Please advise if I should spend money on her DVDs (in your opinion). I have received lab results showing my HDL is too low and Doc wants me to do more aerobic and cardio. Are Kathy's DVDs what I need (in your opinion)?

Thanks much!!

I have several Kathy Smith videos that I use and they are quite good. I have her two timesaver videos, one for weights and one for cardio, a step video, a latin dance video, an interval training video and a step/strength training video.

A couple of good places to check out videos are www.collagevideo.com and www.videofitness.com. The last place doesn't seem to be updated as often but there is information on older videos there. Kathy Smith is a good instructor, but there are lots of them out there. Other good ones, IMHO are Charlene Prickett and Gin Miller. If you look on collage video, you can see short clips of each video and decide which is right for you. They also have reviews by people who use the videos so you can decide for yourself what is a good workout. Sometimes they are cheaper t buy at collage video. Sometiems they are cheaper at Amazon. Shop around!

As an aside, I also had the problem of having too low HDL and I was already exercising so my doctor recommended fish oil caps. They have helped me so you might ask your doctor about these and see if they might be appropriate for you. I don't have any problem with any fishy aftertaste so I am a believer.

Thank you so much! I am a believer in reviews as well as shopping around! I will check out these resources. Thanks so much!

You know, that is what baffled me so much yesterday is I am already exercising and am eating the whole foods way, so I was stumped as to why the number went down almost 10 points from last year when I wasn't eating healthy! I will do the fish oil caps. I have already been contemplating them anyway, and I know the health benefits of omega-3.

Thanks a million! I appreciate your response!

I have some Kathy Smith DVDs and videos that I like. They're a little old, but they do the trick, and she doesn't annoy me as much as many of the instructors on videos do. I do her yoga DVD every Sunday, and I have a couple of her step videos that I sometimes do as an alternative to running and elliptical. I like her basic step workout and there's also a "Great Buns and Thighs" one that I like. I found a cardio kickboxing video of hers in my closet the other day (I forgot I had it) and I did it Sunday for something different. I was really sweating, and it was fun! I'm all about variety.

If you get into step aerobics, I recommend a couple of Reebok tapes from the 90s as well -- I believe the instructor is Gin Miller. One is called Aerostep and it has some fun little combinations, and the other is the Powerstep one or something like that. Lots of jumping and hopping in that one, so it will wear you out.

Cool!! Thanks, Lisa! I will be looking for these. I appreciate the suggestions. Just starting this, I had no idea what to look for. I appreciate the response!