FitSugar

3 More Fitness DVDs Reviewed by Our Readers

FitSugar — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 04:00:34 PST

For the eighth challenge of the Get Fit For 2011 giveaway, we're asking you to review a fitness DVD or workout - tell us why you love it or why you'd leave it. Besides getting the chance to win some fantastic prizes, you'll also be sharing valuable information with the FitSugar Community. Check out what readers are saying about these workouts from trainers Shiva Rea, Denise Austin, and Shape magazine.

Yoga Shakti with Shiva Rea - FitSugar reader shaneelyse loves that she can personalize her workout with Shiva Rea's Yoga Shakti DVD by using the matrix to pick and chose poses. The DVD is set in India and the Maldives, but what's even more inspiring than the scenery, she writes, is "Shiva Rea's instruction. It is clear and concise, and the practices, which range from advanced beginner/intermediate to very challenging, are filled with options and modifications."
Shape: Ultimate Bikini Body Workout - sleepydean was pleasantly surprised by Shape's bikini body DVD. She found the trainer is tough but likable and explained: "I have various other circuit type training DVDs but this one changes things up with cardio bursts that I haven't seen before."
Denise Austin Fat-Blasting Yoga - ladyboarder9669 likes how Denise keeps the workout moving: "I think it's perfect for the intermediate yogi. It doesn't have too advanced poses but great poses that help you work up a sweat by the end of the workout."

Be sure to share your DVD review in our Get Fit For 2011 group to enter our weekly giveaway of a $100 Nike gift card and a chance to win our grand prize - a four-day fitness boot camp in LA, which includes a nutritional consultation with the C&J Nutrition team!

Move It at Home: Denise Austin - Shrink Your Female Fat Zones

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:06:35 PST

I don't know if Denise Austin is a powerhouse or an exercise fiend on crack. Nevertheless, I have got to hand it to her - she really keeps you moving. There is something about her manic manner that is equal parts frightening and entertaining. My theory is to use whatever means necessary to keep the DVD on the screen and your body moving.

At the end of this 40 minute work out you really feel like you have worked your female fat zones (arms, back, abs, hips and backside) and you know for certain where you are going to be sore. The work out moves quickly between body parts, so it is hard to get bored with it even with multiple viewings. I believe her mantra might just be "You will have the sexy looking arms you always wanted" since she says the phrase repeatedly through out the work out. Her optimism and over the top positive energy are encouraging and almost make up for the boring unmotivational music.

My one serious complaint is that at least half of the work out relies heavily on exercises using a physio ball. For many of the exercises there really aren't variations you can do without a ball. You will also need 5 to 8 pound hand weights. Boy does Denise come up with some great things to do with them.

Try it before you buy it and put it on your Netflix queue. Or buy it from from Amazon for $9.99.

Exclusive! Proactiv Names Jurnee Smollett Its Newest Spokesperson

Jaime Richards — Tue, 01 May 2012 06:00:00 PDT

You might remember her as Michelle Tanner's feisty friend Denise on Full House or as hard-working high school student Jess Merriweather in Friday Night Lights, and now actress, singer, and activist Jurnee Smollett has landed a new role: Proactiv's newest spokesperson. Jurnee, who has battled acne since she was 10 years old, admits she tried just about everything, from facial treatments to doctors appointments to peels, before she had the consistent success she has found with Proactiv.

"It goes back to a few months before I was getting married," she explains. "I was shooting Friday Night Lights in Austin, [and with] the humidity, the great Texas food, the hormones, and the stress of me planning the wedding, my skin was freaking out." Although frustrated, Jurnee felt her complexion issues added a realistic element to her character. "I kept telling myself, "'I'm playing a 16-year-old high student. It's OK; high school students break out,'" she reveals. "But no one wants to break out, whether you're a teenager or not!" See the rest of Jurnee's story now.

Locker Room Beauty Fixes in a Flash

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:00:00 PDT

I often love the way I look after a nice hard workout. The problem is that when I am working out at lunch, the "I've just sweat buckets" look doesn't always mesh with a post workout meeting with my boss.

Fitness Magazine consulted with workout diva Denise Austin on her own personal locker room beauty tips that make going from sweaty to sweet in minutes. Here are highlights:

Problem: Ponytail Crease
Fix: To prevent a ridge from forming mid-length, pull hair into a high ponytail and secure with a fabric holder instead of a tight elastic. "When you take hair down, it'll have extra volume," says Austin.
Problem: Flaky Skin
Fix: Avoid deodorant soap during your post-workout shower. Opt for a gentle body wash or simply rinse with water.

There are more easy tips so

Problem: Flushed Cheeks
Fix: Tone down red cheeks with a blast of cool air from a blow-dryer, then apply moisturizer to soothe skin. "Skip foundation and let your natural rosy glow shine through," says Austin.
Problem: Melted Mascara
Fix: Remove smudges with a cleansing cloth. "Then curl lashes to revitalize the mascara that's still on," says Austin.

If you have a good locker room beauty tip, share it in the comments section below.

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