LITTLE ROCK — Exercise instructors who don’t sweat aren’t to be trusted.
And those who promise results in less time than it takes to get through a grocery express lane - equally suspicious.
Which is why Stephanie Vitorino is so refreshing. You just have to love honesty in marketing - “Get Sexy in 60!” - her new DVD urges.
As in 60 whole minutes, not seconds.
Her latest offering, Body Target 60 ($19.99, V Body), is refreshing for other reasons too. And before I go further, I should probably explain that by refreshing I mean in the boy-was-that-a-workout way. Not the thank-god-it’s-over-Ijust-started-sweating way.
Even Vitorino sweats in this one, although her hair always looks chic. Some women are just that way.
The DVD has a 30-minute cardiovascular sculpt routine and three 10-minute workouts that target the upper body, lower body and core.
Be forewarned, Vitorino has an exercise instructor’s way of reading the clock. Time gets away from her a bit.
The 30-minute routine runs a few minutes long, without a cool-down. To do all four segments and the cool-down takes 65 minutes and change.
We’re not complaining; that’s merely not as punchy as “60.”
Her moves in the 30ish-minute workout are challenging but not overly choreographed. One exerciser does modified (read: simpler) versions of the exercises while Vitorino and her other pal perch on one foot doing arm circles, or add twists to side lunges. The combinations are fresh and effectively work the entire body.
Moves like “power” squats - get off the floor - are mixed with weightlifting to keep the heart rate up.
One exercise - a squat in which the exerciser swings the weight overhead then back down - is kettlebell-inspired. Bless her heart, Vitorino tells viewers a dumbbell will work just fine: “You don’t need to buy all that equipment.”
While there’s a whole core segment, the longer workout has plenty of exercises for the midsection as well, such as the side plank - using an 8-pound dumbbell.
In the upper body segment, Vitorino is especially good at walking her viewers through some of the more involved arm moves - “T, up, together ....” And prepare to do pushups in that bit too.
The legs routine, as well as the core one, have some yoga and Pilates-influenced moves - for instance, leg circles.
Vitorino tells viewers they may want to watch the DVD first before giving it a whirl. And she says it’s OK if you miss stuff the first time you do it.
Well sure, it’s probably the sweat in your eyes.
Assistant City Editor Katherine Benenati is also a certified personal trainer. Her blog, Hot Mama: Finding Time to Break a Sweat, is at littlerockmamas.com.
ActiveStyle, Pages 23 on 06/28/2010