What "as seen on tv" work out dvds/equipment really work?!
Question: Any exercise a person does regularly will work for cardiovascular fitness. Walking for 20 minutes 3 times a week is the easiest workout avialable and you don't need to buy anything. The biggest obstacle to getting fit is usually losing interest in the exercises and quitting. So when looking for an exercise video or type of equipment, the main thing to consider is if the activity looks interesting enough that you will stick with it. Personally, i think an I-Pod is the best piece of work out equipment available since you can load it with whatever you want, and take it with you on walks. The right tunes can keep you moving without getting bored.
Answers: Any exercise a person does regularly will work for cardiovascular fitness. Walking for 20 minutes 3 times a week is the easiest workout avialable and you don't need to buy anything. The biggest obstacle to getting fit is usually losing interest in the exercises and quitting. So when looking for an exercise video or type of equipment, the main thing to consider is if the activity looks interesting enough that you will stick with it. Personally, i think an I-Pod is the best piece of work out equipment available since you can load it with whatever you want, and take it with you on walks. The right tunes can keep you moving without getting bored.
I've used the Firm and Core Rythyms, and they both worked awesome for me. I like a variety so I switch back and forth. I've tried P90X, but you've already got to be in pretty good shape for that one, but it works too. Personally, I'd go with the first two.
Any of them that you commit to and follow through with over an extended period of time. If you consistantly work out on equipment that incorporates resistance training, (Bowflex, Soloflex, etc ). you will get stronger and just the fact that your body composition is more muscle will translate to your burning more calories even at rest. If the piece of equipment is more cardiovascular or aerobic, that means using it consistantly will burn more calories during the actual workout. It will also raise your basal metabolic rate as well. What you should strive for is a way to workout that either involves repetitive low to moderate resistance movements that get your heart rate to increase, but that you eventually cannot do any more of (reach failure). This will give you the best of both aerobics and strength training. You could do this as 2 separate activities as well like running/ jumping rope/ or doing aerobics at the local gymn on some days. Then doing more strength training like lifting free weights on other days. You don't really need some special piece of equipment for this. Usually what happens with home gym celebrity-endorsed products is that they get your enthusiasm worked up thinking that working out on these machines isn't hard and that you can exercise until you look like the oiled up tanned guys/girls in the commercial in "as little as 10 min/day 3 days/week. No, they got like that because they were born with that body type maybe they work out 10 minutes 3 times/week, but all they really need to do to look like that is go to supertan. Exercising and getting in shape isn't a fair process, most people can never look like the models in the commercials. If buying a new piece of work-out gear will get you to exercise when without it you cannot be motivated, go for it. I reccommend getting something that doesn't cost a fortune and that you will be able to look at in the corner after the excitement has worn off.