By Cherise Watts
Burn belly fat while indoors with these at-home
kickboxing and core techniques. We reviewed new workout DVDs that will keep you moving without having to step out into the cold.
Denise Austin: Hit the Spot - Core Complete:Denise Austin, one of the most well-known fitness instructors, recently debuted the Hit the Spot DVD workout series. And as you may have guessed, "the spot" that Core Complete is trying to hit is the core -- an area we often ignore in our quests for
sexy legs or
toned arms. Core Complete is designed to be used with a stability ball (the big beach ball-like objects you see in all gyms nowadays). Like most of Austin's DVDs, Core Complete is great at giving you a workout as well as teaching you form. If you are a beginner on the stability ball, this DVD will give you some basic exercises you can use at home and at the gym, and for those who already know the moves, it's a fabulous way to get some serious toning done without ever leaving your living room.
Grade: A
Fat-Burning Kickboxing Workout for Dummies: Workout for Dummies is perfect for us uncoordinated idiots who routinely make fools of ourselves at the gym. Like
yoga or
Pilates,
kickboxing is a fitness trend that is based on a set of basic moves you need to have down before attempting a serious workout. In your average kickboxing class, you'll find that it is a fast-paced workout favored by toned and sweaty men (this can be even more intimidating than your first time at a cardio-striptease class). Like most of the videos in the Workout for Dummies series, Fat-Burning Kickboxing offers a great start for beginners and a good refresher course on form for those who've tried the sport in the past. Especially helpful is the fifteen-minute tutorial before the actual workout, which despite being for beginners, still kicks some butt.
Grade: B+
Tracey Mallett Superbody Boot Camp: Burn It:Boot camp classes typically take place outside on obstacle courses with screaming drill sergeant-style instructors. Needless to say, it is difficult to simulate a boot camp style workout on DVD. Instructor Stacey Mallett makes the attempt with short intervals of cardio and strength training drills. There are several intense, muscle-building, fat-burning drills, and after 50 minutes of them, I definitely got a workout. Unfortunately, the fatigue-themed gym clothes were one of the only aspects of the video that said "boot camp" to me. Mallett's six-pack abs were great inspiration to get moving, but if you want some real drill-sergeant motivation you would be better off watching "Full Metal Jacket." However, there is a bonus for the techies - - it's shot in HiDef, which might make it more of an intense fitness experience with a gigantic crystal clear flatscreen.
Grade: B-
NEXT: Pilates and Samba DVDs Reviewed
