Exercise Videos and DVDs
- Do you want to exercise at your convenience regardless of time, day, or even the weather?
- Are you looking to spend very little on a workout regimen?
- Do you want an exercise routine that is catered to specific fitness needs, without hiring a personal trainer?
- Are you sick of your normal exercise routine?
- Do you need a routine to motivate you to begin working out?
- Do you feel pressured by working out amongst others in a gym environment?
- Are you self-conscious about how you look when you exercise?
- Do you want to feel healthy?
- Do you want to lose weight or strengthen your muscles?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you may be a perfect candidate to get into the world of exercise videos
Are you unsure about buying exercise videos? Here are some things that you should know about them:
- Spot Checking Yourself. Videos usually have excellent instructors, but unlike in an actual class, you won't have anyone to check your form. Don't forget to do self-checks on your form to avoid injury. When starting a new series of videos there is often an instructional video to get you into the basics.
- Don't Forget to Stretch. Stretch segments are often too short in most videos yet they are a crucial step in a proper exercise routine, so pay close attention to giving your muscles an extra few seconds per stretch, even if that means pausing the video.
- Losing Weight the Right Way. Last, but not least, if you want to lose weight be sure that you combine your exercise routine with the proper nutritional intake! Without a moderate diet, exercise, no matter how strenuous, will only produce partial results.
Choosing the Right Workout Video
There are literally hundreds of workout videos, and each category (cardio, low impact, etc) has myriad options. Here are a few tips to choosing good videos.
- Steer clear of celebrity videos. While they might seem like a great idea at the time, remember that celebrities are not fitness instructors.
- Buy several videos, not just one type or even one series. In order to vary your routine you should have a good selection of videos.
- You may buy some and find that they aren't for you, but part of the process in formulating the perfect workout routine is through trial and error.
- By mix and matching genres you will get a more comprehensive workout routine. For example, get a cardio video for three days of aerobics, a weight training video for building strength, and a pilates or stretch video for when you need to unwind or give your body a break.
Major Video Types
Click on one of the links to get video suggestions and more details about each type of exercise video.
- Cardio Workout Videos -- Tae-Bo, step aerobics, jump-rope, spinning, and more.
- Low Impact Workout Videos -- Videos for strength training and toning including pilates, abdominal workouts, dance, yoga, Tai Chi, ball routines, and more.
- Virtual Fitness Workouts -- Alternatives to traditional videos that use video game consoles instead for a fun, non-traditional way of working out.
Constructive Pointers
- Be aware that more videos are better than just one. Search around and find at least three that you might be interested in. It will keep you from getting bored, allow you to work different muscle groups, and give you a different combination of workout type (i.e., one cardio, one strength, one stretch).
- Be careful to start at YOUR level. If you start too high you won't be able to keep up, which often leads to getting frustrated and quitting. If you go too low, you will not get any benefits from the workout, which leads to boredom. You want something challenging, but not painful.
- Set realistic goals. Believe it or not, "I want to look skinny," and "I want to lose 20 pounds," are not good fitness goals for so many reasons. Focus on more concrete goals such as increasing flexibility, improving coordination, or building more endurance. Then you can actually see and feel the improvements. Once you stop worrying about what the scale says, you will start to notice that you don't run out of breath on the stairs, that you feel more energized, or that your clothes fit better. These are results that will make you feel proud and healthy.
- Goal examples:
- Drink the minimum 8 glasses of water every day.
- Try and work up to the whole 45 minute workout without having to stop.
- Be able to do X number of reps of a particularly difficult exercise.
- Become flexible enough to touch your toes.
- Learn how to dance -- insert style here -- in time for my friend's wedding.
- Walk up the flights of stairs at work without breathing hard.
- Always drink lots of water!
Technical Stuff
Get the right equipment:
- Good cross-trainers
- If you will be using a step bench/stool
, choose one with the right height. - You might also need a dowel.
- Dumbbells
- Workout Apparel
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External Links
- Video Fitness -- Essential site for finding reviews, helpful comment boards, and video exchanges. But that's not all. This site is a must see!
- Paula Z's Reviews -- An ACE-certified personal trainer has over 200 reviews of popular exercise videos.
- Collage Video -- A good selection of videos, plus helpful information of exactly what every video has in store for you. Sections broken down by time, intensity, and level of intensity and choreography.