[heather_dw]

I was in the market for a new exercise DVD but there are so many out there!

Someone recommended tai chi but I thought I would ask my 100# club pals what they thought?

Im just getting back into the swing of things,, did my leslie one mile yesterday and got in over a half mille today in before hubby got home and interrupted me..

so,.. any suggestions on workout dvd's for the bigger person who is just getting back into things?

Thanks in advance

[taekwondomom]

I have a yoga video that I love, "Yoga For Absolute Beginners". I found it at Wal-Mart a year or so ago for $5.50, haven't seen it there since but the DVD's are available on the website.
Here's a link-->http://askyogimarlon.com/dvd.html
I also really like Tae Bo-->http://www.taebo.com
I have a bellydance video too which would be really good for a getting started work out as it's non impact and easy to do. It's called Bellydance for Beginners with Neena and Veena-->http://www.bellytwins.com
My favorite way to try out new videos is to borrow them from the library. That way you can try them out for free, my library lets you have vidoes for 7 days, before you buy them.

[synger]

I second the Tae Bo and the Bellydance ones. I also use the Leslie Sansone walking ones, the Firm Basics, and Pilates for Dummies. I have one that is just stretching, and they have standing, seated, and floor stretching, so you can do the one that fits you best.

My older tapes include A New You with Linda Evans. It's an absolute beginner tape, led by a positive, wonderfully easy to follow leader (I forget her name). It's in three parts, so you can do as much or little as you are up to. And they have people of all ages and sizes exercising, including one who is heavy, and doing a lot of arm and leg modifications to show you what you can do if you can't do the higher-level stuff. I learned a LOT from this video, even though it's not in my regular cycle of videos any more. But I took what I learned and am able to modify other videos now without feeling completely graceless and clueless.

I found I like dancy workouts, so most of my regular ones focus on that. Afro-Brazilian Cardio from the Method is fun, but the leader sucks. If you need precise, follow-able instructions, skip it. If you just want to move to some wonderful drumming, and like it a bit more free-flowing, go for it.

I also like Donna-Mite, which has a lot of 60s rock. She's definitely a dancer, but she's so easy to follow and does the routines step by step until all of a sudden you realize you're doing the whole combination, and the song is done. Time flies with this one.

I have the obligatory Richard Simmons tape. Sweating to the Oldies 3, I think. It's an intermediate tape, and sometimes I can't do the whole thing. But he's easy to follow and very encouraging, and he's got people of ALL sizes there with him. The music is wonderful. If you don't find him annoying and want to squish him, then I'd recommend at least one of his tapes.

Hmm. I have a bunch of them, but I can't think of more off the top of my head. I haven't been using them much in the last year.

The absolute BEST place to shop for exercise videos is http://www.collagevideo.com They have people who actually DO the videos, and they tell you exactly what to expect. You can sort for type of exercise, level, equipment, everythign. The "Not Sure Where to Start" box in the upper left of their home page gets you into a nice search feature.

And you don't have to buy from them, of course. But if you're like me, and leary of spending your money on a video that you don't know you'll be able to do and aren't sure is your style, you may want to look up things here, get some ideas, and then take your list to Wal-mart or Borders or your local sporting goods store. A lot of video rental places also have a small selection of exercise videos. That's what I did when I wanted a Richard Simmons tape. I rented a couple of his to find out which one didn't make me want to squish him. *grins*

Good luck with your video choices. It can be a lot of fun.

[satylite]

Chiming in with more tae bo love here. I'm just getting back into it, but a few years ago I was doing tae bo about 3x a week for cardio. I couldn't believe the difference it made, and I found even the 8 minute abbreviated version to be effective when I didn't have time for a proper 30 or 40 minutes. Tae bo also makes me feel like a badass and it's a great way to get out stress for me.

On the other end of the spectrum, my boyfriend and I just started doing tai chi about a month ago, and I love it. It really is a very gentle exercise for the most part (some of the poses are a little difficult, but with anything they'll come in time as we become more flexible). I find that tai chi is very, very centering for me, and it really relaxes my mind as well as exercises my body. The DVD we use is David Carradine's Tai Chi Workout for Beginners, which also includes an entire section on chi kung (qiqong). I've done both, and enjoy each very much.

As far as yoga goes, I can't say enough about Rodney Yee. I love, love, love him, and just listening to his voice relaxes me! I did his AM Yoga for years, since back before I had a DVD player. Sadly, my VCR finally ate my tape, and I have yet to replace it with a DVD. It got to the point where I didn't even do the yoga in the morning for exercise, I did it just to clear my head and get ready to start the day.

I'll occasionally throw in a Richard Simmons DVD too, if I'm in a mood where I can tolerate the perky. Also, his workouts? Not so easy sometimes. I've been thinking about picking up a bellydance workout, but I don't know if I have too much belly right now.

[heather_dw]

well,.. the tae bo, all the kicking and waving your legs in the air was just not working for me.
The tai chi is described on amazon as yoga and I have the leslie of yoga and there is not any way I can do at least one of the poses.. Pilates.. well thats not happening :-(

[AllieNVegas]

I have several of the Leslie Sansone walking DVDs ( Walk Away the Pounds, Brisk Walk, & Walk the Walk). I started out at 1 mile a week. I am presently doing 7 miles a week with the DVDS.

[synger]

I have the leslie of yoga and there is not any way I can do at least one of the poses.. Pilates.. well thats not happening

AM/PM Yoga, or Yoga for Beginners, as well as Pilates for Dummies are very basic tapes that can ease you into it. I can definitely relate to "no way I can do those poses" idea. I've taken a yoga class. Once. I tried so hard, and ended up in tears, and my knees hurt for days afterward. My belly got in the way, and my body just wasn't used to moving that way. And I never returned to a classroom setting for yoga.

But in retrospect, and as I've learned more about the practice of yoga, the goal should be to stretch YOUR body closer to position. I was trying to stretch my body into the exact position the instructor was showing. No way. There are things you can use with yoga -- blocks, straps, and blankets -- that help recalcitrant bodies get closer to the right position. There are many ways you can alter the initial poses to fit what your body can do right now. I've had great luck in learning some yoga poses by focusing on yoga tapes that are designed for older people or pregnant women.

There's even a video tape -- Yoga for Round Bodies -- especially designed for overweight people to begin learning yoga. It uses the easier poses, and introduces the ideas of yoga in an encouraging manner.

Pilates is similar. I have a tape, Pilates for Dummies, that is basic Pilates floorwork. At first it reminded me painfully of middle school gym classes, with leg lifts and such. And there's no way I could do some of them easily. But the instructor gives easier modifications on some of the exercises. And even if I can't do 10 of the repetitions, if I can do two that's better than one. And next week I will be able to do three.

I like the aerobic exercise tapes. But sometimes, it's the yoga or Pilates that I reach for. My body needs to stretch. And it feels SO good. I find I am more mindful of my body in the quiet of yoga, feeling myself breathe and listening to how my body settles into a pose. It's rather a revelation to me, who has had a hate/hate relationship with my body most of my life.

So please don't give up completely on such tapes. You may find that one or two poses are very helpful for you, even if you can't do or don't wish to try some of the others.

[rabbitfood]

For something completely different... Have you seen the "Dance Dance Revolution" games in arcades? You can get them (or "In the Groove", which is an American clone) for PlayStations or X-Box. (Here is one place that sells them online, but you can find them all over. ) The sets often come with a cheap dance pad, but you can buy a better quality replacement if it doesn't last very long (my husband is actually building one). If you or someone you know is a geek, you can also download free clones of the game (Stepmania ) and make your own steps to music you already own and play the game in front of your computer. The games even have built-in settings to count how many calories you have burned. They are SO much fun and very addicting!! I still have to do the very very very simple songs, but it is a blast.

~ Marylyn

[heather_dw]

i thought about that once.. im pretty uncoordinated though..

will have to look for that on ebay or something.. im also going to look into that yoga for round bodies dvd :-)