FitSugar

FitSugar's Top Fitness DVDs of 2009

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:00:59 PST

Whether you exercise at home, need something for a rainy day, or want a workout you can travel with, a fitness DVD is the perfect solution. But with titles coming out every week, it's hard to know which ones are worth the splurge. To take the guesswork out of choosing which fitness DVD to buy, here are our picks for some of the year's best. Go ahead. Buy yourself a present from this list - a fitness DVD is definitely the kind of gift that keeps on giving!

The Biggest Loser: Last Chance Workout ($10) Jillian Michaels and past Biggest Loser contestants take you through three workouts that focus on maximizing the body's fat burning capabilities. If you loved the fast pace of Jillian's 30 Day Shred, this DVD won't disappoint. Equal emphasis placed on strength and cardio.
Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training ($10) Celeb trainer Jackie Warner usually gets $400 per hour for a circuit training session - save yourself some bucks and buy this DVD instead. There are five different circuit training workouts that differ in total workout time and areas of the body targeted.
Jari Love: Get Extremely Ripped ($15) The title pretty much says it all. An hour-long DVD full of squats, lunges, overhead presses, and biceps curls. Be warned: all your muscles will be aching after this one.

To see what other fitness DVDs we loved this year,

Shiva Rea: Daily Energy - Vinyasa Flow Yoga ($20) Practicing yoga to this DVD, it becomes clear why Shiva Rea is considered one of the top Vinyasa yoga instructors. Her latest DVD contains seven 20-minute sessions, which encourages time on the mat every day. Practices range from grounding and relaxing to uplifting and energetic.
Harley Pasternak's 5-Factor Fitness DVD and Journal ($35) Harley is the guy behind giving Lady Gaga her killer abs, and he shares the same moves in this workout DVD. A total 5-week program that focuses on diet and exercise, which uses Harley's 5-Factor program. As the weeks go on, the intensity of the workouts do too.
Jillian Michaels: Banish Fat Boost Metabolism ($12) An all over body sculpting circuit workout led by hardcore trainer Jillian Michaels. Quick movements and high rep counts make this a challenging workout geared towards the more advanced.
Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds Ultimate Collection ($14) When it comes to the walking workout, Leslie Sansone is queen. This is a great collection for someone getting started with a fitness regimen or who wants a gentler approach. Leslie also incorporates floor mat routines, weights, and stretches to her walking workouts to maximize results.
So You Think You Can Dance: Tone and Groove ($13) Dance with past contestants from So You Think You Can Dance as they take you through upbeat and fun cardio routines focusing on hip-hop, jazz, and cha cha.

Work It at Home With 8 Great DVDs

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:36:26 PST

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.

ESPN Broadcaster Jenn Brown's Wedding Workout and Dress Fitting Diet Tips

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:22:30 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

As the reporter of ESPN's College GameDay for football and basketball Jenn Brown travels almost 70 percent of the year. That might sound like a dream job, but when your dream wedding is coming up, all those late night drive-thru dinners and wonky work hours can take a toll on your shape! We caught up with Brown just days before her wedding, where she gave us her secrets to how she stayed slim on the road and prepped for her big day.

What have you been doing differently to get ready for your wedding?

I took a different approach to working out than I usually do. I am typically a cardio junkie; I’m always running on the treadmill and follow it with 45 minutes of lifting. For my wedding, I really wanted to focus on looking lean and toned. I had just come off of covering football, where I gained my usual footfall five [pounds] from eating on the road in all these towns with delicious food, so I had three months to get into shape. I started doing Pilates three to four times a week. It was weird to me that you could go and work out for an hour and not be dripping in sweat, but I’ve seen an amazing transformation because of it.

Learn how Jenn stays fit on the road after the break.

21 Disposable Products You Can Reuse

Wise Bread — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:00:39 PDT

Even when the product is supposedly "disposable," you can always reuse it. Wise Bread shares awesome ways to reuse these 21 disposable products.

It’s said that we live in a disposable society. But the word "disposable" is a misnomer. Disposable is considered throwaway, something you use once and dump, regardless of the life that may be left in it. As a frugal shopper with a concern for the state of our environment, I think that just won’t do.

I often reuse many so-called “onetime-use” items, and I asked friends, family, and colleagues to tell me which disposable items they squeeze more life from. Here’s my list, including some of the surprising ideas I was given.

RELATED: 25 Things to Throw Out Today

1. Butter Wrappers

If you’re like most people, you unwrap your butter, pop the stick into your handy holder, and throw the wrapper away. But wait a second - instead of trashing the wrappers, keep them in a sandwich bag. The next time you need to grease a baking tray or dish, you’ve got something all ready to go.

Read on for more.

5 Healthy-Living Quotes From Kate Winslet

Leta Shy — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:05:59 PDT

Ahead of Titanic 3D's release in theaters next week, Kate Winslet wowed on the red carpet of the film's London premiere today. Kate's never been shy about criticizing Hollywood's lust for body perfection and even successfully won a libel case in 2009 regarding it, when she sued the Daily Mail for claiming that she was lying about her exercise regimen. Here are five ways Kate Winslet inspires with her healthy outlook.

She accepts her body: "Nobody is perfect. I just don't believe in perfection. But I do believe in saying, 'This is who I am and look at me not being perfect!' I'm proud of that," she said in the Sydney Morning Herald in 2008.
She wants to be a role model for her daughter: Kate recently told a German magazine, "I accept my body. I accept how I am and make the best of what I am given. Children orientate towards examples. That's why I talk solely positive about my body in front of my daughter."
She fits in exercise: "I don't go to the gym because I don't have time but I do Pilates workout DVDs for 20 minutes or more every day at home," she's said in Elle UK.
She eats sensibly: "I still don't believe this craziness for being skinny, but I eat sensibly and I don't stuff down chocolate biscuits," Kate also told Elle UK.
She's against plastic surgery: "I don't have parts of my body that I hate or would like to trade for somebody else's or wish I could surgically adjust into some fantasy version of what they are," she told Glamour last year.

What do you think of Kate's healthy philosophy?

5 Reasons You Need a Gym Membership

Leta Shy — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 04:12:31 PDT

Not everyone loves the gym - and in fact, there are times when canceling your gym membership is a good idea. But if you're wondering whether to sign up for a gym, here are five reasons one may be perfect for you.

You're new to it. If you've never exercised before, you'll need someone to show you the ropes to prevent injury. Joining a gym is good for this reason - you'll be able to get expert help and check out how more experienced exercisers do it.
You haven't used your DVDs in months. If your erstwhile dedication to exercising at home has turned into, "There's always tomorrow morning, right?" you can benefit from some extra motivation. Taking the time to go to the gym will help put you in a mindset that has you sticking, not skipping, your workout.

Read on for three more reasons you should join a gym.

Simple Ways to Amp Up DVD Workouts

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:52:14 PST

Following along to a fitness DVD is a great way to get your sweat on for so many reasons: it's inexpensive, you don't have to leave your house, and you can exercise whenever it fits your schedule. That said, not all fitness DVDs offer the best workout. Here are some ways to get more out of your fitness videos.

Don't just work one body part: If the instructor is leading you through basic squats, grab a set of dumbbells and add shoulder presses. If you're doing bicep curls with a resistance band, throw in some lunges. Get creative by doing compound moves to burn more calories and work multiple muscles at once.
Move a little faster: During cardio workouts, pick up the pace and do double-time. Moving faster not only gets your heart pumping to build endurance, but it also burns more calories.
Do challenging variations: Instructors often demonstrate one move, and then they show how to make it more advanced. If you can think of a way to make it even harder - like balancing on one leg, standing on a Bosu ball, or using a resistance band along with your set of dumbbells - go for it.
Skip the break: If you're not too winded, do some extra push-ups or run in place instead of resting between exercises. Or if you're familiar with the DVD and you know which move is coming next, skip the rest and start in on the burpees a little early.

From the Community: How to Find a Workout DVD That You’ll Love

Fit Community — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:52:38 PST

FitSugar reader (and certified trainer) JessicaSmithTV posted these tips for choosing the right fitness DVD in our 10 Pounds Down! community group.

Workout DVDs can be a wonderful way to stay in shape - they are convenient, ready when you are, and can introduce you to new exercises, techniques and instructors you may otherwise never meet. And while the benefits of workout DVDs are many, so are the options to choose from! It can be overwhelming to try to find one that you really enjoy and want to do over and over. Here are three tips to help you find your perfect match:

1. Borrow, swap and ask for suggestions
Not sure where to start? Ask friends for suggestions, and better yet, borrow a few from their libraries to test drive first. Post an inquiry on Facebook asking for your friend’s favorite titles to get ideas on what to start looking for, and where the best deals are (did you know that Costco sells fitness DVDs?).

2. Don’t limit your workout preferences
Many online dating sites use algorithms that specifically match you up with people who have traits that you specifically said you didn’t want, and yet you may end up dating that person - why? There is usually a big gap between what we say we want, and what we end up really liking. For example, if you love light-weight, high-repetition barre workouts, don’t limit your options by only searching for "barre-style workouts." Who knows? You may end up falling in love with kickboxing!

3. Check out Collage Video
What if you could preview workouts, check out a full breakdown and review from certified instructors who have done the workout, and read comments from people who have already bought and tried the DVD? You can with the website Collage Video! Search by DVD title, instructor, equipment used, and fitness goals to find your ideal workout. And, if you buy it and don’t like it, they’ll take it back, no questions asked - even opened DVDs - within 30 days of purchase.

Have your own fitness tips to share? Post it in our FitSugar Community - it might even be featured on the homepage!

Jillian Michaels's Secrets to the Strongest You . . . Ever

Health — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:43:51 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

The top trainer and life guru reveals the one question that'll get you to your goal - plus the single best workout to keep you feeling great for life.
By Alison Prato

Jillian Michaels catapulted to fame as the punishing trainer who got results on The Biggest Loser and Losing It With Jillian. But the 38-year-old has always been just as interested in building confidence as she has in sculpting rock-hard abs.

It's no accident that her most recent book is Unlimited: How to Build an Exceptional Life. Everything Jillian tackles - including her recent gig as a life adviser on The Doctors, her DVDs (such as her latest, Jillian Michaels Kickbox FastFix), and her intimate podcast - is meant to help the rest of us claim a healthier, happier life.

Health.com: Get the Body You Crave With Celeb-Inspired Workouts

Sitting high in the hills of Southern California, the woman who calls everybody "buddy" is surprisingly funny and self-deprecating. And as expected, she's incredibly open, talking about her tough tween years, how she stays motivated (and how you can, too), and the dream she's fighting to make a reality.

Read the interview with Jillian after the break.

Jillian Michaels's Top 5 Snack Picks

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:20:00 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

Don't you ever wish you could take a peek in the pantry or gym of the fitness and diet pros you see on TV to see if they really practice what they preach? We do, too! That's why we asked Jillian Michaels, celebrity personal trainer, author, motivational expert, and soon-to-be mom (!), to share her top snack picks that keep her energy high on even the busiest of days.

"These snacks are quick, easy, and they all taste good. Plus they're preservative-free, contain no trans fats, MSG, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners," Michaels says.

Hummus and veggie sticks."This is an incredibly healthy snack that's filling and tasty," she says. The protein from the chickpeas in the hummus and the fiber from the veggies will keep you satisfied.

One hard-boiled egg and one piece of fruit. This combo offers an ideal proportion of healthy fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

Barbecue or sweet potato popchips. "A serving of popchips is packed with flavor and a great savory, salty crunch," Michaels raves, and the 100-calorie bags are handy for on-the-go eating.

Read on for the rest of Michaels's healthy snack picks!

More from Fitness:

The Secret to Jillian Michaels's Amazing Arms

Makeover Mania: the Best Celebrity Body Makeovers

The Top 10 Workout DVDs of 2011