It’s that time of year again! The time when people restart their gym memberships and dust off their nutri-bullets, with the best of intentions to get fit for the new year. Perhaps it’s one of your resolutions too? My current keep fit preference, instead of slogging it out with a bunch of grunting sweaty strangers in the gym, is to pop on an exercise DVD at home in the evening. I like to work at my own pace and sometimes I want to work out when the gym isn’t open, or I want to stay in my pajamas, ha!

I’ve listed five of my favourite exercise DVDs below, all of them have given results in the past and cost a lot less than a stagnant gym membership would.

Jillian Michaels – 30 Day Shred

Beware, this one isn’t for the faint of heart!

Jillian Michaels, the superstar of America’s fitness trainers, is committed to getting big results. As your own personal trainer, Jillian will guide you through her exclusive 3-2-1 Interval System that combines strength, cardio and abs to blast through calories for a dramatic 30 day shred. The DVD includes three complete 20-minute workouts which progress by level of intensity. Start with Level 1 and advance through to Level 3- in no time you’ll achieve a lean shredded body.

Pilates 30 Days to Flat Abs with Caroline Sandry

Pilates: 30 Days to Flat Abs is designed to help you train your core to be stronger and more toned in just one month. These 7 x 10 minute routines incorporated into Caroline’s Daily Workout Calendar will strengthen your muscles and create a firmer tummy. All you need to do is follow Caroline’s carefully laid out day-to-day schedule. These choreographed routines will strengthen and tone your entire core; your upper, mid and lower back, your waist, tummy, bottom and pelvis making you stronger and slimmer.

Why is it important for you to have strong abs? Because when our abdominal muscles are weak it can have a knock-on effect for how you feel in life! A weak core can leave you with backache, a big tummy, no definition in your waist, poor posture, less power, and can make you look and perform older than your years. Once you strengthen your core muscles, they will help to support your spine and keep your tummy muscles drawn in. Your spine will be more upright, your shoulders pulled back and you’ll seem taller and slimmer, leaving you feeling more energised and more confident.

This DVD consists of a 30 Day Plan or you may choose one of the individual workouts:
Warm Up
Level 1 Pilates
Pilates for Posture
Standing Abs
Level 2 Pilates
Core Strengthener
Level 3 Pilates
Supercharged Abs
Pilates Tutorial: Correct alignment is key in Pilates so be sure to watch the tutorial prior to beginning the programme so you can make yourself familiar with Pilates terms such as Neutral Spine, etc. Caroline will lead you through the foundational moves of Pilates so you can get the most out of each posture and make sure you stay healthy and strong!

Kettlercise Just For Women Vol 1, 2 Disc DVD Set – Ultimate Kettlebell Fat Loss & Body Tone Workout Program

Women everywhere are loving the lightening quick results of Kettlercise Just for Women. Who else wants to Lose Weight, Tone their Hips, Bum & Thighs & have Flat Abs fast? No celebrities, no gimmicks just real results and real women, with real step by step kettlebell instruction from the UK’s No 1 kettlebell expert Guy Noble and Francesca Pardini. This Two Disc set suitable for beginner to Advance comprises of full breakdown and explanation of all the exercises you’ll be covering in the Kettlercise® program, making sure you get the foundations down before you start. If you are just starting out or stuck for time the 20 min express program is the ideal fix. Moving on there is the full 50 min class to really get the fat melting and the body tone in the shortest time imaginable. On top of that the 8 min core section will start to shape that mid-section in no time at all. Using our own secret formula we refer to as the BSM system for maximum calorie burn, which is what has made Kettlercise® the world’s number one Kettlebell Group Fitness Class.

JILLIAN MICHAELS – 10 Minute Body Transformation DVD

Jillian Michaels’ 10 Minute Body Transformation is designed to get you incredible results in less time. Jillian created 5 insanely effective 10-minute workouts each comprised of a different modality, so whether you have an hour to exercise or only 10 minutes, the 10 Minute Body Transformation has you covered. Each workout is completely different so you stave off boredom and prevent plateaus. Exciting variety. Amazing results. Less time.

Calisthenics
Total body conditioning work utilizing killer bodyweight-only exercises.

Kick box Blast
Knock out both fat and stress with boxing and MMA-inspired combos to incinerate body fat

Booty Boot Camp
A booty-sculpting power workout that will lift, shape and tone your backside.

Pilates Power
Create strong and lean muscles with this core-defining Pilates mat workout that will shred your abs.

Cardio Burn
The name says it all. This killer cardio workout scorches calories while building endurance and cardiovascular conditioning.

Mix and match these workouts based on your schedule and how much time YOU have to exercise. If you only have 10 minutes, choose one workout. If you have 20 minutes, do two. If you have more, choose three workouts! You get the idea. As always, Jillian offers modifications and progressions for every move in each workout.

No matter what your schedule looks like, 10 Minute Body Transformation has got you covered.

Ballet Fitness With Nicky Mcginty [DVD]

Ballet Fitness is a unique fusion of ballet and fitness programmes created by ballerina and professional choreographer, Nicky McGinty.

These six routines are themed around the major ballets and have been designed to target and firm specific body parts as well as give you an overall cardiovascular workout. In addition, Ballet will help you locate and strengthen your core muscles and flatten your tummy.

These sequences consist of barre work, floor work and some great dance routines.

Practising these routines will help you build a long, lean, strong ballet body and help you lose weight.

Nicky McGinty has been a dancer, choreographer, circus performer and teacher over the past 17 years. She resides in London and teaches both dance and yoga.