Fitness Videos/DVDs Can Help Burn Unwanted Calories

By Barbara Day

I am sitting at the computer shivering. The outside temperature is 14 degrees, and I'm contemplating whether to go out for a run. The older I get, the less tolerant I seem to be when the weather is cold, snowy or rainy. If it's too cold to workout outdoors, the roads are too treacherous or you just don't the time to drive to a fitness facility, or you can't afford to join one, here's an alternative to help you get moving.

The Collage Video's Guide to Exercise Videos (www.collagevideo.com) has over 331 exercise videos and DVDs to choose from. There's every type of workout you could imagine - aerobics, muscle toning, stretch, yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi and more. Plus, you'll find specialty workouts for kids, pregnant women, seniors and people with special situations such as arthritis or back pain. They also have " sit and be fit" videos for people who suffer from stroke and C.O.P.D., etc. Some of the of the videos might be found in sporting good stores but this listing includes more than 100 videos that are not available in stores.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT VIDEO

Collage Video's Guide suggests the following steps for choosing a video that suits your fitness level and style.

•  Choose the exercises that match your goals: aerobics, muscle toning, stretch, yoga, tai chi, etc.

•  Choose the level that's right for you - beginner, intermediate or advanced.

•  Choose a length that fits into your schedule. The guide has a time graph that tells you the exact duration of each exercise segment within the workout. Each segment is color-coded. For example, warm-up 10 minutes, aerobics 10 minutes, toning 10 minutes, cool down 10 minutes = 40 minutes.

•  Choose a style that motivates you. You can choose the type of music you want from country to Motown, from high-energy pop to jazz instrumentals. You can workout with one person on the screen or a group of people. Every listing has a detailed description of the workout. When you call Collage Video's Guide, the sales representatives are well informed and will answer your questions. (1-800-433-6769).

In addition, Collage Video's Guide has magazine ratings for some of the more popular videos that have been rated by Shape Magazine, Fitness Magazine, Self Magazine, Fit Magazine and Oxygen Magazine.

HOW MUCH DO THE FITNESS VIDEOS COST?

The videos vary from $9.95 to $29.95. DVDs generally cost from $14.95 to $29.95. Kids' videos range from $12.95 to $24.95, and DVDs range from $16.95 to $19.95. The kids' videos include Elmocize, Hip Hop Animal Rock, Toucanz Obstacle Adventure, Tae Bo Junior with Billie Banks, Little Kicks Workout and Little Kicks 2.

OTHER FITNESS TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE

In addition, Collage Video's Guide has a large inventory of instructor music such as Best of Oldies, Latin Pop, Get Down Tonight Disco and many other choices that can be purchased in cassette or CD format. You can also purchase cassettes and/or CDs for walking, running, biking and aerobics. The prices range from $12.95 to $16.95.

You can order based on the type of music you like or the beats per minute (bpm). The cassette/CDs vary from 113 to 132 bpm (easy pace warm-up) to 160 + bpm, which will provide a good aerobic workout. You can March with the Sergeant or walk with a Christian Music Walking cassette.

THE PROS AND CONS

Keep in mind that fitness videos are generally instructional. They are convenient and fairly inexpensive, but if you like the idea of people interaction and group motivation, a fitness center membership might be the way to go.

Barbara Day, M.S., R.D., C.N., is the publisher and nutrition editor of KHF and a runner, cyclist and hiker.