Hello all,

I am currently doing Nutrisystem and 23 mins a day of Elliptical. But I realized I need to do also some strength/toning training. I have about 80-100 lbs to loose, so I can't do a very hard and lenghty DVD. I tried the Biggest Looser DVD First Release, but was not too convinced. Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks!

Since you are at a beginner fitness level-I would highly recommend Leslie Sansone's "Firm Up Fast Walk" dvd. You can get it at the Collage Video website, Amazon, and sometimes eBay.

The workout is 30 minutes long-and it starts with a 5 minute warm up, goes to standing strength moves (for shoulders, arms, and standing leg moves like squats and lunges), and them goes to floor moves for the legs and abdominals. She has different people in the background from beginner level to advanced. She also shows modifications for varying fitness levels.

The only equipment you would need to start, would be a light set of hand weights-I would recommend 3 pounds to start. After doing this dvd for a month or two-and it becomes easier, then it is time to bring up the hand weights to 4 pounds (this is a harder to find increment-you can get them at a fitness store like Dicks Sporting Goods) and then later on to 5 pounds. As the floor leg exercises become easier to do, you can advance it by buying a pair of ankle weights. However-put them on when you start the floorwork segment-do not wear them through the warm up and standing portion of the workout! (I always stop women I see powerwalking with ankle weights on-because they are only meant for strength exercises!!!)

The key to getting fitter is to keep adding weight and advancing yourself-not using the same weights...add as you get stronger.

Let me know how you like it!
Aphil

Kathy Smith Lift Weights to Lose Weight plus any of her others but the first one is a great one to start with. If I remember correctly, it's 20 minute lower body, 20 minute upper body and 5/10 minutes abs and it's broken down so you can do one at a time or the whole workout together or the lower with the abs or upper with the abs.

Rachelle

I really, really, really like TamiLee Webb's "The Science of Fitness with Tamilee - I Want That Body!" dvd. There are 6 workouts on it. There are workouts for abs, arms, and buns, and each of those areas is divided into two 15-minute segments - for a total or 1.5 hours of workouts. I started out doing the beginning level of each only and now change it up many ways. I really see results with this program. For toning I also LOVE Winsor Pilates Buns& Thighs. It's 20 minutes long and is oddly relaxing yet intense for me?? I don't think I'll ever stop using either of these dvd's.

I also love Tamilee Webb's I Want That Body dvd.

I like Kathy Smith's Lift Weights To Lose Weight WORKOUT (as in the routine) but I can't do the dvd because I can't stand HER.

(I am one of those people where certain instructors annoy me. )

Aphil - you may like "Denise Austin: Personal Training System" because you have the option of turning Denise Austin's voice off! I like her, I think she's cute.

GCG, you may enjoy something from the QuickFix series (on Amazon, just search for "Quickfix"). They are usually 3 10 minute workouts. There is dancing, yoga, pilates, etc... all with different instructors.

I have that dvd.

Amazing...Denise I like...but Kathy Smith makes me want to pull my ears off...especially her belly dancing *cough* workout...being a dance instructor, I was appalled that she taught a belly dance workout when she isn't a dancer, and secondly-when she has no rhythm (can't hear the beat of the music and stay with it) She also "howls" too much during her workouts.