Workout videos are a fun and quick way to get in a great workout and they can be done just about anywhere since you can even pop them into your laptop. For most you only need a set of dumbbells and a mat! I wanted to do a write-up for you on my favorite DVD’s that I often do on the bus on race weekends! 
I first have to start with my Jillian Michaels videos. I am a huge fan of hers and about died when I got to do a 20-minute workout with her and some media people this spring in California! You cannot go wrong with a Jillian video; they are intense and will whip your butt into shape in no time. On actual race day when I do not have a lot of time in the morning I tend to do her video’s 30 Day Shred or Ripped in 30. Both offer quick 20-minute workouts that guarantee results in 30 days. They are set up by doing a quick warm-up followed by 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio and 1 minute of abs (3 different sets), followed by a cool down. I tend to train often and hard and I was a bit skeptical if a 20-minute workout would really do anything for me. Boy was I wrong!!! After a few short minutes your heart rate is up, you are sweating and your muscles begin to fatigue. It is great and the best part is how short of a time it takes, everyone has 20 minutes in his or her day! When I have a little more time I do her No More Trouble Zone video which takes you through an intense, weight focused, workout which lasts 50 minutes with the warm-up and cool down.
Another TV personality trainer I enjoy is Bob Harper is on the biggest loser. I picked up his DVD Ultimate Cardio Body and about didn’t make it through the hour workout the first time through. This DVD is no joke but it works! In the beginning you must do squats and lunges for a good 15 minutes straight. You will pour sweat and shed off the pounds quickly with this video all while building lean muscle. I was very impressed with his workout routines and will buy more of his DVD’s in the future.
When I am looking for a good weight oriented video I turner to Jackie Warner’s Power Circuit training video. This video is broken up into sections using 3 exercises to focus on one part of the body. For example for chest you will do 1 minute of chest presses, 1 minute of chest fly’s, 1 minute of alternating dumbbell chest raises followed by the power burn where you repeat all three of these exercises for about 20- 30 seconds. Jackie says in her videos that it is during these power burns that your muscles are really forming. This is not a cardio video but great when you want a weights day. I did it yesterday and even though I have had this video for a year I still wake up sore every time I do it and I love that feeling!!
Finally, I got the Brazilian Butt Lift combo pack of DVD’s. I really enjoy these fun, high-energy videos. They are mostly lower body, cardio and ab focused and I like to throw them into my weekly workouts.
Please as with any exercise consult a doctor before beginning a new workout program. There are many great DVD’s out there but these are just a few of the videos that I grab most often! Who knows maybe one day Jillian, Bob or Jackie will ask me to be in one of their videos!!