Firm: Complete Aerobic Weight Training [VHS]

This 52-minute video from 1992 combines low-impact and step aerobics with strength training. You keep the heart rate elevated for fat burning and cardiovascular conditioning while working the muscles. Jayne Poteet leads a class of fit exercisers of varying ages through a workout that's as tough as you want to make it, depending on how heavy your weights and how high your step. The aerobic moves are basic--no patterns, no complicated footwork--so beginners can manage the workout. The strength moves are sometimes combined with aerobic moves and sometimes isolated, and they are done slowly for safety and effectiveness. This is a well-designed workout except that the largest upper-body muscles (chest and midback) are left for the end (they're most efficiently worked early in a workout) and the shoulder presses start behind the neck (they're safer starting in front of the shoulders). Poteet includes both upper- and lower-body strength moves, but emphasizes the lower body. You'll need a barbell, dumbbells, a tall (14-inch) step, and a medium step. --Joan Price