The FIRM: Abs, Hips and Thighs with LaReine Chabut

The most toning-oriented of all the original Firm programs. It reshapes your abs and lower body with tall-box sculpting and lots of floorwork. The aero/tone section uses both an 8-inch and a 14-inch box. The short box is mostly cardio; the tall box is mostly toning (stepping up and down — with dumbbells on your shoulders — completely engages your calves and buttocks). That section is followed by a well-sequenced series of classic floor exercises. They range from ab-targeted crunches and reverse curls to leg-focused hydrants and side-lying-leglifts.

Most of these moves incorporate dumbbells to maximize resistance ... and results. Like all the original Firms, you get jazz-style music, an elegant set and high quality production. Requires two sets of dumbbells (e.g. 3 & 10 lb); ankle weights are optional. They use a regular and a high step; a regular step will work. ©1991

(re-released on DVD in 2012, now with chapters).

Abs, Hips and Thighs is a total body aerobic workout with weights designed by founder of The Firm, Anna Benson. LaReine Chabut instructs and leads this short but effective workout for the hard to tone areas of the lower body. The 2-in-1 aerobic weight training has the ideal mix of aerobics to burn fat and weights to shape muscle mass.

The warm-up is followed by cardio on the short box. Weights with leg presses are on the tall box to shape the lower body. An abdominal routine, additional hip/thigh floorwork and stretch exercises complete this workout.