Are step aerobics any fun? Etc.
 

HI guys! I've been trying to find some new exercises for rainy days and the winter months.

I was wondering if step aerobics was any good? Is it fun at all?

What about the stability ball? Is that mostly for toning or is it cardio too? I'm so lost! LOL

And what is up with Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds?!! Do you need to have a treadmill? Can you just do it in your living room??

Can anyone give me any ideas for some fun things to try? I don't have the money for a gym membership or fancy home equipment.

Well, I can't help ya on the stability ball question (I have one, but I think I've only used it once--my balance isn't so great), but I can tell you that for me, step aerobics are just as fun as you make them. I have one of the mini stair-stepper things and a step, so I like to put on some very upbeat music or even a movie or a good tv show and just go at it.

Also, for the WATP, you don't need a treadmill or anything, and not even that much space in your living room. You can add free weights, ankle weights, etc, if you like, but it's not necessary. She does things like knee lifts and kicks and side steps, all very basic moves. There are a few out with a bit of variety built in, like the Walk & Jog (which I like--I can really tell a difference when doing the intervals), but otherwise they're pretty basic.

Oh! And have you tried any of the Crunch! Fitness videos? I've always found them to be pretty good--not too annoying or hard to follow, but still enough to make me sweat. My favorite is an older one called Fat-Burning Yoga (really!). It makes you sweat and stretch all at the same time. And since it's older, it's VHS, which means it's cheap!

Also, you might want to see if your library or local video store has workout videos you can try before you buy, so you don't spend money only to end up hating it. Or trade with some friends. Or try eBay.

Hope this helps!
~Elisha

My local Wal-Mart had the Leslie Sansone DVDs for 9.95, also the step was available there and the stability balls and a variety of different dumbbells, toning cords.

also, check out your local salvation army store, MANY people donate their older equipment and tapes for them to re-sell.

If you get Discovery Channel, FIT-TV has a variety of programs to watch/work-out with to see how things are done. I'm a big Cathe Fredriche fan, she uses the step and wts. combined.

I just took a Step class last night for the first time in years and it was a lot of fun. It was a beginner class but I really worked up a sweat. Give it a try.

I always swear by the WATP because I'm so uncoordinated that it's about the only video I can keep up with, since it's based on walking, something I can do naturally. LOL

I have a small livingroom, but if I push the coffee table out of the way, there is just enough room to do her videos. For the double side steps and walking forward and back, I just go at an angle so as to maneuver around the recliner. ;)

Some of her tapes use some additional equipment (like a stretchie, her own special ab belt, or hand/leg weights), but she makes sure you know that they are NOT a requirement. You can still do the moves without the equipment. And she generally has one person on her video doing them without the equipment so you can follow that individual. The same with the Walk and Jog tapes, she gives you one individual to follow if you don't feel up to doing the jogging part right off. I like the Walk & Jog as well, and the Walk & Kick. They're ones I can actually do during pregnancy since they're so short (30 minutes).