hour long workout videos...any good ones?

kelsully

Ok, so I am a runner at heart so I do workout videos when needed not as my main means of exercise. As a mom to 4 kids ages 3,5,8, and 9 and working part time sometimes I do a video in the wee hours of the morning to get my workout in. I have 30 day shred, and Jackie Warner. I like them both. I also usually do 20 minutes of yoga before I start. When I bought the DVD's I bought the ones that had short workout options so as to have something to do on days when the kids schedules plus my schedule plus DH's schedule got in the way. Now that I am getting up at the butt crack of dawn to get the workout done on crazy days I am looking for something that I don't have to change DVD's 1/2 way through the workout and or go back to the menu and pick a new workout.

I run 3-4 days a week, long distances. I do judo on Saturdays for 2 hours with my family. I do yoga. The other days of the week I like some variety. I don't like cheerleader types of DVD's...Denise Austin makes me want to blow up the TV...ok so that is a bit extreme but I find her perkiness annoying. I just want to bust my *kitten*....

Any great suggestions? I think dancing is fun but also like straight forward exercise.

jbqueen

I really loved Jillian Michaels' "Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism". It's more intense than the Shred and it's about 46 minutes.

moniquejanaeh

I have 30 day shred and I think it's great. If you want to stick with Jillian Michaels, I also have her "Banish fat, Boost Metabolism" video. It comes to about 54 minutes with warm up and cool down. Even though it's not an hour long, it's still a great way to get a longer amount of exercise as opposed to 30 day shred.

kelsully

I like Jillian....she is not too obnoxious for me. I have yet to have a day in which I do all three of the 30 dy shred workouts but I think I could just do that too. The Banish fat workout will go on my "investigate" list. Thanks...

What about kickboxing type workouts...anyone have thougts or opinions on those?

Lyadeia

I have Tae Bo, Turbo Jam, and the professional version of that Turbo Kick. I love them all, but have to say that Turbo seems to be more fun than Tae Bo because of the instructor.

They ALL are great exercise and burn TONS of calories. I love them and recommend them to anyone because they are not very "dancy" for us uncoordinated peeps which is a plus for me, and you can increase the intensity yourself by making the moves bigger, adding hand weights, etc.

Turbo Kick is only available if you go to training to get certified, but Turbo Jam is amazingly fun anyway. :flowerforyou:

jlewis2896

P90X -- most of the DVD's (there are 12) are an hour long, and there is plenty of variety. Great supplement to running for me: There is a plyometrics DVD that has improved my stride, but I mostly like the strength training ones as that is an area I don't normally focus on. It feel more like fun than a workout, but I can see results. The shoulders, chest and triceps one is AWESOME.

jlewis2896

Oh, and P90X also has a 'Kenpo' DVD which incorporates kicks, punches and blocks as well as a great yoga-type warm-up.

kelsully

great suggestions...I was initially steering away from p90X and other beachbody workouts because I thought they were part of a program ...ie you do workout A on monday...workout B on Tuesday etc to get any benefit. I wanted a stand alone workout for those Mondays at 5:00am when I need to do something and I might not do that particular workout again for a few weeks. We have a goofy schedule around here so while I work out hard daily for anywhere from 45-minutes to 2 1/2 hours....just depends on what each individual day looks like and when I will get my runs in for the week...

So I guess to simplify this post...are the workouts that are part of a package(ie Insanity, p90x) worth while if only done occassionally but in conunction with ther types of exercise?

jlewis2896

I'm not sure about the other packages mentioned, but I don't use P90X as a 'program'. I started it as a program, but I have three kids and go to school full time, so the schedule (60 to 90 mins per day) was impossible for me to keep up with and stay sane -- plus I was seriously slacking on my running, which I enjoy doing the most of all types of exercise.

I now use the P90X DVD's only as a supplement and LOVE them that way. They contain all the workout types that are recommended for runners to cross-train with (core, plyo, yoga, and strength). I have incorporated the warm-up and cool-down stretches into my running stretches as well. Plus, Tony Horton is a total dork -- I love listening to him jibber-jabber.

Hopefully you find something that works for you! Great picture, by the way.

jlewis2896

And just as a side note, Zumba is super fun (it's like a latin-dance type of workout, but the people are really perky and ridiculously good-looking, so the annoyingness might factor in).

FYI...I had initially hesitated on P90X because of the price, but started asking around and found 3 friends who had bought the DVD's and never could make it through the 'program' because it was so intense. So I just borrowed them to see if I liked them and could hack it, and ended up buying them at half price from a friend.

Lyadeia

great suggestions...I was initially steering away from p90X and other beachbody workouts because I thought they were part of a program ...ie you do workout A on monday...workout B on Tuesday etc to get any benefit. I wanted a stand alone workout for those Mondays at 5:00am when I need to do something and I might not do that particular workout again for a few weeks. We have a goofy schedule around here so while I work out hard daily for anywhere from 45-minutes to 2 1/2 hours....just depends on what each individual day looks like and when I will get my runs in for the week...

So I guess to simplify this post...are the workouts that are part of a package(ie Insanity, p90x) worth while if only done occassionally but in conunction with ther types of exercise?

Turbo Jam comes with a suggested routine, but I have honestly never followed it. :flowerforyou:

When you get the Max. Results package, you get enough different workouts so that you are not stuck doing the same DVD everyday, but it really doesn't matter what days you do them. The suggested routine is honestly for beginners who don't have the knowledge of where or how to start, and also helps them keep on track and not give up. Some people need a routine given to them or they won't do anything at all. I used to be one of them, lol!

As far as P90X goes, I have done it without the suggested routine as well. I think the whole point of the program is to alternate your weight training days with other activities such as cardio, plyometrics, yoga, and Kenpo karate which is what it comes with. On the other hand, I have taken all those out and added my own "in between" workouts to the weight training. I love those weight training DVD's because I do not have a gym membership right now, and they give me what I need as well as shows me how to do it.

I am currently doing Insanity, but haven't adhered to the program too well. I have stuck close to it, but on the days that I feel too tired to workout, I have done a different, less strenuous, workout. I have also taken out the Cardio Recovery DVD because I typically "miss" at least one workout a week. (I work third shift hours and sometimes it is really hard to get in the "schedule".)

So basically, even though all Beachbody programs come with suggested routines, you don't necessarily have to follow them to the letter to get results. They are, after all, just workout DVDs like any others you get in the store. I simply prefer them because the cardio in Insanity is the best I've found, same with the weight training in P90X...and Turbo Jam is just soooo much fun. :flowerforyou: I've tried other workouts, and even though I like the Jillian Michaels ones and a few others, I simply love the ones from Beachbody. They are great workouts, even if you make up your own schedules for them.

Amy_B

LOVE Turbo Jam! My favorite videos (which aren't part of a program) are Cardio Party 3 and Punch/Kick/Jam. Both are 45-50 minutes. I also like Biggest Loser Cardio Max. I have the Cindy Crawford Next Challenge Workout dvd as well. It combines cardio and strength. It's 65 minutes.

rachelblank427

I really loved Jillian Michaels' "Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism". It's more intense than the Shred and it's about 46 minutes.

Agreed. Its got a cool down too. I love this dvd, it's a really good workout.

MissAnjy

I love hip hop abs. It's great!

MissAnjy

I'm also going to do the billy blanks tae bo because you burn a lot of calories doing tae bo & i need a variety as well. I get bored easily with the 30DS. Still love the HHA though. Shaun T is never boring

lindasain

I am new here and I need to lose 100 pounds. I have a big problem with my left knee and I am 56 yrs old.. any suggestions.. I am doing water exercise at the local gym.. I do 30 min cardo at the gym.. my biggest I need a good one for I work a week at a time.. I mean I am there 24/7 the whole week.. so I need a dvd to do there.. I hate the fact my left knee is new.. any ideas for me..:ohwell:

kelsully

A have a few good yoga DVD's and I have been looking into Tai Chi DVD's as well...30 day shred and any of the circuit type workouts have a lot of squat like exercises and my knees creak the whole time they might not be a great way for you to start...Oh... don't know much about them but I know if you searced in fitness and exercise threads you could find out about the walking DVD's people swear by those.

Sweet13_Princess

One of my favorites, believe it or not is Kathy Lee Gifford's feel fit and fabulous. She's a little bit of an airhead after you've watched it a trillion times, but it's a mix of cardio and weights that I really like.... intervals pretty much. The video gives some modifications, but if you've done classes or videos before you can always up the intensity some more.

I used to own it on VHS, I'm not sure if you can get it on DVD.

Also, I love Yoga videos with Sara Ivanhoe, especially the Crunch fitness ones. Her poses are tough, but her voice is SOOO relaxing. YOu get a good workout and lose the stress!

Shannon

Steph_135

I love Tae Bo and T-Tapp.

glfprncs2

Anything by Cathe Freidrich (www.cathe.com). Many of hers are longer in length (45+ minutes) and calorie killers. As a runner, you might also appreciate the Insanity workouts.