30 Day ShredHave you heard of a Shredhead? Shredheads are fans of the 30 Day Shred DVD by Jillian Michaels ($10.99) who track their weight loss progress on their website.

(Which, by the way, was founded by The Stir's own Kristin Chase!).

I was inspired by the Shreadheads and I got the the DVD, but I wimped out and didn't do it for 30 days straight. I didn't lose 20 pounds either, BUT I did feel stronger and had nicely toned arms, which was awesome. 

The best part? I could do it in my basement and it only required 20 minutes of my day. Then I started looking around and I found a few other exercise DVDs that are perfect for squeezing into your busy schedule. You know, so you can squeeze back into that bathing suit.

 

 

 

Zumba

Zumba! This latest fitness craze fuses catchy latin rythyms and sexy moves, many which strengthen your hips and abs. But you won't think about that when doing the DVDs. You'll be too busy concentrating on your shimmy. The Total Body Transformation System ($59.95) is a 4 DVD set, but it includes a 20-Minute Express Workout, leaving you plenty of time to practice your mambo.

Denise AustinIf Samba is not your thing, you can target your major muscle groups with this Get FIt Daily Dozen DVD from Denise Austin ($13.00). This series of 12 exercises are designed to be practiced for 12 minutes a day with segments like Cardio Kickbox and Lower Body Sculpt.

Tae BoRemember the work out fad that was Tae Bo? Guess what? It's still around and it's still a kick-butt workout. Billy Blanks has kept cranking out fitness DVDs like Core Express ($19.98), which is an intense but targeted 30 minute workout.

Remember to always check with your doctor before starting any exercise program and keep in mind that you have to watch calories IN as well as calories OUT if you want real weight loss results.

Do you prefer working out at home to working out at a gym?

 

Images (top to bottom): jillianmichaels.com; barnesandnoble.com; billyblanks.com