I remember the moment clearly. I was standing in a drugstore holding an envelope of pictures I’d just gotten developed. I pulled out a photo of me at a recent Christmas party. I was shocked. That 230-pound young woman couldn’t be me. But it was. I was horrified and knew I had to do something.
A major contributor to my obesity was my sedentary lifestyle. I sat at a desk during day and sat in front of the TV at night. I realized I was going to have to get moving if my life was going to change.
I used to "sweat to the oldies" with Richard Simmons at home - and then I got to sweat with him in real life at his Slimmons Studio in Beverly Hills.
I started out simple, just walking every day after work. At first I could only last 20 minutes before I had to head home, sweaty and exhausted. Before long, my legs grew stronger and I could go longer and faster. After a few months, to my surprise, walking became not challenging enough. Plus I was bored and eager for something different. The problem was I didn’t have the time, money, or confidence to join a gym.
The perfect solution turned out to be exercise videos. Affordable, private, and fun, videos made it possible for me to advance to the next level of fitness. I was able to fit exercise into my schedule, stay motivated with a wide selection of workout types and levels, and create a balanced routine that incorporated strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular benefits.
Videos also allowed me to customize workouts to fit my needs—I could fast-forward or rewind through sections (to add extra cardio or abdominal work, for example), do a partial workout if I ran out of time, and multi-task by washing clothes or dishes while I exercised.
Over a 3-year period, I lost over 100 pounds, which I’ve been maintaining for over 7 years. Today I work out six days a week, both at a gym and at home. My at-home exercise library is filled with a workouts of every type—Bosu, bellydance, step, yoga, Pilates—and I love and do them all.
If you’re looking for a great way to get fit without spending a lot of money, exercise videos may just be the answer you’re looking for.
