The biggest loser trainers have made a workout DVD and it was reviewed in our paper. Here is what our DVD diva had to say:

Cast - Non-gimmicky Biggest Loser TV show trainer Bob Harper strolss among show contestants, Bernie, bill, Michelle, Heba, Vicky and super-toned Ali.

Skill Level Required – Beginning to moderate. DVD has three add-on levels. In one you hold long yoga poses and sweat; in the second you do abs/pilates/yoga and shake a little; and in the third, yoga mixed with weights may make you grunt.

Equipment – Yoga mat, medicine ball and a couple of light weights. This workout works.

What’s good - Bob is as no-nonsense as his basic gray T-shirt and shorts. The people he instructs are at various levels and you can pick yours all along the ways. Great mix of basic yoga with everything but cardio.

What’s bad – Music in one segment was “so tension building DVDiva expected Keanu Reeves to drive through any minute in a bus rigged to blow.” Calling this “weight loss” is deceptive because there is no cardio.

Overall Grade – A-

See our previous DVD reviews Sculp-ilates DVD review and Walking DVD for Exercise

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Our paper has a health section that periodically reviews workout dvds. really like the way the woman who reviews them organizes the review. IHere is the latest review on The Firm Sculpt-ilates:

Skill level – Beginning to moderate

You’ll need – Bare feet, a mat and a strong stretch band, one is included with the DVD

What’s good – This is Pilates sculpting with a twist. It’s a series of deceptive-looking little tortures with cute names like “ladybug” and “swimming” mixed with moves like “swan” and “mermaid” that can feel even better than the cool down stretches. The 50 minutes are over before you know it. According to our local columnist and I quote “DVD diva almost forgot that there were moments when a thigh muscles or obliques were already screaming when Robyn smiled”, and said “Only four more, I’md oing it with you.”

What’s bad – Not much. According to the columnist “The Firm muscle mavens have never wasted DVDiva’s time.

Grade – B+

There was another new Pilates-type DVD that was reviewed. Piyolet is a blend of pilates, yoga and ballet all rolled into one workout. The DVD has three 20-minute piyolet workouts and sells for $14.99 on the creator’s (Roslyn Bazzelle) website – www.roslynbazzelle.com. According to the reviewer the ballet moves are mostly confined to arms (port-de-bras) but the workout is intense.

To see a review of a a walking dvd see our post Women walking for exercise in front of the tv

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I just read some reviews in our paper of something called a walking dvd. These are exercise DVD’s where the main form of exercise is walking. These are called I guess I haven’t checked out exercise DVD’s since purchasing my easy yoga dvd’s but these sounded kind of interesting so I thought I would look in to it.

According to my research, a walking dvd will either teach you how to walk with good form, on the treadmill or outdoors or use walking combined with other exercises for an indoor cardio workout.  In this post, I want to discuss the latter. These “walking” DVD’s give you a  low-impact workout that is as easy as walking and is good for outdoor walkers when they are prevented from walking outdoors. Walking is the easiest and most basic form of exercise. These videos would be a good way to begin an exercise program if you are just starting out.

Fast and Firm! 4 Really “Big” Miles (Leslie Sansone) – Running time 56 minutes. Cardio with a little resistance and flexibility, basic beginning-intermediate. According to the review you “walk and lift knees in your living room with chatty, chirpy direction. Miles quicken to ponytail whipping 10 minutes.” Boosted walking is included which mean jogging in place and that as strenuous as it gets. The reviewer did not like the music on this one and said the standing ab crunches were worthless. There is a stretching cool down at the end.

Leslie Sanson – 2 Mile Walk – Running time 30 minutes.  Cardio workout using walking and low-impact aerobics. According the site I got this from Videofitness.com rated this as a favorite. Beginners could follow it easily and stop at the 1 mile mark, while more advanced walkers got their heart rates up for a good workout. Comes in VHS or DVD.

Kathy Smith – March To Fitness – Running time 30 minutes. Kathy Smith always has great videos. I did her pregnancy workout way back when and loved it. She is always very careful to make sure you don’t injure yourself and her instructions are easy to follow. This DVD is recommended for beginners and as a tape to do indoors every day of the week. The workout uses simple, low-impact marching steps. Kathy also teaches you about calorie burning  interval training. According to the review people liked this non-intimidating video with a warm and friendly instructor.

Denise Austin – Blast Away The Pounds – Running time 55 minutes. Fitness level beginning to intermediate. The disk has three 15 minute exercises of increasing intensity – easy walk, fat blasting interval, and power walk and tone. Each walk is one mile. There is a ten minute stretch at the end. Many reviewers liked this video and said it was particularly good for the chronically unmotivated. Most of the negative reviews I encountered took issue with Denise herself. I happen to love Denise Austin but some people are really put off by the bubbly blonde personality. My kids can’t stand her, but hey their not the ones doing the exercise.

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