Favorite workout videos? (and letting go...)

[munchies]

Ok, I am so ready - and so need - to get back to the regular workout routine! I have been lurking on TMIWTB thread and others...you all are so inspirational!

Here's my situation - I have an 18 mo. old daughter and I am a stay at home mom. I don't go to the gym. Instead, I choose to either workout by video or on the treadmill in the garage (which does get a little boring, looking at drywall the whole time :) )

Before having our daughter, I had time to do tae-bo regularly, and I really liked it. However, I really think I want to get back into exercising, but I feel like 30-45 minutes is all I really can do right now (not the hour long tae-bo stuff). I'm not nearly as fit as I was then, and I just don't know that I have all that extra time available. Let me rephrase that to say that I'm not sure I'm willing to wake up earlier, etc., to workout for an extra 20 -25 minutes. Maybe in a month or so...but right now I just need to get back on track.

I have a small selection of videos already. I do LOVE collage video, especially being able to preview tapes. But I'm wondering, what tapes do you really enjoy? What tapes do you have that are motivating? Do you have any that are 30-40 mins. long that you enjoy doing?

Sorry for the long post...just need to let go of some issues and start fresh -- again!
Thanks everyone.

Heather

[funnybone]

Originally posted by munchies
Before having our daughter, I had time to do tae-bo regularly, and I really liked it. However, I really think I want to get back into exercising, but I feel like 30-45 minutes is all I really can do right now (not the hour long tae-bo stuff).

I have two Basic 30 minute tapes that I find just right. I've never done the hour long ones (and I have 4). I have the Get Ripped Series.

[chefamy]

Even though I consider myself an intermediate level exerciser (lots of cardio, light weights, a little running), I really like my Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds--3 Mile DVD. It's about 40-45 minutes, depending on whether you bother with the cool-down. You can use slightly heavier weights if you want, and you can put some bounce in it if it isn't intense enough for you. It is an in-home walking workout that requires very little space and two 2 lb weights (I bought some cheap wrist weights for this). It is certainly more of a workout than regular walking, and I like the balance of upper/lower body action. I find this workout to be a good stress-reliever and restorative after a long day of sitting at a desk. I still make sure to go to my favorite gym classes, lift weights, and "mix it up," but this is my favorite video. I have the Tae-Bo tapes, but I find that the pace is too fast for me to safely keep up. Some of the form seems to be off as well.

[HeatherTx]

I was going to say the Leslie Sansone Walk Away The Pounds DVD too. It is a little longer than what you wanted but personally I would buy the 3 mile one (45 minutes) and do it if you can or stop at the 2 mile point (which she shows) and do your own cool down. That way you don't have to buy two tapes if you don't want to. I really like it. :)

[munchies]

So interesting about the Leslie Sansone - I was really looking at those! I was a little concerned about the intensity. One of the reasons I really like Tae Bo is because it is just SO intense most of the time. So, do you feel like Leslie's tape gives you a good, sweaty workout? Is it easy to modify to make it more/less intense if need be?

Heather

[HeatherTx]

The first time I did the Leslie Sansone 45 minute (3 mile) tape I breezed through it and got mad because I thought it was too east. THEN....the next time I did it I really worked harder at lifting my arms and legs higher and bumping up the intensity and it was a great workout. It all depends on what you give it! :)

[Schmee]

Anyone use Winsor Pilates videos? I am seriously considering buying them. I have heard some good reviews,what does everyone say?

[Grace]

I just ordered Winsor pilates. I used to take Pilates classes, and had a wonderful certified instructor. Since I had studied dance seriously for so many years, I could tell she was a terrific teacher (a lot of what you do in dance is very similar to Pilates). That said, now that I don't dance anymore, pilates only once a week wasn't cutting it for me anymore. I want to do it several times a week, but formal class 3 times a week is too rich for my blood.

I have been unable to exercise for the last 5 months (due to surgeries) and I am going to start up again once the Winsor set arrives. I have seen the commercials and it looks exactly like what we do in our class (especially the form which is the most important). Our teacher said it looks like they teach everything correctly too.

I'm looking forward to receiving them. I'm sure they'll be great, but I can definitely endorse Pilates assuming it's taught properly.

[Paula H]

Have you considered Karen Voight's Streamline Fitness? I love it - half an hour (or thereabouts) of strength training, then you can stop, or continue on with half an hour (or thereabouts) of ab work and stretching. I love this tape so much!

My other favourite Karen Voight vid is Burn & Firm, which is 47 minutes of circuit training. I know not everyone likes Karen because she isn't all "bubbly", but I find her very soothing and can watch these over and over and over...

I've also just purchased Janis Saffell's Kickbox Strike Zone which is an hour long, but on busy days I just go through the first cardio kickbox session, skip the focus and muscle work, then do the cool down. I definitely feel this one - but I'd only recommend it for someone who has been through martial arts (or similar) type training/work outs before, as it is for more advanced people who know their technique.

[Chiffonade]

Fave Videos...(Don't laugh).

Jane Fonda Step Aerobics (The Aerobics workout part)
Jane Fonda's Lower Body Solution (The floor workout part)
Cher Fitness...A New Attitude (This bears some explanation...)

Cher does not actually lead the class - in fact, she's the comic relief. An Aussie girl with a body you could bounce a quarter off leads the class and it's a solid 35-40 minutes of aerobics. (Fast Forward past Cher's monologue at the beginning of the tape...) By the time I'm finished this workout, water is FLYING off me! I must admit I've never tried the latter part of the tape - maybe some day.

If anyone has good recommendations for tapes that might be a bit dancy but you don't have to be Madonna or the Rockettes to do - please speak now!

[scrappycat]

I love Christie Taylor workouts, especially Still Jumpin'. All of her workouts are so dancy and upbeat. I'm about to get her new one from Collage, but I can't remember what it's called.
Pam

[ayhsu03]

Winsor pilates is one of the better workouts I've found on video. It works the stomach pretty well (and boy was I sore the following day). I can't say I feel much of a burn in the thigh and butt from this workout. But you do improve the "powerhouse".

[Lionceuse]

I have also heard great things about the Winsor Pilates tapes. You may want to try www.baronbaptiste.com, his yoga tapes are the best, I think. The way he puts the positions together makes them flow better than any other yoga tape or class I've tried.

[kplondon]

I am a full-blown video workout addict and I credit videos with getting/keeping me in shape (including getting me back in shape post-partum after gaining 42 pounds). Video workouts are wonderful and are ideal for people with small children. I have about 40 videos, and some of my favourite 40-ish minute workouts are those produced by the Firm, including those from the first Body Sculpting System they produced. But my biggest recommendation is that you visit the website www.videofitness.com (http://videofitness.com) which is full of great information and recommendations. I post there regularly and it is full of "vidiots" like me.

[Chefzhat]

Originally posted by Grace
I have been unable to exercise for the last 5 months (due to surgeries) and I am going to start up again once the Winsor set arrives.

Grace, you must be feeling better! Has your doctor told you "no more impact sports" - I am not allowed to do that anymore or the work they performed during my surgery will be weakened, and a second surgery would not be as successful. I am doing Pilates and yoga for these reasons.

You'll have to tell me how you like the tapes when you start using them. Glad you're improving!!:)

hugs,

Debie

[Grace]

Debie, did we have the same surgery? Now you have me worried. I asked my doctor specifically if I could do EVERYTHING once I was healed (I mean if my future abilities were diminished because of the mistake this other doctor made that would be grounds for a lawsuit in my book - I'm too young to have to sit on the sidelines for the rest of my life! As it stands I have decided not to sue....). Anyhow, he assured me that I would be able to do whatever I wanted.....should I not believe him now? I don't think I could face having to go through this whole ordeal again, so if I really would be doing harm to myself by jogging, etc., I want to know!

I had my bladder lifted, and they attached it to the psoas muscle. I asked him if it could fall, and he told me that after it's healed he could PULL on it and it wouldn't come off, so he seemed very sure that I'd be able to do whatever I wanted. He also said this was a different surgery than the surgery for a fallen bladder (which I did not have - my ureter tube coming from the kidney was too short to reach to my bladder, so they had to lift the bladder to reach the tube - which they reimplanted into my bladder).

I am feeling better (finally!). I need to exercise in the worst way. It's helping my healing. It makes me feel good, and not so lethargic anymore. And gives me so much more energy. I love pilates and yoga though because having danced for so many years, it gives me the same sort of workout/feeling without being so high energy. So I do those regardless of whether or not I'm allowed to do anything high impact. But thanks for asking about me! I will definitely let you know about the pilates DVD once it gets here and I try it out!

[chefamy]

OK, after complaining about Tae-Bo in my previous response, I am proud to say that this week, I completed the Advanced Workout #2 TWICE. I still have to modify a bit, but I did it! It is definitely harder than WATP, but as mentioned before, with WATP you get out of it what you put into it.

[rosie_one]

I have the same small children limitations and so tapes have been good for me too. I'm glad to read of some more to add to my list.

I love the Kundalini Yoga tape from living arts by Gurmukh. Fun, centering, energizing. Kind of a yoga, kick-boxing combo. Definitely makes me sweat. It's 60 minutes, but I never make it through the whole thing.

Also have been having fun with my balance ball. Giam (sp?) has a series that I like, their total body "trial" tape is 35 minutes. This isn't a sweat your butt off thing. It's more pilates, yoga based, but it's a good workout anyways. My kids love the ball too.