100 Reps

Talk about repetitive. Of course, I didn’t expect anything else, given the title. However, since I had never seen this type of workout, wherein you do 100 reps of 14 different strength exercises, I wanted to give it a whirl. I bought a used copy on the Amazon Marketplace because I suspected I would not like it and therefore didn’t want to pay full price. I decided I would attack the workout by doing just one or two exercises each session as an add-on to my main workout for that day. Even that was too boring for me. But if this sounds like your style, this would be a great choice because the instructor, Katrina Rich, is very pleasant and motivating. The production is average to above-average; not anything award-winning, but certainly not bad.

Here's a test to see if this video is right for you. Pick up a 12 or 10 pound weight and do 100 overhead French presses at a fairly fast clip, without stopping. If you find yourself smiling more at the end of that than at the beginning, you might just be the certain kind of sicko you need to be to enjoy this video. Welcome.

There would be a lot of reasons not to like this video. First off, I received a DVD-R that isn't chaptered and only plays on my laptop. It was filmed in a gym and isn't going to win any awards for sound quality. It's unscripted (meaning the instructor repeats herself often) and contains whooping. The cueing isn't top notch and the count is often off from the music in the background (I wonder if they just played a CD in the studio because Katrina has to talk louder when the music starts and softer between songs). Also, as you go to buy, you'll have that nagging feeling about why, oh why, would you need a video to count to 100 for you?

But I still love this video! I even caught myself laughing and having fun during it. Many of those factors I mentioned earlier that would drive me batty in a more traditional workout don't matter a whole lot in this one to me. You really are doing 100 reps of most exercises. That is grueling at times. Katrina is slightly goofy, which helps quite a bit. The homespun quality of the workout (background exercisers wearing regular old t-shirts, etc.) is fine with me on this one.

It isn't just several sets of 100 reps. Katrina splits up some sets and also varies the speed of others. She reminds you to watch your form and encourages you to keep going - very important when you round rep 50 and very much want to lie down and watch bad TV.

You will only need several dumbbells. A mat and a bench or step (no risers needed) are also useful but not necessary. I started with 12 pound weights and went down to 3's on some exercises. For the last few reps, you may use no weights.

Is this woman nuts? Am I nuts for liking this? I read the other review on this video by Crystal. She said the word "grueling". When I did this workout for the first time, I thought the same thing! This is grueling, but fascinating and actually kind of fun! Katrina takes you through 100 repetitions for each body part (she breaks some up into 50 each, such as 50 lunges on the right leg, 50 on the left). She changes rhythm frequently so you can "make it to 100". She also suggests that you change weight when your form starts to suffer. I almost never use 3 lb weights, except in this video! She is careful about discussing proper form and speed if you do not want to pump the weights at a quicker pace like she does (as in the chest press). I consider myself an advanced exerciser, but making it to 100 reps during each segment was really tough.

This was more fun than a bootcamp tape and harder than a Firm video. The workout goes by very quickly! I am very much into strength training right now thanks to the Slim Series and Debbie Siebers, so this was just another gem I found to add to my routines. This video is not for everyone. Some people will just plain not like it, hence the reason I got it off the exchange. Did I enjoy it? You bet I did!

What a gem of a tape. It's a grueling muscle endurance workout. It looks like she basically taped her class at a gym. The video starts out with a stretch. The instructor uses 10, 8, 5, and 3 pound weights. You start with the heaviest weight and when your form begins to suffer you lower the weight. The workout consists of 100 reps for 14 different exercises (e.g., squats, lunges, chest press, tricep extension, crunches, one-arm row, shoulder press, lateral raises, front raises, glute raises, etc.). You get a total body workout in about an hour. The only negative to the tape is there isn't enough stretching between exercises. That's a small negative in my opinion. This is keeper.