Best at home video workouts?

[iwannabecrush]

I'm a beginner...absolute beginner. I want to eventually be able to do the P90x or Chalean Extreme, but I have to work up to it. For my cardio I've just been using my elliptical at home. So I was hoping to find some workout video with weights to help with the toning as I lose the fat. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you! :)

[IrkyMoto]

Although not for beginners, Cathe Friedrich is amazing! I think you can grow w/her and I believe she recently came out with beginner/intermediate videos also. For her workouts you need a step, barbell, dumbbells, and some other equipment like bands. But her videos, music, instruction is wonderful and she's not there for "fluff", she kicks your @ss! Her cardio is step, but she has a lot of interval workouts, kickboxing, etc that doesn't use a step... She also has a LOT of strength training DVDs. Her variety is endless. Go to Cathe.com to see her videos and get acquainted. She is considered one of the best in the home video market.

Irene

[iwannabecrush]

Oh ok! I'll definitely check her out. Thank you for the rec! :)

[heidismommy]

I agree with the Cathe recommendation, that is how I got my start with strength training. I actually still use some of her DVD's on occasion to switch things up. Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred is good too. Each level is shorter than Cathe's workouts and can be tailored through modifications to meet your needs. I think Jillian uses a more circuit-type approach whereas Cathe tends to be more strength oriented in her lifting videos. Both are good though. I actually think I prefer Cathe for strength (esp. Supersets and Push/Pull) and Jillian for cardio (Jillian's Banish Fat Boost metabolism video is fantastic---incorporates plyometrics, calisthenics, and kickboxing).

[iwannabecrush]

Thank you heidismommy! Very informative! I'll check the Jillian videos out as well while I'm at it. :D

[hvivona]

I'd go for the P90x, but then again I'm addicted to it:) You can modify all of the moves and use lighter weights if needed. You'll be amazed at how fast your strength increases on the program!

[heidismommy]

Thank you heidismommy! Very informative! I'll check the Jillian videos out as well while I'm at it. :D

You're welcome :).

[iwannabecrush]

Thank you Hvivona! I have been reading up about P90x, but I was just worried I'd break something at my current fitness level lol. I'm pretty much where you were at 2 years ago....I'm totally amazed by your progress and am hoping to look like you in two years! I'm 5'3 myself and right now pushing 150lbs. I think I'll try to drop ten pounds or so and then try the P90x. I tend to get easily "overdone" if I don't watch it and pull something and be out of commission for two or three weeks. I'm trying to go all the way this time and lose past my skinniest of 140. Pathetic I know. But slow and steady wins the race! :) Thanks again for the suggestion!

[momthebomb]

If you don't have a nutritional plan yet and are looking for help, P90X will be a good option for you as I'm not sure the other programs above include that...

[iwannabecrush]

Well MTB, I was kinda just thinking clean eating? I have some stuff by Tosca as well as a few websites. Is the P90x eating plan much different from that? Thanks! :)

[CATRACCOM]

I've been doing the P90x a couple times and thought I'd try something different. I got the three Jillian Michaels dvds. The 30 day is a 20 min work out and the other two are 40 mins but you can ff through the circuits. While they did make me sweat a lot, they don't have the same intensity. I went through them for a month and then gave them to my mom. They've been working out great for her. Another one you could look at is Turbo Jam. I started out with those and they were fun. I tried to get my mom to do them but she says it's too much kick boxing for her.
I got the Jillian dvds on amazon and they were pretty cheap...cheaper than Target.

[iwannabecrush]

So Catra you like the P90x better then?

I just ordered the JM Banish Fat Boost Metabolism from BN.com for $11. It'll probably be ok for me right now since I can only do 25 minutes on the elliptical before reaching exhaustion. I hope I "level up" quickly, though, so I can try the P90x soon! :) Thanks again!

[heidismommy]

So Catra you like the P90x better then?

I just ordered the JM Banish Fat Boost Metabolism from BN.com for $11. It'll probably be ok for me right now since I can only do 25 minutes on the elliptical before reaching exhaustion. I hope I "level up" quickly, though, so I can try the P90x soon! :) Thanks again!

Actually JM's Banish Fat video is quite intense and I consider myself very fit, have been working out for years. You get out of it what you put into it. Since you consider yourself a beginner you might even have to do the modifications that Jillian gives you...like you might not be able to jump at the top of a burpee and you might not be able to go as low into a squat. But give it time and that stuff will come. I don't use her BFBM video as strength, I normally do my own exercises for that as I do a body part split routine, but I love this video for cardio. I find it harder than running and harder than elliptical, but I put into it everything I have, I don't just go through the motions. There are a couple of easier circuits in that video, but as a relative newbie you'll cherish those moments, lol. If you're more advanced you can add more challenging moves during those times. Good luck!

[CATRACCOM]

So Catra you like the P90x better then?

I just ordered the JM Banish Fat Boost Metabolism from BN.com for $11. It'll probably be ok for me right now since I can only do 25 minutes on the elliptical before reaching exhaustion. I hope I "level up" quickly, though, so I can try the P90x soon! :) Thanks again!

I do but I'd been doing it for awhile before the JM. I got the Banish Fat one and the Trouble Zones one. I would do the Trouble Zones on MWF and the Banish Fat on TTh. The 30 day video wasn't my fave. I think the JM are great for a change and I'll probably steal them back from my mom when I want a break again. She's really been liking them.

[kariev34]

i agree with cathe friedrich. she just came out with STS which is a periodization program where you take your 1 rep max and then go through each meso cycle (endurance, hypertrophy, and strength) she has a program on her website to calculate your 1RM and it explains it all. it is good for all fitness levels.

[iwannabecrush]

So would Cathe be better for muscle building than cardio say? I'm really looking for two tapes...one for cardio and another for lifting to tone and whatnot. Thank you!

[heidismommy]

So would Cathe be better for muscle building than cardio say? I'm really looking for two tapes...one for cardio and another for lifting to tone and whatnot. Thank you!

I prefer Cathe for muscle building for sure.

[iwannabecrush]

Great! Thank you! I'll check out her videos for my "muscle time". :)

[whimsy]

I tried the jillian michaels dvd and jari love's get ripped. I liked Jari love's dvd a lot.

[Butterfly09]

Why can't you do Chalean Extreme? I am 46 with Fibro at 193 and can do it. You taylor the workout to you. :)

[iwannabecrush]

Well, I suppose I could give it a shot, but I'm pretty weak at the moment. I can't even do 20 pushups lol.

[CATRACCOM]

Well, I suppose I could give it a shot, but I'm pretty weak at the moment. I can't even do 20 pushups lol.

You know that doesn't matter. :) Do what you can...start on your knees. You'll be doing more in no time.

[Theresaann]

Have to share! Jari Love's new Extremely Ripped is great, and she has second extremely ripped coming out in October, supposedly. This one kicks my ass in just 30 min, although you can do both of the 30 min workouts for an hour total. This one is also a good cardio workout while toning as well.

Also I LOVE Tracy Effinger's Squeeze Stronger. Only uses light weights for upper body (2-3 pounds) but is remarkably effective. I lost a dress size every couple of workouts when I started doing it. Don't be fooled by the "callenetics" approach and blow it off-its actually surprisingly tough. I add additional lower body moves on the day I use this dvd, as I've progressed now to needing to add more challenge to my gluts. Also, just TRY to get through her ab routine...good luck with that ;)

[Sarita1111]

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[jbunton]

I do the Ten Minute Trainer with Tony Horton. You use bands and well as body weight. i think its great for beginners.