In the middle of winter I like to do workouts at home. Here are my favorite videos. You can rent these at Netflix, check them out at the library or read reviews on Amazon before buying them…
Best Calorie Burn – Get Ripped 1000
This video uses my favorite workout technique – interval training. There are lots of lunges, squats and football runs. The video claims you burn 1000 calories in this 70 minute workout, and according to Fitness Magazine this is true. That’s pretty good! This video is kinda long, but good for a weekend workout when you want to burn A LOT of calories (good-bye, lasagna!!). If anyone makes it through the push-up sequence, let me know. Ouch! This video is definitely not for beginners. Equipment Needed: Dumbbells
Best Kick Boxing – Cathe Friedrich’s Hardcore Series: Kick Max DVD
This video is challenging. If you have tried and like kick boxing, check out this video. It isn’t for beginners. There is a 22 minute “extreme cardio” segment that is really good. Equipment Needed: None
Best Pilates – Sarah Picot’s More Than Mat Pilates
I do like Mari Windsor’s well known Pilates videos. However, I like Sarah Picot’s More Than Mat Pilates better for two reasons (1) it simulates reformer/machine Pilates work and (2) it has a play option to run through the 55 minute video in 35 minutes. Note – you really will need to do the 55 minute video several (if not many) times before moving on to the condensed 35 minute version. In the beginning I needed the breaks that the 55 minute video provided. Anyway, this is the advanced video, and I know it also comes in intermediate. Equipment Needed: Mat
Best Yoga in a Hurry – Perfect in Ten Yoga
I’m all about burning calories when I work out – lots of calories. I’m the type of person that (wrongly) skips the stretching before and after workouts. This is bad of course. I do believe in the benefits of stretching though. This video has good stretches and provides relaxation, stress relief and all the many benefits of yoga in short little 10-15 minute workouts. Equipment Needed: Mat
Best Prenatal –
I have seriously tried about 30 prenatal workout videos. These are by far the best in my opinion, and the reason I wrote about this topic in the first place. Enjoy!
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The Perfect Pregnancy Workout -That is really what it is called. Don’t let the Cirque du Soleil acrobat lady on the cover scare you with her muscular arms. This is a great all around video – and short at 43 minutes – thank you for that.
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Prenatal Yoga – This is my favorite prenatal DVD. So relaxing. I consider this video easy, but loved the easy stretching especially later in pregnancy. I never had any back pain during pregnancy, and I attribute it all to this video. I felt great after this workout – energized and free of any pains.
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Fusion Pilates – I love pilates, and I think this is the best prenatal pilates video out there. You will need a dowel (I used a swiffer sweeper), light weight dumbbells and a chair (I used a kitchen chair).
