While I was home sick last week, my latest amazon order arrived with 3 new workout DVDs. While I haven't had the opportunity to actually do them all yet, I have watched all of them all the way through and have tried some. Thought I would share my thoughts about them.

Walk Away the Pounds Express 3 Mile (Leslie Sansone) - This one includes a workout with a stretchy band (not included in the DVD I purchased). It's a nice, energetic workout and the music is better than most of the WATP DVDs I own. There is a varied group of walkers of all ages (20s to 70s!). Note: I have only watched this so far.

Walk Away the Pounds Express 4 Mile (Leslie Sansone) - This is a pure walking workout; i.e., no "accoutrements" like bands or hand weights. Very similar to the Express 3 Mile and, in fact, the same group of walkers from that workout. Loved the music--very hip and dancey, like club music, which I love. I just finished this workout about an hour ago and it is fantastic. "Joyful" is the word that came to mind when I was doing it. The miles go by so fast, there was never a point where I was thinking "OH GOD, when are we getting to the next mile?!" I MUCH prefer this to the older 4-mile WATP I have which has SOOOO much repetition of the same movement that I get exhausted and annoyed at the same time. This one gets a big THUMBS UP from me! My only concern is whether it's going to be a tough enough workout because I got through it on the first try after hardly working out at all since I was sick.

I Want That Body! (Tamilee Webb) - This is my first Tamilee DVD and my first spot toning DVD. I felt this DVD was a great value because it contains THREE workouts (abs, arms and buns) on one DVD plus each workout is done at 2 skill levels so you can choose how hard you want to work on a given day. The only thing I've done of this so far is arms. Last night, I did both program 1 and program 2 of arms and got through both with little problem. There's 1 movement on program 2 that I can't quite figure out yet (sort of a side one-armed pushup for triceps) but otherwise it was very easy to follow. Since I had watched the DVD while I was sick and it looked SO hard, I only used 2 pound hand weights last night and I still think it was a great workout but easy. All I have here at home is a set of 2 lb. and a set of 8 lb. so I can see I'm going to have to get a set of 4 lb. so I have something in the middle cuz I doubt I could get through this workout with the 8 pounders!

If you have any comments on these DVDs or have some new ones of your own that you'd like to tell us about, please do! I am always interested in hearing what people are using, how it's working, and how they like it.

Sorry this is so long.

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Originally posted by grrlscout:
_http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005R24O/qid=1088611131_
Super handy for when you don't have much time! You *always* have 10 minutes. It includes 5 different workouts - ballet, kickboxing, bootcamp, yoga, and pilates. You can also select a few (or all of them!) and string them together for a custom workout. It's also a good way to test drive a different type of workout. However, the pace is very fast! I'd watch it a couple times to get the moves down before you attempt it.

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This is funny. I was going back to look at my previous exercise DVD reviews and I see that you had posted this about The 10-Minute Solution. The other day, while I was out Christmas shopping, I came across The 10-Minute Solution and thought "What a great idea." and bought it, thinking I had never heard of it before. Maybe subconsciously, I was remembering your recommendation of it!

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Originally posted by Coaster Girl:
The WATP 4 mile is quite a challenge for me. It is incredibly intense and will bump up your workout significantly.

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I'm curious if you're talking about the WATP 4 mile Express here or the older 4-miler with the 3 segments (the older one has a livingroom set with a coffee table and different walkers in each segment whereas the Express has a modern studio and the same walkers all the way through)?

I find the 4 mile express very manageable but I find the old 4-miler WAY more challenging because she does so much repetition of the moves (esp. knee lifts) that I get totally exhausted (and annoyed).

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Originally posted by Peascod:
I have found a couple for the ball, but none for the bands...any suggestions?

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See above, first DVD in my original post.

I have an exercise ball as well as those exercise bands. I would like to find a tape that uses them. I have found a couple for the ball, but none for the bands...any suggestions?

tia
jackie

Living Yoga Collection 5pk (VHS)
I do these off and on. Rodney Yee is a decent instructor, who gives clear directions, and has a calming voice. It's nice to try different ones to mix things up. And the scenery is gorgeous. The opening is a bit long though.

The 10 Minute Solution (DVD)
Super handy for when you don't have much time! You *always* have 10 minutes. It includes 5 different workouts - ballet, kickboxing, bootcamp, yoga, and pilates. You can also select a few (or all of them!) and string them together for a custom workout. It's also a good way to test drive a different type of workout. However, the pace is very fast! I'd watch it a couple times to get the moves down before you attempt it.

Yoga Zone - Yoga Basics 5 Pack (VHS)
My mom has this set, and I borrow a couple of tapes once in a while. It's realllly basic, and a good starting point if you're just trying yoga. The instructors are very cheery and accessible. Sometimes a little goofy and annoying. They usually have two, and one will do the basic pose, and one will do the advanced pose. So there is room to move forward and challenge yourself.

I have the Pilates tapes for beginners, one with weights, which I use daily and another of floor exercises. They are great! And available pretty reasonably at Amazon. I use them more in the winter when I can't get to the pool, or it's just too cold to walk outside. But now that we are heating up in SD, I used the floor exercise one this AM and thought it would be a great addition to my swimming routine.

I own all three. They all get used pretty consistently.

The WATP 3 mile is probably one of my favorites. But I've had to gradually increase the weight of the hand weights as I've gone on. But, I only do it once a week, in an attempt to keep my workouts varied and to avoid my body's attempt to stop working out efficiently. I use it for days that I don't want to work out quite as hard.

The WATP 4 mile is quite a challenge for me. It is incredibly intense and will bump up your workout significantly. It's also something that you almost need to work up to if you're not used to working out for an hour straight. There are no weights used in this DVD, so I use it on a day where I've done weights the day before.

I love Tammy Lee's I want that body. That one gets used several times a week, although I might only do one section in a day. The abs workouts are not easy, and the second one is one I probably won't move on to. Some of the moves seem too "contorted" for me, at least at this point and time. But I do find that they are a very effective workout.

Enjoy them.
Laura

UPDATE:

When I posted the review of the Tamilee Webb DVD, I'd only tried one of the three workouts on the DVD (Arms). This morning, I tried Abs Program 1 and Buns Program 1 in addition to repeating Arms Program 1 from the other day. This DVD definitely shows you where you're strengths and weaknesses lie!!

Whereas I found the Arms Program 1 easy to get through on the first try (with 2 pound weights), I couldn't even come CLOSE to getting through the Abs Program 1 on the first try. It is a constant and very challenging abs workout with no time to rest, so if you're not used to training your abs much, you will find it VERY challenging. If you do regular abs work, you will likely be able to keep up. It's definitely something for me to work up to!

I found Buns Program 1 challenging but I was able to keep up through set 1 and most of set 2 but was too tired to finish (1st and 2nd sets are 12 reps each whereas the 3rd is 8 reps). This program is tough on the knees (lots of lunges) so I'm not sure how much I'll be doing it. Then again, I am over 50 so you "youngins" may not need to worry about that so much.

Since I'd found Arms Program 1 so easy the other day with 2 pound weights, I tried using my 8 pounders for SOME exercises (like biceps) but continued to use the 2 pounders for lifting up into the shoulders. I think once I pick up a 4 pound set of weights, this will be a perfect workout for me.

P.S. I was sweating by the time I finished. Because of the pace of these workouts, they are aerobic as well as toning! A bonus!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SheriaVa,

I do the FIRM and step aerobics. There is a great website called collage videos where you can get all kinds of exercise videos. The site also contains descriptions and reviews. I have been buying tapes from them forever and they are very good.