Workout videos/DVDs: pros and cons

Camy

Camy

New member
Hey everybody,
I was watching TV today and saw the ads for some DVDs that help you work out (the ones I saw and interested me were dance videos, called "dance tutorials" but I guess any video/DVD that makes you do sports in front of the TV/computer screen are pretty much the same).
Up until now I have worked out in a gym (not quite consistently, but usually either swimming for an hour or cardio for half an hour and then swimming for another half), but I think it must be convenient to have some workout to do at home.
I really want to get to my goal in a few months, because I have some events and travelling to do then, so I want to up my exercise a notch, I will introduce some weight training, but because I live in a country where gyms are very few, I can't be sure I will always find a spot in the gym to work out. And they only have 1 elliptical which is my favourite cardio...

So for those who have tried workout DVDs or videos, did you like it? What did you and what did you not like about them?
Would you recommend any? Why? Why not?

Thank you so much for helping me, Camy
 
Here's what I view as the pros & cons as compared to going to a gym.

Pro:
No travel time, you do the workout at home.
Most are easily broken into chunks of whatever time you want to go for.
Easy investment - buy once, use forever. (Caveat: see the boredome con).
Can do them any time - even 3AM when the gym is closed.

Con:
My living room doesn't have enough room for some of them.
Can be harder to ratchet up the intensity - there's no resistance/incline setting the way there is on an elliptical or treadmill.
Boredom - do the same tape a billion times and I get tired of it. You can buy more/different tapes but they're not free.
Some of them want you to get extra equipment.

Overall I liked them, but after a while started getting really tired of the ones I had. When I started to go to the gym to do weight lifting, I just did my cardio there (Although I was doing HIIT to avoid some of the boredom issues).
 
Another con I'd add is that sometimes it can be difficult to mimic what they're doing. You know, those little things that you're like "Wait, what?" Usually they explain what they're doing, but once and a while you're thrown off track.


I recommend to ANYBODY who wants to try work out videos and has never before, to go to YouTube and try out ones they have there. They're free, obviously, so you don't have to pay any money to see if you'd like it, and you can easily pick a focus. The downside is that it may be hard finding longer workouts. But... it's free! You can pick two or three videos to do together in a row, and choose which are your favorite.
 
a few years ago i used to use workout videos...my two favorite ones were taebo which i loved (it's a kick a$$ workout) and another called walk away the pounds (but that was more for beginners since i was sooo unfit). but these days there's lots of choices like the dance/aerobic type ones that i'm thinking of buying.

i think everyone above has done a pretty good job of explaining the pros and cons so i'll try not to repeat any of the above. maybe just have one or two for starters and see if it's something you can do in the long-term then you can keep adding later on. or otherwise as wild vulpix suggested try the free ones first and decide from then if you'll buy some or if its not for you.

i still have my dvd's the only reason i don't use them at the moment is because the house i'm in currently has old wooden floors that creak REALLY loudly, and i wouldn't want to announce to the entire household i'm working out...but if i was living in my own place would probably do them a few times a week on the days i don't go to the gym because it would be a nice change.

my recommendations? TAEBO by billy blanks! all the best xoxo
 
I used to like em

I have used several over time. Taebo being one of my favorites.

Big downfalls for me were the same as most, got pretty boring and pretty easy, so I ended up modifying it to continue getting results. Ultimately, I would like it, I would use it for awhile, then quit.

*side note* One thing I did find awesome was ripping just the audio out of the workout DVD's and making an MP3. Then after the video got boring, I would put the audio on my MP3 player and go do my workout in the park. Sure, lots of people gawked at me doing taebo or other workouts in public, but it sure wasn't boring anymore. The fact I had doen the video so many times made following just the audio no problem. No video needed. This also worked well for traveling.

Now instead of videos I am hooked on the Wii. Much more of an investment, but I consider it almost as much value as my gym membership (past month I have used the Wii more than I used the gym in 3 months in fact). I use the My Fitness Coach game (though not really a game at all) twice everyday. Other then the music already getting boring (once again MP3 player to the rescue), every time I do a different workout, cardio/core/upperbody/lowerbody/flexibility but it can also work with or without steps, ball, hand weights and heart rate monitor. And even if you did cardio every workout, it wouldn't be the same as the day before. Also it is designed so you do not need a large space. I work out on a carpet in my living room, 8 foot by 4 foot, and I got a couch poking into that space even. No problem. More than ample.

Fear not folks!! I don't work for Nintendo, not trying to plug the system, but for me it is way more effective and interesting so far than any workout video I ever did. Not having a fixed series of movements every single time just feels more like a workout to me. I haven't been to the gym or on a treadmill anywhere in a month, yet I have been doing 2 X 45 minute workouts a day with the Wii and I am down 7Kg in the past 3 weeks....

I will keep going and let y'all know how it goes later.

sirant
 
sirant said:
Now instead of videos I am hooked on the Wii. Much more of an investment, but I consider it almost as much value as my gym membership (past month I have used the Wii more than I used the gym in 3 months in fact). I use the My Fitness Coach game (though not really a game at all) twice everyday. Other then the music already getting boring (once again MP3 player to the rescue), every time I do a different workout, cardio/core/upperbody/lowerbody/flexibility but it can also work with or without steps, ball, hand weights and heart rate monitor. And even if you did cardio every workout, it wouldn't be the same as the day before. Also it is designed so you do not need a large space. I work out on a carpet in my living room, 8 foot by 4 foot, and I got a couch poking into that space even. No problem. More than ample.

Fear not folks!! I don't work for Nintendo, not trying to plug the system, but for me it is way more effective and interesting so far than any workout video I ever did. Not having a fixed series of movements every single time just feels more like a workout to me. I haven't been to the gym or on a treadmill anywhere in a month, yet I have been doing 2 X 45 minute workouts a day with the Wii and I am down 7Kg in the past 3 weeks....

I will keep going and let y'all know how it goes later.

sirant
Click to expand...

Thank you for this! I actually have My Fitness Coach too, though I get terribly worn out just from the 15 minute sessions (out of shape much?). Sometimes I doubt it, but it's nice to hear you say something good of it! I prefer it over a work out video because you can pick what you want to do and, like you said, the game switches things up for you.

I bought it like a month ago, used it once, stopped, and I started again the past few days. I was wondering... Do you know how to change your stats? (Weight and inches.) Does she just ask you for new ones every week or after x amount of work outs?
 
Weeeeeeeee!

Wild Vulpix said:
Thank you for this! I actually have My Fitness Coach too, though I get terribly worn out just from the 15 minute sessions (out of shape much?). Sometimes I doubt it, but it's nice to hear you say something good of it! I prefer it over a work out video because you can pick what you want to do and, like you said, the game switches things up for you.

I bought it like a month ago, used it once, stopped, and I started again the past few days. I was wondering... Do you know how to change your stats? (Weight and inches.) Does she just ask you for new ones every week or after x amount of work outs?
Click to expand...

Every 10-12 or so workouts you do a new fitness evaluation. There you update all the stats once again, so keep the measuring tape handy. That's honestly the most annoying feature for me, since I do 2 workouts a day, I am having to do new evaluations every week. I usually just skip through them though. I want to work out, not count push ups and thigh size every week.

And I know ALL about the 15 minute burnout. That was me at the beginning. I started out with 1 X 15 minute workout a day, then some stretching or yoga on my own in the evening. Then it was 30, then a 30 and a 15 later, then 45 in the morning and 15 later, etc. Now on my 54th workout I am doing a 45 minute cardio session 6 mornings a week and a 30 minute alternating core/upper/lower/yoga workout in the evening. Sore as hell, but feeling great.

Also interesting, I got it, used it a few times and stopped at first too. But now its got me hooked. Keep it up! I am actually making videos of every 10th workout to keep track. First ones look bad... REALLY bad...... Hopefully around 100 they will look awesome!

Keep it up!
 
Ohhh, I LOVE the Wii!
My parents have it (rather my 14 year old brother) and I just have so much fun with it. I loved the sports games although they do not work you out too hard (wii tennis, wii boxing, etc...especially wii golf), then we had a Wii Fit for a while, but I was only home for a few days then, so I didn't get to properly use it.
But my absolute favourite is guitar hero. My arms ache so badly after sessions and I am sure I would like dance dance revolution too...
In Ghana a Wii is nto in the realm of possibilities, we do not even have a TV, just a laptop, but maybe once I am back... actually once we are back in the first world, I definitely want to get a Wii!!

Thank you so much everyone, I guess I am not losing anything by buying one DVD, if it works well, that is good and I can buy more later, if it doesn't I have only lost like 10 euros.
Camy
 
I like Jillian Michaels' DVDs...I've just done the 30 Day Shred workout, which only requires a pair of hand weights...it's circuit training. Three circuits with strength training, cardio and weight training in each. there's three levels with increasing difficulty and intensity. I liked 'em a lot, but didn't do the video every day. It was a supplement to my regular, in the gym workout...like I'd do the gym three days a week and the video twice, or vice versa. I'm about to start Jillian's "Banish Fat Boost Metabolism" DVD...
 
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