Disclaimer: the following is a piece of semi-fiction. While all aspects pertaining to the review of the DVD are accurate, I refuse to tell you what parts of the surrounding fluff are real or not.
Day 1: Excited about the big step I'm taking to lead an even healthier life, I place the DVD set prominently on top of my TV set. There are three DVDs in this particular set: "Body Sculpt", " Pilates Plus", and "Thighs & Glutes". Apparently, the exercises in this set are taken from the Core Fusion and Core Fusion Sports classes, which are popular with celebrities and part of the Exhale spa brand. I just hope it doesn't make me exhale permanently.
I'll be honest here: celebrity endorsements of exercise and diet products don't impress me. They have a life so radically different from us normal people that something that suits them isn't going to suit us. But I was sent this set, and so I was going to at least try it. The DVDs are composed of sets of workouts ranging from 5 to 15 minute each, and I figure that I can get up a little earlier each morning to fit at least one in. But not today — I have way too much to do (ever heard that one before, ladies?).
Day 2: I get up 15 minutes earlier (seriously, I did!) but, still sleepy and suffering from a significantly decreased level of mental sharpness (because of the weather, people), I forget the reason why. By the time I remember I was supposed to start testing these workouts, I'm ready to leave the house for work. Oh well, it's the intention that counts, no?
Day 3: Apparently not, since this is the second day in a row I wake up a little earlier and still manage to forget about the workouts. That does it. I'm making use of my alarmingly large collection of Post-Its to make sure I don' t forget again tomorrow morning.
Day 4: I get up early and, thanks to the Post-Its, I remember why. Hurrah! I figure I might as well start with the easiest DVD and build my strength up. Since I walk a lot, the "Thighs & Glutes" shouldn't be too hard, no? Ha, how naïve I am. I start with the first of the five 10-minute lessons available on this DVD, "Turned Out Thighs". The first thing I notice is that the two instructors — I didn't even catch their names, this is how early in the morning it is — are way too perky for this time of the day. But that's okay, the solution is simple: tomorrow I will have some coffee before exercising. The exercises in this 10-minute segment are surprisingly simple and yet interestingly difficult.
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