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GET YOUR BODY BACK WITH THE BEST WORKOUT DVDS

Gym memberships can be expensive. And once you have the membership,
you actually have to get up and go to the gym. Sometimes it’s easier just
to pop in a DVD in the comfort of your own living room, with no crowds,
no journey, no scrambling for a sitter or a kid clinging to your leg as you
attempt to drop her in the childcare room—it’s just you and your TV.

According to Fabio Comana, an exercise physiologist with the American
Council on Exercise, sometimes a workout video can be more helpful than taking
a class at your local gym. “A quality video breaks down the exercises in segments, teaching part to whole—a rarity as most group fitness instructors lack the biomechanical knowledge to fully understand the biomechanics of movement involved,” he says. He adds that it’s totally possible to see great results solely from using fitness videos—as long as you stick to it. “Any form of activity will demonstrate results if it is appropriate and followed progressively,” Comana says. He also recommends that you “dedicate set times to exercise and ideally find participants to join you. This has to be scheduled and agreed upon or else you are likely to push it back and potentially skip it all together. Structure extrinsic rewards at the start to recognize accomplishments—treat yourself to something nice, perhaps even purchasing a new video for your library.”

Here are our 10 favorite workout DVDs (in no particular order) that will get your heart pumping and your muscles working and on track for a great year of exercise.

1. Barry’s Bootcamp
Barry’s Bootcamp videos guarantee results in 30 days—and from what we hear, they’re great. The system is designed around what trainer-to-the-stars Barry Jay calls focused interval training, or FIT. Basically, you do each boot camp exercise for just one minute each, helping you burn nine times more fat than you normally would. Believe it or not, his peppy drill sergeant attitude is actually kind of fun. The workout has been covered by a variety of fitness magazines, and celebrities like Katie Holmes, Nicollette Sheridan and Taye Diggs are all fans, so we think it’s worth a shot!
($59, Barry's Bootcamp Complete Workout System, www.amazon.com)

2. Crunch workout videos
If you’ve ever been to a fitness class at a Crunch gym, you know the loud music, bright lights and crazy themes (African tribal dancing, pole dancing, etc.) make you totally forget you’re working out. Their videos continue the tradition. With titles like “Crunch Latin Rhythms,” “Burn and Firm Pilates” and “Butt, Belly and Thighs Boot Camp,” there is sure to be something that covers the body parts you want to work out and gets you a custom-tailored routine—and the conga drums and higher production value make these workouts something you’ll actually look forward to doing.
($12.99, Crunch Latin Rhythms; $10.99, Crunch Burn and Firm Pilates; $12.99, Crunch Butt, Belly and Thighs Boot Camp; www.amazon.com)

3. 10 Minute Solution series
When you can barely find time to wash your hair, let alone work out, the 10 Minute Solution workouts are a great way to squeeze exercise in without taking up too much of your day. “Rapid Results Pilates” tones your core—believe me, you feel the burn in those 10 minutes—and over time, helps you develop that lean and long Pilates look. If you’re looking for something more upbeat, try the “Fat Blasting Dance Mix.”
($11.42, www.buy.com)

4. Dance Off the Inches: Hip Hop Party
If you want to work up a sweat and learn some new dance moves, check out “Dance Off the Inches: Hip Hop Party.” But be forewarned, the title does not lie: There’s a lot of pop-locking, body rolling and hip swiveling, so be prepared to actually dance. If you’re a two-left-feet kind of chick, don’t worry—each move is carefully broken down into step-by-step instructions, which should help even those of us who are severely rhythm challenged.
($10.78, www.tower.com)

5. Jillian Michaels—30 Day Shred
From the trainer with the best record on The Biggest Loser, the “30-Day Shred” has gained something of a cult following, and it’s easy to understand why. Michael’s no-nonsense yet motivational attitude builds your confidence as you burn away the calories. The video claims you can lose up to 20 pounds in 30 days if you follow the workout and the diet. What we like most is that the workouts are challenging, but easy to follow—no super-complicated moves to learn, and everything can be modeled to your fitness level.
($5.09, www.hotmoviesale.com)

6. Gin Miller’s Build Up Your Muscles
Fans of Gin Miller—and there’s a lot of them—say she’s one of the best at-home fitness instructors there is; she’s motivational, funny and not intimidating. The video includes four different 50-minute workouts that use dumbbells, resistance tubs, weighted toning balls, and ankle and arm weights to target different parts of the body. Since building muscle tissue helps you burn fat even when at rest, this is a great routine to try on its own or to complement your aerobic regimen.
($24.95, www.ginmiller.com)

7. S.W.A.T. Workout
Although the S.W.A.T. Workout series might seem a little cheesy at first glance—okay, and during all subsequent glances—people swear by the results. Led by Tom Stroup, the video claims the key to its high success rate is “after burn,” which keeps your metabolism up throughout the day. The interval workout will have you mixing super-simple (in theory, not in physical exertion, per se) moves like mountain climbers and boxing with cardio and abs. Results are supposedly guaranteed (and sexy abs and maximum fat loss are touted as well), so what do you have to lose—besides inches?
($9.99, www.tower.com)

8. Billy Blanks’ Tae Bo: Cardio Circuit 1
There was a reason Tae Bo was so popular in the ’90s: It’s fun, works up a sweat like no other and makes you achy in a way that leaves you wanting more. While Tae Bo strengthens the core, tones all over and works up the heart rate to calorie-burning levels, it can be pretty intimidating. That’s why “Cardio Circuit 1” is a good place to start: It gives you all those benefits in a manageable way—and you’re under the instruction of super-supportive and encouraging Billy Blanks. Once you master this video, move on to some of Blanks' more advanced workouts.
($17.99, www.amazon.com)

9. Get Ripped! with Jari Love: Get Ripped 1000
Who doesn’t want to burn 1,000 calories in an hour? Jari Love is known for her easy-to-follow but super-effective workouts, and “Get Ripped 1000” combines elements of all previous videos into one. Using varying exercises for the arms, abs, legs and every other part of your body in alternating sets of reps (modified for your fitness level, of course), Love keeps you moving and challenged throughout the entire workout. While this video is targeted for intermediate to advanced fitness levels, all moves can be modified, and it gives you a goal to work toward.
($9.99, www.buy.com)

10. Yoga for Weight Loss—Beginner & Beyond
Fans of “Yoga for Weight Loss—Beginner & Beyond” love that the video is divided into three sections, each with multiple workouts and of different lengths, that fit both your fitness level and your ever-changing daily schedule. If you’re a beginner, “Yoga for Weight Loss” will teach you the basic poses and breathing behind them, and will then grow with you as your strength and flexibility increase. There’s even a section that uses light weights and resistance bands to help you really get a good workout in. Bonus: It’s shot in Antigua, so it’s pretty to look at, too.
($11.49, www.cduniverse.com)

—Erin Scottberg

Erin Scottberg is a writer, photographer and graphic designer based in Brooklyn. She's currently the research editor at Popular Mechanics magazine and also writes for Lemondrop.com. Visit www.erinscottberg.com to learn more.

Fabio Comana’s Top Tips for Choosing the Right DVD for You

	Choose an activity that you enjoy doing.
	The equipment and exercises taught should be easy to teach and easy to follow.
	Choosing a workout that requires minimal equipment increases the likelihood that you’ll actually do it.
	The video should also show variation or progression on how you can modify the program as you improve.
	The content should be developed by a credible fitness professional, not solely a celebrity fitness trainer—usually they lack appropriate levels of academic knowledge to teach effectively.