descriptions and member reviews
(each review is the opinion of the reviewer only, not Babyzone or the Plus Sized Mommies board)
Walk Away The Pounds Leslie Sansone's exercize program designed for aerobic walking in the comfort and convenience of your living room. All you need is a tv and vcr or dvd player, with optional 2 pound weights (WATP sells weights, as well as an ab belt to accompany the programs, but neither is required). The 1 mile program is active enough to provide a decent, short 15 minute workout, but gentle enough to be done by those who are not terribly fit and even those with somewhat limited mobility. The 2 mile is a vigorous 30 minute program which really gets your heart pumping, burns calories, and tones. The 3 mile is even more so. Highly recommended! **If you're looking to start an exercize program and get in shape, check out the package deals on 1,2 & 3 miles together so you can work your way up.
WATP Abs superchallenge (review by Trudee) "Can u say awesome! It is so fast paced I love it! I get a nice heavy breathing going which I like to do when I exercise. i also love it because you move around and being a dance teacher that is right up my alley. It even gives your arms a great workout. My arms were a little sore the next day."
Core Secrets (review by Bobbi)"It is a great looking kit, comes with ball, pump, video & a bunch of little flyers/books with tips. All for $9.95" (at the site, $19.95 from the infomercial)
http://www.coresecrets.com/
Bun/Thighs/Body of Steel (entire series)
Exercize Lite For New Moms "A wonderful tape aimed at women who have just given birth and are attempting to restrengthen their muscles enough to be able to do regular exercize. Very simple exercizes with few reps that can be done around a baby (stop/start). They don't seem difficult enough to have any benefit but the results are very fast. It gives an exercize and then tells you how to adapt it if you've had a c-section.***This video appears to be out of print, unfortunately." --Steph
Body Flex Basically, Body Flex is a series of yoga-like stretching exercizes done with a special breathing technique that is supposed to amplify fat burning. You expell all the stored breath from your lungs and then strike and hold a stretch for as long as you can hold the lack of breath. You do very few reps of each -- usually 3. It doesn't seem like it should work, but most people who've tried it see results in toning and slimming. For more info, go to http://www.thebodyflex.com/ (site temporarily down for rebuilding) ** There was a lawsuit over the fact that BodyFlex made claims of guaranteed inch reduction. Since that cannot be guaranteed, they settled and had to offer to buy back the product from any customers. The product is still around, though (now with a strength toning bar), just with no longer making big promises.
Tony Little
Denise Austin
Billy Blanks Tae Bo
Living Arts AM/PM Yoga Gentle yoga for beginners, with the AM program being a gentle one with a focus on relaxation, and the PM being a bit more involved with deeper stretching. Great for increasing flexibility and posture. One nice feature is that you can also purchase a cd sound only version of it so that once you know the routine you don't have to watch the video --just listen to the cd wherever you want.
Sesame Street Healthy, Happy Monsters (for kids)
(written by Nissa) This is geared toward toddlers, whereas all the other ones I came across were for kids 6-8 and older. It focuses on jumping around--like a frog, like the cow who jumped over the moon, etc. And here's what I love-- there's a segment on eating your fruits and vegetables, drinking milk and getting lots of sleep! I read quite a few reviews, and almost everyone said their kids love the activity and are now asking for healthy things to eat! The DVD was 14.95 plus shipping on collagevideo.com, but I got it on amazon.com for $7.00 plus $2.49 shipping!
Shape Toning DVD
The Firm
Carmen Electra's StripTease workout
Natural Journeys and Gaiam videos
WW workout videos
Crunch videos
Biggest Loser workout video
Fat-burning Pilates for Dummies
Zone Pilates (reviewed by Michelle) ok so i did it today and oh my gosh i never knew doing like 3 minutes zone could acually work but lemme tell ya my legs arms and abs are so feeling it i could feel it while i was doing it and the cool thing is the whole thing lasted about 10 minutes way cool, just wanted to share
Equipment and gyms:
exercize bikes There are many different ones on the market. You'll want to try any before buying to see what suits you best. Some sit you upright like a classic bike, some lean you forward like a ten-speed, some move up and down, and some sit you low to the ground with your feet out in front of you (these are called recumbant bikes, and are beneficial if you have lower back problems).Also, you may want to get one with a built-in odometer so you can track your progress. Some bikes also include other features such as a heart rate monitor, calorie calculator, timer, or programs that simulate up and down hill variations in your route.
treadmills Many different ones on the market -- with as much variation in cost. The more expensive ones tend to be more sturdy and have more features. Possible features are similar to those on an exercize bike -- a built-in odometer so you can track your progress, a heart rate monitor, calorie calculator, timer, or programs that simulate up and down hill variations in your route.
eliptical machines
free weights
Curves A gym specially created for women with a focus on weight loss. (They have their own food plan and foods available, but I believe usage of them is optional.)
"All the machines are in a circle. Between each machine is a platform. So you jog, walk in place (do whatever) on the platform then a voice says "Change stations" and you get off the platform and go to the next machine.
You do that certain machine for 30 seconds, and back on another platform for 30 second. They have machines for everything! Legs, butt,shoulders, back, abs...sheesh i was sweating!!!
Anywho you complete the "circle" twice and then you stretch and your done! 30 minutes total! It was so much fun!" --Laurie
Thigh Master Despite the years of Suzanne Summers jokes, this little inexpensive piece of equipment is actually quite good. When squeezed between the knees, it tones inner and outer thighs and the glutes, and when used with the arms, it tones the upper back, chest, and arm muscles. You can get one for about $10 at Walmart.
Methods:
walking --Walking is judged to be one of the most beneficial and most gentle forms of exercize. Pushing a stroller, wearing winter boots, walking in the hills or the mall, going alone or with a friend...it is one of the most accessible exercizes as well. Try wearing a pedometer to get a better idea of how much you're actually doing. A general rule of thumb is that if you're talking while walking, you should get slightly out of breath, although ANY exercize is beneficial, so get out and WALK!
aqua aerobics
swimming
jogging
dancing
aerobics
pilates
belly dancing
tae bo
SuperSlow Protocol -- Strength training using weights slowly. In summary, you do regular weight lifting exercizes, except you only do 6 to 8 of each, doing each with a ten second count up and a ten second count down. In other words, if you were doing biceps curls, you start with weight at your side and as you SLOWLY lift to the curl, you count "one one thousand, two one thousand..." and only reach the curl by "ten one thousand". Then, return to start position just as slowly. It is intended for strength building, but can also be a big help in slimming and toning. For more information, check out http://www.superslow.com/articles/what_is_superslow_original.html or read the book about it.
The Surgeon General has reported that moderate daily exercise could significantly reduce a number of diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Some activities that burn about 150 calories - the types of exercise defined as moderate - are noted below. Activities are ranked from 'less vigorous/more time' to 'more vigorous/less time'.
Washing and waxing a car for 45 to 60 minutes
Washing windows or floors for 45 to 60 minutes
Playing volleyball for 45 minutes
Playing touch football for 30 to 45 minutes
Gardening for 30 to 45 minutes
Wheeling oneself in a wheelchair for 30 to 40 minutes
Walking 1.5 miles in 35 minutes
Basketball (shooting baskets) for 30 minutes
Bicycling 3 miles in 30 minutes
Fast social dancing for 30 minutes
Pushing a stroller 1.5 miles in 30 minutes
Raking leaves for 30 minutes
Walking 2 miles in 30 minutes
Water aerobics for 30 minutes
Swimming laps for 20 minutes
Wheelchair basketball for 20 minutes
Basketball (playing a game) for 15 to 20 minutes
Bicycling 4 miles in 15 minutes
Running 1.5 miles in 15 minutes
Shoveling snow for 15 minutes
Climbing stairs for 15 minutes
and finally....
Sitting on the toilet for 60 minutes burns about 70 calories! (hahaha)