Fit Mom in Barrhaven

One of my goals with Fit Mom in Barrhaven is to help get people MOVING! Realistically, having a personal trainer or a gym membership is not available to everyone.  Even if you are fortunate to have these things at your disposal there are days when you can’t get to the gym or see your personal trainer.  That’s when exercise video’s come to the rescue!

I’m a big fan of exercise video’s and think that having a variety at hand is a great tool.  There’s something to be said about popping in a DVD and having someone else take you through a workout, being able to shut of your brain and zone into the moves at hand.  Video’s are relatively inexpensive and can often be purchased for around $10, especially if you find them on sale.  With some basic Dumbbells at home you can also add some resistance work into your workout videos too.

The ideal workout library, would have a cardio like DVD (like The Biggest Loser’s Cardio Max), and one with some form of resistnece work in it (like Jillian Michael’s SHRED, or Ripped in 30).  If you can add a yoga DVD in there to for some flexibility, you will have one well rounded home workout collection.

I started MOVING two years ago with Jillian’s Michael’s SHRED in my basement.  20 min!  I could do 20 min, no matter how busy or tired, or what excuses I dreamed up I could and would find 20 min to do my DVD.  In fact, my husband I did it together, which was very amusing.  I remember those early days well, my legs felt like there were going to sieze up in one minute of jumping jacks, and I heard the oh so lovely sounds of my back fat slapping together.  It was like my body was giving me a high five for working out!  (not a high five I enjoyed).  I then added in some Bob Harper Cardio, and  fell in love with his voice.  To this day I will do anything Bob tells me to do even if it involves Burpees!  My favorite line from his Yoga Warrior DVD is when he says “I just love it when fit people start breathing like that!” SWOON!

So for those of you looking to add exercise video’s into your regime here are some tips to keep in mind:

• you need to mix it up, you can’t do the same video session after session and get results, your body is smart and get’s used to it.  That’s why video’s like Jillian’s Shred are great, as there are levels that you can progress through
• Watch the instructor’s form, and use proper technique and form to avoid injury.  If you can watch the video while enjoying a tea to preview the moves before breaking into your first sweaty session with it.
• stretch after your video session, not all video’s have a great stretching session at the end
• Refer back to this post on “how much you should be exercising” with guidelines for how much cardio and resistance training you should be aiming for.  Use exercise video’s and other forms of exercise to reach these guidelines.

Do you have a favorite exercise video? Why don’t you share it in the comments or on our Facebook Page.