A workout that puts the abs front and center

Strong, defined abs are one of the most coveted body parts, and a sturdy core is essential for many sports and activities. In “Crunch: Fat Burning Ab Attack” (Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2005), the abdominals get a complete workout, putting viewers on the fast track to those six-pack abs.

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Crunch: Fat Burning Ab Attack: Talk about motivation -- host Catherine Chiarelli has abs to die for. A fitness instructor from Crunch in Los Angeles, she leads an intense half-hour ab workout that begins with a warmup, then segues to standing exercises that include boxer twists from a squat position and standing oblique crunches that incorporate leg lifts.

Mat work begins with basic crunches, then moves to reverse crunches (where the legs come off the floor) and planks, a static exercise that challenges the core. Back exercises are also included for a complete core workout. Chiarelli does a good job of explaining proper positioning and does high reps to keep heart rates elevated.

“If you expose your abs, people see that and say, ‘Look at the incredible shape that person is in,’ ” says Chiarelli, who cautions that diet is as important as exercise in achieving well-defined abs.

She adds that the program is suited for beginners as well as veterans of the crunch: “Even if someone hasn’t been in the gym for 10 years, it’s never too late to start.”

Price: $15, available at www.anchorbayentertainment.com.

-- Jeannine Stein