on the floor. Fast-paced reps, non-stop sets, and unique variations of upper and oblique crunches make the time fly by. Intermediates will enjoy the variety and challenge that using the ball adds to core work.

Sets vary in length from 8 to 20 reps depending on the exercise. Per usual, Gunnar demos a rep at the beginning of each set, so it's easy to sneak in another rep (or two or three) if you're so inclined. However, if you're not very fast at changing positions on the ball or getting up and down from the floor, Gunnar's demo rep also allows enough time to get into the new position, so you shouldn't need the pause button.

Paired with Bun Battle on DVD

Ab Sculpt combines traditional crunches with core stabilization exercises. The sets are short -- you'll do only 4 or 8 reps of any particular exercise before you either change the tempo or vary the move slightly. This time beginners are cued to stay with the first version of the exercise while more experienced exercisers are taught a harder variation.

Crunches are the foundation of the first 10 minutes of exercises. The FIRM Fanny Lifter comes into play as a foot rest (a chair or regular step will work too), first for a couple of sets of pelvic lifts and reverse crunches, then during upper crunches and oblique twists. Knee pull-ins and side-lying crunches add a bit of variety in this section. For the final 7 minutes you'll do Pilates-style core stabilization exercises -- here abs are not the prime movers, they are helping to hold your torso still while you're moving your arms and legs.

Ab Sculpt is part of The FIRM's Body Sculpting System 1, along with the Fanny Lifter (a two-piece stackable square step) and two total body workouts, Cardio Sculpt and Body Sculpt.

In Jiggle Free Abs, Allie Del Rio works the abs non-stop, starting with the standing warm-up. From standing cardio crunches to classic floor crunches, from planks with leg lifts on the TransFIRMer to side planks on the floor, from double-leg sitbacks on the TransFIRMer to single-leg sitbacks on the floor, the core is thoroughly worked with a variety of exercises in multiple positions for 23 minutes. Sets are long, with minor changes every 4 to 8 reps. Most reps are 1-1 tempo. Abs are stretched briefly after most sets.

Working the abs non-stop for over 20 minutes is quite challenging. I can't imagine many beginners making it through this entire workout on their first tries, even if the "beginner" versions are done. Intermediates and advanced who are looking for a longer ab session should get a good burn in their abs by the end.

Jiggle Free Abs is part of The FIRM's TransFIRMer basic set along with Ultimate Calorie Blaster, Aerobic Body Shaping, Supercharged Sculpting and the The TransFirmer, two interlockable step boxes that can be stacked to create an incline step or a tall step bench.

If you're looking for inspiration to add a short, intense ab routine to an aerobic workout, any of these Days will fit the bill. Compiled from Volumes 2 through 6 of the FIRM Classic workouts, each short yet thorough ab routine has plenty of nonstop variety. Each workout highlights a different FIRM Classic instructor. There are no warm-ups, just ab work followed by a stretch (except for Day 5 which has none).

Each day includes a mix of upper and lower ab crunches and oblique twists. Occasionally leg lifts, leg press-outs or bicycles are included, as are upper/lower combo crunches. On Days 1, 2 and 3 you lie on the floor with your knees bent. On Days 4 and 5 your feet are propped on a chair or step. Because it has minimal instruction, no modifications and quick exercise changes, this tape is best used by intermediates and advanced who already know correct breathing technique and lifting form for ab exercises.

On DVD, this workout is paired with The FIRM's Tough Tape 2.

In this 16-minute ab workout Gilad trains the core muscles with classic crunches, a few tough combo ab exercises and complementary lower back exercises. In his typical boot-camp style Gilad counts out the reps in sets of 8 as he and his crew work out on the sunny Hawaiian beach. Sometimes you're lifting at tempo (1-up, 1-down), sometimes slower (2-up, 2-down). Either way, your abs are sure to feel it after 11 minutes of non-stop crunching.

After a long warm-up set of standing lower back rolls, Gilad and his crew drop down to the sand for classic pelvic tilts, upper crunches and oblique twists. He then builds a short combo of a 4-part upper/lower crunch alternated with two oblique twists. After a quick stretch he introduces an interesting oblique crunch combo. For the first set you bring the elbow and knee on the same side together. Next, holding the knee up, you twist your upper body so that you can alternately touch your elbows to that knee three times. The ab burner comes when you alternate your elbows to that raised knee seven times. A welcome stretch follows this. Now it's on to standard oblique crunches, upper crunches, an upper/lower combo and a V-sit. After another stretch all of this ab work is nicely balanced with lower back work. You roll onto your stomach for back extensions, the opposite arm and leg reach, and catbacks.

Quick Fit Abs is on Gilad's Quick Fit System DVD along with three cardio workouts and three more toning workouts: Chest & Back, Shoulders & Arms, Hips, Thighs & Buns. Note: The picture quality of this workout is not the greatest. Sometimes the glare from the sun washes out the background.

Kathy offers five different advanced ab workouts on this video. The cover says that the workouts include "the most effective abdominal training exercises used daily by professional athletes" which explains why you don't often see them in video workouts. Kathy advises that many are advanced exercises which call for strong abs to start with, so if you're just starting out be careful, don't strain your lower back. The video opens with a 2-minute warm-up and a 1-minute stage rearrangement (keep your remote handy). Next Kathy introduces a series of stretches that you should do on your own after each ab session.

Each day's ab workout contains 4 to 7 different exercises, starting with upper crunches, moving on to obliques and ending with standing, kneeling or lying exercises that require you to "drive your knees into your chest." Unfortunately, if you "drive the knees" without concentrating on pulling in your lower abs at the same time, it's your hip flexors that are getting the tough workout, not your abs.

Kathy counts you down to the first rep of every set, ("Five-six, five-six-seven-eight") and yet somehow manages to start off beat (and stay off beat) throughout every set. (The music track was added later?) Kathy doesn't count reps, instead she times the sets, so some sets are 11 reps, others are 70. One side may get 13 reps, the other 19. If you like to exercise to the beat of the music, like to get a rhythm going from one set to the next, and want to exercise both sides evenly without counting the reps yourself, this workout is not for you. If you're looking for unusual ab exercises that will help you "feel the burn" Kathy and her crew provide quite a few: standing side bends with a dumbbell, standing crunches, seated and lying bicycle pumps, and "triple deckers."

Look Great Naked Abs teaches three different ab Routines, each with three different exercises, targeting a different area of the abs -- upper, lower and obliques. Within each Routine the three sets are repeated three times for a nine-set giant set. Every set gets 15 reps. Of course, when working obliques you do 15 reps on each side. After each three-set circuit you pause for a 30-second ab stretch. This stretch, the cobra pose from yoga, is the same in every routine.

As you might guess from the title, this series of three workouts (two other workouts target Butt and Thighs) is all about looking good. Brad Shoenfeld and his crew of four shapely young women (who already look great practically naked) are working out in a cozy apartment setting - bookcases, a staircase, wood floor. You get many close-ups of bare midriffs and belly button piercings, and can watch the crew toss their long hair to one side (all to the same side -- and in unison!) while Brad plays trainer.

Instructor Brad, dressed in black, starts each exercise with his crew, then after about 5 reps he stops and walks around to motivate the girls to continue on for a total of 15 reps. He gives a few form pointers, but mostly he offers encouragement. The woman front and center counts the reps aloud, but you can barely hear her, so when you're on the floor and not looking at the TV you need to count the reps yourself. They switch from one exercise to the next very quickly and if you haven't been counting or watching the screen you may miss the start of the next exercise.

It seems that the four girls (as Brad continually calls them) made a pact ahead of time not to smile -- or to look as if they were even remotely interested in working out. Although Brad occasionally urges the girls to smile, they all manage to resist -- even when he reminds them how great they are going to look naked! That would get a laugh out of me!

How many ways can you train your abs? Abs Advantage will show you 32 ways in four unique workouts. Each 8-minute ab toning routine presents a different style of workout: Pilates, core training, classic abs, and stability ball. Chris Freytag has designed these time-efficient workouts to target the abs from all different angles and in many positions: standing, seated and lying down. Since each ab toning segment is paired with a 3-minute warm-up and 3-minute final stretch, you can do a different 14-minute workout each time you work out. Choose the "play all" option to do all four styles back to back and you'll never repeat an exercise in your 40-minute ab mini-marathon!

The Pilates workout features six classic mat exercises performed slowly in short 4 to 6 rep sets, following the typical "quality over quantity" Pilates approach. The core training includes seven standing exercises (a meld of Pilates and kickboxing moves) and five yoga-inspired floor exercises. You'll be using your core for stabilization and balance while toning the legs and glutes in slightly longer sets of 8 to 12 reps. Classic abs is composed of nine exercises, including many crunch variations (often with added leg lifts) in longer sets of varying tempos. The stability ball is an excellent core strengthener and here it's used for ten exercises, six on the ball and four on the floor, again using longer sets with varying tempos.

Intermediates should get a solid workout with Abs Advantage. Beginners will do fine if they follow the easier modifications as needed. Because the sets are so short, advanced probably won't find this workout challenging enough, especially if they're used to doing ab marathons with multiple long sets.

Leslie works both sides of the trunk, abs and lower back, in this one-on-one workout. After a brisk 5-minute warm-up walk, she takes you to the floor -- first for 15 minutes of ab exercises, followed by 5 minutes of lower back and plank exercises. Like the other workouts in this Shortcuts set, Leslie offers non-stop instruction and upbeat motivation -- which again takes her focus off of keeping track of the reps, so when sides are worked separately they are often not worked evenly, and sets vary in length from one to the next.

The living room setting gives this set of three toning workouts (Upper Body and Lower Body are worked separately) a casual, homey feel and Leslie adds to that with her usual upbeat, chatty teaching style. Always motivating, sometimes giggly, Leslie teaches at a leisurely pace.

The slow lifting tempo in Leslie's workouts is terrific, it's perfect when you're learning weight training exercises. And if you enjoy a leisurely pace and need more time between sets to get in position or change weights, or if you're having a low energy day or coming back from an injury and need to take things slow and easy, Leslie's your gal. But not knowing when a set would end, and having the sides worked unevenly, really bugged me and got in the way of my enjoying the workouts.

Two Kathys (Kaehler & Stevens) exchange technique pointers and offer alternative versions of each exercise as they team up to teach three eight-minute ab workouts. These segments can stand alone or be combined for a longer, more challenging workout. Although the workouts get progressively more difficult, three levels of intensity are always explained and shown for every exercise, so even beginners will get a do-able workout. The three-minute warm-up concentrates on getting the torso and abs ready for action. Each 8-minute workout includes 5 exercises for upper, lower and oblique abs and a lower back exercise, resulting in a well-balanced workout. The lifting pace is slow and steady, the sets are short, stretches are frequent. There's plenty of recovery time between sets. The final stretch focuses on the back and torso only.

While the instruction is excellent, the cuing is spotty. Sometimes you know exactly when to start the exercise, at other times you'll miss a few reps unless you watch the screen carefully. Neither Kathy talks loud enough and they often talk softly to each other. The tempo of the reps is sometimes out of sync with the music, and the four count reps are hardest to follow along with. That aside, this workout does its job with slow-paced, well-taught exercises that are quite effective at targeting the abs.

From standard crunches to innovative variations influenced by Pilates and yoga, Julie Upton fatigues the abs thoroughly and differently in three 10-minute workouts. Paying close attention to technique, Julie allows time to get set in each starting position, then previews one slow motion rep before starting the set. You don't do hundreds of reps, but you do feel every one. Quick Fix Abs are perfect additions to other workouts. In each ten minute workout the abs are worked from all angles, at varying intensities. Do one Fix, or even 5 minutes of one, then leave the video cued up for next time. A short torso warm-up starts each Quick Fix and a relaxing stretch is done midway and again at the end. Just be sure to work the lower back when you're done. Roll over to do a few catbacks, back extensions, planks or the superman exercise.

In the first Quick Fix short sets of standard upper, lower and oblique crunches do the job. This workout is the most accessible to beginners. More experienced exercisers will like the challenge of the next two workouts. Quick Fix 2 has more variety and introduces many unusual ab exercises like side-lying bridges, reverse bridges, V-sits, lying ribcage circles, and alternating straight leg lifts. It ends with a very tough and unusual oblique crunch. Again the sets are short, but the exercises are pretty intense. It's back to crunches for Quick Fix 3. But this time some unusual versions are done, like upper crunches with arm sweeps, slow bicycles and a pelvic bridge with a leg lift. Two types of upper/lower combo crunches are alternated for the grand finale at a very slow tempo. By the end your abs should be feeling the "burn."

Quick Fix Abs is on the Quick Fix Total Mix DVD with two other workouts for Buns and Arms & Legs.

You're one-on-one with Tamilee for two very different ab workouts with exercises that challenge every fitness level in less than 15 minutes. Each Program is divided into two rounds -- you do 8 or 12 reps of each exercise the first time through and 8 the second time. Beginners can start with the first round of Program 1, intermediates can add the second round, and advanced will get plenty of challenge with the advanced ab exercises in Program 2. My only wish is that all this ab work were balanced with a few lower back exercises. But you're on your own for that.

Program 1 focuses on classic ab exercises. Tamilee starts with two sets of "the zone" (an upper crunch), then does two more sets with pelvic tilts. She moves on to an upper crunch with one arm extended overhead, a reverse crunch with knees bent, an upper/lower combo crunch and an oblique twist with ankle on opposite knee. Saving the hardest for last, she closes with a combo: upper crunch/single-leg extension. Most exercises are done "up to tempo," although a few exercises get an extra set of slower (2-up, 2-down) reps.

Program 2 starts with the only standing exercise: side bends (with a dumbbell) for obliques. Oblique work continues on the floor with two sets of lying-on-your-side crunches: first lifting your bent knees up to meet your top elbow and progressing to bringing your straight legs and arms together. Next you're twisting side to side as you "bicycle" with your legs. Five upper/lower crunch combos are next. First you do an upper crunch while you lower both straight legs toward the floor. (Watch the lower back here!) Next you hold both legs straight up to the ceiling and crunch upper and lower simultaneously. Last you do a leg press/upper crunch combo with three different arm positions -- these sets are done very fast --you'll be feeling the burn by the end. In Round 2 the standing obliques are replaced by a "sit-back" on the floor.

I Want Those Abs is now on a 90-minute DVD titled I Want That Body, along with exercises from I Want Those Arms and I Want Those Buns.