Functional Foundations or FitPrime

CathydsRNA

Cathlete
Hi,
I'm toying with the idea of buying Functional Foundations or one or two FitPrime workouts to supplement my Cathe workouts. Are there major differences between Functional Foundations and the FitPrime workouts. If so what are the major differences and which workouts would you suggest. Thanks.
 
Cathy, if you're talking about the original FitPrimes (which I'm not sure will be available much longer), you'll find the VHS tapes to have very poor lighting, sound, and editing. I have no idea if Anna fixed those issues with the DVD's. I did hear she's selling them off and when they're gone ... they're gone. She is working on a new bunch of workouts using old and new footage, from what I understand. There is much dicussion about it at http://www.fitprime.com
but you have to register to view all the forums.

Functional Foundations is Tracie Long's own work. She left Anna and the gang a while ago to start her own club and production company. You can find her forums at http://www.justv.net/
and her DVD's at http://www.tracielong.net/

I found them different in terms of more conventional type moves being used in Tracie's workouts as opposed to things I'd never seen (and didn't particularly care for!) in the original FitPrimes, but that's just my opinion. I never cared much for the original FitPrimes, and from what I've seen of the new ones (there are clips if you log in and click from a thread), I won't be buying any of them. They look kind of boring and unoriginal to me, but again that's only my opinion. I really love Tracie's workouts, and I use them all the time now! They work your core the entire time, and hey ... you can't get enough of that at my age - LOL!!

Hope this helps!!

Carol
:)
 
Thanks Carol,
Will go with Functional Foundations instead of FitPrime. Is there a particular Functional Foundations workout that you prefer?
 
Hi Cathy,

I have all five of Tracie's workouts, and I have to say I prefer her two newest - Core Cardio and Core Strength, which is the newest two-DVD set. Of the first three I like Core Foundations the best!

If you decide to try them, let Tracie know what you think! She's a real sweetheart in her emails and sincerely wants to hear ways to improve future workouts!

Carol
:)
 
I'd have to second Carol's opinion. Sorry if I offend, but Tracie Long is what made the firm/fitprime now that she is gone you can see the decline in fitprime. From what I understand Tracie is the one who designed alot of the workouts, so I would move to TLP with her. I too have seen the clips of upcoming Fitprimes and I am not impressed, I have read there is much talk about these new ones are "recycled moves and music", Anna will not get specific about this, she tells you to wait till reviews to come out (not impressed by her business style either) In my opinion stick with Cathe and Tracie Long both of them never disappoint and appreciate their fans!!:7
 
I've been lurking on the FitPrime board and have also read the unhappy posts about Anna's choice to use some old workout moves, but I can see her point in a way. I mean, how many ways can you do a bent row or a squat, you know? Even Cathe has been criticized (or perhaps "accused" is a better word) for doing the same moves over and over again. But the thing is, how many different ways are there to work the same muscle? I would imagine it's difficult to come up with new moves that still use correct form, and still work the muscle in the correct way.

I think what Anna was trying to say is that her new workouts will be similar to the style of the classic Firms. I have the original six, and a lot of the same moves were used in them, but in new combos each time, if that makes sense. When the tall box was introduced in Volume 3 (now called something else!) about 1991, they continued to use it for leg presses in each succeeding volume. When they introduced the shorter "aerobic" box in Volume 4 (still available by another name!), they again kept using it in succeeding volumes. From reading Anna's replies on the forum, I get the feeling this is what she was trying to say she planned to do, not necessarily that she was going to simply recycle old footage and add new music to it.

Since she's being so vague with details, I guess we will have to wait until the reviews come out to be certain. Of course, I can also understand why she's being vague. We've all seen our own dear Cathe practically tarred and feathered on here and other places for releasing information beforehand, then having to change it when the final editing was done. I can understand being a bit gun-shy about stuff like that after you've taken a public beating for simply trying to give your fans some upfront information, or get them excited about new workouts. I would be hesitant the second time around as well.

Anna does have a certain "edge" to her posts, but I have to honestly say they are nowhere near as biting as they used to be on the old FitPrime forums! I don't care for her new workouts (and that makes me sad because she IS the creative genius behind the original Firms!!), but I do wish her the best with this new venture.

Carol
:)
 
Hey Carol... I am saddened about the turn that fitprime has taken too!! Anna Benson is the one who got me moving in the first place and will forever be grateful to her for that and it feels like saying goodbye to an old friend that you have simply outgrown..it does sadden me!! It seems as she has taken the "edge" off of her workouts and seems more "cookie cutter". I do agree with how many ways can you do a row..but my understanding (and its only my understanding) is that whole tape choreography is being replicated as in "From the Ground Up" is now "Ground UP" with a different instructor and the med. ball routines have been eliminated but essentially its the same workout. As far as Cathe being scoulded for doing some of the same moves ( have noticed a few) but she still adapts that into other new moves..i think shes wonderful and keeps it interesting and I think she really tries to keep it fresh. First the Firm, now fitprime, I hope Cathe always stays the way she is (she has renergized me toward working out and pulled me out of a rut! I too wish Anna the best with her new workouts and thank her for introducing me to weights and fitness and a better way of life.
 
Thanks for the input. I am definitely going the route of Tracie's workouts and getting Core cardio and Core Strength. I'll let you both know how I like them. Once again, thanks.
 
CathdnRNA- Tracie has recommended doing Core Foundations for 3 weeks b4 moving on to the rest of the workouts. Trust me it is worth it. I just finished an all TLP rotation and I feel rock solid. You will see the benefits of functional training when you do Cathe. I no longer get severe back and shoulder pain from holding the barbell during squats and what not. Core Foundations, Functional Strength, Dynamic Strength and Power are the first releases. They are deffinately revolutionary. You'll get more out of Core Cardio/Core Strength if you develope your core with CF.

Fitprime does have some killer workouts. Weights First is the best. You don't walk for 2-4 days afterwards!

HTH
~Reece Out~
 
OUCH...weights first is a leg, hip and bun burner for sure. Everytime I do that one I walk around like I just rode a horse. No Doms here its immediately onset muscle pain}(
 

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