The best things in life are free, but you can give them to the birds and bees… I want DVDS… that’s what I waaaaant….
So, some of you may know that I love to work out. Its in my blood- my people have been cardio junkies and jocks since the dawn of time (well, at least ever since my mom set foot on a tennis court or aerobics floor or my sisters rocked the cross country running, soccer, yoga and now zumba world).
In different levels of commitment, I’ve been on tennis, soccer, golf, cross country running, track and field, softball, and basketball teams. I spent college almost completely inert, and then after a completely non-tragic accident my senior year- took up yoga. Since then, I’ve added kickboxing, weight lifting, and plyometrics.
Working out relieves my stress. It regulates my sleep. It helps my digestion and (ahem) cramps once a month. It clears my head, helps me come up with ideas (for blogging, for writing, for… life…), and helps with my allergy/shortness of breath issues.
Working out rocks. But I don’t care to go to a gym. I don’t drive much, I resist PAYING to work out, and I get grossed out by the sweaty dudes who go to try to pick up chicks.
Enter: Workout DVDs! A few favorites:
1. Amy Bento: (kickboxing) She might be my favorite. I have three of her kickboxing DVDS. THREE of them. They are all fun but intense, have music that’s cheesy but with a decent beat, and she looks like Tea Leoni, which always keeps me staring at her to make sure she isn’t… her. My favorite is the Cardio Kickboxing Surge Core Training.
2. Sarah Ivanhoe: (yoga) I might be secretly in love with Sarah. I asked for a box set of her DVDs for Christmas about 4 years ago, and momma obliged (thanks mom!) She has the best voice, explains breathing well, and I always feel fantastic afterwards. It might be “yoga lite,” but I love it. And for celebrity lookalike number two- she looks a lot like Marisa Tomei. I can look at that for 20 minutes!
3. Rodney Yee/ Mariel Hemingway: (yoga) This dynamic duo has a cute rapport, calming style, and intense stretches. I feel legitimately stronger after these ones. I also like that Rodney interjects little bursts of arm movements/ Tai Chi moves to get your blood pumping. Yoga can get a bit stiff and sleepy at times otherwise! Plus I like his surfer voice.
4. Jackie Warner/ Jillian Michaels: (strength training) I like Jackie’s circuit training (the hamstring moves just kill me) and Jillian’s Boost Metabolism Circuit. I’m usually about ready to kill someone when she does the superman- back moves. My back is not strong, but by gosh I’m trying to change that… These ladies both make me feel like a powerful beast, and I like it…
5. Sharon Mann: (multi) So I picked up a rogue kickboxing/ weights combo DVD from the library. “Who is Sharon Mann?” I thought. I did the kickboxing routine, and it was so much fun (cheesy, but true!) that I couldn’t believe the 20 minutes were over. It felt like 3. She has funny spastic 80s backup crew, super flexy awesome legs, and says things like “this is the way to do it if you’ve had FOUR OR FIVE KIDS!” Gotta love working out with a soccer mom. I like her plyo, I like her boxing, I like her weights/ strength, I like her aerobics, I like her circuits. She’s peppy and obnoxious and wears pigtails. Sold.
So… what else is out there? What am I missing? My sister has shown me a few zumba moves but I’m not sure if there’s a good DVD out there for that… or any good boxing DVDs I should try? (I don’t have equipment)
How (if you do) do you work out? Do you run or do team sports? Go to the gym? Do DVDS? Mix it up? Share with me!
Meri
I know what you mean by not wanting to pay to work out, and I basically use my gym membership when I can’t be outside (like during freezing cold winters) and for group classes. I like a lot of what these DVDs present, but I find I’m more motivated when I’m in the actual room with the instructor. The only workout DVD I’ve ever tried is 30 Day Shred, haha.
I like that one- I like that there’s three workouts so you get a variety of weights!
I’m not a huge fan of dvds. I just can’t seem to get motivated to do them! I have 30 Day Shred, tae-bo (although I loved one of my VHS tapes, but it’s lost), P90X and a yoga one. I’ve really liked walking the state trails around here. That’s my favorite. And surprisingly I love the gym, but only if I have someone to go with. Currently my plan is to rock out 4.5mi on the trails. It really didn’t seem like that long of a walk!
allergies and laziness keep me from wanting to work out outside, ironically enough. I like working out at home because if I get bored after a little bit I can just be done 🙂
I do like to go on walks by the river though!
WHoa. I WISH that I liked to work out. I wish that every day. :-/
If I do work out to a dvd, I do Jillian Michael’s 30 day shred…it kicks my butt and makes me want to cry. I am a major wimp. 😉
Awesome that you work out at home. I’ve always been impressed by Libby’s working out at home…and we both now how fit she is! For the price of one day at the gym you can have a dvd for life! As a spectator I gotta go with the Cindy Crawford Workout and The 30 day shred for best comedic value. Quotable sound bytes galore.
We all did that Cindy Crawford workout growing up- man, I must have been about 14 or something, I really wanted to be ripped haha. The background is beautiful though!
I really like Rodney Yee. My favourite of his yoga DVDs is Yoga Conditioning for Athletes.
I haven’t done that one I don’t think- although I’ve done some of my sisters when we did it together, and one of them just KILLED my abs!
I just go walking everyday. I plug into my Zune and walk around my neighborhood or on the treadmil. The thing is, though, I have the time to. If and when I find a job, that time will be gone 🙁
I do enjoy walking when its nice out but not too sunny- very therapeutic to strap on the headphones and walk to the store, or library, I think!
I freaking love the fact that you love to work out. Someone has to, right? I’m on the flip side of things, unless I’m dancing. I could dance or be in a show (musical) any day. But I can’t get myself to do much else… oops!
Dancing is good for you, in many ways! I dance all of the time, even have my own signature dance… (just ask my sisters haha)
I love Rodney Yee! I have one of his yoga DVDs, and he so calming. I want to move to California at the end of each session!
I know, right? life is a beach with Rodney haha
I run, walk, strength train and do oodles of yoga. I’ve never really gotten into any workout dvds, because I usually think the instructor is annoying 🙂
I think some of the ones I like people could go either way on (amy bento, jackie warner, jillian especially) they are sort of over the top but that’s waht I like, I end up laughing out loud at their dumb comments a lot.
Physique 57 DVDs–they’re super hard! Rememer Tae Bo and Billy Blanks?!
haha- I do have a tae bo dvd as well- but I feel like I work the same few muscles over and over- it drives me crazy and I can barely use my shoulders afterwards!
I used to to Jillian Michaels workout videos before I got a gym membership. I try to do a mix of cardio and strength training but go back and forth with them. Currently, I’ve been doing more cardio.
Those Amy Bento DVDs sound like something i’d be interested in and would be good to have on the days I can’t make it to the gym!
Amy Bento’s Dvds are pretty reasonably priced on amazon- I think all of the ones I’ve gotten have been under 10 dollars. The jillian ones I’ve gotten for under 5 dollars. You might be able to see if your local library has any of them too, to try them out- that’s what I generally do.
Testing one two, testing……
replying, one two… 🙂
I’ve done a few kung-fu videos which kick your ass!!!! Btw, my frosty mug was filled with chocoloate protein powder, xan. gum, stevia, almond milk, ice lol
That sounds awesome- I love feeling like a badass!
Ohhh, might just have to check out some of these. I love kick boxing DVDs. They are a great workout for just staying in at home. I have to tell you about exercisetv.tv. They have over a 100 free full-length workout videos to choose from (not to mention you can have to whole shebang for a small monthly fee). They are a great way to mix in a new workout from time to time!
Thanks for linking up to Storytellers, girl 🙂 Always happy to see you on there!
that is awesome- you just made my day! I can’t wait to check it out, as well as some of the other storytellers 🙂
I feel like you wrote this post for me. Why? Because you know that I am a gym rat. And a workout fanatic. And an exercise whore.
I do love my workout DVDs, though. I go to the gym four times a week, have dance class three-four times a week, and do my own ab workouts at home three times a week. I like to mix it up with different DVDs that I own.
My Pilates DVDs will always have a place in my heart. My favorite is called “Complete Pilates.” I don’t remember much else about the title or anything, but the box has a white background, maroonish/purplish letters, and the instructor has long, dark hair. It is the best Pilates DVD that I have seen.
I just bought a Piloxing DVD. I think it is the only Piloxing DVD out there. It’s frickin’ awesome, too.
http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
I’ve never been a big fan of pilates because it hurts my bony lower back a lot (harumph) but piloxing I will have to try! Thanks for the idea!
haha, well I used to use Carmen Electra’s strip tease exercise DVD to work out, until I got too advanced for it, ya i was channeling to my inner whore during that time I won’t lie! 😀
haha- a way to get your boyfriend to work out with you?
I love all these recommendations! I’ve been wanting to try some good workout videos for awhile…
I do a real mixture of exercise. I run on my own, go to yoga classes, go to the gym once a week and do workout DVDs at home. The only thing I’m not into at the moment is team sports – although they have never been my strong point!
not for me anymore either- I never had the competitive spirit, so I tend to get bored with team sports these days 🙂
For the most part I am incapable of exercising. I hope I never get fat. I am crazy competitive though so I like to play sports for fun. I tried yoga via DVD once and failed miserably. But maybe I should try a workout DVD. I don’t really want to buy it and not to do it though.. hmm..
from the library! or another blogger just told me about exercisetv.tv where you can do free videos. sweet!
I really should look into getting some of these DVDs. I also hate paying to exercise. I tried zumba for two months and discovered I could save my money at the community center and just do the workout at home. 😛
I mostly take long walks throughout the day. I probably don’t lose any weight but it’s nice to clear my head…
walking is the best for that- I don’t really walk fast enough to consider it a workout, it just feels good for thinking time!
hmm i definitely go to the gym! i take classes – yoga, pilates, spinning, zumba – and i use the pool and elliptical machine! i haven’t gotten into the whole dvd series yet. i’ll let u know when i do 😀
I’ve only taken yoga classes at the gym- and only at one branch of the YMCA when my sister was a member. I always thought all of the weights machines would be fun though!
After years of gym memberships and hating it, I finally got the routine going at home. We have equipment, so its not big deal. I actually love work out DVD’s and LOVE 30 day shred! Ive been doing it for the past month and am loving the results so far.
I also do Tae Bo. I bought Mari Winsor pilates back when Borders was closing so I hope to get around to that.
I’ve done one of Mari’s videos before- she’s pretty likeable!
I like to mix things up between DVDs, outdoor workouts (running, cycling), yoga, and indoor workouts (elliptical, stair master, weights). I love the Biggest Loser DVDs…pretty much any/all!
I think that is the best of everything- otherwise you get bored!
I used to workout almost exclusively to videos/DVDs. I was quite into it too. Went on several road trips to workout with my favorite instructors, was even in the audience for the filming of a few workout videos. That was about 10 years ago now.
I mostly run for cardio now so I don’t get to my DVD collection very often anymore. My favorite instructor is Cathe Friedrich. When I do use a DVD, hers are the ones I gravitate to.
I always thought it would be fun to go to a class of a celebrity instructor- maybe I’ll have to do that sometime!
Hey Meri,
Stopping by from Storytellers. I belong to a gym (haven’t been in a while) and if i’m not there with my husband I just wear my ipod so people leave me alone 🙂
In the past couple of years I’ve gotten into triathlon training so I do a lot of swimming, running, biking/spinning. I mix up solo and partner workouts.
One of the free online sites I like a lot is on the .tv network: bodyrock.tv Zuzanna does a lot of body weight interval training so within 30 seconds i’m usually sweating like a demon at high noon. I haven’t done her workouts in a while but i think it’s time to get back to it. On a side note, I had no idea it was a whole ‘exercisetv.tv’ site! That’s exciting!
I know, isn’t it? I was so excited to hear about that, easier than the library! Although I’m not sure if there will be as much variety if you don’t pay 😉 I have yet to check it out!