Recommend a good exercise DVD please...

[TooEasilyTempted]

One that I'll actually use as opposed to it gathering dust on the tv shelf!

I'm a size 8 so not looking to lose weight, I just want to tone up mainly my bum and legs and banish the dreaded cellulite. Wouldn't mind tightening my tum too, at the moment I can't even manage one sit up.

Time wise, I could probably manage about 45 minutes 3 or more times per week.

Any recommendations anyone?

Well I'm not at all an exercise-type person, but have got a few exercise DVDs gathering dust at home and the only one that made a difference - and it was pretty much instant - was the dreaded Gillian Michaels Shred one... There are many threads about it on here and I got it as a result and it really is amazing, although you do feel like you're going to DIE about half way through.

It's only about 30 mins in total with the warm up/cool down bits, and I've just been thinking about unearthing it as post-Christmas I really do need to get back on track....

If I can find a link to the MN thread about it I will

Here it is: torture. Definitely worth trying and you feel a difference (well I did but my body is generally the consistency of a marshmallow) the next morning after the 1st go...

Oooh thanks, sounds like hell great, just what I'm looking for! I like the idea of a 20-30 minute workout, I'd probably be able to do it more often.

Yes the shred is brilliant! Traumatic, but brilliant!!

Another Shred addict here. You can't talk yourself out of 30 mins exercise, and if you do it 4 times a week, rather than every day, you'll still see results. My knees complain if I do it more than that. Just make you sure you've got decent trainers and stable flooring - it's quite high impact.

I've got Ripped in 30 sitting in an Amazon box, waiting for me to get rid of this horrible cold. I don't think Jillian should be attempted with anything less than 100% fitness. (she told herself)

Ripped in 30 arrived through my door today I also love 6 week 6 Pack.

My other top tip is a cheap iPhone app called lolo easy abs which plays your own iPod music while it runs you through a short (3/5/8 minute) set of abdominal exercises. It won't transform your body like Jillian will, but it will help build core strength and can be squeezed into odd minutes because it doesn't need lots of space or a shower afterwards.

Be warned of the unadvertised side effects of shred though. I've actually worn a hole in my living room carpet after a year of shredding. Just in a strip where I do it. You can see the hessian backing underneath now!

Dylis Price, I downloaded your abs app today and thought it was brilliant! Great to do instead of the shred on busy days, especially as my tummy is the area I most want to sort out! Thanks for the tip

Another vote for Gillian Michael's 30 day shred - brilliant and easy to fit in. You will need to get some hand weights too.

Thanks everyone. Ok I've ordered it! It should arrive on Tuesday. DH reckons he's going to do it with me and we are going to do it every day. If I can see results after 10 days I'll be well impressed! We have oak flooring so hopefully it will withstand our efforts I might invest in a very cheap rug to put down.

Dilys thanks I'm going to get that all too.

App, not all, damn phone

Brilliant - do come back and tell us if you too end up screaming "JUST DIE!!!" at Jillian, like I do only about 5 minutes into it .

Think I'm going to start tonight after not doing it for ages - apologies to anyone in the Greater Manchester area who may be able to hear me screaming...

I want to do the 30 day shred. You need weights to do it don't you? Can anyone tell me what kind you need? Thanks

I've just ordered Firm Express/thin in 30 which looks shred-like but promises loss of 15lb in only 3x 20min sessions a day. I know you don't want to lose weight exactly but it looks intense. Hasn't arrived yet so no idea if it is any good

Weights like these or these should do you nicely.

Or tins of beans!

I have very bad knees, can only use a rebounder, will it be useless for me?

I really like the Tracy Anderson Mat Workout DVD - I think it would really work for me if I used it at all more than once regularly.

She is a bit ...... floaty though.

Chipstick - 30 day shred is quite high impact so maybe not so good for your knees, think star jumps/running on the spot etc. It is only in short bursts though - about a minute or two of cardio at a time in between the toning stuff.

Chipstick, I do the shred on a rebounder and also a couple of her other dvd's. You have to adapt a tiny bit but easily doable.

I did the Jillian Michael's six week six pack and it was incredible. Now have the no more trouble zones DVD - think it's about forty minutes but broken down into five minute sections. Unlike a lot of her other stuff, there's no cardio, but if it's toning you're after, it really does make a difference, I think. Lots of lunges which are not great for my knees, but I like the fact you can do the entire DVD or mix up a couple depending on which area you want to work....

Dilys, thanks for the links. I have found we have 1 kg weights which I am going to try the shred with in a bit but have just seen that they are a bit lighter than the recommended weight. I will see how it goes and hopefully upgrade to 1.5 -2 kg in a few days!

It's nice to have a range of weights, from 0.5 kg (aka a baked bean can) up to 2kg and beyond, so you can challenge yourself on the exercises you're OK at and then go easy with the more evil exercises. You can also up the difficulty by adding small weights to the cardio bits which are normally weight free.

But start with 1kg and/or baked bean tins and see how it goes.

Oh good god I've just shredded for the first time in a loooong time. Bloody Nora it's hard work.