Bored with Exercising at Home but Want to Sculpt Your Body? Problem Solved!

Although I've belonged to a variety of gyms, I tend to rely on home workouts as a way to save time and money. I love the benefits:
- I don't have to worry about the extra money needed to join a gym.
- I save time and gasoline money by not having to drive anywhere (and with gas prices these days, that counts for a lot!).
- I can exercise anytime that's convenient for me, regardless of the weather or the gym's hours.

The challenge: that need for variety. It's not just boredom: studies show that exercise variety will help you improve and get you in tip-top condition.

The solution: make the DVD your best fitness friend. Here's how:

1. Start recording your favorite daytime TV shows, the ones that you watch when you're home sick, or it's a holiday. Whether it's a talk show (ooo-la-la Oprah!) or re-runs of classic comedy (seduced by Seinfeld?), indulge yourself in watching these taped shows ONLY when you're exercising. I bribe myself shameless in this way, for example, I can only watch the Frasier shows I've recorded when I'm lifting weights or doing lunges and squats.

2. Create a workout schedule that builds in variety. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, for example, you might plan to ride your exercise bike for 20 minutes, then do abs for 10 minutes. Tuesdays and Thursdays might be ideal for working out to different fitness DVDs.

3. Develop a highly varied library for yourself of exercise DVDs. Save money by checking out different ones at the library, renting them from a video store, or trading and swapping via one of the many Internet swap sites just for this purpose.

New Fitness DVDs to Put On Your List

Looking for something different? Here are a few fabulous fitness DVDs that are new and designed to get you sculpted to perfection for baring it all at the beach:

1. Tribal Energy Cardio: Save this one for those days when you just can't get yourself energized: five minutes into it, you'll find yourself moving and motivated! This DVD rocks with Western African dance moves, complete with drumming. Instructor Suzanne Forbes-Vierling is easy to follow, and her enthusiasm is contagious.

2. Supreme 90 Day: This 10-DVD program builds variety into your routine with everything from cardio to abs to arms and more. The routines challenge your body and mind, keeping you switching from one part of the body to another for an effective workout.

3. Kristi Yamaguchi: Power Workout: She scored on the ice as a champion and on the dance floor in Dancing with the Stars. Now you can learn how Kristi Yamaguchi stays in such peak condition with this fast-paced fitness DVD. Celebrity trainer Erin O'Brien enhances the workout, which is divided between cardio and body sculpting. The circuit workout is easy to follow, and Kristi's graceful movements will keep you motivated.