If you don’t like the gym, one of the best alternatives is to set up a space and obtain the supplies necessary to work out at home. One of the easiest things to try is a workout DVD – all you need is a DVD player and a television. There are thousands of workouts to choose from, and finding one that you like can be a tricky business.
I happen to love working out with Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper. Over the years, I’ve come to really dislike their show, The Biggest Loser, because I think it is a showcase for fat bullying and shaming. While I often find the “transformations” inspiring, I can also clearly see how unrealistically the weight-loss goals are achieved. Who has time to work out for six hours a day – and if you have the time, why would you want to spend it that way?
With that said, I really like Bob and Jillian’s workout DVDs, and I own most of them. Today I’m going to talk about two Bob videos, one from the very beginning of his Biggest Loser career,and one more recent. Let’s start with the newest, and work backward.
My best friend had an extra copy of Bob’s Yoga for the Warrior DVD, part of his My Trainer Bob series, which she kindly gave to me. Now, this series is not tied in to The Biggest Loser. It features non-fat people doing some serious yoga moves. I found the DVD really challenging. Let’s face it, when you’re fat, there are some things you just can’t make your body do, because parts get in the way. The two women in the video are extremely flexible; the muscled guy in the back, not so much. I spent most of my time following that guy. I enjoyed seeing him struggle with some of the more difficult moves, because I sure was struggling there in my living room.
A note about yoga DVDs: I highly recommend taking a class with an instructor first. They will guide you through the basic movements to ensure that you are achieving proper alignment. Bob does a fairly good job of walking you through the movements in this DVD, but he isn’t there in your living room to check to make sure you’re doing them right. And if you’ve never worked directly with a yoga instructor, chances are you aren’t! Proper alignment ensures that you can safely perform yoga moves without hurting yourself. Check around for a yoga class – there are even some designed especially for fat people these days.
A few (very sore!) days after I got my yoga warrior on, I pulled out the very first workout DVD I bought (not counting that ill-advised Billy Blanks tae bo video back in my non-fit days): The Biggest Loser: The Workout. This DVD is about eight years old. There’s nothing fancy about it – just heart-pumping cardio and weight training segments. The “cast” (and Bob) are unpolished, the sets are pretty plain, and there are even some gaffes, where Bob says the wrong thing – and cracks himself up. I love it. Hands down, it’s one of my favorite DVDs. I love that the contestants are having a blast during the workouts. I especially love that they struggle to do all of the repetitions. They sweat, they laugh, they yell at Bob. I felt right at home – because I was sweating and yelling at Bob, too. (Not so much with the laughing.) Biggest Loser DVDs have gotten much slicker over the years, but that certainly doesn’t mean they’ve gotten better. There’s something about this unpolished and un-fancy DVD that makes me feel comfortable, while at the same time being challenged.
Working out with people who look like me is much more rewarding for me than working out with thin, super fit, wicked flexible people whom I could never hope to look like. Grunting along with someone with approximately my body shape as we both struggle to do those last few reps is definitely more inspiring than seeing a fitness professional easily turn themselves into a pretzel.
You might be different. Maybe you’re inspired by those rock-hard bodies and long, lean limbs. What are your go-to workouts? Have you tried any that you just couldn’t get through – whether because they were too difficult, or because you couldn’t stand the trainer? Tell me in the comments. I’m always looking to expand my collection!
