A Fit Tip: Best DVD’s for a REAL Home Workout
PIN IT!This site isn’t all about delicious food! I’ve been posting a lot of food recipes lately because I’ve been cooking a lot! However, this site isn’t just recipes, so I want to bring ya’ll something other than delicious meals to drool over!
I used to be a certified gym rat. I’d go every morning before class when I was in school. I was in fabulous shape and had more energy than I knew what to do with. [Not on finals week, of course]. However, after I graduated and immediately started a 9-5er, it became nearly impossible to work out at a gym, morning or night. It’s not that it’s impossible, I’ve tried the 5:30 am treadmill run and the 8 pm elliptical. It’s just treacherous. When I work out, I want to do it 100%, give it all I got. And, dare I say, have a little bit of fun with it. This is why I’ve decided to quit the gym, for now, and start working out at home with fun fitness DVD’s. Not all at home dvd’s can be created equal. I tried out a few and found the top 3 tapes that leave me sweating and EXTREMELY sore the next day. And yes, one of them is Jillian! The last one is a workout game for the Xbox Kinect and is a great interactive tool if you are looking for at truly personalized workout.
1. Jillian Michael’s- 6 Week 6 Pack
Where to buy: Amazon, $10
If I told you I still wasn’t sore from my stab at this early this week, I’d be lying. If I was Pinocchio, my nose would be clear into NYC. This video works you to the core. I began at Level 1, which is the beginnings mode. I thought, hey, this will be challenging but not too crazy since it’s for beginners. Um, LIES! This 30 minute workout KICKED MY ARSE. For starters, Jillian jumps right in and doesn’t rest throughout the entire video. I prefer not taking any breaks because it keeps my heart rate going and keeps my motivated, however, a few moments to stop and stand in place would have been nice! Truthfully, this is the best home work out DVD I’ve ever tried. It’s jam packed with core shaping exercises in 30 minutes, which is perfect for people who don’t have much time. You do ab exercises that work your entire abdomen, like the plank and side crunch, while also doing exercises that work your arms, glutes and legs, like the spider. The next day, I felt sore EVERYWHERE, not just my abs. If you are looking for a DVD that will work your whole body, this is one you should consider. And it’s less than $10 at Amazon. A win!
2. Dance with Julianne: Just Dance!
Where to buy: Amazon, $15
I have no skills when it comes to dancing, it’s almost embarrassing actually. My dancing skills have been compared to those of Elaine from Seinfeld. Except worse. Safe to say, I did this tape when Elliot was at his bachelor party and continue to do it when he’s not home. As horrible as I am at dancing, this was an incredibly fun workout to do. There were no overly complicated moves and Julianne is a really motivating and fun person to work out to. It’s like when you go to a dance class and you know the ex instructor was a cheerleader? Very peppy which kept me going. She also has a step by step individual dance class that teaches you the moves before you do them together with her and the group. This was perfect for me because I’m incredibly uncoordinated. Each dance combination is 12 minutes and the total duration of the tape is 45 minutes. I didn’t feel as sore as I did after Jillian’s the next day, but my abs and thighs definitely had a post workout burn!
3. Your Shape: Fitness Evolved for the Xbox Kinect
Where to Buy: Amazon, $48
As I mentioned above, this is a workout game for the Xbox Kinect. If you don’t know what the Kinect is, it’s that weird little motion sensor that allows you to work out and play games without a remote! It’s like a smart little robot! Anyway, I bought this DVD for my handsome hunk for Christmas and kind of use it more than he does. He likes it but he’s more of an outdoor running type. This game is amazing and is an excellent tool for beginners to experts. It also offers a great bit of versatility so you can pick and chose what workouts you want to do. Since the game was made in partnership with Men and Women’s health, you get the same great workouts you see on the website and magazines, except now they are made for your body, weight and workout level! That way, you are getting a customized workout that works for you and your strength levels! My favorite is the Skinny Jeans workout. It’s a great mix of toning and cardio, so you are building muscle while losing weight! You can also play games that help your posture and agility! The game also tracks your calories so you can see exactly how much you are burning in any given game. Not only this, but the game tracks your progress so you can see how well you are progressing through the workouts.
Workouts are no longer just confined to the 4 walls of a gym. Get the same great results with these DVD’s and introduce fun back into your exercising!
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