Maire Claire TV: Body Beautiful: Waist

More from Joanne at Marie Claire UK. Here she shows an exercise for the external obliques and why you want to target these instead of the internal obliques. She says NO! to Side-bends.

First, she explains that the External Obliques are the diagonal muscles of your stomach and the internal are the ones that run up and down.

Target the External and you get a trim waistline, but if you target the internal you can end up with a bulkier waist.

Don't do side bend, do do Leg Cross-overs:

1. Engage ab muscles and make sure your feet are far enough from butt that your big toe is about to come off the floor. Rotate, think about coming from ribs to hips

Specific and Tips
1. Think small. Foot only comes only slight off ground. Anything more and you are actually engaging the leg muscle.

2. Think about rotating through the torso - so visualize rib across to hip.

3. Keep knees still and don't move arms around. If you start to move knees, ti can take the emphasis off the waist.

Video here.

Marie Claire TV: Body Beautiful: Arms & Biceps

More arm exercises from Maire Claire's fitness guru Joanna Hall! This one targets biceps and is called "Frontal Raises."

She starts out by explaining the major muscles in the front of the arm and which to target and why. So basically the front of your arm has two types of muscles - Short-haired and Long Haired. Target the long haired which goes from the shoulder to across the elbow joint to get long,sleek muscles. Don't do bicep curls.

Dumbbell Weight = .5 to 1.5 kilos or 1 to 3 lbs
Reps = 12 to 16
Keep elbows soft.
1. Make sure you hold the weight lightly b/c otherwise you are engaging the muscles of the forearm.
2. Make sure the elbow stays soft but not too bent. If the elbow is straight, the emphasis is on the joint.
3. Keep the wrists neutral to reduce the risk of energy. That means, not rolled out and not rolled in.

Video here

Marie Claire TV: Body Beautiful: Super Flat Abs

Here's another one from Marie Claire on Abs. It's a take on the classic sit-up, but with a variation. Lots of good tips on how to get the technique right.

Specifics & Tips

1. Move legs away from butt, so you almost feel like your big toe is just coming off the floor. That helps you engage your abs and lengthen.
2. Rib-Hip Connection. Imagine you're wearing a corset and it needs to be tightened. Pull your rib cage in and down slowly towards your hips. That way your abdominals are starting to contract.
3. Lengthen as you lift.

Marie Claire TV: Body Beautiful: Arms & Triceps

I saw this today and it's going immediately in my "To Do" list for the week! Basically, despite the bored looking model, the instructor - Marie Claire UK's fitness guru - Joanna Hall gives a no nonsense speech on how to get long, lean arms with a tricep move called "Pilates Scissor Lift", and urges us to give up the "Kick Back" - which is a standard tricep exercise. (That happens to be one I've been doing for the past few weeks and struggling with.) Even better, this does not encourage using heavy weights!

According to Joanne, the problem with many tricep exercises is this:

"They engage more then just the triceps, so we start losing technique and comprising on our posture, ending up in an exercise that can create a kind of hunched over, bulkier look -- which we really don't want."

Pilates Scissor Lift Specifics and Tips:

Dumbbell Weight = .5 to 1.5 kilos (or 1 to 3 lbs.)
Number of reps = 12 to 16

Perform slowly and keep elbow soft. Really use the tricep muscle.

1. Choose light weights.
2. Hold the weight lightly, and keep the elbows soft.
3. As you extend arm back, make sure you really engage the tricep.

Video here

Class and YogaKai sab 4

Sometimes it's inspiring just to watch a fitness class (these are yoga). Just normal folks, no music, no tips, no talking. Just do it.

Click here for the first one which is sooo familiar. Just a bunch of folks going through a vinyasa...and here for the second one. Yoga practioners warming up in an airy, well-lit studio with lots of colorful blankets and mats.

Core Balance (2:28)

What:One exercise with slight variations (with and without dumbbells) that strengthens your core.

Why it's good:There's something about moves that involve balancing which make me feel extra strong, maybe since they require lots of control.

Click for balance.

FRV# 15: Long Jump 101 (5:30)

What & Why it's good:Female athletes doing the long-jump. Just inspiring.

Click here to jump

FRV# 14: Jump Rope (1:00)

What & Why it's good:A commercial for x-box and it's all jump roping. Just cool.

Click to jump.

FRV# 13: Bosu for Runners (2:46)

What:An exercise promising greater efficiency and speed in your running that uses two Bosus (or is it Bosi?). Anywho, for this exercise you basically switch your feet back and forth, until you're mimicing running. Long-distance runner Jen makes it look easy)

Why it's good: Well, it looks fun, though possibly a chore on your ankles. I've never used a Bosu but want to and most of the Bosu exercises I looked up focused on strength exercises, not on improving a specific activity like running

Click for video.

FRV# 12: Six Pack Abs (3:50)

What: Four ab moves focusing on upper, lower abs and obliques, demonstrated by host Valerie.


Why it's good: Instructor seems practical, friendly and has great form. You can easily follow along. This one is two for two, though, meaning two of the moves are one you've prob seen before (the bicycle or what she calls the criss-cross and the hip ups), the other two are variations of ab moves, which I wanted to try right away: the Roman (kind of a roll-down but with legs kept extended and up in the air) and the Plank with a twist (where you dip your lower body from side to side).

Click for Video

if you're doing these, here's a list of the exercise s for your work-out log:

1. CRISS-CROSS
2. HIP UPS
3. ROMAN
4. PLANK W/ A TWIST

FRV# 11:Pilates on Fifth Video:EP 10 Plank with Leg Lifts (<2 min)

What:One pilates move - Plank with leg lifts - is demonstrated by Kimberly with instruction and tips by instructor Katherine. Okay, this is a bit a cheesy-looking as this appears to be mother/daughter duo and it doesn't help that in some of their videos they wear coordinated outfits. But whatever.

Why it's good: It shows one move and the instruction is clear and consise. Katherine (the one with the orange ponytail who's the teacher) is specific in her direction and Kimberly (the one also with the orange ponytail) has great form so it looks like you can follow these at home and do them right.

Click for video.

FVR# 10: Oblique Twists (<1 min)

What: A woman called Elaine demonstrates one ab move in each of her three videos, which are less than a minute each. This one is a variation on the side plank and she only manages to do one -- even though she's clearly fit, underscoring just how difficult these moves can be.

Time: 0:30

Why it's good: This is one of those a picture is worth a thousand words thing. None of that "Rah! Rah! You can do it" cheering. Just the move. While the music is muzac-y, it's as real as it gets. Like I said, Elaine can only do one of these moves which kinda works as a reverse psychology thing -- made me want to try it, too. (I can't do more than one). It's basically a side plank, with elbow bent, lowering to one side until your chest is parallel to the floor, than going back up. Check out her other ones: Parallel Pike and Rotational Obliques.

Click for video.

FVR# 9: Lone Cyclist in Paradise

What: Beautiful scenery + cycling.

Time: 5:20

Why it's good: See above.

FVR# 8: Synergy Fitness Bootcamp

What: This is a promo video for a gym's boot camp class, but it's great advertising, got me motivated and gave me some ideas for exercises I want to try.

For the first few minutes, it's medicine ball-happy starting with an some innocuous-looking jumps (swinging the ball from the floor to up over your head), then diving into variations on the plank and push-up -- with both hands balanced on the medicine ball. By the time they get to the one where they roll the ball from under one hand to the next while they do the pushup, I'm wondering if all the participants are regulars 'cause no one's having any real trouble with these moves.

Then they head outside and start crawling around (they have gloves on) right by a Pizza Hut sign. Later their doing variations on downward and upward facing dog as well as walking down walls while inverted in handstand. The video ends with a screen saying th e "The first class is free".

Why it's good: Like I said they all look like "regulars", but they're also just regular folks. You don't even see the instructor much so I think this one's got a lot of heart. It's all about the moves and what you might get out of the class if you take it. Made me want to try some of the stuff at home.

Click here to get "booted"

FVR# 7: Diet.com Bikini Body Circuit Workout Video

What: A 40 min. circuit full body workout mixing cardio and four different strength exercises (like side plank with hip thrust and glute hip lifts with leg abductions). After each exercise you do your 5 min of cardio, then all four exercises one after another, ending with 5 min cardio, 3 min intense cardio and cooldown.

Time: 2 min, 46 sec.

Why it's great: These are some challenging moves and Katrina (who seems no nonsense) demonstrates them with a client so you can see how a layperson would do it. Video includes captions with exercises and # of reps written out so you could pause the video (like I did, to write this review!) and copy the names of the exercises down.

Click for video.

For your workout log:

Cardio (running, any, etc.) = 5 minutes
[]Squat Explosions = 12-15 reps
Cardio = 5 minutes
[]Side Plank w/Hip Thrust = 15 reps, then switch sides
Cardio = 5 minutes
[]Glute Hip Lift w/Leg Abduction = 15 reps, then switch sides
Cardio = 5 minutes
[]Straight Leg Dead Lift w/Upright Row = 12-15 reps using 5-10 lb. dumbbells
Cardio = 5 minutes
[]All four exercises in a row
Cardio = 5 minutes
Cardio = 3 minutes in target heart zone

2 minute cooldown

FVR#6: SNL Men's Synchronized Swimming

What: An SNL classic. Martin Short and Christopher Guest as male synchronized swimmers.

Best Moment: Martin Short saying "I'm not that strong a swimmer..."

click for video

FVR #5: Terje's First Descent

What: Terje Haakonson snowboards down a 7,000 ft. mountain.

Words used in this video: "gnarly", "ripped", "jacked"

Word I use to describe this video: wow.

Click here for video.

FVR# 4: Namaste Yoga Video 5 Minute Preview

What: This is more of a promo for their TV show than an instructional video judging from the way it's shot (which includes aerial pans of the demonstrators bodies, making it hard to observe the actual poses.)

Also scores high on the cheesy meter 'cuz it features three scantily clad girls wearing hot pants and athletic bra tops. Annoying. Takes the spiritual side out of yoga and drops it right into Self Magazine. Haven't even mentioned the overly breathy voice of the narrator.

I'd avoid.

FVR# 3: Kim's Progressive Workout

What: Variations of squats, lunges, and push ups for three different levels of fitness.

Time: 4 min, 50 sec.

Why it's good: It's good to see an exercise type at beginner to experienced level. Host has a conversational/friendly style of instructing.

Click for video.

For your workout log:

Squats
[] B - Wall Squat with Swiss Ball
[] I - Regular Squat
[] A - Jumping Squat

Lunge
[] B - Stationary Lunge
[] I - Walking Lunge
[] A - Jumping Lunge

Push Up
[] B - "Girlie" or "Modified" Push-up
[] I - "Big Girl" Push-up
[] A - Yoga Push up

For beginners 10-15 reps, 2 sets. For more advanced, 15 reps, 3 sets.

FVR# 2: Lazytown - Sportacus Workout - Pushups

What: Is this entertainment or fitness? Host Sportacus of Lazytown performs a series of variations on pushups ending with an energetic Virabhadrasana (Warrior III) yoga pose before hopping into his space ship and blasting away.

Time: 1 min, 4 sec

Why it's great: Something to aspire to if you're hating or loving push-ups or just whiling away the hours at work...

Click for video.

FVR# 1: Strong Arms and Back by Pilates Your Way

What: Six arm exercises using 3,5,8 lb dumbbells.

Time: 4 min, 48 sec.

Why it's good: Clear directions, good form, friendly/practical-sounding host, not cheesy. Note these are pretty typical exercises that you've heard before, but great for beginners.

Click for video.