The music: Much of the music you hear on exercise DVDs is bland, syn-
thesized garbage. In fact, the music reminds us of a ’70s porn soundtrack.
(Of course, we don’t watch porn, but if we did, we imagine that’s what a
’70s porn soundtrack would sound like.) Make sure you enjoy the music,
or you may frequently opt out of your workout.
The hype: Everyone progresses at a different pace. To motivate you,
instructors can and should say things like, “Most people will feel stronger
and look better in about six weeks if they do this workout regularly.”
They should not say, “You’ll lose 30 pounds in 6 weeks if you follow my
routine and send away for my world-famous protein powder.”Where to buy DVDs
At supermarkets or megachains like Wal-Mart, you can often pick up tapes for
a fraction of the cost that you may pay in a retail store. (Videos and DVDs
cost about $9.95 to $29.95.) But these stores don’t always have the best selec-
tion. They tend to stick to name-brand instructors and celebrity DVDs, ignor-
ing many first-rate but lesser-known teachers. And beware of return policies:
You usually can’t get your money back unless the product is defective. You
can’t just say, “I tried this tape, and it stinks.”Fortunately, with the growth of the Internet, you have a lot more shopping
options. Here are some of the best places to buy (or barter for) DVDs:Collage Video (www.collagevideo.com; 800-433-6769): This catalog
carries more than 700 videos and DVDs, probably the widest selection
anywhere, including the latest offerings from top instructors who don’t
have the clout to interest Blockbuster. Each blurb tells you how tough the
workout is, how long each segment lasts, what type of music it’s set to,
how major fitness magazines rate the tape, and what equipment you need.
Although the prices aren’t always the lowest, the service is excellent,
and the warehouse is well-stocked. The catalog’s official policy is to
accept only defective returns; in reality, it’ll take back a tape that you
simply don’t like — as long as you don’t abuse this policy.Amazon.com(www.amazon.com): The mega-giant online bookseller sells
exercise DVDs as well as books (and just about everything else under
the sun). Prices are low, service is good, and shipping is free if you order
$25 or more. Plus, you can read reviews of each DVD before you buy.
Fitness Wholesale (www.fwonline.com; 888-FW-ORDER or 330-929-7227):
This Internet retailer offers volume discounts and even allows you to
“rent” some DVDs; you pay full-price and get a new DVD, but it’ll refund
part of the purchase price if you return the DVD within three weeks. (The
amount of the refund is specified with each DVD.) The selection is rela-
tively small, and you can only read descriptions of the DVDs, not reviews.298 Part V: Conquering the Gym (Even at Home)