...and the rest is history.
Fonda says when someone came to her with the idea of doing a workout video, she thought the idea was crazy. She didn't know anyone who owned any videotapes and couldn't see why anyone would buy them. At that time, most people didn't even own VCRs. But to this day, Fonda is credited with not only creating the home video workout craze -- but also for popularizing home video in the first place.
With Jane Fonda's Workout, people bought VCRs. People woke up every morning and followed along with the acclaimed actress. The videotape went on to sell 17 million copies and, of course, brought on a slew of similar tapes from people trying to capitalize on the fact that people now had VCRs and wanted to work out at home.
Everyone from soap stars to supermodels to singers to talk show hosts made a video. People bought them, too. If you HAD to work out, what better way than to work out with your favorite celeb. Then came specialized workouts by non-celebs, like Tae Bo and strip aerobics. Still, the craze had crashed.
Not that workout videos are completely gone. In fact, there is a select section of the population that still loves to work out this way. And there are still a few celebrity workout videos out there...although, I'd have to say that the ones I'm seeing definitely reflect how much our definition of "celebrity" has changed since 1982.
Do you like to work out to a video?
33 comments:
I've never really tried working out to a video. I would miss my trainer kicking my butt ;-)
While actresses, etc., aren't putting these out anymore, there certainly is still a very large number of people doing at-home video workouts. They're either buying the DVDs or using OnDemand and workout channels on cable and satellite.
Since I've been doing the weight loss battle thing for so many years, I've spent quite a bit of time on weight loss message boards and almost everyone who posts on them does some sort of video workout at home at least every once in a while. Add that to my real life friends and family and there are a lot of us.
Almost everyone I know is doing Insanity, P90X or both right now. And Jillian Michaels' workouts are very popular.
While I'd love to have the female equivalent of the Jersey Shore guy's abs, I just quite frankly wouldn't be able to stop laughing at his mere existence long enough to do his DVD! :-) But I guess laughing works the abs pretty good.
I'm laughing right now because I literally JUST finished working out to a Tae-Bo DVD. Workout videos are hands down my favorite way to exercise. I've got an entire drawerful. They provide lots of variety (which I need!) and I can do them at home while my kids are running around and playing.
I'm too lazy to work out in my own home, I really need other people around me to get me motivated.
I used to work out to the Jane Fonda videos in the 80's. Now I use the Insanity DVD's and a few others for kettle bells and the like. I think the workout DVD's I use today are much tougher than the ones I used in the 80's. (Or maybe is it because I am older???)
I do them occasionally at home. I'm more likely to get distracted and just stop than if I am at the gym though.
I gotta tell you that I work out to Jane Fonda. My mom used to work out w/ her when I was a little girl and so I recently bought a DVD version of the same workout. I don't do it everyday but it's kinda fun when it's rainy and I can't go outside to run :)
I worked out to that video! And you know what? I lost weight and got in great shape because of it. But like a lot of workout DVDs and videos, it became monotonous, I got bored and quit.
I'm horrible keeping my attention on a video for very long. The only videos I ever REALLY enjoyed was Denise Austin. I enjoyed the way she spoke to her audience as if we were all in kindergarten, lol.
A funny fact: back in the day I used to work out to Jane Fonda using a CASSETTE TAPE. But hey, whatever works.
I do like to use work out videos. Traveling, I don't often have access to a gym so I have to make substitutions. I ordered a dvd from ebay last year for less than $10.00. Its boot camp from some well known gym. Then for $1.00 at a thrift store I found a billy blanks tai bo which I like too. For me, videos are much more convenient than finding a gym. Would like to try p90x but I'm not that commited.
Wow, I remember those! Remember Richard Simmons and Olivia Newton-John's music video, "Let's Get Physical?" Oh, the 80s, lol!
Now, I prefer to just get outside and walk for exercise. Have a great weekend!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog today. :)
Jane Fonda is back at it with her videos except this time she's hired young girls to be the stars of her video's. They are TONE IT UP(.com) girls Karena and Katrina, really cool chics who are making big waves in their work out world. I just finished their bikini body bikini challenge. Their videos and equipment are for sale on Target online and in some stores.
There's also a TV channel called FitTV and they've got work out, dance, yoga, pilates videos on all the time! Took me awhile to get in to them and I love them. I've done a Cindy Crawford one, a Claudia Scheifer one a whole bunch of others I've found on netflix. The crunch videos are tough ones, to be honest!
Your blog is adorable! :) I have done P90x and I liked it, well I love it but I hate it--Tony Horton's words! Have a great weekend.
i don't mind working out to a video, it's very convenient for sure! however, i'm much more motivated to push to a higher level endurance if i'm in a live class of several others.
also, though i do believe the workouts available through media are 'real' workouts - i'm very certain the people leading the workouts are actually doing a LOT more exercises aside from the video they are promoting to maintain their personal appearance. it can be tempting for purchasers to assume that if they follow the particular regime displayed, they can have a body just like 'such and so'....
I LOVE my Zumba DVDs. When the weather is nice, I like to walk for exercise. The winters are harsh here, with biting winds and lots of ice. Several people I work with have fallen and broken bones when they tried to walk or jog for exercise in the winter, so I stay inside and do Zumba when the weather is bad. (I have also worked out to Richard Simmons's "Latin Blast Off" and Paula Abdul's "Cardio Dance.")
I think I would be too tempted to cheat with a video. No one would know if I just stood still for a minute, right? At the gym, I know people are watching me, and that makes me work harder, focusing more on my form than I would at home.
Also, I bike for exercise. No need for encouragement there--no biking means no getting home! :)
Gosh that does look back in time. I do think that working out at home is better than going to the gym, though - saves money and is more flexible.
There's still a huge amount of people putting out workout DVDs in the UK. I can't do one without laughing myself silly at the hideous music and posing dancers they all seem to have.
I just don't like to work out.
BUT and this is a huge BUT my husband does those p90 and now p90X videos almost every day (well, they are dvds now) and has for almost a year and a half. They work for him MUCH better than a gym membership because he doesn't have to GO anywhere to exercize and between those workouts and eating smaller portion sizes he's dropped about 30 pounds in the last year and looks fantastic. So, I know that the "at-home" workout video thing can and still does work for some people.
30 day shred, baby! Kills me every time, but it works.
Haha! I think I still have the JF workout tapes in a box somewhere. Sad, I know.
Oh. My. Gosh! I think I still have that Jane Fonda workout video around here somewhere!!
And now I realize how lame I am because I just used my old Cindy Crawford video today, and I don't even recognize the new ones you posted pics of. Ha, ha!
Once upon a time, MTV had a hiphop exercise show, where you'd learn a dance routine in 30 minutes (or you could tape it and learn it in three days, as I always did!). Loved it. I was probably the only one who watched, because I don't think it lasted very long!
i think i'd easily get bored working out with a video. Although it certainly is the best option if you've no time to go to gym or do outdoor exercise. I and pals are doing yoga this summer holiday, yay!
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I was a huge "sweatin to the oldies" fan. I still love Richard Simmons. In fact, I could use him in my life these days, but only after I have had some caffiene pumping through my system. I did MTV'S "The Grind" and RedBooks "Tai Chi"after my son was born. Now, p90x is gathering dust in my house.
As long as I have a workout video/dvd, thighmaster,hand weights, I feel like I have not given hope to acheive the body I had as a teenager!
I "use" to work out to an exercise TV program when my kids were little. I don't even think they have them anymore.
And Jane Fonda still looks great! I'm a fan of Tae bo myself, but usually just in the winter when the weather is too crappy to take fitness outdoors.
Yeah, I use workout dvds or ondemand because I'm just too shy to go to the gym. I avoid the celebrity videos though. I feel that they are not credited to put out videos, unless their occupation is a fitness trainer.
I've never tried it, and I'd rather not. I do yoga. Learned from my mum, who is a yoga practitioner, and now I do it on my own. It's very energizing. I love it!
These 'reminiscing' blogs of your are interesting. Keep up the good work Stephanie - Dave
Regis and Milton Berle workout vids? *laughing!* :-D :-D
I do have some vidoes - mostly yoga/pilates - Windsor Pilates taught me the basics, and Giam with Yodney Yee (sp?) and Suzanne Gleason (sp?) were helpful in yoga.
But mostly I do my own thang - I was a personal trainer for 5 or 6 years, so that helps! :D
I can't take workout videos seriously. I feel silly kicking around my own living room. I gotz to go to the gym.
I especially can't take Kim Kardashian's video seriously with that enormous caboose. Dont get me wrong. I think she's a goddess. But a video exercise instructor? Nah.
I work out to a belly dance dvd. Nina and Veena are a lot of fun!
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