Need a Good Home-workout Video

the denise austins daily workout is on lifetime channel at 7 or 7:30 every morning. it works really well and holds your attention. until you find the video that works best for you you might want to try her out. also the fit tv channel has a variety of workouts on throughout the day. try some to see what you enjoy doing, and then buy a video based on that.

2 moms found this helpful

Wow, this is such an individual preference sort of thing... but my favorites include:

* Karen Voight - she has lots of different workouts available, excellent instruction in terms of form, lots of options if you looking for specifically sculpting or cardio etc., and her video w/ Elle MacPherson is great despite how annoying Elle is throughout the workout.
* Turbo Jam - though I don't own them myself, this series is high energy and fun, great for core muscles, has lots of levels of difficulty (so you can grow w/ the workout from beginner to advanced) and variety (so you don't get too bored), and Chalene (the instructor) is a mom of 3 and looks pretty darn good.
* Tamilee Web's "I Want That Body" and the original "Abs of Steel"

And just thought of this -- can you sign up for a free trial membership of Netflix or even just join for a month or 2? That way you can trial a whole bunch of different workout DVDs and see which ones you like the best before you invest. :)

2 moms found this helpful

Billy blanks bootcamp. It comes with 4 DVD's for under $30. Included is resistance bands. Trust me, it is worth it. It has a 30 min ab workout that will have you looking great in no time!

2 moms found this helpful

M.,

I use the Billy Blanks videos. You can buy them in a set where they have one video that starts you off slow, one that is more intense, one that specializes in your abs, another one that specializes in your butt and thighs and finally one that is only an 8 minute workout for when you don't have much time. I really like his videos because you can start off slow and build yourself up. The ones that I bought came with exercise bands that have weights in them. You can start off doing the exercises with no bands, then move up to using the bands and then put the weights in the bands. These videos give you a good workout and I have lost weight using them.
Hope this helps you,
A.

1 mom found this helpful

I'm going to have to agree with the suggestions for Winsor Pilates (Winsor not Windsor, they are different I guess- I've only had the Winsor). I ordered the 'circle series' ones, and a friend of mine did the original program. It is pretty easy and I mostly just did the 20 minute workout. In about 3 months I was slimmer than I was pre-baby! Best of luck in whatever you choose!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi! If you have time warner cable check out channel 1225. Exercise on Demand TV. It is like pay per veiw - but it is absolutely free! They have every work out you can think of!
It seems to be working for me and my girls even try to do some with me! Hope this helps!

1 mom found this helpful

I use the Turbo Jam work out. I highly recommend them. They are fun, and you will definatly see results. The first month I got the tapes, I followed the plan of which exercises to do every day. I lost 7 pounds and an 1 1/2 off my waiste and that was not dieting since I'm breastfeeding, just simply doing the workouts. The set comes with a 20 minutes work out, a 40 minute work out, an ab work out, and a sculpting workout. The little book that comes with it tells you which tape to do everyday. The music is upbeat and I enjoy doing the workout. Hope this helps!! Good Luck!
M.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi M.!

A video that REALLY worked for me was the Slim in 6 program. I had gotten it from Beachbodies.com when it was like $65 back when I was a junior in college (3 years ago), but now you can get it at Target for like $20-30. It's a whole program that TEACHES you how to count calories and choose the best foods, along with 3 different levels of work-outs, with an extra ab work out and special stretching video. I lost 25 pounds in the 6 weeks and was able to keep it off because I was calorie counting.

I will admit, it was hard in the beginning. Counting and measuring everything was a pain in the you-know-what. But after doing it for a few weeks, you just start to know everything. You remember how many calories are in what and can eyeball the measurements.

The workouts were GREAT. It was slim training. So it wasn't too much running around and bouncing. It was a great tool to get me into shape, where I was then able do my own workouts, and go back to the videos when I needed something different.

I hope you find something that works for you. I have gained all that weight back, and then some!, in the past 3 years and have recently started back on the program of calorie counting. Feel free to message me if you have any questions!

1 mom found this helpful

I agree with "M" on Turbo Jam. I ordered this once I had the go-ahead to work out from my dr. after having our daughter. Though I still have about 5 lbs to go, it really helps in the first few months to slim back down. It comes with a 20 min cardio workout, a 40 minute cardio work out, a 20 minute ab jam (great) and a 40 minute weight routine (all that's needed is 3 or 5 lb wieghts). It's very high energy but you can also scale it back by making it low impact.

1 mom found this helpful

I also made that my new years resolution and use Kathy Smith's:workout you. It's amazing, it works on mainly ur abs and theirs three cds to it to work on everything on ur body, it worked for me and it doesnt take that much out of ur day. Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Walk Away the Pounds by Leslie Sansone are wonderful. They're walking in place to a video. But not just regular walking, there are little kicks and side steps added in there. There are various videos to choose from, depending on if you're a beginner or more advanced. These are great, you can do them in your own home, don't have to go outside in the cold and snow.

1 mom found this helpful

I'm in the same situation as you. I found Fit tv on my cable. I tivo the shows for a variety and then exersize when they are napping. I think lifetime also has some Denise Austin aerobics in the morning. I would check your tv schedule before investing in videos.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi M.,

As someone who HATES to workout, but absolutely HAS to, I love the Billy Blanks Tae Bo tapes. They have a good pace and the time seems to pass quickly. I tend to put weight on all over when I gain, and when doing his tapes I lose the weight all over. There's several different ones that he has out now, but my favorites are the originals. There's an 8 minute one for when you don't have alot of time that still gets the heart pumping. I'm trying to work up the motivation to do it in the morning before work.

Since they've been out for awhile, you might be able to find them at the library. I'd check out the library and try a bunch of different workouts until you find the one that you like best before buying. Also, check out eBay or Amazon, you can probably find several of them used for next to nothing.

Good luck!
M.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi!
I am a stay at home mom to a 3 year old and a one year old- I know about getting the body back in shape! I go to a class every Monday night and a couple time during the week I do a Pilates video. The reason I say this video is because you can pick how long you want to work out! It is a 60 min-at 10 min sessions. So if you have an hour, you can do them all-if you have twenty minutes you do two of them. The time managment of this video works out best for my crazy life. It is a Pilates 60 min with 10 min work out routines. You can buy it at Target or Borders it runs about $20. Hope that helps!

1 mom found this helpful

I just started using one - Yoga Booty Ballet. It has 4 workouts on the set that I got. It has some aerobic, some geared towards abs and gluts. And then some yoga relaxation. I got mine at target. It was in a huge box because it also has a small yoga ball in it that is used in the workouts. I've been using it since the beginning of the year, and I'm still using it. And for me that is an accomplishment.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi M.! The only workout video I have ever stayed with for a long time is the Windsor Pilates. They focus on the abs and have a nice workout for the legs. It is most benificial to get you flexible and strengthening the stomach area (the powerhouse). They have a set with three workouts on it, which includes a quick 20 minute one that you can do anytime and almost anywhere. Then the longer one in the set can get you in shape. Good luck and have fun!

1 mom found this helpful

Get "Walk Away the Pounds"
It is available everywhere, even ebay, for not much money, only takes 20 minutes, and is very effective.
Best Wishes!

1 mom found this helpful

Hey M.-

I don't know if you have cable or not through Time Warner, but I use the Exercise On Demand Channel. Since you already pay for cable, the workouts are FREE! Of course, they change them every once in a while, but that is fine with me! There are many different types of exercises to choose from so you can have a variety of things to do so you won't get bored. I am currently pregnant and trying to stay in shape during my pregnancy, so I have been working out with the EOD channel 4-5 days a week for about a month now. I personally have been doing "Holly's Express Workout" under the Girls Next Door workouts because it is fast and easy (15 min.) so I stick with it! Good luck to you!

HI M.,
If the YMCA doesn't fit your budget that's okay....there are several alternatives out there that are FREE. You could set aside 10-15 minutes per day to take a quick walk around the neighborhood to get your blood pumping, but if you're like me it's too cold right now for that. Have you gone to the library and looked thru their video section? They have TONS of videos to get you moving again. I like to say "move" rather than "excercise", we tend to have negative feelings against the latter word. There is a variety of things from dance, cardio, yoga, pilates, certainly enough to keep you from being bored with the same video day after day. There are even videos there for expecting/new moms to help you get back into your pre-baby jeans!
I'm going there today to pick out a few "moving" videos myself...trying to get in shape for a Vegas trip at the end of March.

Windsor Pilates, for the abs, butt and thighs!

I loved the "Walk Away the Pounds" video series with Leslie Sansone. You can tailor her workouts to your own needs (with/without weights). It tones your legs, butt and abs, is great heart conditioning, speeds up your metabolism, etc. It's about a 18-20 minute workout--very easy to stick too. She's got several different videos with different walk lengths and she incorporates different things into all of them.

I've taught a few different fitness classes in the past and, for the Body Sculpting classes, I've always integrated some moves from the Cindy Crawford DVDs. They're a little dated, but they're safe, straightforward and are awesome to lose inches. Don't forget to stretch your hamstrings before and after your workout if you're doing a lot of lower body work (squats, stairmaster, etc.) or you'll bulk up instead of slim down. If you're looking for something a little less cardio, go for the Windsor Pilates series -- great for your abs. Don't expect to lose weight with pilates/yoga alone, though. You definitely need to get your heart rate up to burn calories.
One last piece of advice -- if you don't know what to buy yet, get a basic Netflix.com membership for like $7 a month. They have a great fitness DVD selection and you can keep experimenting with different programs until you find the one that you and your body like the best. :) Good luck!

Hello M.,

I've found for me, someone who gains her weight in the mid-section and the "saddle-bags" that The Firm videos work great for me. I have seen them at my local library so you would be able to rent them for free. Another good one I absolutely love is Kathy Smith's "Functionally Fit, Peak Fat Burning". This is an incredible cardio lower body sculpting workout! I think you'd love it.

Hope this helps!

I'd recommend Pilates. My favorite is Gaiam A.M and P.M. pilates. It has seperate workouts for morning or evening and the morning one is more invigorating while the P.M. one is more relaxing - but still a good workout. All you'll really need is a mat. Also, if you're near a Victory Lady Fitness - I just joined there last Nov. and I love it. They are TONS cheaper than the other gyms and the YMCA - they don't have all the frills (i.e. movie theaters and Oxygen Bars) but they have very helpful and supportive staff and they have classes like Abs & More, Kickboxing, Water Aerobics, and my favorite - Yoga.

Good luck on your resolution!
H. M