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Age: 28 (as of 1998)
Hometown: Kirkland, WA--but still a Californian at heart
Family: Married, with 2 cats
Occupation: Health Educator at UW
Fitness level: High Intermediate (I'll call myself advanced when I can get through BodyMax with moderate effort without feeling like I'm going to die!)
Collecting videos since: 1990. The first videos I ever owned were the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model videos with Elle MacPherson, Cheryl Tiegs and Rachel Hunter. Things were sporadic until 1996, when I discovered the forum and began collecting in earnest!
Number of Videos Owned: Just over 100, including my collection of bellydance practice tapes
Other Fitness Activities yoga and bellydance classes twice a week
Best Motivation: Feeling strong! As a kid I was super-skinny but weak. I *love* having muscles! After I began doing the FIRM I actually "discovered" my quad muscles and had to show people at work! Finding out my mother has osteoporosis gives me extra-incentive to lift those weights.
Current fitness goals: To stay consistent!
Loved ones' opinion of video habit: He worries that I'm obsessed (because I work out 1 hour a day 5 days a week? I don't think so!) and gets annoyed when it cuts into couple time. But he appreciates the results and how happy it makes me. My friends laugh at how excited I get when they ask me for video reviews--but they take my advice!
Renee's opinions:
Current Favorites:
Bryan Kest's Power Yoga series, Power Kicks, Firm Cardio, Strength, Tortoise and Maximum Body Sculpting
Favorite Instructors
Tracy Long, Aaron Lankford, Bryan Kest, Donna Richardson, Jennifer Mills
Underrated:
Crunch! A few of their tapes are complete lemons, but I *loved* Turbo Sculpt and Fat Blaster, and I still love Master Class Aerobics. They're just so darn *fun*!
Biggest Disappointments:
Kari Anderson's Angles, Lines and Curves [yawn]. Firm Fat Blaster (Where are the weights?)
Would love to see:
Shorter Firm videos that are *challenging*--like an updated version of Firm 4 (The Tri-Trainers are good for time, but not intense enough, even with heavy weights!)
Words of Wisdom:
Thorlo socks are the *best*! Even when you don't really want to work out , just get in there and do it! Focus on how healthy and strong you're getting, not on your scale. And find things you really enjoy. Bellydancing has changed my relationship with my body in ways I couldn't have imagined.
