Time is one of the most common reasons people find it tough to start and keep a regular fitness routine.  Although home workouts are convenient, they often missed out on the motivation and guidance you might get at the gym.   

The new generation of fitness DVD's really addresses so many of those making working out at home cost-efficient, time-efficient and in some cases social!  Beachbody, the fitness company that brings you PX90, Insanity and more, has take one step further with systems that offer coaching from trainers, tracking for workouts and an extensive online community you can reach out to others for virtual high-fives or the occasional kick when you need it!

Here are some of the most popular and new fitness programs you may see on infomercials and then out on the shelves in your local department store.


PX90 3 - 4/5 stars

Tony Horton has been a leader in the fitness infomercial market with his PX series.  This third program in his series maintains the intensity but targets time-efficient training packed into 30-minute workouts.

Fit features

  • short workouts that make it manageable to fit into a busy schedule
  • good variety with the schedule including Pilates and Yoga
  • more modified movements
  • tips on technique

Cons or cautions

  • workouts are still quite intense so always listen to your body and start with limited ranges of motion and intensity and gradually build up

P90 (no X) - 4.5/5 stars

This workout is a slower pace but still very intense at times.  I like one as the pace makes it's easier to focus on quality versus quantity or time.

Fit features

  • great focus on technique showing white screen visuals of the weight exercises first with alignment
  • comes with one of my favourite features - a band and door anchor
  • good mix and variety with bands, weights, body weight, martial arts moves and lots of core which people always love

Cons or cautions

  • just one - when doing the MMA moves where you drop or reach down, be extra cautious with the low back; you don't have to touch the floor; always keep the hear higher than your hips!

PIYO with Chalene Johnson - 4.5/5 stars

Chalene is always cutting edge with her programs and content.  We've been in a trend of high intensity training but now discovering you can get too much of a good thing!  This series offers a great balance as the name indicates with a combination of Pilotes and Yoga.

Fit features

  • time-efficient with little to no equipment
  • low impact with challenge including moves inspired by Yoga and Pilates with functional strength, core, balance and flexibility

Cons or cautions

  • as with a lot of Yoga moves, there tends to be quite a bit of poses requiring strength and stability with shoulders and wrists so if you have issues in those areas, take breaks and modify

T25 with Shaun T - 4/5

You may know Shaun T from Insanity, Asylum or Hip Hop Abs.  In this newest installment, Shaun packs a lot of intensity into 25 minutes workouts as the title suggests.  They do take a bit longer as the cool down time is separate from that so budget 30.

Fit features

  • time-efficient with little to no equipment
  • way more instruction and modification options that in his first Insanity program
  • fun and continuous movement that does make the time fly

Cons or cautions

  • very fast-paced so take the time to gradually increase your intensity
  • lots of exercises where your down for planks and push-ups so if you have any circulatory and/or shoulder problems, you may want to add a riser or step of some sort to have your upper body higher to reduce stress

21 Day Fix - 3.5-4.5/5

Autumn Calabrese is one of the newest additions to the Beachbody trainer team.  This program is focused on both eating and exercise for those 21 days and includes a more detailed eating plan along with plastic containers to pack and measure your daily food intake.  The 3.5 is more for the food and the 4.5 is for the workouts (as much as I didn't want to like them!).

Fit features

  • like the consistent format with the exercises in her workouts
  • good pace where the exercises don't seem extreme but do offer a good training effect (i.e. you'll feel like later and the next day!)
  • includes a variety of ages and body types in the workouts which helps to show that there really are options and modifications for everyone

Cons or cautions

  • Autumn's background is in fitness figure competitions so the food part of this reflects that and is quite extreme and restrictive

RushFit -George St. Pierre - 3.5/5

There are  number of MMA style workout programs out there but this one on the first and one of the better produced I've found.

Fit features

  • lots of great, basic exercises
  • lead by a fitness trainer and featuring George St. Pierre as a leader and participant
  • a fun mix of resistance training, boot camp and martial arts moves

Cons or cautions

  • not a lot of options and modifications
  • the trainer walks around and talks about "good" form and "proper" position but doesn't explain what that is with more specific visual and verbal cues

Other honourable and dishonourable mentions...


Biggest Loser Series - 3.5/5

Both Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper have a number of workouts.  Some have 1-3 workouts which offer less variety but then you can pick and choose ones based on your preference as they have yoga to boot camps.  These have some good workouts and instruction and are more of a personal training workout than the dynamic flow of a group exercise class so it really depends on your preference.


Zumba -2/5

I have to give credit to Zumba for revitalizing the enthusiasm for dance in fitness as it's certainly a fun option.  Overall, however, it falls short living up to some of the extreme promises and claims on its infomercial advertising.  You likely will NOT burn calories like a furnace but you may end up injuring yourself.  Although they position it as dance that anyone can do, you can really end up putting pressure on the back, hips and knees with the twisting and rotating with moves.  Particularly if you're working out on carpet - that can be a higher risk to your joints than high impact training!


Tracey Anderson Method - 2/5

After being available exclusively online, you now find these workouts and her full series in the stores.  Although she has testimonials from Gwenyth Paltrow and Madonna, they may be okay as a bit of fitness for those who dance or already have a dancer physique.  They don't offer much quality or content based in sound technical training.  .

Parting Tips:

  • check out clips of programs you're considering online to get a better feel of exercises and intensity
  • ask around - talk to people you know and look at ratings online for workouts
  • check the equipment you'll need for the workouts
  • always train "comfortable but challenging" as a guideline for intensity

 

Where to find these DVD's?

New releases are typically only available online or through infomercials.  Previously released ones can be found in many department and fitness stores.

To order Beachbody Programs featured on this segment (and many more) with Libby as your coach, visit: www.beachbodycoach.com/LibbyN

 

We'd love to hear from you.  Visit www.libbynorris.com and click on "questions".  We'll try our best to address it and it may end up on a future segment!