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I think the key to an exercise program is variety. It's boring to just hop on the treadmill every day and trudge along. We're not mice! We need something that will keep our interest. It's great if you belong to a health club or play a sport like tennis. Maybe you like to walk your dog or take a hike. But, if you're like me, you find excuses as to why you can't exercise some days: "It's too (insert weather word here- cold, hot, rainy, snowy, windy, foggy, humid) outside! Here's a favorite of mine: "I can't go out without washing my hair." But then of course, if my hair is freshly washed: "I don't want to get all sweaty and mess up my clean hair." What's your excuse for not getting fit and healthy?
So the answer that I found that works for me is to exercise in the privacy of my own home with DVD's. All those excuses fly out the window. Have small children that you can't leave to go to the gym? Let them watch you work out. My two dogs and two cats always take a ringside seat and look at me like I'm nuts.
As I mentioned, I think variety is the key so I'm going to recommend some of the exercise DVD's that I enjoy. The first is one that I truly think anyone can do. It's Leslie Sansone's "Walk Away the Pounds Express- Super Challenge."
In my opinion, this is a great starting point. The super challenge is a four mile walk (which you can do in a small bedroom area) but you have the option of stopping after one, two or three miles and fast forwarding to the end for stretching and a cool down. The walkers on this DVD range from their 20's to their 70's so there's really no excuse. The entire four miles takes just under one hour to complete. The only equipment you need for this is a good pair of athletic walking shoes. I alternate this aerobic walking tape with Pilates, yoga, stability ball workouts and strength training with 3 pound weights.
The second DVD I would suggest you buy is the deluxe edition of "Pilates Conditioning for Weight Loss" with Suzanne Deason. This is a great introduction to Pilates. What exactly is Pilates? It's a system of exercise that focuses on muscular isolation, breath awareness and movement that tones, strengthens and balances mind, body and spirit. Read more about Pilates here and here.
This is a beautiful DVD to watch, filmed in Maui on a bluff overlooking the ocean, and consisting of three levels of difficulty that you can choose from to follow that allows you to progress at your own pace. There is detailed instruction available on the correct way to breathe and move. I always feel relaxed yet energized when I do this DVD. There is no equipment necessary unless you are doing it on a hard floor. Then I would suggest an inexpensive exercise mat. A small neck pillow is encouraged for beginners and I do it barefoot. If you're a beginner and can only get two DVD's, these are the two I'd recommend.
Once you get a little more comfortable with Pilates and you want something a little more challenging, I'd recommend "MTV Pilates" with Kristin McGee. She doesn't give as detailed instruction as Suzanne Deason so it's best if you understand the basic Pilate positions and breathing techniques before attempting this. It also has beginning, intermediate and advanced levels in one routine and it is filmed against the backdrop of the beautiful Arizona mountains. I'm a big fan of exercise DVDs that are filmed in beautiful and inspiring locales as I find the scenery takes my mind off the exercising.
So what if you had a busy, stressful day and no time to exercise? That's the time to to pop in the DVD "Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss" also with Suzanne Deason. This is a great introduction to the therapeutic benefits of Yoga. Again, filmed with three levels that you can watch individually or simultaneously, it is a 45 minute DVD that anyone can do and be able to gain the strength, flexibility and stress reduction that Yoga is famous for. This DVD is filmed in stunning Sedona, Arizona, with its gorgeous red rock mountains as a backdrop.
If your fitness level has improved, then you probably will want to add some exercise and strength training equipment. I already have a treadmill but I find I'm using that as a last resort and only when I need a quick 30 minute aerobic workout. I've added a stability ball, which I find quite fun (and funny) and 3 lb. chrome weights. I bought a Karen Voight's "Body Sculpting System" at Costco for around $35.00 that included a Yoga/Pilates mat, a stability ball with air pump, 2 "Green Genie" workout balls (3 lb handheld balls) and two DVD's: the very challenging "Streamline Fitness AM-PM Workout" in which Karen Voight looks and moves like a bionic Greek goddess. The AM routine is tough to keep up with but it's inspiring to try. The second DVD, "BLT (Butt, Legs & Tummy) on a Ball" focuses on those three problem areas and you can just work on one area or all three. You will need the ball and weights for these two DVDs.
Speaking of focused area workouts, I also have "Crunch: Pick Your Spot Pilates" that has three targeted 10 minute workouts for belly, butt and thighs, and requires no equipment. My two newest DVDs are Denise Austin's "Shrink Your Female Fat Zones" that uses a stability ball and 3-8 pound weights and promises to dissolve bra lines, create sexier arms, chest and shoulders, flatten your tummy and trim hips, thighs and buns. Shrink Your Female Fat Zones is one of my favorite DVDs! It has great pacing and moves from "zone to zone" so you never get too tired or bored. Finally, I have Kathy Smith's "Lift Weights to Lose Weight 2" consisting of two 20 minute workouts using 3 lb weights and the second using a stability ball.
I decided I wanted to add some more weights for my arms (I'm now using 5 and 8 lb. weights) and some more focused exercises on abs and buns. This DVD, I Want That Body" by Tamilee is great for all three and very challenging. There are two different sets of exercises for each three areas and the DVD includes, "I Want Those Abs," "I Want Those Arms" and "I Want Those Buns." Tamilee Webb is of the "Buns of Steel" fame and I like her style as she is very businesslike and not overly chipper. When they're putting you through such torture that perky demeanor can get on your nerves!
My latest exercise DVD is the New York City Ballet Workout 2.
The fears I had of needing to be a contortionist were unfounded and it provides a very strong workout. Dancers don't get those bodies without a lot of hard work. My favorite part is the floor exercises because I could keep up with them. They are very much like Pilates and the other exercises I am used to. However, in this DVD, they quickly teach you a series of "steps" that are then choreographed into a dance. This is way beyond my abilities! To picture me doing it: think hippos ballet in Fantasia! Similarily, it ends with a choreographed dance to George Balanchine's ballet Tarantella. My performance of it is more like "Riverdance!" The good new is I can only get better.
Update- 3-28-05- one year later: I am still faithfully continuing with my exercise routine and I'm in better shape then I've ever been in my life. The one area that I felt was not getting as much attention as I'd like was my legs so I've added "Step Aerobics" to my workout. I bought The Original Health Club Step at Sport Chalet for $69.99. It came with a video: Cathe- All Step. I have supplemented it with another Cathe DVD: Basic Step + Body Fusion. Cathe (pronounced Cathy) Friedrich has an amazing array of exercise DVDs and a wonderful website where you can preview them.
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