getting back into shape

[sinclair]

Can anyone recommend an exercise video (pref available on DVD) that has worked for them? I am looking for a way of doing aerobic exercise in the house in the mythical hour when both kids are asleep, and if it has some tummy stuff too all the better. Don't care if it's cheesy or boring, as long as it works!

Hi Sinclair! I've been using Taebo for a while now - hard work but well worth it. It's based around Thai boxing - lots of punching and kicking - and is therefore, also a great stress reliever. Each video has a instruction session to get you used to the moves and then a 30-40 minute workout, including warm-up and cool-down (very good!). The workouts have been filmed live with a right rogues gallery taking part - old, young, fat, thin, horrific lycra leggings. Hope this helps.

Sinclair, I've got quite a big collection and have done them all (honestly!)....actually I'm a bit of an anorak I suppose! I would recommend either Beverley Callard's Ultimate Results or Rosemary Conley's New Body By Design or the Fat Attack. They aren't too cheesy, although some of the girls working out with Beverley Callard are annoyingly slim! The reason I like these two out of my collection is that they are broken into sections i.e there is a ten minute section for tums etc etc. The middle 20 minute workout on the B. Callard video is really effective and because it's relatively short I found that you can keep going because the end is in sight! Can recommend loads of others so let me know how you get on and if you don't like these I could suggest some others.

My advice is stick with it, many said to me that they wouldn't be disciplined enough to do a home exercise video, but at least you don't have to get ready, organise the children and go to your local gym etc etc, as you say, you can crack on while they take their nap.

Good luck.

Melly, I've got Rosemary Conleys too and used to do it every day. It is really good, like you say because you can break it up abit and just do specific area's. Also they aren't all super dooper slim which is always a help when your prancing around your front room doing 'the grapevine' at 7 in the morning feeling unfit and fat!!

Love her or hate her, I found Claudia Schiffer's two videos - top and bottoms - really effective; it's not aerobic, but uses precise exercises that really work - most of them lying on the floor, which helps!

I found the taebo video really great but you must do the instruction section first as some of the moves are a bit tricky, but I really enjoy it and feel great when I've finished it

I used the Cindy Crawford one for post-natal mums. I loved it (very sad admission), the music is great, the scenery fantastic and she is not too bright, perky or patronising as to get on your nerves.
I also found it worked too!
Good luck.

many thanks to everyone who posted ideas - I have ordered Beverly Callard and Cindy Crawford. Wish me luck!

Please keep us updated on what you think, I watch with interest.

has anyone tried the deborah makin video? called something like "getting your body back after childbirth"?

thanks in advance.

Bossykate - Got the video, but never done it, does this still count? My youngest is nearly 2 so there's probably no hope for me now anyway