GeekSugar

DVD Review: Fit in 5 Total Body Tone

Michele Bell — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 07:30:00 PST

Some athletes or sports gurus like to bulk up their muscles and flex to impress. Me? I'm a toning kind of gal and the quicker the workout, the better. While some people take hours a day to work their body into tip-top shape, sometimes all you need is a 20-minute stint. Created for folks who can't always carve a heavy-duty gym routine into their hectic schedules (or those who simply don't want to!), Acacia has compiled five 20-minute workouts that are quick and easy enough to do in the own comfort of your home in Fit in 5 Total Body Tone ($15). Taken from formerly released DVDs, these 20-minute sections are picked out to represent the best in toning. To make sure they offered a little something for everyone, they included a series on each of the following: strength training, yoga, Pilates, abs, and cardio.

Curious to see what I thought of the DVD? Just

DVD Review: Joy Bauer’s Slimdown Workout

Michele Bell — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 12:30:27 PST

Ready to slim down but not willing to kill yourself to make it happen? It might be time to check out Joy Bauer’s Slimdown Workout ($13). As much as I'd love to head to the gym for an hour or two every day, it's not always an option for a mother of two. Joy Bauer, a mother herself, knows what it's like to only have a few moments to yourself to tune up the body.

In her new fitness video, Joy Bauer, nutritional expert of NBC's Today Show and former gymnast, shows how easy it is to stay trim with two simple 20-minute cardio workouts. But it's not just her; she's teamed up with professional trainer Lisa Wheeler. The tall, svelte blonde essentially leads Joy in the routines. I'm not quite sure why she didn't make the cover since she does much of the directing, but it's a good thing she's there as she's much more than an inspiring figure. Lisa helps show the modified versions of exercises and points out Joy's perfect form, which makes you check your own along the way. To keep the viewer engaged, Joy sprinkles in her tidbits of wisdom and pointers. She also makes you feel normal when she says, "Don't feel bad if you can't do this, guys!" as she wobbles herself.

To see what I liked about the exercise and to see a teaser video, just

read more. Like the DVD cover says, all you need to get through this workout are a set of small (two- or three-pound) weights and a mat. Once you've got that, you're ready to roll. The five-minute warmup is simple and fairly standard. After your body is in the groove from all the marching, squating, and lunging, it's time for the first 20-minute cardio session. Complete with squats, kicks, and jumping jacks, there are also some fun moves like the grapevine and running man, to keep it light and fun while getting your heart rate up and pumping. For a while there, I began to feel like I was in training to be a Dallas Cowgirl or a Laker Girl with some cheerleaderesque motions. When all the dancing stops, you are down on all fours ready for some core and arm work. The push-ups, plank, and other mat moves provided a nice ending to the first round of cardio by strengthening the abs. Now if you're up for a second round of cardio, the next session definitely breaks a sweat much quicker than the former. If you only have time to do one or the other and you want more burn and perspiration, go for the latter. Lisa and Joy get the blood pumping immediately with a little jumping and a lot of weights - alternating between the two. It starts to feel a bit like an old aerobics class as you move into the grapevine, the Charleston, and some old-school hamstring kickbacks. It made me yearn for a high-cut leotard and a neon headband. All kidding aside, my arms, glutes, and abs certainly felt the burn from the all-body workout. And, similar to the first cardio session, Joy and Lisa end the second one with a few mat exercises to tighten the core, arms, and glutes. I'd definitely recommend the DVD for anyone looking for a couple of quick cardio routines. Though they are both different in what they offer, they are both simple enough to follow, fun to do, and easy enough to modify. It's no wonder Joy's hair stays perfect and her makeup flawless in the first 20-minute routine as the exercises aren't sweat drenching, but they are effective and you feel the burn. It would be the perfect afternoon amp-up to fit into a busy schedule. If you're looking for a fast way to squeeze in a dose of muscle work and sweat, the second round of cardio is the answer. And, if you've got 40 minutes to while away, why not go for both and start that trim down quicker than you can say cheesecake! As for the cooldown, it was much like the warmup - basic and expected. Now that I've mentioned cheesecake, I'd be remiss if I didn't bring up Joy's finishing polish on the DVD. She offers her viewers her top 10 weight-loss tips, healthy snack options, and diet friendly meals that had me reaching for a pen and paper. My favorite so far? The vanilla pumpkin pudding. It may be worth the DVD purchase for that recipe alone! Take a look at the video and tell me if you'd be willing to give it a go.

Jailbreaking, DVD Ripping Now Legal in US

GeekSugar — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:30:27 PDT

The US Copyright Office made big moves this morning when it announced revisions to its copyright laws, and concluded that the act of jailbreaking your iPhone and ripping a DVD (for educational purposes) are now legal. Every three years the office reviews the laws in order to adjust to the changing digital environment, and this year, not only did it deem jailbreaking legal (in order to operate legally obtained open apps, or run it on another network, i.e. take your iPhone to T-Mobile), but it also made some changes to laws dealing with ebooks and video games. Find out what they are after the break.

BuzzSugar's Must Haves For April

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:05:07 PDT

Can you believe it's April already?! Before you go putting on your Spring shorts to soak in that warmer weather, make sure you don't neglect your regular (indoor) activities. There are lots of entertainment must haves in the coming weeks, including some hyped-up movies and a few returning TV shows. You don't want to miss out, so see what's in store!

Beat the Winter Blues With a DVD Swap Party

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:00:01 PST

I recently 'fessed up to having a whole shelf of fitness DVDs, and it looks like a lot of you are big fans of workout videos too. Whether you own one video or 21, mixing up your collection can keep you from getting bored, especially during the colder months when so many of us move our workouts indoors or feel unmotivated to exercise.

Beat the Winter blues by hosting a fitness DVD swap party at your house. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Just invite some of your fitness-minded friends over and ask them to bring any workout DVDs they're tired of. Serve some healthy snacks and let the swap begin. Depending on your guests' preferences, the swaps can be permanent or simply loaners.

For permanent swaps, place all the DVDs in one spot, have your guests draw numbers to see who goes first, and let everyone take turns picking out their preferred DVDs. You could even set up a white elephant (aka "dirty Santa") game, where partygoers can opt to steal DVDs from people who've picked before them.

If your friends would rather borrow than steal, have them draw numbers and pair off. Each pair can trade DVDs for a set amount of time, with the promise to return them later.

Do you like to swap fitness DVDs with friends?

Do You Rent DVDs From Self-Serve Kiosks?

GeekSugar — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:45:41 PST

I get my DVDs from another red-hued provider, and even though the thought of getting a movie from a kiosk on a whim got me excited, I haven't really used Redbox like I thought I would. Costing just $1 a day (or $2 for games), Redbox can house 16,000 titles in one little kiosk and is usually replenished a few times a week, which means there's a good chance the movie you're looking for will be at your disposal. With over 22,000 machines all across the US located in convenience stores, fast food restaurants, and more, I'm curious to know - have you ever rented from Redbox?

DVD Review: Jennifer Kries New Body Pilates II

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 03:00:13 PST

If Pilates has become your new obsession, you might want to add this intermediate mat workout to your fitness DVD library. Combined with New Body! Pilates, the Jennifer Kries New Body Pilates II DVD will give you a great introduction to the fundamentals and favorite exercises of Pilates practice. The video features the expert Kries explaining the moves as they are demonstrated by her sidekick Kim, so it feels like you're sitting in on a private Pilates lesson or taking one of your own.

Though New Body Pilates II builds on the basics taught in part one, you'll still enjoy the sequel if you haven't seen the first one, as long as you have some basic Pilates knowledge. For all the details,

read more. This 35-minute workout features classic Pilates moves: the rollup, the saw, and several variations on the plank. As Kries explains, the more focused you are, the fewer reps you need to do. On most moves, she guides you through about eight reps, though in some cases, she suggests you can do more if you have more time. The slow-paced workout won't wear you out, but the moves get more and more challenging toward the end, so if it feels too easy at first, just wait a few minutes! If you've got some energy left, I also recommend the 10-minute arm-sculpting bonus workout at the end, which is best performed with one- or two-pound weights. I'll definitely be returning to this DVD in the new year.

Two Healthy Flicks Now on DVD

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:00:19 PST

You can give your next at home movie night a healthy focus; two of my favorite docs of the year are now out on DVD.

Enlighten Up!: Filmmaker Kate Churchill, a yoga devotee, takes yoga cynic Nick Rosen on a wild ride through the range of yoga styles to see if the ancient art has universal power. Both filmmaker and subject are affected by the process. Available for purchase ($22) or add the title to your Netflix queue.
Food, Inc.: The underbelly of the food industry is exposed in this documentary narrated by Omnivore's Dilemma author Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser of Fast Food Nation. Arguing for sustainable food production, the film's antagonist is not the farmer or the carnivore but multinational corporation Monsanto. Purchase ($14) the 94-minute film or Netflix it.

Link Time! Lauren Bacall Walks Away With an Honorary Oscar

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:30:10 PST

Lauren Bacall was among the winners at the Honorary Oscars over the weekend - HitFix
You go, Uncle Jesse: John Stamos gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - Vulture
The woman's identity behind Showtime's Secret Diary of a Call Girl is not so secret anymore - TV Squad
Bob Dylan wears a wig in his Christmas video for "Must Be Santa." Too weird. - Pitchfork
New Moon is already beating advanced ticket sales records - Deadline
Miss The Wire? Re-live the series with these top 100 quotes - Warming Glow
brother-noel/">Oasis is getting back together - minus Noel - Rock & Roll Daily
Sci-fi fanboys are getting a new TV series on NBC - ComingSoon
Vote for the kraziest characters on TV (yes, "crazy" with a "k") - TV.com
Go inside Private Practice star Kate Walsh's house - CasaSugar
New Moon's stars interview each other with fan questions - Moviefone
Here's a brilliant idea: Adult Swim is allowing fans to customize their own DVD - Collider

Buzz-Worthy Video: Happy Birthday, Say Anything!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:48 PST

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the beloved film Say Anything. To commemorate the milestone (and its special DVD release), a hoard of guys dressed up as Lloyd Dobler swarmed various areas of New York City to re-create the famous scene set to Peter Gabriel's "Your Eyes." (You know the one - Lloyd wants to win back Diane, so he stands outside of her house with a boombox over his head.)

While these guys can't possibly compare to the original, lovable underdog Dobler (John Cusack), they still make for a pretty charming YouTube video. I only wish I had been there to see them live! Check it out when you