Even though I bought my first aerobics DVD almost three years ago, I used it once and have not touched it since. If I think long enough, I might be able to recall the title. It is very likely somewhere in my back of my closet although I haven't run across it in a long time. But I do remember a few things about it. The label was a bright ugly color pink, with a Jaws-like dude on the front with a big smile and big hair, covered in spandex, telling me it was time to get skinny. I really thought the aerobic DVD would motivate me to get my rear end in shape, but it was not meant to be. Rather, my brand new aerobic DVD just sat in a corner gathering dust, while I sat on the couch, also gathering dust, growing fatter and NOT getting in shape like I had planned.

The second workout video I got was a step aerobics DVD but it did not see a better fate than the first one. I seem to recall that I "tried" that particular aerobic DVD a few times, but it just didn't feel right. I felt pretty stupid sitting there at home, wiggling my body with a class who was very obviously IN shape, and it felt like what I was doing was completely ridiculous. I just could not find a good way to make this a part of my daily routine. My original plan was to start each day with the aerobic DVD followed by a shower, but as soon as I rolled out of bed in the morning, I found that a workout was the last thing on my mind.

I have purchased three or four aerobic DVDs since then, and to be perfectly honest with you, not one of them has done the trick for me. I found that it is simply NOT FUN to do aerobics by yourself in the family room, watching the aerobic DVD on my television. I didn't feel like anything was happening to get me in shape from watching the aerobic DVD. Finally, I did the unthinkable that I had been dreading - I joined a local gym and health club. And you know what I found? TAhat once I began to get my exercise from my aerobics class and NOT from an aerobics DVD, doing it with people who like me also needed to get in shape, it suddenly became much easier to stick with the program. The classes also got me out of the house, and the people I was working out with were all very encouraging that I could not help but get hooked my my workout program.

Everyone is different. Maybe an aerobics DVD will work for you, as it DOES work for many people. But it did not work for me. I needed the interaction of people who also needed to get in shape, and their encouragement keeps me going. Other people can do just fine with an aerobics DVD and it works for them, especially since they can exercise at their leisure on their own schedule without needing to go to the gym.