staffed with operators who have actually sweated their way through many
of the DVDs out there. The consultants have watched hundreds of DVDs, and
they have TVs and DVD players at their desks so they can review the latest
tapes between phone orders. On the Collage staff is a trainer certified by the
American Council on Exercise.In general, you tend to get a more thorough and honest appraisal from the
consultants than from the catalog’s blurbs. The company rejects tapes that
the staff considers unsafe or useless, but among those available for sale, you
won’t find any bad reviews. After all, they’re in the business of selling DVDs.
(The blurbs tend to use terms like “bubbly” and “enthusiastic” for instructors
that we personally find shrill and annoying.) The consultants are trained to
help you find DVDs that will suit your fitness level and personality, but if you
prod them for their personal opinions, they’ll probably oblige. When we asked
one of the consultants about a particular instructor, she said, “She seems so
fake. I want to put plugs in my ears and go running the other way.”Rent before you buy
Large movie-rental stores like Blockbuster have a terrific, up-to-date selection
of exercise DVDs (although they don’t carry many excellent-but-lesser-known
instructors). Try out a bunch of instructors. Many have an entire line of
DVDs, so if you find a teacher you like, chances are you’ll be happy with the
whole lot. In the “Our favorite instructors” section later in this chapter, we
list some of our preferred instructors.Inspect the cover
Before you even rent a DVD — and definitely before you buy — take a good
look at the front and back of the jacket. You can’t always judge a DVD by its
cover, but you can find plenty of clues. Pay attention to:The type of workout: Make sure that the workout is what you want,
whether that’s abdominal toning, funk aerobics, or a stepping/body-
sculpting combination. Look for a description of the actual moves —
don’t go by the title or the hype. “Burns Fat,” “Pulsating Excitement!”
and “A New Attitude” don’t tell you anything.
The fitness level required: Look for a box that says “great for begin-
ners.” Don’t start with a tape called “For Animals Only.” Some tapes
offer modifications for all levels.The equipment required: Do you need a step? A tube? A weight bench?
Three sets of dumbbells? Make sure that you either have what’s needed
or are willing to buy it.
The length of the whole DVD and the length of each segment: A
60-minute step aerobics tape may have only 30 minutes of aerobics.
The rest may be a warm-up, stretching session, and cooldown.296 Part V: Conquering the Gym (Even at Home)