Davina or Lorraine? Yoga or cardio? Choosing an exercise video can be as daunting as deciding on a holiday - it's gonna cost you, and you want to get as much out of it as possible. Don't worry, though, we're here to help
Just like buying some home fitness equipment, buying an exercise video can seem like the answer to your prayers. You have visions of getting fit and firm, in the comfort of your own home.
But, all too often, like the exercise bike that is now cluttering up your spare room, the humble home workout video can quickly become just another ornament on your shelf gathering dust.
That's why it's so important that you buy the right video in the first place - one that will challenge you and help you stick to your workout. But with every celebrity and well-known fitness instructor getting in on the act, it can be an overwhelming experience. So where do you start?
'Unless you've seen a particular video's review in a magazine, or it has been recommended to you by a friend, choosing a video is pot luck,' says personal trainer Jamie Foreman of the David Lloyd health club in Sidcup.' They range in quality, from being really good to just plain boring.' To make an educated purchase, you've got to do a little homework.
Before you choose a video, answer these essential questions:
- What type of workout do you enjoy? If you love to dance, you don't want to end up with a video that focuses on conditioning exercises and vice versa.
- What are your goals? If you're exercising to de-stress, opt for a yoga or t'ai chi video. If you want to lose weight, choose an aerobics video. If you've done a lot of aerobics in the past, look for one that says 'high-impact' or 'dance' on the cover, as the choreography will be more challenging. And if you've just had a baby, choose one of the many videos designed for this purpose. To lose weight you need to raise your heart rate for at least 20 minutes.
- Consider your space. 'Think about how much room you've got in front of your TV,' says Foreman. 'With an aerobics video, you'll find yourself moving forwards, backwards and diagonally, which is no good if the coffee table or family dog are in the way. Try a yoga or conditioning-based video if you mainly want to stay in one spot,' he adds.
To save you wasting time and money, we launched a marathon video-athon. We jumped, jacked and sweated, then ranked, rated and chose our favourites.