Anyone Know of a Good Exercise Tape or Book?

[Tam319]

Howdy folks,

I don't really have the time or money to go to the gym and I want to get into good shape. I walk my dogs and ride my horses but I am looking for a good exercise video I can do at home. I am not interested in Tai Boa (sp?) but would be interested in something like yoga or aerobics. Please share your favorites and where I can purchase them online if possible. And any tips on preventing injury when you are working on your own would be great too (for example Step 1. Crate the dog because otherwise she'll be kidney beaning on your chest while you are doing your exercises). I have a really bad back so if you know of back-abdominal specific exercises to make your muscles stronger that would be appreciated too.

Thanks,

Tam

 

[BLAZER87]

First off, It's good you want to be in better shape, especially with 60% of america being overweight. You are smart to stay away from Tao bo, I tried it and it's very hard on knee joints. I haven't tried them, but I hear rave reviews about both yoga and Pilates. I personally walk on a tread mill and lift free weights about 3-4 weeks. Since you are concerned about your back, I believe the two afore mentioned would be good for you as they both take in a lot of stretching and slow movement type exercises. One of the key things to do with any exercising, especially weights, is to learn the moves with proper form and do slower if need be. You can strengthen your back somewhat by doing reverse situps. Lie on your stomach and put your arms to your side. Now your chest up off the flor slowly. You don't have to go very high unil you feel it in your back. You can also do leg lifts in the same fashion. Don't forget to do regular leg lifts along with stomach crunches to strengthen your abs. If you have trong abs, it helps in support with back muscles. I stay away from situps as they tend to put alot of strain on my back. I do crunches which target the muscles more and put less strain on other muscles.
Don't know of any websites, but do a search for yoga and Winston Pilates (not sure of name). Also check out book sites, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Borders. They should have these books and videos.

 

[Barb_IA]

I use to exercise with Denise Austin. Her work outs are low impact. I to would like to get back into the aerobics. I've done the Tai Boe (beginners)...it gets old after a while. I have a treadmill and used it faithfully for a few years. This past year I've let up on it. My back and neck have actually felt better since I stopped using it. Just this past week I was back on it a few times and I've notice my neck and back is bothering me some. Maybe the treadmill just isn't for me. That's too bad cause I really like walking on it.

Barb

 

[boxermom5]

Hi- I broke my back in a horse accident about 9 years ago, and have some nerve damage in my neck as well as the damage to my lower back and one knee. I find it next to impossible to do any type of exercise (among other things) without aggrevating it, but I recently found the greatest thing (for me anyway) which is fun and doesn't cause me any increased pain. If you don't mind having a piece of equipment that is the size of a dining room chair, I would highly recommend trying the "Ab-Doer". I have all of the tapes from beginner thru advanced plus the spine/back stabalization video, and I really love it. It starts with some stretching type stuff and then goes to a somewhat aerobic routine and then back to stretching - works all of your ab area, love handles, and lower back. I am happy with the intermediate routine, so that is the one I have stuck with (but use the beginner one for at least 6 - 8 weeks first) and the best part is that it only takes 12 minutes (I think the beginning one is an 8 minute routine). I know they have a website - Thane.com I think, but you can also just put Ab-doer in your browser and get links. When I purchased it - about 2 years ago - it was $99 including the beginner tape and the back/spine tape and then I bought the other tapes separately (I think there were 3 in a package deal for like $25). Best "get in shape" money I ever spent and I tried many videos and equipment.

Jen, Tess & Tenaia