Fitness video pet peeve(s)

I have some serious pet peeves about fitness videos. Actually I have several pet peeves but these all pertain to fitness videos. I do not consider myself a fitness expert by any stretch of the imagination. Just someone who expects perfection.

1. Fitness leaders who talk too much. There should be a tutorial at the beginning of the video so that they don't have to stop during the workout to explain the exercise. (Ellen Barrett, I'm looking at you!) Prompt us through the workout or count the reps.

2. Leaders who get out-of-sync or out-of-step with their music and/or prompts. (That would be you, Leslie Sansone!) Re-record it, if necessary. I expect perfection from this multi-million dollar industry so get it right.

3. Other leaders on the video who have extremely bad form. (I would again have to go with Leslie Sansone on this one.) These people are being paid to demonstrate the proper form and technique of the exercise. I won't say that all of Leslie's videos have this problem but there is one in particular that the form and technique of most (but not all) of the other leaders is appalling.

4. Lame music. Give us something that motivates us. Elevator music is not motivating, unless the workout is yoga.

5. No coordinated workout togs. For as much money as these fitness companies make, they could at least spring for some coordinated workout gear for all of the people in the video.

6. Mis-counts of the reps. I have a workout that counts out 18 reps of a move on the left and about 25 on the right. If you're going to teach fitness, at least know how to count.

I'll stop now before the fitness industry informs Wal-Mart to stop selling me fitness videos. There are some things that I do like about these fitness videos.

1. They're convenient. I can do a workout at home, whenever I want. I can take them with me wherever I go.

2. No one is there to see how uncoordinated that I truly am. If I trip over my shoelaces during a power-walk or if I dislocate my hip while doing the Proud Warrior pose in yoga, there is no one there to laugh at me.

3. They require little or no equipment. Most can be done with small hand weights, a resistance band, a towel or a strap.

4. You don't have to get all cutified before working out because no one at home cares what you look like during your workout. You can wear whatever you want (i.e. Naked Yoga). The same cannot be said for a gym or workout studio.

5. There are some excellent, affordable, studio-quality fitness videos out there. And, in this economy, who doesn't want a cheap, studio-quality workout??

6. You can customize the workout however you want to and no one notices or cares. If there is a particular move that is too strenuous for you, just modify it to suit your fitness level. Some videos will have someone doing modifications but not all of them do. One modification that I use is to wear those shaping/toning tennis shoes while doing a Power Walking workout.

I hope that none of this has discouraged anyone from working out. Keeping your body moving is key to your health and well-being. So take a 1/2 or 1 mile walk around your neighborhood or at the local park. Do a 20-minute yoga or Pilates video workout. Take your kids to play basketball or softball. Go for a family bike ride. Just do something.