not so much any particular video
as it was consistency, and doing the videos one loves is the easiest way to exercise consistently! So, keeping that in mind, some thoughts on videos that have made a real difference in my weight loss efforts (50 pounds and counting):
Kathy Kaehler's A New Dimension and KV's Your Personal Best both helped me transition from beginner workouts. The celebrities' contributions to the workout aren't so great, but the workouts themselves are solid circuit training, alternating strength and cardio segments. Both tapes helped me move beyond just moving at all (a la Richard Simmons or Leslie Sansone , who are both great people with whom to start out!) These two workouts helped me move into doing both weight training and cardio...
KV's Energy Sprint helped build my cardio endurance, so I could exercise for longer periods. I started out doing this tape on the floor, without a step.
Kari's United Steps taught me step, basically. I was lost with step choreo before I found this tape, and thanks to US, I was able to move on to Cathe. Kari is a fantastic teacher, has a natural talent for it, IMHO!
That said, I really like floor better than step, so any of Kari's Great Moves series or Christi's SJ or THC are great for people learning complex hi/lo choreo. Both Kari and Christi are great teachers, and if you hang in with them, you'll eventually be dancing in your living room. With them, exercise doesn't feel like a chore, but is just FUN! (Yeah! Endorphins!)
Cathe's MIS taught me good form for weight lifting, though I've had to modify a few of her holds to better suit my shoulders. It can be done with just dumbells, but you'll obviously have to modify without a step or a barbell. Solid strength building here!
Firm Super Body Sculpt is fantastic for strength days when you're time crunched. It's so well paced and scripted that I don't have to pause with the remote like I do most Firms.
KV's Pilates (Body Reform) series , especially the Abs and Back tape are great for "light" days when you're just not up to cardio or strength, but want to do something, anything, to stay in the groove.
That said, the Yoga Zone Beginner's series (especially Conditioning and Stress Release ) has helped me enormously when I felt overwhelmed and wanted to revert to overeating as a coping mechanism. I'd recommend these tapes or Crunch Candlelight Yoga to anyone looking to round out their weekly rotation. Relaxation is an important part of weight loss, too!
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