I absolutely LOVE Leslie Sansone's Walk Away The Pounds. I have WATP Express w/the stretchie and I usually do the 3 mile. I also have WATP Abs and do the 3 mile on that one as well. I can't believe how it makes me sweat, yet is very easy to do!

FitPrime
 

I just recently bought my first FitPrime video - Weights First with Tracie Long. It's a KILLER! I have to work up to it, but I really like the idea of non-dominant training (training your non-dominant side to exhaustion, then training your dominant side). It really seems to work, and they promise visible results in SIX workouts!

I have been using Lotte Berk DVD's for about 6 months. I LOVE them! It is a mix of yoga, pilates, ballet moves, and weight lifting. Some of the stuff I _still_ can't do, but I do the alternate method they show instead. They have three levels per DVD and a bonus track with an advanced version.

I also love the Pilates and Yoga for weight loss DVD's by Gaiam.

Beginner Yoga DVDs
 

I too have WATP. SO far I'm sticking with it, which says a lot given my fickle history with working out and given how out of shape I am. Which leads me to the other set of DVDs I love (and this may help you, Pink):

Yoga Zone Beginners 4 Pack. It is perfert for those who have never done Yoga and/or are out of shape. The instructor is VERY good about talking you through every movement so you are safe. The four DVDs are:

1) Introduction to Yoga (teaches the basics)
2) Conditioning and Stress Release (getting more involved, but still doable for newbies)
3) Meditation: Two Complete Programs (just what it says, this one is not a work out for your body, but it's so helpful to keep your head right).
4) Flexibility and Tone (I love, love, love this one...more challenge but no crazy advanced Yoga moves. this one puts moves you've learned together so they flow into each other more).

I got this DVD set on Amazon. I bought a Yoga starter kit for around $20 at Wal-Mart that has the mat (essential so you don't slip on some moves), the strap (very handy when your flexibility is low), yoga blocks (which to be honest, I don't even know what they do because I haven't needed them with these beginner DVDs) and a Yoga VHS tape (which I have yet to do...want to be more in shape before I get into the mucho challenging stuff).

I'm a Walk Away the Pounds fan too. I want to be able to do the 3 mile (2 mile is no problem)--but the one day I tried I thought it might kill me. I'll try again in a few weeks.

I have to confess to really liking the original Richard Simmons Sweatin' to the Oldies too.

Windsor Pilates. I know it's not a high impact aerobic video but it sure does work!

Hey I am a mailman, I walk 5 hours a day, up and down steps. I have had a problem with my feet(plantar fasciitis) and bunions. It became a viscious circle, I couldn't do what I usually do, and I didn't change my eating habits so I put on 40 lbs over the last 10 months. 20 of that was in the last 2 months because I had bunion surgery. I just had Orthotripsy for the plantar fasciitus and I have seen an improvement already. I should get back to full duty shortly, and with Atkins my weight loss should increase. My plan is when I get reaquainted with work I will move into Yogalates, a combination of Yoga and Pilates. I am not looking for anything high impact. I also have a Total Trainer for strength training. I know I canot force myself into a gym. I am a work in progress, but I just seem to have more dedication than ever before.

latin
 

can anyone recommend a good latin-style dance video?

Looking for more instruction than a work out...solo moves...

I bellydance and love music that is a latin and eastern mix. I would love to learn some of the latin moves to add to my eastern vocab. and have some of that "hot" energy in my dance...
I have a pretty good foundation in how to move my hips and following arm movements - so even ones that are not absolute beginner would be welcome.

Anyone...?

I remember reading many posts back about someone not liking the shimmies in bellydance videos :) That's something my teacher is good at getting you to love... your belly and hips and thighs jiggling with your "butt cheecks flapping in the wind" LOL. A good visual for that is to "drop" your butt a little and imagine bouncing a ball with your butt cheeks. Hehe shimmies are a GREAT party trick on the dance floor!!!

i LOVE the firm. if anyone is interested in trying these excellent workouts, i would HIGHLY suggest looking for FIRM ONE and FIRM TWO. they have no step up box and light weight routines. the moves are done correctly and, having been a body builder--well, sculpter, one might say -- in high school, these are highly effective and very well thought out. i used these in high school and when i'd come home for college and they really kicked my tushie.

the newer ones are ok, but in my opinion they don't focus as much on good, solid weight training as they do jumping up and down on the box.

i would highly recommend looking at their twenty minute fitness information video. i gained a lot of valuable knoweledge on these.

also, the women in the first six videos leading the workouts will make sure you know which body parts you're working and they will tell you how and how not to do the exercises.

these are very safe tapes and they will produce results if you do them.

unfortunatly, as i found out in the four year hiatus from body building: sitting on the couch, eating chips and simply WATCHING the video will NOT get you results -- you have to actually DO it. darn.

<<can anyone recommend a good latin-style dance video?

>>

Meg_S

Kathy Smith has one out. I have it and it is very rigorous. I had a hard time keeping up with the routines. I have not idea what kind of reviews/ratings it has. I've had it for quite a while (maybe .... 5 years...)

hth

k

I am a FIRM believe too. I had been doing the classics for about a year and then got hurt and sat around for about a year. I just got back into the first one and boy oh boy the first few times through killed me. Now I can't wait for every other day to do them.

And this is how bad I am... I ordered the fanny lifter and I never used it. My daughter was using it in her room for a "nightstand" lol. :lol:
Those days are done!

Wicky

the tapes I like
BellyDancing:
Sensual Art of BellyDance series by Veena and Neena
Goddess Workout series by Dolphina
Yoga:
Yoga Condition for Weight Loss by Suzanne Deason
Power Yoga level 1 (right now anyways its much harder then the yoga for weight loss that is for sure!)

I have a pilates dvd but hate it! mainly though I do one of the Bellydance ones :)

I just purchased The Firm Series 1 (w/ the fanny lifter) a couple weeks ago and absolutely love it!

I did many of Richard Simmons' tapes a few yrs ago and lost 30 lbs in about 5 months (pre-LC). Yes, he's geeky but his workouts ARE effective! (I would usually watch some of the other people after getting the form and steps down first) I've also done some tapes by Margaret Richards (Body Electric on the local PBS early in the a.m.) but she's mostly about light weights. (Hey, she looks pretty darn good for a woman in her mid-50's - I could only hope!)

Wait a minute - if I keep on going at this w/o falling "off" again, I WILL look that good in my mid-50's! I like that idea..... :D

BeachBody.com
 

You can't forget to add videos such as Power 90 or Slim in 6. They are great and they REALLY work. I used Power 90 (and I still do) and you can change your body type in a matter of weeks. Check it out for yourself. It's a money back guarentee, what do you have to lose, but weight. Its bootcamp style so be prepared to work. But it is fun and very rewarding.

www.beachbody.com

My fav's are 10 minute abs, Winsor Pilates, and TaeBo Advanced.

Richard Simmons and Leslie Sanson are my favs!

It's old, but ...
 

I feel a little embarrassed to admit it, but in addition to the Walk Away the Pounds tapes (which are annoying but easy to follow and a good workout if you're not in shape), I LOVE the CherFitness Body Confidence tape. The first half is a dance-y aerobics workout led by a choreographer, set to regular pop hits (but from the '90s, when the tape was made). The second half is a strength-training workout with stretchy exercise bands led by Cher's personal trainer (at least at the time).

Cher follows along in both workouts, and complains at exactly the same times that I'm straining and ready to give up. Makes me laugh and keep going instead.

When I used these before (I'm planning to start again as soon as I get back into the habit of working out, with the WATP tapes, which are shorter), I alternated and did the aerobics one day and the strength training the next. Not only did I feel fitter, but it made me feel like a dancer (and believe me, I'm as klutzy as they come).

When I was younger I used to work out to both of these videos.. I don't do much at home anymore as I'm a Curves fanatic nowadays..

The Grind - MTV - Tai Funk Arobics.. I LOVED IT.. its fun and you can really get into the groooove

Jane Fonda - Step aerobic and abdominal workout. Excellent workout and low impact. Great for a small workout area.. as I used to do it in my dorm room. (75 lbs thinner :( )

I used Yoga Journals, "Yoga for Beginners". The DVD has a nice section where each pose is explained and slowly demonstrated.

I used to find Yoga much easier. My arthritis has gotten worse and I've lost a lot of flexibility from my sedentary life. So I am hoping to get it back with this! Of course, the poses are pretty much impossible for me to do as extreme as the instructor, but I just modify it a little.

I also got Yoga AM & PM, but they rush through the poses too quickly. I like the ones where you get into a pose and they talk you through holding it and maximizing the stretch of the pose.

For a really tough workout, I love Cathe Freidrich. All her tapes are different with new challenging moves, and lots of creativity. She really puts you through a workout! I also have all the Firm, Karen Vought, and Bryan Kest yoga among others. I kinda went crazy with tapes. It gets so hot in Texas, you kinda have to workout inside...

Christie Taylor is GREAT!!

Anyone have a review on the Buns of Steel series?

I enjoy Tony Little's Total Body workout, Windsor Pilates and Susan Powter's Abs & Oils. Yes I know she is the queen of Low Fat diets, but that is how I started. NAd turns out her aerobic exercises are not bad at all. Get me going and I've seen my body change. The variety of exercises keeps me motivated and my body is definately showing a big change.

beach bodies
 

I have to agree with Vanity3- i love the beach bodies power 90 and i've only done it for a week. It's great because you don't have to go to to the gym but it kicks your butt- YET it's okay for beginners. It's only 30 minutes a day and has a cardio day and a resistance training day - since it's a day one/ day two split you don't get sick of it....okay, ask me in a month. HOWEVER in a month i will be on the advanced system. I found it an excellent all over workout. I took before pictures and i hope to post my before and afters on the website (yikes! me in a bathing suit online!)
Anyway- add it to the list! Elle

Other - mine is definitey one of the Winsor Pilates series. If I had to pic one, I would say "Accelerated Body Sculpting" I believe it's called, the 45-min. one in the basic DVD set.

If I had to pick a favorite cardio video, it would be Kari Anderson's "Tone it up!", which is a cardio routine that uses resistance bands for toning. Nice choreography, good music, no silly steps, no excessive perkyness (real word?) :)

I too LOVE the Winsor PilatesDvd's
I am wondering though if any one knows of anything that has both balls and bands together in the workout.
I used to go to a pump class and really miss it but work the hours its on

Cindy Crawford's "The Next Challenge" is a great workout.

I LOVE to do Step Aerobics.
So, I'd have to say Gilad's Step Workout. Gin Miller also has an ass-kicking new video called "Simply Step", which is going back to the good old days of BASIC step, leg curls, leg lifts, etc, no fancy "twist your ankle trying to learn it" choreography.

I like Gilad's step video for the same reason. When I exercise I want to breathe hard and sweat, not worry about falling on my face !