MizFit & Valerie Bertinelli (giveaway post).

by

We have previously established that Im a fan of Gaiam products.

I loved me the FIRM WAVE.

I allowed their Nordic walking poles to convince me Im a walker at heart.

As a result when am email from the popped into my in-box I opened it with much excitement.

Could they be offering me the chair I covet?? Say it isnt so!

I wasnt disappointed but not just because I was getting free stuff for the reasons one might think.

The lovely people at Gaiam were emailing to offer me a chance to try this:

05-546751

or this:

05-54638

And, being the child of the 80’s I am, I immediately chose the former.

Barbara Cooper, errr, Valerie Bertinelli will always have a special place in my heart.

I grew up watching her show and clearly recall the day a neighbor remarked I slightly resembled her.  I wasn’t a girl who spent much time in front of a mirror but that afternoon I spent hours checking out my countenance happilyscrutinizing for any minor resemblance.

Along with the rest of America I Tivo’d Oprah when V.B. came on to talk about her memoir (!) and I actually made time to watch the show live when she did her bathing suit reveal following a stint on Jenny Craig (THANKS TO THIS BLOGGER FOR CATCHING MY ERROR. Did you miss it? ask her 🙂 she may tell you what it was…).

Wait, where was I headed with this trip down memory lane?

Ahh, yes.

Why I selected the Losing It! DVD to review.

It was all about the MizFit memories.

What did I like about the Losing It & Keeping Fit DVD?

  • Lack of pretension. Valerie Bertinalli hath stayed true to her roots.  She’s still the self-deprecating  Barbie Cooper I knew and loved.  She’d not a wearing snazzy outfit & the DVD isnt shot on a blinged-out stage. Her “Im every woman” comments really did make me laugh and, I think, would serve to motivate.  She makes no attempt to play the whole thing off as though she adores exercise and it comes easily to her.
  • Easy to follow instructions & two different levels. The DVD is really easy to grasp/do the first time (unlike many workout DVDS where it can take me a few times just *watching* before I get any sort of a workout).  The instructions are clear and without aforementioned blinged-out setting its easy to see what both the trainer and Barbie, err, Valerie are doing. There’s also a 20 minute Body Basics workout (beginner) and a 40 minute Keeping Fit workout for the more advanced/after you build an exercise foundation.
  • It’s old school and I love me some old school. For those of you who never worked out to Jane Fonda audio (yes, I said audio) tapes the music on this DVD might put you to sleep.  For me it was a trip down MizFit Memory Lane.  The DVD also uses some oldold school moves (remember the donkey kicks?) however it is all balanced out/updated with new moves such as planks and lots of balance work.

What didnt I love about my time with The Bertinelli?

  • The trainer Christopher Ross Lane was fine (knowledge/safety-wise) but for some reason did absolutely nothing to inspire me.  It wouldnt be the first time, however, the Great Jillian Michaels and I disagreed on something & she obviously adores him.
  • While I praised the non-sparkly set it was a bit distracting at first. My eyes kept wandering to an armchair inexplicably placed in the background (what is it for? will they yank it out later & incorporate it into the routine?).  That said, I was also distracted by fact that Christopher Ross Lane’s eyes pretty much matched the color of his shirt.  (Perhaps there’s a reason I tend NOT to do DVD workouts more than once a week…)

Overall thoughts?

  • Workout: The routine was safe, thorough, & great for people who want to workout at home & are in the beginning stages of their exercise routines.
  • Would I recommend? This answer is entirely unique to the individual. I’ve already recommended the DVD to friends of a certain age who loved One Day At A Time as I did.  Ive also recommended it to friends who are on Weight Watchers & have enjoyed watching V.B.’s weight loss success. In my opinion, if you’re younger than, say, 35 you many like the workout but enjoy the background music notsomuch.

You can preorder here or enter to win your own DVD for the lowlow price of a comment below.

Had you received the email I did which DVD would you have chosen? Why?

Are you a fellow Barbie Cooper fan? Or are you among the masses who gave me the One Day At A WHAT? look when I asked them if they’d watched the show.

Please to hit us all up in the comments.

One winner of a Losing it! And Keeping Fit DVD & one winner of a Warrior Yoga DVD will be announced Friday.

USA ONLY

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Comments

  1. I’m one of your readres who is over 35, so I too have fond memories of One Day At a Time, and yes, I’d have chosen the same DVD! LOL! (Although the yoga one would have tempted me, because I have yet to try yoga.)

  4. I think I would have made the same choice as you, but I probably would have spent too much time trying to decide which one to choose…:-) Sounds like a pretty good workout dvd. . I need to be doing more strength training workouts. Thanks for the give away and the review.

  5. I would pick the yoga dvd.
    NOT because I’m a guy (I loved Barbara Cooper) because I am a music nerd and bad or illfitting music turns me off.

    Thanks for your honesty!

  6. Id pick VB’s DVD as well.

    I’ve followed her weighgain and loss journey and hope she can keep the pounds off unlike Kirstie Alley.

    Were you sore after doing the dvd?

  7. Good question, Hannah. I wasnt sore except in the places those ‘dang I havent done these since the mi-80’s’ donkey kicks hit!

    and Im not sure why the cover art to the dvds looks so funky.

    I shall blame wordpress.

    my sidekick device?

    I could never be MY fault 🙂

  9. I’d expect nothing less from you than your honesty and the fact that you and JM differ on trainer love.

    I want to check out this dvd!!

  11. I was looking at both and I couldn’t decide! I would try either or both of these! I have no real connection with VB except I do think she is was cute!

    I would choose the Yoga just because it is for the Warrior Woman! plus I need a good stretch!

    keep it real, jen

  12. I certainly know One Day at a Time, although I was not nearly as big of a fan as you appear to have been.

    I wouldn’t use the DVD’s so please leave me out of the drawing.

  13. First, a confession, the FIRM WAVE has sadly only made it out of the garage on a few occasions as I fell in love with my Wii Fit. But I see it often and will try it again.

    I grew up watching One Day at A Time reruns and love, love, love VB.

    I would have a hard time choosing which DVD, both would be new and so lots of fun.

  15. Oh I loved that show! I have a feeling it would seem horribly dated now, but at the time I was totally hooked.

    I just hope that Schneider guy doesn’t put out a work out dvd…

  19. I probably would have chosen the VB video out of curiosity, plus who doesn’t love them some VB, I was so excited when she lost the poundage and took control of her life…Eddie Van-Who?

    But overall, I think I would morethanlikely go with the yoga work-out in the long run, as I’m always in search of the next ultimate yoga dvd…can we say I LOVE my Rodney Yee AM Yoga Video…er…DVD…I wore that Video out years ago. That video/dvd saved me tons of money and pain. I used to go to a chiropractor twice a week until I picked that work-out up and after I started doing it my need for the back-doc became almost non-existent. Let’s just say it’s a long story, that started my journey into fitness and away from chronic pain.

    Sorry for the ramble, but thanks for the heads up on the new dvd 🙂

  20. I so was a One Day at a Time fan!!!!!! HA! BUT, because I don’t do yoga & I don’t want to give up my gym weight time, a DVD of yoga at home would tempt me so I am inclined to go that way….. AND, I am so with Crabby on Schneider!

  21. Diane, did you see her on Oprah where she talked about the fact even SHE longs for that thickthick hair of yester-year?
    She said she has ‘added pieces’ (whats the word for that? not extensions but thickeners) now.

  22. Sorry, I would have gone with Yoga! The only thing I know about Valerie besides her Jenny Craig stint is that she is married (was married?) to some big-haired rocker. Yoga though has teh word “warrior” in the title! I’m all about the butt kicking!

  23. I’d probably pick the yoga dvd. Valerie is great (I’m assuming given your comments:) ), but I’ve been going to my gym to work out 🙂

  24. I’m the WARRIOR YOGA type more. I’ve been looking for a good (and affordable) yoga DVD… I’d really like to take up yoga. So far all I’ve done is chair yoga (and that was about 100 lbs ago).

    Just a footnote to this… my daughter is on me to get a copy of “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” She saw Richard Simmons on an old episode of Fame the other day, and is thrilled with the guy. When I told her about the old exercise videos and the music, she just about went wild. Now everywhere we go where there are used DVDs, she looks for a copy. I tried to tell her it may not be out on DVD, and just available on VHS, but she figures anything that GOOD must have been reformatted to DVD.

  27. That’s a toughie. I’m drawn to the title “Warrior Yoga”, but I also have a soft spot for Valerie Bertinelli. Good thing I don’t have to choose.

  29. I would have chosen the Warrior Yoga DVD because I’m trying to add some flexibility training to my overall workout routine. Which I have to say is the biggest area I’m lacking. I got cardio and strength training covered.

    Can’t say I’m a Barbie Cooper fan as I’m one of those people who has never seen the show….maybe I’m a little young on that one ( only just turned 31).

  30. One day at a time was one of my favorite shows, and same as you, I would have to choose Valerie, it just brings back my youthful feeling. As they say, your only as old as you feel, and I like feeling young.

  31. I would LOVE the yoga video. I recently downsized my gym membership and now have no access to classes and cannot afford the expensive yoga studios.

  32. Agree with Tami (comment 15). I preferred Mackenzie Phillips. That said, loved the show and though Phillips and Bertinelli played off one another well.
    And I can’t hear or see the wordd “escoffier” without thinking of the show.

  33. Valerie was on Good Morning America this morning talking about her new memoir which sounds interesting…but I would chose the other video!

    Courtney
    Adventures in Tri-ing

  34. funnn giveaway! Josh and I were just talking about purchasing a yoga video we can do together so I would be more than excited to win one!

  35. I totally want one of those chairs SO BADLY too!

    (Too mesmerized by the bouncing chairs to pay much attention to the videos ;)).

  36. I’d have tried the yoga one…jsut becuase I’m curious to try more yoga lately…and the whole warrior thing just makes me want to stand on a hill with my hands on my hips, looking off into the distance like wonder woman with my hair waving in the breeze…

    Yes I need to get out more 🙂

  37. I like Gaiam products as well. A lot.

    I am 44, so I remember Barbara Cooper very well. I loved that show, and have always loved her! Definitely a Valerie Fan!

    I would have chosen Valerie’s video for sure!

  40. Yeah, I’m young enough to say “One Day at a time, huh?”

    But I’d have taken the same one – since I saw Valerie Bertinelli on Woman’s Day magazine the other day…

  41. I can’t win yet wanted to chime in that when I lived in the US One Day At A Time was on TV and I adored the show.

    I also wanna check out that chair! 😉

  42. Sorry, I’m in the Barbie WHO? category. 🙂 I think I would have chosen the yoga, simply because I want to try something different than the same ol’ yourself fitness moves, but I’m a cheapskate and haven’t done anything about that yet. 🙂

  43. I watched ODAAT when I was younger, but I have to admit that I was never a fan. (Although I like VB a lot more NOW than I did THEN.) Plus I’m ALL ABOUT the yoga!! So yeah, I’d go with the yoga. 🙂

    Jane Fonda audio (yes, I said audio) tapes
    Oooooo, I’ll go you one better. I remember as a little kid doing Jazzercise with my mom – ON A RECORD. It had this awesome insert in the jacket cover with all the moves very carefully diagrammed. If I remember correctly, I spent at least as much time telling my mom that she was doing it wrong as I did exercising. (I like to think I have a better handle on my bossiness now, although my mom would probably argue that! Ha!)

  44. Didn’t Schneider have a pack of cigs rolled up in his sleeve?
    Didn’t VB marry her twin Eddie Van Halen?

    Anyway, thanks for the trip down memory lane!

    Wasn’t it Kirstie Alley who did the bikini reveal on Oprah just before she regained all the weight again only to relose it again and is launching a new weight loss thing this Nov?

    I give up.

  45. hmm tough one, i’d probably have picked the yoga just because i think i’m more of a yoga dvd person rather than workout dvd person. usually if i’m working out at home, there’s some degree of destressing that needs to be involved because i had no childcare to get to the gym, so the yoga would take care of that!
    🙂

  46. i think i would have picked the yoga DVD because i love doing yoga at home even if it means doing it by myself. i really love DVD workouts !

  51. Coming late.. but I remember long ago -during the “doing your colors” phase- I heard that when a man wears a shirt the same color as his eyes its supposed to make the audience trust that person more.

    Of the two I’d have chosen the Yoga workout. It’s one of the few things I’d be tempted to do at home.

  52. I honestly have no idea what Valerie Bertinelli did before being a Jenny Craig spokesperson, but I’d love to try either of the DVD’s (but would rather try the warrior one if I must choose!).

  53. I wouldve chose Valerie Bertinelli without hesitation! I loved that show and Schneider too! I am sad for those that don’t know the greatness of One Day At A Time. I like that it sounds like the DVD shows her as a normal “girl next door” like I always hoped she was in real life. I would love to workout with Barbie Cooper at my house! Haha

  54. I would absolutely choose the Valerie Bertinelli DVD. I am of a certain age, and loved one day at a time. I identified more with Mackenzie Philips in the show because I have a cute little sister, but I had no idea she was only a few years younger than me!

    You know, she still looks a lot lke Eddie Van Halen. I wonder if he is doing a video soon too. I always liked him too.

  57. I LOVED “One Day at a Time!” And I still love the theme song!
    But I also like Sting (especially his first solo album, “Bream of the Blue Turtles.” GREAT album!) and I love yoga.
    So I’d have had a hard time deciding.

  58. I would love to win the Valarie B. DVD. I have lost 65 pounds and need to find some sort of exercise I can do in my house when the weather doesn’t cooperate. It’s getting cold outside!!

  60. I did not watch One Day at a Time (I was more She-Ra and Jem in the 80s), but I am married to a HUGE Van Halen fan. I read her first book (I understand there is a second in the works?), and loved it, and my husband was eager to hear all the bits about Eddie Van Halen. I’d love to try this workout 😉

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