Each week, our own fitness fanatics Leah Polakoff and Caitlyn Kronket will explore the latest workout crazes, diet fads and dish out tips for healthy living. Managing your schoolwork is tough enough- let us take care of your health.
What college student actually has time to squeeze in a long workout every single day? Between classes, club meetings and nap time (let’s be real, we all do it), it can be extremely difficult to find an hour or two during the week to get a good sweat session.
Little did you know, you can get the same benefits of an hour long workout in half the time! Home workout videos are great for college students with limited free-time. Certain videos are designed to crank up your heart rate and tone your body in under an hour, but are intense enough to leave you feeling the benefits all day long. Here are a few of Valley’s favorites:
Jillian Michaels: 6 Week Six-Pack
Jillian Michaels, best known for her ridiculous training on “The Biggest Loser,”
released her own line of workout videos. “6 Week Six-Pack” is designed to
strengthen your core, with an insane amount of cardio in a 30 minute workout.
There are levels one and two, one for beginners and two for the more advanced.
All you need to complete the workout is a mat for floor exercises and a set of
dumbbells (I’d recommend using weight anywhere from three to eight pounds
depending on your fitness level). Michaels kicks your butt from the warm up to
cool down, with standing moves and floor exercises, with her treating you just
like a “Biggest Loser” contestant, complete with yelling and motivating quotes.
Insanity: 60 Day Total Body Conditioning Program
The “Insanity” videos definitely live up to their name, as each video challenges
you to push to the max of your ability. Shaun T, an insane personal trainer with
beautiful abs, guides you through each video, all of which are designed to work
different parts of the body and utilize muscle confusion – which leads to better,
faster results.
While designed with the same methods as P90X, Insanity is a better choice for
girls as it helps to tone and build lean muscle, as opposed to building bulk. All of
the videos range from 20 minutes to an hour, perfect for in between classes. And
if Shaun being shirtless isn’t motivation to get moving, we don’t know what is.
Jane Fonda’s New Workout
Okay, you’re probably thinking that nobody does Jane Fonda videos anymore,
and you’re most likely right. But, if you like an 80’s flashback, this workout is
perfect. This video has a 35 minute beginner workout and a 55 minute advanced
workout, both of which include dance moves and abs routines. Complete with
cheesy leotards and tights, as well as 80s dance music, this video is fun for you
and your friends to try. Laughing counts as an ab workout, right?
