I am so excited to tell you about two DVD workouts that recently came my way! Before getting pregnant, I exercised to a myriad of different workout programs...Billy Blanks' Boot Camp, The Firm, Winsor Pilates, you name it, I probably had it. I gradually let those DVDs fall by the wayside throughout my pregnancy and definitely once Lily Bean was born!Sara Holliday, fitness expert and a mama herself, has created a collection of pre and postnatal workout DVDs. I was thrilled when she offered to let me try both of her postnatal programs: Total Body Toning and the Stroller Workout!
The first DVD that I tried was the 30 minute Total Body Toning Workout. Keep in mind that besides some Wii Fit and Elliptical'ing, this was the first real workout that I attempted in over a year!WOW! This video really packs a lot into 30 minutes! It is a fast paced mix of cardio and kickboxing moves, rounded out with yoga and stretching. I loved this workout!! It made me sweat, got my heartrate up, and I could really feel it in my thighs and abs the next day!
Because this DVD moves quickly, you may need to watch it a couple of times to really get the hang of the different exercise sequences. I found that I was able to follow along fairly easily on just my first time through!
The 2nd DVD that I reviewed was the 60 minute Stroller Workout for Moms. The program offers back to back cardio, kickboxing, and strength training. The creative piece with this DVD is that it is created for Moms to do while using a stroller!This workout really gave me a run for my money! I had to take a few breaks and gulp some water in the process! The intervals of cardio mixed with squats, kickboxing, and strength training (especially for arms) was such a good calorie torcher!!
At first I was a little confused at how you were supposed to do this workout outside without the dvd outside. OH but THEN I noticed that it came with the whole program on audio CD as well! So if you watch the DVD once or twice to learn the moves, you can take a CD player, or load it onto an MP3 player, and head outside! Also included on the DVD are modifications for indoor use. The exercise program ends with a relaxing session of yoga and stretching!
Bottom line: Both of these DVDs by Sara Holliday (www.fitbysara.com) were fantastic workouts! I liked that they were easy enough to follow along, but each had challenging moves that really pushed me to my limit! They are well thought out and moved quick enough to keep me from getting bored! They weren't so fast that I got lost and fruststrated and gave up! I look forward to using these DVDs more, and incorporating them into my workout routine.
