Tae-Bo Workout (SET OF 4: Basic, Instructional, Advanced, 8-minute Workout) [VHS]

Billed as the "future of fitness" and hawked by numerous celebrities, Billy Blanks's Tae-Bo actually deserves much of the hype it's receiving. A mixture of boxing punches and martial arts kicks, Tae-Bo is fun and easy. One of the best elements of this four-tape set is that the first tape (which is 40 minutes long), Tae-Bo: Instructional, lays out the movements you need to successfully complete a workout. Once you've mastered the steps, you won't have to fast-forward through half the tape to get to the workout, nor will your workout be slowed down by the repeated lessons. After you feel comfortable with the movements (and they're really quite easy to follow; nothing too complicated to trip you up), you're ready to move on to Tae-Bo: Basics, a 27-minute workout (5 minutes of warm-up, 18 minutes of Tae-Bo, and 4 minutes of cool-down) that will have your heart pounding and your body sweating. Next comes Advanced, a 57-minute workout that will have your heart racing, pulse pounding, and sweat glands working overtime. There's razzmatazz on the moves, with slightly more complicated combinations that should be fairly easy to master if you've completed the first two tapes. This video seriously raises the bar on the difficulty factor.

In addition to the short warm-up, the cool-down, and the 30 minutes of Tae-Bo, Advanced Tae-Bo also includes 18 minutes of muscle-crunching floor work. You know you're in trouble when even the guys in the tape have trouble keeping up. Make sure you have truly mastered the first two tapes before attempting this one. The 8-Minute Workout is a highly compacted workout (actually 14 minutes long when you include warm-up and cool-down) for those days when you're too short on time for Basic or Advanced. While the 8-minute idea is compelling, it's not an adequate substitute for the longer workouts. Blanks, a seven-time World Martial Arts champion, is a superb instructor, providing encouragement and careful instruction (if you don't know by the end of the tape to hold in your stomach, that's no one's fault but your own). The only downside to these tapes is the less-than-exciting music. Not only is Tae-Bo great exercise for all levels, but the punches and kicks are wonderful for working out stress and aggression. This is the aerobics exercise video for people who are bored by aerobics. --Jenny Brown

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How To Maximize Your Aerobics Workout

Everyone knows how important working out is. However, not everyone knows the proper way to exercise and maximize the benefits of aerobics and a good aerobics workout. With a few simple steps, you can easily make the most of your aerobic workout.

One of the first steps in maximizing the benefits of aerobics is to understand why you need to work out. Probably the first thing that comes to mind is weight control. However, working out not only helps you lose weight, it is also good for your overall health.

Aerobics has a tendency to relax your muscles; therefore, relieving you of stress. Research has also shown that regularly exercising increases the production of endorphins. A good cardio workout can strengthen your heart, while reducing your risks of developing diabetes.

Now that you know some of the benefits of aerobics, it is important to know how to properly workout. Start by working out at the same time each day, totaling at least 2 hours a week. Setting a routine will help make your aerobic workout more of a habit than a chore. The more you work out, the easier it will be to actually work out.

In order to create total body fitness, you will need to incorporate both aerobics and strength training. In order to burn more calories, you need to build up your muscles. It takes less energy to move fat.

When first starting out, try to get in three workouts a week. Start with a short warm up, generally lasting 5-10 minutes. Follow the warm up with a strength training routine. Then, go into some more light aerobics for approximately 20 minutes. It is important to be careful to not overdo it when you start, since your motivation levels will be low if you strain muscles in your first workouts. It is equally important to realize that you are not going to see results immediately -- give it time! It took time to put those extra pounds on, and it will take take to get them off.

As you become more accustomed to working out, you can interchange your workout. One day do strength training and one day do aerobics. Keep in mind to not over do it. If you feel you need to take a day off or lessen the workout, be sure to do so.

You will want to increase your intensity slowly to avoid exhaustion. By starting slow and working your way up, you will also avoid extreme soreness and improve your fitness and health.

As a rule of thumb, you will want to do each set of strength training 8-12 times. Once you have mastered the particular exercise, try increasing the weight. Challenging yourself will not only improve the benefits of aerobics, but it will also keep you from getting bored. This also allows your muscles to build by requiring more of them, instead of doing something they can do easily.

Another technique is to find a workout partner. Having someone to workout with will keep you moving. A workout buddy will increase your motivation and make you more accountable for your workouts.

Working out can be very beneficial to your overall health. By learning proper techniques for working out you can greatly increase those benefits. The most important thing is to start off slow and gradually work your way up.

Jon is a computer engineer who maintains many websites to pass along his knowledge and findings. You can read more about aerobics workouts and health fitness at his web site at [http://jag-info-resources.com/aerobics]

Zumba®: Ditch the Workout, Join the Party! The Zumba Weight Loss Program

TIRED OF LOGGING HOURS AT THE GYM AND NOT GETTING RESULTS?

WANT TO EAT DELICIOUS FOODS AND STILL LOSE WEIGHT?

SHAKE THINGS UP AND SLIM DOWN WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS PHENOMENON THAT'S TAKING THE COUNTRY BY STORM...ZUMBA!

Created by celebrity fitness trainer Beto Perez, ZumbaR combines fun, easy-to-follow dance steps with hot Latin beats to help you shed pounds and inches fast. Now the DVD and classes that have hooked millions are available in book format, with a complete workout program, fat-burning diet, and an exclusive instructional DVD with 60 minutes worth of music to help you Zumba your way to the perfect body.

Using the principles of interval and resistance training, the simple dance and sculpting moves (inspired by the traditional cumbia, salsa, samba, and merengue) tone and shape your body. And because it burns 600 to 1,000 calories per hour, you don't have to restrict your meals to boring or bland-tasting diet foods. The Zumba diet begins with a 5-Day Express Diet to jump start weight loss (lose up to 9 lbs in 5 days) and then offers 14-day meal plans and recipes that target weight loss in the stomach and thighs. You'll find:
· Hot moves that make you feel like you're on the dance floor-not on the elliptical machine!

· Recipes for mouthwatering meals that boost your metabolism

· Dozens of workout combinations so you never get bored

· An exclusive jump-start program to get you ready for that big event next weekend

· An easy plan to help you keep up your progress and maintain the weight loss

So start moving, grooving and losing with Zumba today!

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10 Tips To Getting A More Effective Aerobic Workout

1. Always warm up with stretches so that your body is ready for an aerobic workout. This will help to avoid injury during the exercises and will also make it easier to move as the act of warming up increases flexibility.

2. If you are indoors, make sure that your aerobic workout room is comfortable when it comes to temperature. During most aerobic programs, you will work up a sweat and a warm room will make you sweat even more. On the other hand, a cold room is not ideal either. Instead, try getting your workout area to be somewhere in between.

3. If you are planning to use an aerobic workout video, watch it before beginning to exercise. This will give you an idea as to whether you will be able to successfully follow along with the program without injuring or straining your muscles.

4. Always choose an aerobic workout video according to your level of experience. There is nothing wrong with beginner videos. Never feel like you are in such a hurry that you bypass the first basic steps to fitness needed before moving up to the advanced aerobic workouts.

5. It is best to consult with a physician prior to beginning any aerobic workout regimen. If your physician recommends a specific plan, always be sure to follow it precisely.

6. If you feel that you have pulled a muscle or have suffered another type of aerobic related injury, stop your exercise program and rest. If the pain does not subside, consider applying a warm pack or towel to the injury. If you suspect that the injury is severe or may require medical attention, consult a physician immediately. Do not continue working out as this may only make the injury worse.

7. While doing your aerobic exercises, listen to your favorite tunes on the DVD player. If you are working out to an exercise video, simply turn the volume down if you already know the regimen. If you prefer to workout independently, music is a terrific way to keep you motivated and help you to maintain the pace.

8. If you are planning to enroll in an aerobic class, stop by and watch the class being taught before signing up. This will give you a good idea as to the length of time and level of physical activity that is required by a particular instructor.

9. When participating in any type of exercise program, which includes aerobic workouts, always wear comfortable clothes that are preferably made of cotton. This is the most breathable fabric and will provide the most comfort and ease of movement while working out.

10. At the conclusion of your aerobic workout, always perform several minutes of cool down exercises to get your body cooled down and slowly returned to a normal heart rate. This is better than rapidly stopping your aerobic workout.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended to be in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice regarding aerobic exercise. Prior to beginning any workout regimen, an individual should consult their physician for proper recommendations.

Find more about women bodybuilding nutrition, anti aging skin care products or read more aerobic tips on http://www.aerobic-exercise.org.