Sorry to be a blog hog today. Here's the other topic I'd like to hear suggestions on though. My workout of choice is running or walking outside. I love the fresh air, and biggest bonus-it's free! However, this time of year in Michigan isn't exactly optimal for outdoor workouts. I've had to resort to my workout videos, and my collection is pretty pathetic. I don't like to buy just anything without hearing a personal recommendation. I've definitely found some duds out there! The one posted above is one of my personal faves. I like it because it's divided into three ten minute segments for abs, butt, and thighs, so total it's still only 30 min. It's definitely not much of a cardio workout, I don't really even break a sweat. But it's great for toning, and stretching, and always makes me feel better when I'm cooped up inside all day. It's pretty gentle so I especially liked it in the post-partum days! I wouldn't mind some better cardio workouts, but I like ones that are fun. I see infomercials for the dancey, hip hop ones that always look fun, but I always chicken out before ordering them! Does anyone use workout videos, and if so-do you have any you love?
9 comments:
I love my Denise Austin pilates video... its way cheesy, but a good workout. Not cardio though... I always go to Ross and buy their $5 workout videos. Some are good, some aren't so good, but I don't feel guilty because they are so cheap! Plus, I get bored fast with workout videos, so I like to have a lot of options. I really enjoy my hip hop dancing one, but I have to be absolutely sure that no one will see me do it, because I look RIDICULOUS!!!
My Mom gave me a few FIRM videos and I like those. They have a variety as well: upper body, lower, abs, cardio, etc. that came in a set.
I love the Biggest Loser workout DVD. It is customizable - you can put together a workout from about 6 different options. I love Denise Austin. She is kind of cheesy, but I feel like I get good workouts with her that are fairly easy to follow. I have a few of her tapes as well as her Personal Training System.
Another thing I have done is rented some videos from netflix. That way you can try before you buy! I just got another Denise Austin (can you tell I like her) dvd for Christmas - the "Hit the spot, 10 5 minute toners" and I rented it from netflix first.
I usually avoid the hip hop/dance videos. Partially cause I am not that coordinated! and also because I feel like they spend too much time on how to do the moves so I don't get a good workout in.
I find that Denise Austin is okay for basic workout. However, Her Yoga Fat Burning video was a bust...for me anyhow. I have always been a big fan of the Firm. However, they can be a little tuff on bad knees. But I think the cardio is tops!
i just check them out from my library...but i've enjoyed the 10 minute workout series...it has 5 or 6 different 10 minute work outs, all focusing on different parts of the body and you can do just one...or customize a workout for however long you want one....i enjoyed them. :)
One of my friends from church teaches a fitness class for the women of our ward on Saturday mornings and we do everything with an exercise ball and resistance bands. It is AMAZING how much you can do with both of those- and they are pretty inexpensive pieces of equipment. That still doesn't help with cardio, but its great resistance training. She has a bunch of information that she sends out via email. Let me know if you'd be interested in it and I can send it on.
I love the FIRM workouts (you can usually get them from the library to try first). For me, I felt like the older "Classic Workout Series" videos--I think they're from the late '80s--were more effective, but I agree that some of them are hard on bad knees. My fave is the aerobic interval training workout with Sandahl Bergman. My favorite pregnancy workout is Kathy Smith's Pregnancy Workout. I know...apparently I'm living in the '80s, but I love the cardio, and I can't do kickboxing or hip hop to save my life.
I have that "pick your spot" abs video too and it's a good one! I also like the Gaiam brand videos, like the Pilates Abs workout with Ana Caban or the Yoga for Weight Loss with Susan Deason.
If it's cardio you want, my suggestion is to nix the at-home videos altogether and enroll in either a gym or an aerobic or kickboxing class with a real teacher. When I used to live in Mapleton, Utah, I was in a kickboxing class that met all winter and it was fabulous. The teacher had been trained by Billy Blanks himself, which got me psyched up to buy a few of his kickboxing videos. But then the videos were way less stimulating, and I asked my teacher why the famous Billy Blanks would have such easy videos. She said it was a liability issue because they can't gauge how in shape the people are that use them. So anyway, that's why I gave up on cardio videos. :(
I'll second the Biggest Loser. My favorite part about it is that the people are not stick thin (they are the actual contestants) and they are struggling too, but doing it with a smile on their faces. Also, the movements are uncomplicated, but seriously butt-kicking. Also gender neutral. My husband doesn't feel silly doing it with me.
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