Crunchless Abs Three Workout DVD review

Quick View: Not only do I hate doing crunches, I CAN'T do them because I have an old neck injury that comes screaming back when I pull on my neck doing that type of exercise. I have turned to Hip Hop Abs and Core Rhythms to help tone my abs while standing and doing cardio and they work well but I was taken in by the infomercial for the Crunchless Abs Three Workout DVD. You know how they say that women (or men) look better at closing time? Well infomercials look better at 4 a.m. This DVD is OK but nothing special and certainly not a breakthrough.About Crunchless Abs Three Workout DVDThe infomercial shows three DVDs and talks about three full workouts that you will receive. In reality, you will receive one DVD with three 10 minute ab workouts on it. You also get a soup recipe booklet that gives various recipes for low calorie soup.The DVD has an intro by the creator of the workouts, Linda LaRue, who is an RN and has a Masters Degree in something exercise related (I really didn't listen THAT closely). She's explains proper form and a few other things and then you can choose which of the three workouts you want to do or to do them all. I, of course, did them all because I think I'm Superwoman. The instructor for all workouts is Tracey Mallet who looks like a 12 year old skinny girl. Obviously she isn't going to have a belly, she barely has any body fat and no muscle tone at all. I don't like her. She is, however, a fitness instructor with several DVDs under her size 0 belt. I think she looks like Calista Flockhart and I just didn't take to her. It's just a personal thing I guess. There are two other women who work behind her, one modifies for easier moves, the other for more challenging ones.Set in a simple wood floored place, the DVD is bare bones. The first workout is almost all on a mat doing almost *crunches. While this IS a crunchless workout set, many moves pull on the neck the same way crunches do and many moves are super similar to crunches. There are a few moves that  are really tough and require a bit of space to stretch your legs and arms out which I wasn't prepared for.The second workout uses a chair and a lot of push ups with other tough moves that target the abs as well as the arms. You have to have a towel because it is used throughout the 10 minute segment.The third workout has some standing ab work, more mat work, and some Godawful poses that are really hard to do but not because they target the abs. Your arms have to be super strong to do the chair moves.No warm up or cool down is offered on the DVD.The workouts do tend to hit the abs and some moves are different from what I've tried before. Based on traditional ab work, Pilates, yoga, and "soft kegels", these workouts probably will help to tone the ab area and to strengthen the muscles. But I'm not blown away by the workouts.When they said "crunchless", I didn't think they would have moves where I was laying on my back, then raising my head and neck up off the floor and reaching for my bent thighs. That is a crunch as far as my neck is concerned. So technically there are no crunches on the DVD but don't expect to get away from the traditional boring abs moves that you've been doing forever. They're just a little more challenging and a little different in execution.You need a mat, towel, and a chair for these workouts.So, what do I think of the Crunchless Abs Three Workout DVD? Meh. I like Hip Hop Abs and Core Rhythms MUCH better and can get cardio in at the same time. I will do this DVD every so often because it really does target the upper abs (I don't feel it at all in my lower abs) and it's a change of pace. Plus, some of the moves  require a lot of upper body strength and I like to challenge myself. Apparently, a new DVD will be coming to me in 30 days. I didn't realize this when I ordered the three workout set. I will be canceling that DVD and further shipments because I just didn't find these workouts to be anything that different or special and many moves hurt my neck.**My Viewpoint**The Crunchless Abs Three Workout DVD may be effective to tone and strengthen the core and abs. They don't lie when they say there are no crunches in the workouts but they also don't tell you that many exercises are VERY similar to crunches and will stress the same areas that crunches do.** I rate this DVD 3 stars.*** Do I recommend it? Well, it's a decent set of three short workouts that do challenge the abs and upper body so sure, try it. If you prefer standing abs work, go for Hip Hop Abs or Core Rhythms. Even Jeff Costas Striptease DVD set has a great standing abs workout that's more fun and seems to be as effective as the Crunchless Abs Three Workout DVD.Looking for workouts that target the core? Here are few other reviews I have written about different core centered workouts.Core Rhythms Four Workout Starter Set Core Rhythms Latin Synergy Core Rhythms Club Mix - Swing Sensation Hip Hop Abs vs. Core Rhythms Which Workout Program Flattens Abs Better? Hip Hop Abs Fat Burning Cardio Workout 10 Minute Solution: Pilates Review