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I N S I D E

TIMES UNION TUESday, dEcEmbEr 25, 2007albany, nEw york

senior editor/ features

Tracy Ormsbee454-5486

tormsbee@timesunion.com

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t’s Christmas Day, and suddenly you get that strange, nagging feeling that you’ve forgotten something. Something really, really important. Something that you promised yourself you would not let slip your mind this holiday season, no matter what.

What was it, again? Think! Think! Oh, that’s right. Your weight. But there were such exquisite distractions, weren’t there? Chocolate mousse and pumpkin pie, and those cookies that

looked like mini-log-jams and tasted like heaven. And such rationalizing: Like, ‘‘I might as well finish the whole thing, so I can’t pick at it tomorrow.’’

B Y s t e P H a n i e e a r L sS T A F F W R I T E R

Slow burnOverindulged? Relax!Even in smallest movements, every calorie counts

I Please see Burn e4 ?

By Carin LaneStaff writer

Merry Christmas and a Happy New You!No, it’s not a misprint. Consider this New

Year a celebration of a new you, with a clean slate. Let all of your failed attempts at weight loss or better health be distant memories. This will be the year to get the body you always dreamed of — from the comfort of home.

I put together a list of DVDs that will tone muscle, burn fat and lengthen your body. With Pilates, yoga, cardio and strength training, you’ll find everything you need to mix it up and avoid hitting a plateau. Beware: You have to eat sensibly to see results. Start simply: Pass on the office cake, cut out soda and eat your fruits and veggies. Here’s to feeling great in '08!

Calorie Burner: ‘‘Jari Love’s Get ripped 1000’’ ?

X The skinny: A 58-minute high-intensity workout that alternates five minutes of cardio and weight-training. There are no fancy moves, just one step. Best of all, it promises you will burn up to 1,000 calories by elevating your heart rate and metabolism, which continues to burn calories long after you’re done.

X you’ll need: Two- to 10-pound weights (men can go heavier, if needed); a workout bench or step will increase calorie burn

X cost: $14.99; http://www.rippedworkout.ca/

Start fitness resolutions armed with DVDsI N S P I R E D O R T I R E D ?

moVIES • It’s opening day for ‘‘The Great Debaters,’’

‘‘Juno,’’ ‘‘The Savages’’ and ‘‘The Water Horse.’’/e7-8

Please see dVds e4 ?

dEar abby • Troubled foster

kids need stable adults for support./e5

aSk THE PHarmacIST: • Avoid falling

into the dark hole called the ‘‘holiday blues.’’/e2

IllUSTraTIon by JEFF boyEr/TIMES UNION

I N S I D E

Jolly old elfNo one’s saying you’re fat, Santa. Well, OK, we are. But you’re fit, too. a better you/E3

C H E C K U PGrab a pencil

and put your body

knowledge to

the test./e2

Muscle Burner: "Squeeze with Tracy Effinger’’

X The skinny: This workout combines yoga, ballet and isometric exercises to work every part of your body to exhaustion. Moves are challenging, but fluid and easy to follow. You can customize the workout to hit the muscles you want in either a 30-minute power squeeze or a 60-minute full workout. It’s brutal, but provides results.

X You’ll need: Two- to 5-pound weights (men can go heavier if needed), weighted ball or any volleyball-sized ball

X Cost: $29.95; http://www.squeezebyTracy.com

Head-to-toe: ‘‘Tank Top Arms, Bikini Belly, Boy Shorts Bottom with Minna Lessig’’

X The skinny: The DVD has six sections to choose from: a warm-up; tank-top arms; bikini belly; boy shorts bottom; total body toning; and a cool-down. You can choose to play it all at once or to mix it up. Most of the exercises Lessig performs are new spins on old favorites, with moderate difficulty. An accompanying book provides further diet and exercise tips.

X You’ll need: Two sets of weights to vary the intensity, 2- and 5-pound weights (men can go heavier if needed) are recommended

X Cost: $14.95; http://www.minnalessig.com

Quick fix: ‘‘10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones with Amy Bento’’

X The skinny: 10 minutes, every day, is all you need to tone up. However, performing more than one 10-minute segment is ideal. Fluid, easy-to-follow moves target the upper, lower and total body, and abs using a 6-foot resistance band. Resistance bands are a great alternative to traditional weight-bearing exercises. They allow for more stability, quicker transitions between moves and the ability to change the difficulty while performing the move. Time is no longer an excuse.

X You’ll need: A resistance band (included)X Cost: $12.99; http://www.amazon.com

Everyone can do it: ‘‘Leslie Sansone Walk Slim System’’

X The skinny: Five-DVD set that includes a firm

band and a meal plan to jump-start your fat loss. The programs include a ‘‘fast start’’ 1- to 2-mile walk with intervals to boost calorie burn, a 3-mile walk, a 4-mile fast walk with intervals and a fast firming workout that uses the included firm band to work opposing muscle groups. This system is easy to do and to stick with. It’s based on only four moves, with no complex choreography. Walking in place, side steps, kicks and knee lifts are all it takes to burn calories and break a sweat.

X You’ll need: A resistance band in the ‘‘Fast Firming’’ workout (included)

X Cost: $24.95; http://www.walkathome.com

Yoga: ‘‘Yoga Booty Ballet: A.M. Latte and Goddess Abs’’ (two-disc set)

X The skinny: When you think of yoga, you likely think quiet, peaceful and graceful. Somehow ‘‘YBB,’’ as they have nicknamed it, manages to give you yoga, ballet and a little funky dance all in one 20-minute session. The A.M. Latte has a combination of yoga to lengthen and stretch muscles, a dance segment to increase circulation and a ballet toning segment to build long, lean muscles. The DVD set includes a great 20-minute ab workout that incorporates a small workout ball to further increase difficulty and resistance to build a strong core. The core, or abs, is an essential area to keep strong. A strong core is a strong body. This workout gives you the energy and flexibility needed to release tension and see results.

X You’ll need: A small workout ball or a light hand weight for the ‘‘Goddess Abs’’ workout (can be done without equipment)

X Cost: For two payments of $19.95, you can get the entire YBB series with workout ball; http://www.yogabootyballet.com

Pilates: ‘‘Windsor Pilates: Sculpting, Body Slimming Maximum Burn with Mari Windsor’’

X The skinny: The biggest misconception of Pilates is that its purpose is to lengthen your muscles. Yoga is better for that. Pilates increases strength and improves posture, which makes you look leaner.

/ Continued from E1

DVD: Choose the right program The 50-minute mat workout goes through Mari’s traditional Pilates quickly, but in an easy-to-follow manner. Every muscle is worked to exhaustion. Mari knows how to hit the spots. This is a great workout to rotate with a regular weight-training session to help build muscle mass.

X You’ll need: A mat or towel, if the exercises will be done on a hard surface

X Cost: $14.95; http://www.collagevideo.com

Dance: ‘‘DanceX: Total Body Cardio with Kenn Kihiu’’

X The skinny: This is my surprise favorite. The workout has a warm-up and cool-down, an abs workout and a wide selection of dance sessions from which to choose, including the Hitch Hike, Twist, Disco Roll, John Travolta Point, Hug Me/Hold Me, Chicken and Irish Kicks (‘‘Lord of the Dance’’ ring a bell?). Or you can select ‘‘My Workout’’ and Kihiu mixes it up for you. The music is upbeat and energizing; the dance moves are easy to follow. Kihiu breaks down a lot of the moves to common activities such as screwing in a light bulb or driving a car.

X You’ll need: Nothing, or, as Kihiu says, just a heartbeat

X Cost:: $24.95; http://www.danceXfitness.com

Pregnancy: ‘‘Leisa Hart’s FitMama Prenatal Workout and Postnatal Workout’’

X The skinny: When I was pregnant, I bought every pregnancy workout video I could find. A few were great, but this one really kept me strong. The workout includes a high-intensity salsa, yoga fat burn, labor and delivery prep and a prenatal stretch and relax. Hart frequently asks if you’re OK, as if you’re in the same room, and has other moms-to-be in different trimesters showing modifications. Working out before, during and after your pregnancy, under a doctor’s supervision, is extremely important in maintaining your health and that of your baby.

X You’ll need: A yoga ball and strap (optional)X Cost: $19.95 each; http://www.leisahart.com

Complete package: ‘‘Turbo Jam with Charlene Johnson’’

X The skinny: This five-DVD package comes with Learn & Burn, which introduces you to Johnson’s ‘‘Elite 11’’ moves; ‘‘Turbo Sculpt,’’ with weights; a 20-minute quick workout; ‘‘Cardio Party,’’ a high-energy workout; and ‘‘Ab Jam,’’ a 20-minute core training. Also included are flashcards, online support, a step-by-step guidebook with meal plans, a workout schedule and a dining-out guide. Since I bought mine, they have added a punch, kick and jam workout with turbo sculpting gloves. I enjoy rotating between the cardio party and turbo jam workout. The moves are a combination of kickboxing and dance. Johnson is down to earth, the recipes are easy to make and taste great.

X You’ll need: Two- to 10-pound weights (men can go heavier)

X Cost: Three payments of $19.95; http://www.turbojam.com

? Carin Lane can be reached at 454-5436 or by e-mail at clane@timesunion.com.