FitSugar

Work It at Home With 8 Great DVDs

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:36:26 -0800

One thing I love about my job is getting to review all of the best (and worst) fitness DVDs out there. Since many of us are moving our workouts inside for wintertime, I've rounded up some of my recent faves. Whether you're getting ready for a wedding, getting into yoga, or just getting in shape, here are eight great fitness DVDs to check out.

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FitSugar Readers' Top 8 Favorite Fitness DVDs

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:48:00 -0700

Every week I tell you about new exercise DVDs I've tried and would either recommend or throw to the curb. It's nice to get other people's opinions though, so recently I asked FitSugar readers to share their favorite Fitness DVDs. Check out the list below if you're looking for something new to try at home.

Self: Bikini Ready Fast: Ellen Barrett ($10) - If you want a "full body workout," urban chic 101 recommends this Self magazine video.
The Firm: Hard Core Fusion ($14) - An anonymous FitSugar reader is a fan of this Hard Core Fusion DVD, made by The Firm, and Flexrx is a fan of The Wave DVDs, also made by The Firm.
Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred ($9) - mng355 recommended this DVD along with many other Fitsugar readers.

To see the five other favorites, read more.

Exhale Spa: Core Fusion ($15) - Both Body Sculpt and Pilates Plus were recommended by Fawness because the core moves are effective and if you stick with them, you'll definitely see results over time. I'm a fan of them too.
Hemalayaa: Bollywood Booty ($15) - This upbeat video by Hemalayaa was recommended by a few FitSugar readers such as kedson and tamaradulva because it's a fun way to burn calories. I'm also a fan of Beautiful Belly and Bollywood Burn.
The Tracy Anderson Method Presents Mat Workout ($25) - FitSugar reader TA junkie who says, " I love the little-to-no cueing and the workouts are very effective."
Billy Blanks Cardio Bootcamp ($6) - SunnyMutt and a few other FitSugar readers are fans of Billy Blank's Tae Bo workout DVDs. He has many to choose from and they're all great because he's so energetic and encouraging. You get a great workout.
Workout: One-On-One Training with Jackie ($9) Many FitSugar readers including nikolem2 and witchbaby love Jackie Warner. They think it a great workout and clasen5 said, "Jackie's workout gets everything in - lower body, upper body and core. It is a great, make me really sweaty, workout. Give it a try."

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:00:56 -0700

Fitness DVDs to inspire your inner ballerina - Fit Bottomed Girls
Fitness programs for cancer survivors - Shape
Diet ads get a FTC smackdown - That's Fit
Perfect for snacking: Lowell's Multi-Grain Yogurt - Vital Juice
A handful of things to add to your healthy to-do list - Vitamin G
New iPod alternative that's pre-loaded with workout music - Fresh Fitness Tips
Strong feet make for strong legs. Strength train your tootsies - Mark's Daily Apple
Understanding the connection with obesity, alcohol, depression - Healthy Bites
Shopping for a diet? These 10 were found to be the best - Health

Need a New Exercise DVD? Watch Video Previews Here

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:00:00 -0800

Fitness DVDs aren't cheap, so if you spend the dough, you want to know it's worth it. The best way to know? Watch a little clip.

Acacia made it easy for you to preview its videos online. Just go to its You Tube website, and you can view short video clips of over 50 fitness DVDs. I love this company because it makes some of the best fitness videos that include yoga, cardio, dance, and martial arts. I've reviewed and loved many Acacia videos such as Core Fusion and Strong Body, Ageless Mind. Now you can peruse its entire collection and see a sneak preview before you buy them.

To see a clip of a video I'm really excited about read more.

Since I love Shiva Rea, I'm really excited to give this DVD a try.

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:00:45 -0700

Siggi's: Like Greek yogurt sweetened with agave nectar? Sign me up! - Elastic Waist
The best new workout DVDs for homebodies - Vital Juice Daily
Avocado to help you shed the belly fat - Nutrition Data
Get the skinny on hemp milk - Vitamin G
Fight food cravings by trading up to healthier treats - Self
Turn football Sundays into fitness time - Fit Bottomed Girls
Just say no-no to yo-yo dieting? - That's Fit
Kristin Cavallari walks the plank to shape up for CSI: NY - Fit Celeb

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DVD Review: Erin O'Brien's Prenatal Fitness Fix

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:30:00 -0700

It feels like baby fever over here on the Sugar Network. Many of our favorite celebrities along with our very own BabySugar are expecting so I've decided to dive into the world of keeping healthy while pregnant in my Fit Momma series.

Having already experienced the joys of pregnancy myself, it's been a few years, so I recruited a pregnant pal to try Prenatal Fitness Fix with Erin O'Brien. My friend was a frequent gym goer, but recently she can't stomach the smell of my gym - if you're pregnant, you understand - so she happily joined me. We were both thinking it was going to be a walk in the park since it was after all, a prenatal fitness DVD. To find out if we were right, just read more.

The instructor, Erin O'Brien, is calm, cool, and collected. She's motivating, but not too peppy and it was the mix of both that kept us going through the entire 40 minutes. (Side note: Did you know she is James Denton's wife?) The music was a little slower than I normally workout to, but it was not unpleasant.

Much to our surprise, it's actually pretty strenuous. There is no heavy cardio or weights, but there is a lot of body weight resistance work that left my quads pretty darn sore. I love that Erin takes pauses for water and potty breaks - essentials for any pregnant woman. She also uses household items (couches, coffee tables, chairs) for the exercises, so there's no extra equipment needed. Overall I would highly recommend this DVD for anyone who's expecting and had a pretty good level of fitness before her pregnancy. If you haven't exercised in years, then you may want to consider something a little more beginner at first.

Fit's Tip: Pregnancy does amazing (and crazy) things to your body, and keeping it healthy is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby. DVDs are a great option to keep moving at home, but you should check with your OB/GYN before starting any exercise program while pregnant.

Get Wedding Dress Ready: Pre-Wedding Workouts

FitSugar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 07:30:00 -0700

If you're looking to get fit for your big day then you might want to enlist some help. There are a lot of ways to do your pre-wedding training with programs designed with brides in mind. Just keep in mind, it's best to start any fitness training at least 4-6 weeks before the big day. So here are a few of my ideas:

The Wedding Boot Camp DVD ($109). This package of three workout DVDs, a Spri Exertube, a Spri Lex Loop, 12 months access to UNICUS Online, and the Wedding Boot Camp Nutritional Manual. Each DVD contains a different workout that should be done a different day of the week.
If you've already spent more than you'd like on your wedding and are looking for something free then check out current fitness magazines. I personally like Shape magazine's Total Body Wedding Workout that can be found online and printed out.

I've got a few more ideas so read more.

Call your gym or a local gym. Most are offering bridal workout programs and specials this time of year. Keep in mind that just because it doesn't say "bridal," or "wedding," doesn't mean it won't whip you into shape. A lot of full body programs and boot camps would do the trick, inquire at your gym or just look for regular boot camp programs near you. Just be sure to sign up with enough time to complete the program.
The Wedding Podcast Network has some Wedding Workout specific podcasts that give great tips from good personal trainers on getting wedding dress ready. Download them and listen to them on your way to the gym or before you start a workout to get motivated.
You can also use my own boot camp video. It's free. It's fun. And it's brought to you be me!

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com!

DVD Review: Shiva Rea - Creative Core + Lower Body

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:30:00 -0700

I loved Shiva Rea's Creative Core Abs video, so I was excited to try her newest DVD, Creative Core + Lower Body ($10). It focuses on a combination of fluid movements and holding of postures that targets your abs, thighs, lower back, and bum. I learned variations of poses that in my eight years of teaching yoga I've never seen before, so this DVD was a breath of fresh air and insanely challenging too. Although this sequence was short (only 22 minutes long), my thighs and bum were burning (in a positive way), and my lower back felt open and calm.

This is a great video to pop in if you only have a short time to work out, or if you want to do a little lower body stretching after a run or bike ride. Creative Core + Lower Body is one of the best yoga DVDs I've ever tried. I just wish it was longer!

If you want to see a preview of this DVD then read more

Fit's Tips:If you're looking for a full yoga practice, I'd highly recommend Shiva Rea's Fluid Power - Vinyasa Flow Yoga.

It's Not Too Early to Get in Shape For Your Wedding

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:30:00 -0700

If you've recently gotten engaged or know that a wedding is in the distant future for you, it's never too early to start thinking about getting fit for the big day. Not only do you want to look your best, but it's great to get in the habit of living a healthy lifestyle before your wedding, so you'll have a long life to share with your partner.

Here are some things to start thinking about:

If you're looking to lose weight, you can meet with a dietitian. They can help you come up with a safe and healthy eating plan that will be nutritious and low in calories.
If you're looking to tone up specific areas of your body (like your upper arms and back) you can hire a personal trainer. They'll be able to show you exercises for each area you're concerned about.
You can also just do toning and strengthening exercises on your own. This Starter Arms video is a great routine that's sure to work every muscle in your upper body. Also, there are a lot of DVDs that you may enjoy.

What else can you start doing? To find out read more.

If you're looking to lose weight, you can start including more cardio in your routine. You can join a gym and use the cardio machines, and since the weather is getting warmer, you can walk, jog, hike, or ride your bike outside. To see results, you want to do at least 30 minutes of cardio at least three times a week.
Exercise with your partner. Not only will it keep you both healthy, but it's another way you can spend time together.

The great thing about all of these ideas is that not only will exercising regularly and eating more healthy help you get in shape for the big day, but you'll have more energy to plan the wedding - a pleasant side effect of working out.

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com.

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