Thursday, February 18, 2010

Valerie Bertinelli Losing It And Keeping Fit! DVD Review and Give Away!


My Story:
I never worried about my weight or my size until after I had my children. I had always been a petite girl, usually the smallest and fittest in my classes growing up. As an adult the weight was harder to keep off but manageable with some effort. However, after I had my two children , for some reason I could not seem to get the weight off, in fact, it kept piling on. I didn't even realize how much I had gained until I saw a couple pictures of myself and received some negative comments on my appearance from people in my own family. Then, one day the phone rang and it was my sister asking me to be the Maid of Honor in her upcoming wedding. That was my motivation to lose the weight! I wanted to look my best in her wedding photos and to feel better about myself. I was living in the Arctic at the time and the community I lived in had no gym, no fitness center, nothing even close! My only alternative was to read books, load up on workout equipment, and a few exercise dvds. It took me two years, but I did it! I went from a size 12 to a size 2, all on my own! The wedding photos were beautiful and I felt fantastic!

My point is two fold. First, we all struggle with our weight and body images at some point(s) in our lives but we can do something about it. My second point is that you can do it without a personel trainer, without a gym, without fancy equipment, and without costing a fortune. All you need is motivation! It comes from within you!

Video Content:

Gaiam (a lifestyle company) sent me a Valerie Bertinelli DVD called Losing It And Keeping Fit! to review recently. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with the content of this video.

This dvd has 2 full body workout options: a 20 minute level 1 (for beginners) and a 40 minute level 2 workout (for those intermediate people). Plus it has 2 ab segments in the bonus section.

The only equipment you need to do this video is a yoga mat (if you like) and a set of 2 dumbbells.

In level one Valerie performs squats and lunges galore, hip raises, ab exercises, push-ups, standing rows, and more. You will not escape the mountain of squats and lunges in level 2 but Valerie does add cardio bursts throughout the routine that jump start your heart rate and add a bit of fun. You will also use the hand weights off and on in this level, performing chest presses, chest fly's, tricep extensions, weighted abs, bicep curls, hammer curls, and more.

The first ab segment (Everyday Abs) consists of 5 reps each of 12 different ab exercises, for a total of 60 crunches all together! The Ab Challenge has all the same exercises but you do 10 reps of each of them for a total of 120 crunches.

My Opinion:
What did I really think about this video? Well, it is not your average, everyday, run off the mill exercise video, that's for sure. I am used to a formal, structural, serious workout tape. Valerie Bertinelli Losing It and Keeping Fit! is not any of these things. Valerie manages to make you feel like you are doing the workout with her and her personal trainer, not just watching. There are no background groupies doing the exercises in unison, only Valerie and Christopher Ross Lane appearing in your living room. Valerie uses a sense of humor that I have never seen in an exercise video before. Valerie and Christopher are seen throughout the video bantering back and forth as he tries to get her to follow his program. I believe Valerie is trying to get us to see that exercise needs to be fun (not always serious) to motivate us and to sustain us on our journey to a healthier lifestyle.

Sometimes Valerie is shown making small mistakes and having to catch up with Christopher or asking him to wait a second. Some people might think she looks unprofessional because of these things. I thought this was a great motivational concept! Why? Because no one can do an exercise video perfectly the first few times they do it! It made me feel more comfortable doing the video, knowing that it's not just me that makes mistakes, even Valerie Bertinelli does. Finally, I compliment Christopher for his way of explaining how you can make the presented exercises easier or harder in case you need to adjust to your own difficulty level.

All that being said, as most of the video is filled with variations of squats and lunges I believe that if you have bad knees or can not do a proper squat or lunge that this video is not for you.

This video, I think, is perfect for beginners, seniors, or those of us that just want a change to our regular exercise routines.

The Give Away:

If you are motivated and have a desire to lose weight and stay fit then Gaiam can help you. One lucky Northern Mama reader will receive a free copy of Valerie Bertinelli Losing It and Staying Fit! dvd.

To Enter:

  • Visit Gaiam and check out the Valerie Bertinelli DVD and tell me why you would benefit from or want this exercise DVD {Required}

Extra Entries:

  • Be a Northern Mama Follower {Google}
  • Be Northern Mama Facebook Fan
  • Subscribe via email
  • Grab our button
  • Follow on Twitter @Northernmama35 and tweet {1x daily}
  • Blog about this giveaway with a link back here {please leave the link to your post}

Giveaway US and Canada residents. Giveaway closes March 8th, 2010 10:00 pm CT. Read Giveaway Rules for details.

Review By Nikki

102 comments:

  1. I would love to win this DVD because it is motivating. This is a woman who has struggled with weight issues and experienced the ups and downs that have come with it. She is truly an inspiration
    karryknisley76 at hotmail dot com

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  2. i subscribe via email
    karryknisley76 at hotmail dot com

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  3. I follow via Google Friend Connect
    karryknisley76 at hotmail dot com

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  4. I really want the Valerie Bertinelli DVD because I have struggled with my weight all of my life, and this DVD includes what I need - a beginner routine that tones where I need it, and an intermediate workout, which I will need when, not if, I succeed with the beginner routine.

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  5. I follow Northern Mama with Google Friend Connect - tv watcher

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  6. I subscribe via email - tvwatcher99 at gmail.com

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  7. I am a facebook fan - http://www.facebook.com/tvwatcher99

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  8. I added your button to my blog - http://funwithcashsurveys.blogspot.com/2010/02/visit-northern-mama-creative-educated.html

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  9. I posted about the giveaway on my blog - http://funwithcashsurveys.blogspot.com/2010/02/visit-northern-mama-and-enter-to-win_21.html

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  10. I am following you on twitter - @tvwatcher99

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  11. I tweeted - http://twitter.com/tvwatcher99/status/9451446833

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  12. I would benefit from this DVD as I need to start an exercise routine as part of trying to live a healthier life.

    ajmizen(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  13. I am an e-mail subscriber.

    ajmizen(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  14. I would greatly benefit from this DVD because I am getting married in 6 months! I need to get rid of some of this weight and who better to help me than Valerie?
    ewok_@live.ca

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  15. I follow with google friend
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  16. I am a facebook fan!
    (Tan Smith)
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  17. I follow you on twitter
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  18. I think I would benefit from this DVD because for one...like you said...Valerie is someone that seems more "normal" to me. Not Hollywoodfied. Her motivation would be a true blessing to me. I need to lose about 40 pounds...and would love to do it with Valerie!

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  19. daily tweet

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  20. She's experienced trouble with her weight and so have I so I would love to win this one!! Thank you!

    tanandjosh@telus.net

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  21. I follow via Google Friend Connect (tanandjosh)

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  22. I am a fan on Facebook Tannie's Chatter

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  23. I follow you - @tannieschatter

    I Tweeted:

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  24. I like that it's supposed to "Tighten your core with Valerie’s favorite abdominal exercises with Everyday Abs and Abs Challenge". I know this is the key to toning up and that's what I really need.
    kessancrystal(at)aol.com

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  25. I am an email subscriber
    kessandcrystal(at)aol.com

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  26. I'm a fan on facebook (Kess N Crystal W on fb)
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  27. follow and tweeted: http://twitter.com/happyenchilada2/status/9490368779
    kessandcrystal(at)aol.com

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  28. I want to win this because Vallerie B. is so inspiring! I just love her

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  29. This sounds like a very motivational DVD, and I need something like that to keep me interested. I had the lapband put in a little over a year ago, but it's benen slow going, this ay help.
    eod_army_wife04(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  30. daily tweet
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  33. Daily Tweet

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  36. I am in the same boat as Vallerie. I have two kids, and I have kind of let myself go!! I used to be 130lbs. Which isnt paper thin, but it was good for me. I need to get back to that weight again!!!!

    Great giveaway!!!

    sarahcoulsey03 at gmail dot com

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  37. I am a facebook fan

    sarahcoulsey03 at gmail dot com

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  38. Daily tweet
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  42. Daily Tweet

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  43. daily tweet'
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  44. I would benefit from this as I have gained a ton of weight during and after my chemo treatments. Would like to be able to take a bit off.

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  45. I follow you on google Friend Connect as couponmom

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  46. I am your fan on facebook as Kim Coady
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  47. I subscribe via email

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  48. I follow you on twitter and tweeted this
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  49. daily tweet

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  53. She is such an inspiration, I think her DVD would be just the motivation I would need. katklaw777 at yahoo dot com Thanks.

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  55. daily tweet
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  56. i'm sure i could lose more weights according to her DVD

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  57. http://twitter.com/soso501/status/9869239776

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  58. email subscriber

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  60. I would love to start exercising and need help getting motivated and I also have to start slow. This DVD would be perfect

    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  61. I follow your blog


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  62. Facebook fan - Belinda M


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  63. I am an email subscriber


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  64. I follow on twitter as Prairiebelle and tweeted

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  66. http://twitter.com/soso501/status/9923206129

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  79. I think i would benefit from this because i think she is very motivational and i can identify with her and watched her change in her own life
    photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  80. I am a follower on Google
    photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  81. I became a fan on facebook
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  82. I am a email subscriber
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  83. http://twitter.com/soso501/status/10129041331

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  89. This is an informative post. Got a lot of info and details from here. Thank you for sharing this and looking forward to reading more of your post.

    Exercise For Health And Fitness

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