Weight Lifting DVDs... help me find a good one.

I have tried to do  strength training by my self for a while now and can't get into it. Not even sure if I'm doing it right.

So I decided to get a DVD to help me a long. I was thinking of getting 1 of the following to start out with:

• Kathy Smith - Timesaver - Lift Weights to Lose Weight

• Get Ripped! with Jari Love: Slim & Lean

• Workout: One-On-One Training with Jackie (not sure if this one has a lot of weights, which I am looking for)

I don’t have a weight bench. I have free weights, adjustable dumbbells, and was thinking of getting a long bar (still haven’t yet).

Any suggestions would be great. Although, I am not planning on joining a gym and it is a lot easier for me to follow along with a video rather than written instruction or those tiny video clips on a website.

Thanks in advance.

Any one use a DVD to get started on strength training?

Honestly, I find it hard to imagine using a DVD for strength training - the movements are done at your own pace, and you chose your own weight based on what you feel like you can do. The only "strength training" DVDs I've ever seen advertised have been cardio with little hand weights, which really isn't the same thing.

Maybe find out if you can have a free trial at a gym, and get a trainer to show you the basics that you can do at home?

thanx

Hi there -

I recently started using Jari Love Ripped & Chisled and it kills me.  By the end of the workout I'm shaking.  I highly recommend it!  :o)  Good luck!

I just looked that up online - from the reviews on Amazon, it seems like a cardio/endurance video, with weights.

Not saying that's bad (or that it isn't difficult - I'm sure it is!), but it is different than weight lifting.

The first weight lifting DVD I used came with my first set of weights.  That one only had weights up to 5 pounds, but the instructor would always say to lift as heavy as you could and that they did sell heavier weights on their website if you needed.  So, while it *was* a set of "pink dumbbells", the video was actually really helpful - explained good form and such - and I kept using it with my 10 and 15 pound weights for a couple of months.  When I get home, I'll see if I can find the DVD because it was a good "starter workout".

Original Post by bonny08:

So I decided to get a DVD to help me a long. I was thinking of getting 1 of the following to start out with:

• Kathy Smith - Timesaver - Lift Weights to Lose Weight

This was the second weight lifting video I used.  It was harder than my intro. DVD - but not so hard you couldn't start with it.  It was a pretty decent workout - lots and lots of squats and lunges for the legs part.  There were deadlifts in there somewhere too.  And the "bonus abs section" was pretty brutal.  Kathy claims that there are two ways to do the video - Stream A and Stream B.  One of the streams uses lighter weights and doesn't get any breaks between sets.  The other stream uses heavier weights and essentially does one set/one break/one set for most of the exercises.  She probably has you do a few more reps than is really best - but the instruction's decent, the pace is okay and the legs workout in particular was really good.  I always stuck with the lift-heavy-and-get-breaks stream and enjoyed the workout.

The two DVDs gave me a lot more confidence handling weights, and I'm really glad I did them.

Some of Cathe Friedrich's DVDs are also good - she's got a few pink dumbell-style calisthenics/cardio workouts in there, but also some with more serious strength training in her Gym style series.

 Good place to start and learn form, and then branch out to doing your own thing once you've got that down ;)

Thank you. Very helpful!

I like cardio DVDs, but was looking for something that involved more strength training/weight lifting.

I would like to add in strength training a couple days a week to my regular exercise program. I've just had a hard time getting started.

I might start with the "Kathy Smith - Timesaver - Lift Weights to Lose Weight", but I will definitely check into Cathe Friedrich's DVDs as melkor suggested also.

Thanks for replying everyone!

I was feeling a little on my own yesterday, but I feel more confident in my strategy now!

I'm glad to see I was wrong! :) Sorry to discourage you, bonny.

Don't sweat it! I asked for opinions, and that was yours.

I appreciate your reply none-the-less :P

Any of the Biggest Loser Workout DVDs are AMAZING! I've been doing them for 3 days now and I can barely sit I am so sore. Also, Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred is amazing. They are good for beginning and help you work your way up.

I've heard good things about the P90X DVDs...

bonny08, will you post back here which one you decide to go with and let us know how it goes?  I've been wanting something like this also.