Search - Amy Bento: All Pump on DVD

Kristen S. (SomethingSmarter) from SAN DIEGO, CA
Reviewed on 11/28/2007...

All-pump is a short-but sweet 40 min workout, total body weights. Amy uses both the barbell and dumbbells, but you can get buy with just the dumbbells (I do.) It's a nice little total body workout for those short on time days.

There is a 'woo-ing' factor with this set of workouts, but you may be working out too hard to notice it. Production of this set of workouts isn't as high as the later offering from Amy, but the step workout is solid.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

A solid intermediate strength workout; unique, tough, and fu

Beth Cholette | Upstate NY USA | 09/12/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was my first Amy Bento video, and it was a bit different than I thought. From viewing the clip, I had been expecting a lot of compound moves and thought that the workout would have a functional fitness feel. This was true a bit, especially with the opening move (see below), but overall, this workout wound up feeling like a shorter, slightly intense version of a Cathe strength workout to me, right down to the use of a lot of equipment (barbell, 2 sets of dumbbells, step, stability ball).

This DVD is well-chaptered; I've listed the chapters below and added my own descriptions after.

Warm-Up. Includes basic moves such as shrugs, squats, and knee ups. Ends with a series of stretches held for a nice long, slow 4-count.

Multi-Joint. This is a compound move: holding light dumbbells, you step up with one foot on the step, raise the other knee in the air, and extend that leg twice while doing a front raise. Amy does several sets on both legs. She also does a series of squats with lateral side raises that really fried my shoulders!

Legs. Amy begins with a split lunge with one heel on a small dumbbell (Cathe does this move in Push Pull). Next comes a barbell squat series which I found very challenging due to the high number of reps: she does 15 squats in the center, then 8 cursey dips to each side; she repeats the sequence once the same and once with half as many reps.

BIs and TRIs. Amy does several variations of bicep curls (hammers, center, and concentration) while seated in a v-sit position on the step, so you work your core as well. Tricep work includes kickbacks and tricep push-ups.

Chest and Back. Begins with uneven push-ups (one hand on step). Then, with one hand on the step in a standing position, Amy does a row using arm rotation followed by a lateral raise. She also does a similar sequence with one hand on the stability ball.

Core Work. Beginning with your feet on the stability ball, you'll do tough tuck-ins, first just in and out, then bringing your knees from side-to-side--whew! You'll also place your elbows on the ball and roll them in and out for the core. Then it's back to a v-sit position on the step for "sunshines," moving the ball in a rainbow overhead, and several quick sets of v-sits in and out to finish.

Cooldown. Amy offers a nice series of stretches, mainly for the upper body (the lower body is stretched between sets).

Overall, I really enjoyed this workout. Although Amy worked me hard--especially with that tough squat segment!--because she pauses to stretch between virtually every exercise, I never felt overwhelmed or out of breath. I also liked how she added in some unique variations on moves and emphasized the core as well. I'd rate this workout at an intermediate level, and I'd recommend it to someone who likes a bit of variety in their strength routine and prefers a shorter (just over 39 minutes) full-body workout."