Exercise Videos: Reviews

Updated July 2011

Workout videos have evolved beyond aerobics. The best DVDs combine several disciplines for a multifaceted workout. And of course, the better exercise videos are fun to do. To find the most effective (and least boring) videos, we compared recommendations from fitness magazines to hundreds of user ratings.

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Cardio: Kickboxing, martial arts-inspired

Billy Blanks Tae Bo Amped

*Est. $40 Compare Prices

Billy Blanks blends Tae Kwon Do, kickboxing and aerobics in this five-DVD set, and it's the top choice of experts for those looking to burn calories and keep adding variety to their routine. It impresses reviewers, who… expandcaution that attention to form is vital to prevent muscle strain or injury. Included is an amplifier sculpting bar for added muscle-shaping resistance. Tae Bo is best for intermediate and advanced exercisers. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Fitness Magazine: The top 10 workout videos in different categories are chosen by the editors of Fitness magazine after numerous videos were tested.

Amazon.com: Over 90 owners give this exercise video very good ratings.

Epinions.com: Five reviewers give this exercise video a near-perfect score.

Walmart.com: More than 60 users provide user-generated feedback on Billy Blanks Tae Bo Amped.

Collage Video.com: Not only is this a favorite with CollageVideo.com staff, but 41 owners also give it high ratings.

FitnessInfomercial Review.com: This website allows users to post reviews for "as seen on TV" fitness products.

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Buy from Amazon for $39.98
eBay for $6.49	Walmart for $11.86

Total-body strength training

Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training

*Est. $16 Compare Prices

Celebrity trainer Jackie Warner offers five intense routines in this DVD, which combines cardio and strength training to tone muscles, shed inches and improve overall health. Routines are designed specifically so that… expandusers get maximum results in minimum time using the circuit training technique -- moving from exercise to exercise with no rest in between. The workout is suitable for intermediate to advanced exercisers. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

FitBottomedGirls.com: Fitness website FitBottomedGirls.com features hundreds of reviews of current top-selling fitness DVDs and workout videos.

Amazon.com: Nearly 200 users weigh in on Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training.

Woman's Day: Woman's Day's Abigail L. Cuffey selects her favorite must-have exercise videos.

Fitness Magazine: This article selects 10 workout DVDs as the top picks for 2009.

FitSugar.com: The editors of this health and fitness website pick their top three DVDs and five runners-up.

YourExerciseDVDs.com: YourExerciseDVDs.com features several individual reviews of workout videos.

More: A dozen workout DVDs are selected as top picks by More magazine's health director, Nancy Stedman.

WeightWatchers.com: Editors of Weight Watchers magazine pick five different, exciting videos for this article -- one corresponding to each day.

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Buy from Amazon for $5.86
eBay for $13.99	Family Video for $10.99	Amazon for $7.13

Dance-inspired cardio workout

Hemalayaa: Bollywood Booty

*Est. $15 Compare Prices

Hemalayaa Behl has made a career out of creating fun, heart-pumping Bollywood-inspired workout DVDs. Bollywood Booty is a widespread favorite and offers four routines. This type of workout is not as strenuous as other… expandvarieties, but experts say that this is an ideal fit for those just getting into a regular fitness regimen or for those who just want to mix it up. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

FitBottomedGirls.com: Fitness website FitBottomedGirls.com features hundreds of reviews of current top-selling fitness DVDs and workout videos.

Amazon.com: Nearly 50 users review Hemalayaa: Bollywood Booty at Amazon.com, far less than other popular fitness videos.

ThatsFit.com: ThatsFit.com editor Kristen Seymour writes several detailed workout DVD reviews for this health and fitness site.

More: In this article, More magazine fitness writer Michele Bender tries two different Bollywood-style dance workout DVDs -- The Bollywood Dance Workout with Hemalayaa and Hemalayaa: Bollywood Booty.

FitBottomedGirls.com: FitBottomedGirls.com is known for their individual detailed video reviews, but the site also often provides roundups of top videos based on categories.

Fitness Magazine: Fitness magazine writer Marianne Magno selects a dozen different dance exercise videos in this Feb.

FitSugar.com: FitSugar.com readers responded to an informal request from the editors to discuss their favorite workout videos.

Health: Editors of Health magazine suggest seven various dance workout DVDs.

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Ab video

Jillian Michaels: 6 Week Six-Pack

*Est. $9 Compare Prices

Jillian Michaels' no-nonsense fitness philosophy on "The Biggest Loser" and her DVDs have earned her a big following in recent years. In this video, Michaels promises a flatter, more toned midsection in 45 days. The two… expand30-minute routines are challenging, and while they can't guarantee that everyone will have washboard abs in six weeks, reviewers say if you stick with the program you'll see results. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Fitness Magazine: Karla Walsh of Fitness magazine selects the top fitness and exercise DVDs of 2011.

Collage Video.com: More than 80 users and a certified instructor provide feedback on Jillian Michaels: 6 Week Six-Pack.

FitBottomedGirls.com: In this workout DVD face-off, FitBottomedGirls.com editor Jenn Walters tests three of the most popular ab-focused strength training DVDs.

Amazon.com: Amazon.com is a good resource for user feedback on Jillian Michaels: 6 Week Six-Pack.

DietsinReview.com: DietsinReview.com offers detailed descriptions of some of the trendiest workout videos and fitness trends.

ThatsFit.com: ThatsFit.com editor Kristen Seymour writes several workout DVD reviews for this health and fitness site.

Walmart.com: Nearly 50 Walmart.com customers provide feedback for Jillian Michaels: 6 Week Six-Pack, awarding the video a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

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Buy from
Amazon

for $9.99

Time-saving workouts

Personal Training with Jackie: Xtreme Timesaver Training

*Est. $11 Compare Prices

This DVD is ideal for those who don't have a lot of time, but need a challenging workout that will help to shed pounds and tone muscles. The 30-minute routine combines heart-pumping cardio and compound moves that… expandstrengthen and tone the entire body. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Fitness Magazine: Karla Walsh of Fitness magazine selects the top fitness and exercise DVDs of 2011.

Amazon.com: More than 100 users provide feedback on Personal Training with Jackie: Xtreme Timesaver Training.

ThatsFit.com: ThatsFit.com editor Kristen Seymour selects five DVDs as the best of 2010.

ThatsFit.com: ThatsFit.com editor Kristen Seymour writes several workout DVD reviews for this health and fitness site.

FitSugar.com: FitSugar.com editors test many new fitness DVDs and videos and provide detailed, balanced reviews.

Dailyspark.com: Daily Spark, a healthy-lifestyle blog, provides several detailed reviews of popular workout DVDs and videos.

Organic Spa Magazine: Reviewer Nicole Dorsey Straff selects six of her favorite workout DVDs for various categories such as toning, weight loss, dance and Pilates.

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Buy from
Amazon

for $6.63

DVD workout series

Physique 57

*Est. $60 for series with ball and pump Compare Prices

This dance-and-Pilates-infused workout program first earned popularity in the elite studios of Los Angeles and New York City. The three-disc program is designed to help mold a shapely, lean and strong body using an… expandaccompanying ball. The moves are challenging, the instructor is professional and the production is high quality. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

FitBottomedGirls.com: FitBottomedGirls.com is a healthy living and fitness website that provides the most comprehensive database of current fitness DVD reviews.

FitBottomedGirls.com: FitBottomedGirls.com provides the most in-depth database of fitness video and DVD reviews.

Amazon.com: Twenty-four users weigh in on The Complete Physique 57 Workout Kit.

QVC.com: QVC.com offers nearly 50 reviews of the complete Physique 57 Total Body Workout.

Woman's Day: Woman's Day's Abigail L. Cuffey selects her favorite must-have exercise videos.

Real Simple: Real Simple writer Sarah Smith selects seven workout DVDs as the top picks in this undated roundup.

Fitness Magazine: This article selects 10 workout DVDs as top picks for 2009.

Los Angeles Times: In this 2009 article, Los Angeles Times writer Melinda Fulmer suggests several more advanced workout videos.

CollegeCandy.com: CollegeCandy.com is a site geared toward college-age women, who contribute content.

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Buy from
Amazon

for $59.95

Advanced workout

Jari Love: Get Extremely Ripped

*Est. $13 Compare Prices

Jari Love has made a career of offering intense calorie-torching fitness videos and DVDs, aimed at those with an advanced base fitness level. The moves may lack the innovation of some competing workouts, but they are… expandtough and will yield results. This DVD features two 30-minute routines which can be done separately or in succession for an even tougher workout. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Collage Video.com: More than 230 users and a certified instructor provide feedback on Jari Love: Get Extremely Ripped.

Amazon.com: Eighty users provide feedback for this intense workout DVD at Amazon.com.

FitSugar.com: FitSugar.com offers several long, detailed reviews of some of the top-selling or newly released fitness videos and DVDs.

FitSugar.com: The editors of this health and fitness website pick their top three DVDs and five runners-up.

TopExerciseVideos.com: This review comes courtesy of Natalie Belford, a fitness enthusiast who began a blog to review workout videos she tries.

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Buy from Amazon

for $17.73

Amazon