Cardio Videos

Aerobics, boxing and walking videos

The main objective of a cardio video or DVD is to raise your heart rate and burn calories for at least 20 minutes. Modern DVDs are a big departure from the jumping jacks and running in place you might remember from the 80's. The emphasis today is on working the big muscle groups to elevate heart rate, while minimizing impact moves that can lead to knee strain or injury. Experts say you want a video with enough variety to keep you interested and motivated.

Experts like Billy Blanks' opus of videos. His original four-video set, "Tae Bo Workout with Billy Blanks (*Est. $30 to $60)" is a blend of Tae Kwon Do, kickboxing and aerobics including instructional, basic, advanced and eight-minute videos. This set has been phased out to make way for new Billy Blanks Tae-Bo workouts, but it can still be found on VHS video tapes.

We also found good reviews for several more recent Billy Blanks exercise videos. Editors at Self magazine vote "Tae Bo Flex (*Est. $15)" the best cardio DVD of 2005. Its cousin, "Tae Bo Cardio (*Est. $15)", wins for best kickboxing DVD. "Billy's Bootcamp (*Est. $40)" is an infomercial staple. One consumer writing a review at FitnessInfomercialReview.com gives credit to the series for helping her lose forty pounds in two months. This video incorporates included rubber bands for resistance. Newer videos include the five-DVD set "Tae Bo Amped ((*est. $40))" and the four-DVD set "Boot Camp Elite (*Est. $40)", both of which are good for toning and floor aerobics.

A few experts are fans of the Crunch series of workout videos. At Paula Z's Exercise Video Reviews, she likes the intermediate/advanced "Crunch: Boot Camp Training (*Est. $15)" video that earns a high rating; the reviewer says it is fun, has a charismatic instructor and keeps the viewers motivated. Other Crunch recommendations include "Crunch Cardio Salsa (*Est. $15)" and "Crunch: Fat Blaster, the Next Step (*Est. $15)". All of these are cardio videos. "Crunch Cardio Salsa" includes Latin music and Salsa moves. If you like step workouts, "Crunch: Fat Blaster, the Next Step" also includes Latin music. You'll need to purchase the step apparatus separately if you don't already own one. "Crunch: Fat Blaster, the Next Step" has been discontinued, but is still available at some websites on VHS tapes.

If kickboxing and step workouts sound a little too advanced, we found positive reviews for \"Walk Away the Pounds\" with Leslie Sansone (*Est. $15). There are several versions of this video, including one, two, three and four-mile workouts based on the long-standing principle that walking is the best workout, especially for beginners. (Newer versions are called Leslie Sansone Walk at Home and Leslie Sansone Walk Slim.) A much tamer workout than Tae Bo, it receives good reviews from consumers on Amazon.com, some of whom say they were surprised to work up a sweat and raise their heart rate. The newer "Leslie Sansone: Walk at Home - Walk Away Your Waistline! (*Est. $20)" includes a three-mile walk with one, two, and three-mile markers on one DVD and a walk belt for toning while walking. Amazon.com users give this video good ratings, but it is too new for professional reviews. Editors at Redbook cite "Walk Away the Pounds" as a favorite.

To add variety to routine workouts, various manufacturers are producing dance-inspired workout videos. We read about videos based on tap, salsa, hip-hop and belly dancing. While these types of videos may not have enough variety to keep you motivated long-term, they are a good way to supplement an exercise program. Some videos we saw in reviews include "Tap-N-Burn" (*est. $20), "You Got Served - Take it to the Streets (*Est. $10)" and "Dancing with the Stars Cardio Dance (*Est. $15)".