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Thirteen Exercise Videos I frankly have no idea how my husband does it: the same weights at the same gym, then the same 3 miles on the same trails 4 or 5 times a week. Or, even worse, the treadmill at the gym if the weather's bad. I need variety. That sameness would drive me insane. Or, more likely, I'd find it much easier to just avoid exercising altogether, which would be A Bad Thing. So, I have a pretty good selection of exercise books, videos, and routines clipped from when I subscribed to Shape, and I exercise 5 or 6 times a week, something different every day. These are just the videos: Abs Abs Abs. Tamilee Webb, who's kind of scary-looking. I think I was expecting a more rounded workout, but I'm not real fond of this one. Basic Training with Ada Janklowicz. I actually taped this from AFN back in the late '80s. It's a decent, basic half-hour workout with low-impact aerobics and weights. And because I have a whole tape-ful, it doesn't get boring. Buns of Steel Yoga. A little easier than the other yoga tape, but otherwise quite similar. It did surprise me that yoga could get your heart pounding. Callanetics. I don't actually have this video anymore--I gave it to a friend years ago. I think I have the book somewhere, but I never look at it. I've been doing these for so long that I do it from memory. It's all tiny precise movements--form is essential, and it doesn't need any special equipment. It's what I do on vacation. Cindy Crawford's Shape Your Body Workout. Thank goodness I already know weightlifting technique, because you'd never learn it from this. But let's face it--nobody really intended this to be an actual workout video, did they? I mean, one you'd do exercise along with? Arching your back while lifting weights is generally considered Not A Good Idea. It does, however, showcase her figure. It's a challenging workout, as long as you ignore her form how she does the exercises. Crunch: Best Abs and Arms. The instructor is a little hyper, and grates a bit, but I like the combination moves that work more than one muscle group at a time. You've got to pay close attention to form, again, and I like that. It Figures with Charlene Prickett. This is the first exercise show I taped from AFN in the mid-80's. Interesting seeing the website--she's certainly changed. Calisthenics, with occasional wrist or ankle weights, and a short, 10-minute burst of high-impact aerobics. It's a little dated, with some things that are really not good news, like wearing weights while doing the aerobics. I like the personality, though, and it's okay once in a while. I have most of a tape-ful, so dozens of episodes. Kathy Smith: Functionally Fit. I like the aerobic interval training in this one, but the cool-down intervals are all about thigh work. My thigh muscles are big enough, thanks. I don't do this one too frequently. Kathy Smith's Winning Workout. This one is my favorite. An hour long, with challenging aerobics, weight training, and an emphasis on form. Pilates All In One Workout. This is long, and includes a few aerobics intervals with horribly confusing jazz dance steps. I suppose if I did it every day, I'd eventually get the hang of them, but I don't, so I don't. I do love the pilates mat work, though. I've got a Pilates book, which I like more than the video. I love the idea of strengthening the core muscles, which is something I tend to incorporate in other exercise routines. Power Yoga for Beginners with Rodney Yee. This is another one I'd do better if I did it more often. As it is, I spend more energy trying to follow the directions than I do on the actual exercise. Slimline set of videos. I have #1 - #4: Start-Up to Fitness, Calorie Burner, Bottoms Hips & Thighs, and Tummy & Upper Body. They're cute workouts. Not too terribly challenging, but not bad. And how can you help but be motivated when a British-accented voice tells you to "clench your buttocks nice and tightly"? Super Workout. That link is the closest I could get--mine's from 1986. Another all-around combo. I like the instructor. But the fact that the video was made by Esquire makes me wonder if this is another one designed for watching rather than doing exercising with. Postscript: I said I wasn't going to blog about CFS, and I'm not, but the CFS is largely why I have so many exercise videotapes rather than switching to DVDs. I increase the amount of exercise I do a little bit at a time (I'm up to 26 minutes now! Go me!), and a tape lets me stop at one point and pick it up at the exact same point the next day. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Coffee Addict 2. Lazy Daisy 3. Urban Mummy 4. One Scrappy Gal 5. Carmen 6. Snarky Pants 7. Karen 8. K T Cat 9. Mar 10. Friday's Child 11. Kate R 12. Doug 13. e 14. Janice




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// posted by Darla @ 6/08/2006 09:49:00 AM