Workout Videos On Demand

January 16, 2012

When I was 455 pounds and thinking about starting some sort of workout routine to get healthy, I had lots of excuses:

  • I can’t work out because I’m too heavy and will hurt myself
  • I can’t be seen in public trying to work out
  • I need someone to tell me what to do
  • I don’t want to get bored

After months of talking myself out of doing any exercise (and gaining weight in the process), I ordered some workout videos geared towards the beginner. I figured that if I could do exercise in the privacy of my own home, at least no one else could see me if I failed. I could wear whatever I wanted, stop when I thought I was going to puke, and still have the direction of someone telling me what to do. In short, it was the perfect solution for me.

One of the problems with workout videos is that you never quite know what you’re going to get. I remember getting an “ultimate beginners” DVD and not making it past the warmup. I might as well have just flushed money down the toilet. Another problem is you might get bored with the same DVD over and over, yet it’s cost prohibitive to buy an entire fitness library. Oh, and there’s also the problem of wanting to choke the instructor with the squeaky voice you’ve heard every day for 30 days telling you to keep breathing. But maybe that’s just me.

I was contacted to check out Gaiam TV, a new health and fitness streaming video site with over 2,000 health, fitness, and inspirational videos. I chuckled because I’m in my clunky purple cast and can’t do much of anything. I was skeptical, yet they asked if I’d check it out, and see if there was anything I liked. I decided to look for yoga videos, and then filtered to “meditation” since that seemed reasonable. I need all the zen I can get these days.

I was shocked. Since I have felt like a sack of potatoes without being able to exercise, I chose to do the Seated Meditation Preparation. It was 11 minutes of seated bliss. I went on to add several videos to my “to do” list, and am hoping to get to them later this week.

It turns out that they also have inspirational films, which I didn’t expect. I can’t wait to watch this one:

They have a 10 day free trial, and if you choose to subscribe, it’s $9.95 per month with no contract. The videos also play on the iPhone and iPad.

I personally am going to continue using my trial to try to get out of potato-mode while I’m in this cast. I love that I can try lots of things and then just move on if I see they’re doing something I can’t. I would have loved this service when I first started exercise at 455 pounds – it would have saved me a bit of money and frustration of ordering DVDs and then hating them.

Gaiam TV is giving away 1, 3-month subscription for a reader. To enter, simply leave a comment about your experience with home exercise videos. I’ll randomly draw a winner on Saturday, 1/21 at 10am.

PS: I have a post coming later this week where I share more of my experiences on how I got started working out at 455 pounds. Stay tuned.

Disclosure: This post and giveaway was sponsored by Gaiam TV. All personal experiences and opinions are mine. See my sponsorship and disclosure policy here. I Blog with Integrity.

Congrats to Morgan for winning the 3 month subscription – check your email!

Tagged as: gaiam, sponsored, video, workout

  • Carae7746

    I have bought so many useless workout DVDs. They have been too long or too boring or too annoying. The ones that I have found I enjoy the most are circuit training and dancing vids

  • http://www.binaryfory.wordpress.com/ Amber

    I recently bought the ZUMBA workout DVDs and let me just say this: I am glad I opted for the videos to try at home rather than going to a ZUMBA class because man do I suck at ZUMBA.  First of all, it assumes at least a modicum of rhythm and grace on the part of the exerciser – neither of which I possess.  Second, while they provide a thorough introduction to each of the dance moves (there’s roughly 615 different moves, btw), they then immediately jump from teaching to the move to doing it “at tempo!” which translates to “light speed.” I. cannot. do. it. Not even a little bit.

  • http://www.myweightingplace.blogspot.com/ Kari

    When I first started working out, I bought all of the Biggest Loser DVD. They said beginner, but were way too hard. I also bought a stability ball workout. That one was OK, but I didn’t feel ilke it offered enough. Since getting in shape, I have grown to use these DVDs, but they were appropraite at 356 pounds.

  • Izzyt

    I had some early Tae Bo tapes that I adored, and foolishly loaned them to someone and never got them back.  I’ve looked for them in DVD, but can’t find them, so sad!  I didn’t particularly love the people on the video other than Billy, but I loved the workouts!

  • Kathiza

    I started my weightloss journey with Zumba videos at home. I lived in a tiny room back then, barely enough place to move. but I made it work and I loved it. Still, it took me almost a year to have the courage to actually attend a Zumba class in a gym…

  • Krista

    Okay, this definitely intrigues me as I feel the way you do. I have done well with some Yoga videos at home but the more aerobic ones tend to lose my interest quickly. The 30 Day Shred is very affective but like you, I would love to be able to change up. I get bored with the same thing and investing in every new fad (Zumba etc) gets EXPENSIVE!

  • Mary

    Oooh, neato!  I could so do with this because right now I’m living in a place without a gym and where it’s hard to even walk around outside (uneven terrain), so exercise DVD’s it is.  The only problem is that my DVD drive on my computer (don’t have a TV) is broken!  Needless to say, I’m quickly losing all semblance of fitness.

    I used to use the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD, but I never seem to get beyond level 1 :-P   Probably because I do it for 3 days, then get distracted for find some excuse to not commit to it every day.  Maybe I’ll buy it on itunes again and try and get through the whole thing, since it’s pretty much my only option right now.

  • http://westmetromommy.blogspot.com Melinda

    I depend on home videos!  I have a gym membership and I do like to walk and run outside.  But, with 2 young kids, sometimes I just have to fit exercise in when I can, and that’s when I turn to the videos.

  • http://www.stellarpath.net/ Jeremy Logsdon

    I did not know about this resource and I can’t wait to check it out.  Even if I don’t win, I think I may sign up.  It was so weird finding this in my reader this morning.  Just this weekend, I decided that if I was going to workout at home, some exercise videos would be a big help.  On Sunday, I pulled a bunch of my old exercise videos out of storage.  Today, I plan to sweat to the oldies.  :)

  • Tabatha Doyle

    I get tired of at home videos so quickly. I need a change. This would be great because I could do something different every day

  • http://guessimarunner.com/ Lindsay @ The Reluctant Runner

    When I’m in the habit of doing them, I love workout DVDs. When I fall out of the habit, I have a really hard time finding the motivation to pop one in and do it until the end. My favorite DVDs are Jillian Michaels. Last year I did 30 Day Shred regularly and gained a ton of strength! 

  • http://profiles.google.com/sarahjosoriano Sarah Soriano

    I once tried a video that made me walk at home. Really? I had to walk in place for what the perky blonde lady said was 2 miles. I’m certain I didn’t cover the equivalent of two miles without leaving the comfort of my living room!
    That said, I would love to try some new ways of working out at home :) Thanks for the opportunity!

  • http://debbidoesdinnerhealthy.blogspot.com/ Debbi Does Dinner Healthy

    I know what you mean with the videos, you DON’T know what you’re going to get.  I’ve had some that I love and others that are just a waste of money.  I’ve gotten some at the library but they usually aren’t the greatest, interesting for a change though.  I’ve heard of these on demand ones and have been tempted, I just can’t afford it.  The free trial might be a good idea though.   Thanks!

  • rach

    I’ve had some ok experiences with at-home exercise tapes & dvds, but nothing so exciting that I’ve stuck with it long-term. I liked the Cindy Crawford tapes in the 90′s, & I have the 1st Carmen Electra strip-tease dvd, which is kind of fun. And funny. And I always like Gilad & Cory Everson.

  • Carolyn

    I have a bunch of fitness DVD’s that I never use anymore cause I am bored with them all!! Having variety would be great!!

  • Morgan

    The most I ever did with exercise videos was watch them while sitting down. I really wanted to order Zumba but I couldn’t justify the cost. I’d love to give this channel a try now that I know exercising won’t kill me!

  • http://twitter.com/prettycanhurt Debra Wilson

    How neat! I have a few workout vids which I did regularly for a while, but then for some reason quit. I should probably start doing them again as I was seeing changes while I was doing them.

  • Edith

    Home exercise videos are pretty much the only thing I do! The only gym near me is WAY out of my price range (and is pretty crappy to boot) and if I have to take a bus somewhere, I won’t go. So I’ve done kickboxing, hula hooping, yoga, weight training – I’ve done videos for most everything! It’s kind of nice to be able to become more physically fit so that maybe later if I do get a gym membership, I won’t go in feeling like I don’t belong because I haven’t worked out before. No excuses!

  • http://www.ruffledlove.com/ Tina Logsdon

    I’m so excited to see this.  Jeremy and I decided to start working out at home to save time and money.  While we love it, some video variation would be great.  There is some really great things there too.  Can’t wait to try it out!

  • http://www.tudor-rosy.blogspot.com/ Lady Lazarus

    Oooh! Awesome! I once bought one of those dance away the pounds kind of DVDs but wasn’t a fan. My library, though, always had a bunch of work out videos and it was a great way to try them out for free. There was this fabulous pilates one that I probably checked out once a month.

  • Marianne Parker

    I love Richard Simmon’s Dancing to the Oldies.  Then, my kids broke the VCR.  This seems really interesting!!

  • Heather

    I don’t have a lot of experience with home videos, but have been wanting to buy a few for those nights you feel like doing SOMETHING but don’t want to go out in cold and drive to the gym. 

  • Rpow491

    I am trying to lose nearly two hundred pounds… This site will totally help me. Thank you for sharing. I am in a weight loss group at my church…I am the only one under forty. Under thirty.., anyway., we do Richard Simmons silverfox tape. That is not for me at all. I am looking forward to this site,

  • http://www.katieheddleston.com/ Katie Heddleston

    Does the Kinect Just Dance count as a video? If so, I love it :)  

  • Rebekah Rasmussen

    I grew up seeing my mom work out to Denice Austin on VHS.  I just bought my first work out video.  I got Jillian Michaels’ Ripped in 30.  I watched it today, and I’m so intimidated. 

  • TJ

    Oh I would love this!  A huge part of my fitness journey has been videos, but I find myself in the awkward (but in a good way!) position of having grown out of the first DVDs I really depended on, but I’m not yet advanced enough to really go hardcore every day.  I’ve been having a heck of a time trying to figure out new options that match my current fitness level (and like you pointed out, it sucks to buy one and realize it’s not what I’m looking for).

  • Sarah

    I have been looking at Gaiam for my Roku for a while now, but I haven’t made the leap because I didn’t know what to expect. I’m a big fan of just pushing a button (an ode to my laziness, I suppose) and never really do well with traditional dvd’s because I get tired of the repetition. I really would like to check out a trial of this service. Thanks for the feature!

  • Jenny

    I’ve been checking yoga videos out from the library, but there isn’t a huge selection. I am already getting bored. I would love a chance to try this!

  • Rebecca

    When I first started working out/trying to lose weight I bought Jillian’s 30 Day Shred and did it every day for 3 weeks.  It wasn’t too bad, but afterwards I was so sick of it I haven’t touched the dvd since!

  • Metrogurrl

    I’ve bought many home workout videos and find that the ones that I have gone back to are the ones that don’t feel like I’m working out but having fun. Such is the case with my cardio salsa dvd I can do this one over and over from beginning to end and feel great afterwards!

  • Jennifer Toth

    I have found exercise DVDs to be super hit or miss too! I like 30 Day Shred, but have stopped most other videos I’ve tried after just a time or two!

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