Posts Tagged ‘fitness videos’
Motivation Is a Real Key to Fitness
I’ve always been a creature of habit; once I find a viable exercise routine, I have no trouble sticking with it. The problem is settling on the right schedule and budgeting time to do the work. Last year I bought a gym membership, which I figured would be enough incentive to hop in the car and drive there on a daily basis. As it turned out, I managed to make excuses that kept me away from the gym.
I finally turned a corner and started making progress investing in the Tony Horton 10 Minute Trainer. I no longer had any valid excuses for putting off my workout, and I was able to fit it in neatly between dinner and bedtime. Home fitness equipment has numerous benefits, but the best one is that I can exercise complete control over my immediate environment. If I feel like watching a soap opera to distract me from the exertion, I can do so. If I feel like cranking up some motivational ’80s rock anthems, that’s exactly what I do.
Has It Been 10 Years Already?
When the invitation arrived in the mail last week, I was slightly apprehensive to say the least. Had it really been 10 years since I graduated high school? All the memories came flooding back – the good times and the bad, the moments of triumph and embarrassment that seemed so important back then. These days I barely keep in touch with anyone from high school, but I still call a couple of old classmates from time to time.
I called them up and we discussed the reunion that was just a few months away. After getting the usual gossip out of the way, our thoughts turned to self-image. It seems like a cliché given all the movies that have touched on the topic, but it really is important to look good for one’s high school reunion. I wanted to show those popular jocks and cheerleaders that I had changed. Undergoing a body transformation would mean instituting a serious workout regimen, but I was up to the task; I immediately went out and purchased the ChaLEAN Extreme workout system.
Personal training vs Workout video’s
Which is right for you? Following a workout video or hiring a personal trainer to get you to acheive your fitness goals? Here is a quick comparison to get you thinking about which might be right for you.
Workout video’s are generally a one-time fee, and definitly cheaper than any personal trainer you might find. They have an instructor, and pre-determined workouts, all set up for you to follow just as a personal trainer would. Many of the video’s also come with diet plan recommendations- which some personal trainers will not help you with.
On the other hand, personal trainers create a specific workout that caters to your goals and needs, which you will be able to keep up with, but still be challenging enough to benefit from. Also, having an appointment with a personal trainer makes it difficult to make last-minute excuses for yourself to miss workouts, being that small motivating factor which pushes you. Workout video’s leave the motivation and encouragement up to yourself.
Which is right for you?
Are workout video’s for you?
Workout video’s have been on the comeback for some time now. A new approach to the type of workout provided have lead Americans to put their trust back into the at-home workout with the guidance of trained professionals. Here are a few of the advantages and disadvantages to getting healthy with a workout dvd.
Keep in mind that while these dvd’s can run you a pretty penny, it’s just a fraction of the annual fee of a gym membership. There are so many to choose from out there that it can be difficult to look past all the advertising and marketing to find out which is actually the type of workout that you’ll enjoy while also getting you the results you’ll want. It’s a good idea to look out for some independent reviews of the products to find out what others like yourself found of them. If you are the type of person who procrastinates and might not have the motivation to workout anyways, workout video’s are probably not for you. In this case, it would be better to find a workout buddy who can give you that extra little push to workout.
Dancing to Burn Calories
For hundreds of years people have danced for fun, enjoyment, or intimacy. Though dancing is often viewed as a social activity, it can also be utilized for exercise purposes. Dancing provides an intensive workout that, correctly focused, can target all of the major muscle groups and ensure that you break a sweat fast. Several dance workout videos juxtapose dance and fitness, creating a unique and enjoyable workout.
There is also a variety of dance music, the most popular of which is trance. You can dance to all kinds of music, but trance dance music will invoke the rapid movement and motion necessary to have a dance workout. In truth, most activities that involve rapid movement of your limbs can help you to build muscle and maintain good physical health.
10 Minute Trainer – Resistance Bands Are Great Tools
The way that the super stacking technique works is that you work more than one area of the body at a time. For example, during lunges you may be using the resistance bands to not only work the legs, but also using them during a simultaneous arm press exercise. This works both your legs and your arms at the same time, as well as your core muscles. The addition of the resistance bands only adds more intensity to the workout, making you have to work harder, which means more calories burned in a shorter period of time.
Most people can easily commit to 10 minutes of exercise 5-6 days a week with the 10 minute trainer workout
. If you really want to take your workouts even farther and get the body that you dreamed of even faster, add the resistance bands to the workout. The good thing about resistance bands instead of using free weights is that the are easy on beginners and can be hard on the advanced. If you are beginner, you are going to give more slack on the bands so it is easier on you. If you are more advanced and want a challenge, tighten the bands with hardly any slack and you will find yourself struggling with the exercises.
Resistance bands can be used for more than just the 10 minute trainer workout. They can be used for all sorts of exercises and programs. They can easily replace free weights for exercising and strength training, as all it takes is a a little variation in the the exercise and you can be maximizing your workout with resistance bands.
Personal training vs video training
Here are the ups and downs if you are trying to figure out which route to take for you’re workout. If you are trying to decide between a personal trainer and workout videos training, you are probably not sure what to do when you walk into a gym. You probably don’t know where to find the motivation to actually work hard when you do train, and so you are looking for a little company to show you the way. Well good. Here are a few things to think about that could aid your decision.
Disadvantages of each:
- Personal trainers get very expensive after the first couple of times; you are paying for someone’s time and expertise each session you attend, and even thought personal trainers might vary price, they get expensive after a week or so.
- Workout videos can be cheesy and fail to explain reasoning for exercises
- Personal trainers are not always as qualified as you’d think
- Workout video’s 
are not personalized for you’re fitness level
- Having a personal trainer means making appointments and showing up for them, regardless of how you feel that day
Advantages of each:
- Personal trainers have knowledge; have a question about what you are doing? Want to know why they chose these exercises in particular for you? Just ask your trainer and you’ll know.
- Workout videos are a one time fee, and you can use them over and over.
- Personal trainers are able to asses your fitness level and your goals and make a plan accordingly
- Workout videos come in a variety of levels and costs; they are available virtually anywhere, and you can use them whenever you want to schedule your workout for.
Hopefully this will help you get a good idea of some things to consider, and help you make the right choice for yourself.
Are you ready for it?
If you are thinking that you are ready for it, how do you know for sure? Extreme workouts
are not for everyone… just yesterday one of my clients became extremely sick to her stomach and couldn’t hold lunch down once she started training. She has previously trained seriously, and was a competitive karate fighter. Now, just a few years later, her body can’t handle anything beyond a warm-up.
If you are serious about getting into top shape and you think you can’t wait, there are somethings to keep in mind when it comes to doing extreme workouts.
Extreme workouts basically refers to any type of exercise which is done at very high intensity for a prolonged period of time. If you are already in shape, an extreme workout being incorporated into your routine is a great idea. Its challenging for your heart, and makes a routine fun again. If you are not in shape, beware.
Firstly, you have to consider that there is a likelihood of injury when doing workouts that are too advanced. Control for dangers, and be prepared. An example of this would be if you are going mountain biking, to wear all the safety equipment and bring along a first aid kit and a whistle. If you are planning on doing an indoor extreme workout, then ensure that you are fully aware of how it could end. Eat well, bring lots of fluids, and most important to preventing injuries, get a really good warm-up before starting.
Also important is to be self-aware. There is nothing wrong with pushing yourself, but if your body starts to shut down, you will have to know the signs, and react accordingly.
Good luck!
Exercise Can Be Fun
A few months ago, I noticed that my metabolism had finally caught up to me. Now in my 30s, I can no longer eat whatever I want whenever I want. In order to battle the onset of weight gain, my wife and I made a pact to live a more active lifestyle this summer. We both signed up for tennis lessons at the local rec center, and we briefly tried to adhere to a jogging regimen.
When you get right down to it, though, running isn’t fun. I spent every session thinking about how unpleasant and tiring that particular form of exercise could be. In order to spice up the workout routine, we decided to try a couple of workout videos. Most of the videos were rather drab, but the Kathy Smith workout caught our attention, and we have been on the program for over a month now.
The Best Home Workouts For Women pt2
Walking/Running
Although you may not be able to walk or run at home, unless you want to invest in an expensive treadmill, walking or running can be a great workout for a woman. If you live in a nice neighborhood or have a park nearby your home, a nice walk or jog can be a great alternative to being cooped up in your home. Spring and fall are great times to run or walk as they offer cooler weather that is great for exercising in.
Quick Home Workouts
No matter if you are a busy stay at home mom, a single professional, or mom with a job outside the home, you most likely have a packed schedule and may think that you don’t have time for workouts, even simple at home ones. There are a couple of different options that you have for quick home workouts. Tony Horton’s 10 minute trainer
is actually a workout DVD but offers a very efficient workout in only 10 minutes. You can quickly sneak in a workout before you get ready in the morning, after dinner, or while the kids are napping. Other quick workouts involve jumping rope for 10-15 minutes, running stairs for 10-15 minutes, and a quick circuit training routine that you can make up.
Women of all ages and sizes need to make sure that they are taking care of their bodies and exercising on a regular basis. It does not matter if you are a size 18 and trying to lose 50 pounds or you are a size 4, every women needs exercise to be healthy. Home workouts for women offer a great way to make sure that exercise is part of your daily life.