I’ve had Bethenny Frankel’s Skinnygirl Workout DVD stashed away for more than a year now. After I got it, I opened it, put it in the drawer with our other DVDs and forgot about it.
(Can you tell my DVDs are on the right and Ryan’s are on the left?)
Today I was in the mood to workout but didn’t want to drive to the gym, so I figured I could do the 45-minute yoga workout in my living room.
One major problem:
Sadie, while fantastic at the downward dog pose, doesn’t seem to believe in people practicing yoga peacefully at home.
As I went through the first 10 minutes of the workout, I got body slammed several times and Sadie tried to coerce me into multiple rounds of The Hand Game.
And then a squirrel decided to run around outside and I was free! Free from doggie madness!
Bethenny’s Skinnygirl Workout
Despite my love for Bethenny, I didn’t have high hopes for the workout because I tend to get really, really bored during workout DVDs and mentally check out.
Well, this one kept my interest and I ended up doing all of the segments back-to-back for one long workout. (The DVD offers two 15-minute workouts and one 20-minute workout, which you can do individually or together.)
The workout was led by New York City yoga instructor Mike McArdie and Bethenny participated right along with him as he gave pointers and talked through the workout.
Bethenny didn’t just go through the motions of the workout and stay quiet. Her funny remarks made the workout much more entertaining.
Bethenny also made comments about how hard certain moves were and noted where in her body she felt certain poses working which I loved because so many workout DVDs don’t acknowledge when you feel like you’re working extra hard. I feel like I’m out of shape or something when the instructor is peppy and excitable and I’m sweating or feelin’ the burn, so it was great to have Bethenny’s “real world” voice chime in and say when she was working hard so I didn’t feel like a crazy person when I was sweating through a pose.
Plus, Bethenny seems to love the pigeon pose as much as I do!
No, not that one. 
I really liked this DVD and think it would be a great one to pack if you’re traveling and won’t have access to a gym or if you want a quality at-home yoga workout at your fingertips.
Lunch
After completing my workout for the day, I immediately fixed myself lunch.
I made myself a flatbread pizza by topping a whole wheat flatbread with marinara sauce, spinach, mushrooms, fresh mozzarella and red onion.
It was fantastic!
On the side I snacked on some homemade peanut butter granola.
I ate a few handfuls before stashing the rest for later.
Question of the Afternoon
- What is your favorite workout DVD?
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I don’t do yoga (yet!), but my dog does the same thing when I’m doing ANYTHING on the floor 🙂 whether it’s foam rolling, stretching – he thinks I’m trying to play with him!
I’ve been looking for a good at home yoga DVD – I’ll have to check it out. I absolutely love Jillian Michaels’ No More Trouble Zones and Banish Fat Boost Metabolism (killer workout).
bob harper’s yoga dvd is so good!
sadie reminds me of kona so much! that is konas “play with me NOW!” pose and then she proceeds to bark at me until i do so. anytime i get on the floor that happens actually! geesh! 🙂
I love Bethenny’s 1st yoga DVD. I totally agree with you about how her voicing her opinions on certain poses helps a lot. It helps to take your mind off of the difficulty sometimes with the humor! My cat loves to curl up on my yoga mat when I start doing the standing poses!
Your pizza looks delicious! I should pick up some flat breads–it’s a great way to get rid of excess veggies in a yummy way. Also, that pic of Sadie in “downward dog” is precious. I love it.
I love Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred for a quickie. 🙂
i’ve heard awesome things about that DVD!
I agree, this is my favourite if I’m stuck at home and want a good workout 🙂
I haven’t used a workout dvd in years, but when i was little I remember I used to “workout” with a barbie exercise video. Side note: Jennifer Love Hewitt was one of the girls exercising in the video. Haha
oh my gosh, my girlfriends and i would do that DVD in high school!! it was HARD!
I had that tape too!! It was the best!
I had that tape too! I would do it every day after school in sixth grade, haha. I remember Jennifer Love Hewitt just went by “Jennifer Love” in the video. 🙂
Oh, Sadie is such a lil yogini! Roo does lots of yoga poses, but she has to be gated off when I try to workout at home!
I like this DVD, but I actually like her first yoga DVD even better, and it has her signature commentary, too, plus a little bonus weights section at the end. It’s probably my fav. I also love Jillian’s No More Trouble Zones and Jackie Warner’s Power Circuit. I have a gym membership, but I’m totally a DVD gal!
Like the other gals on this list, I’m a HUGE fan of Jillian Michael’s — specifically 30-day shred. It’s so good, so quick, and it works!
My cat loves to bug me while I’m trying to do yoga too 😛
And now I’m craving peanut butter granola… your recipe is so yummy!
Oh YAY!!! I LOVE this Yoga Video, and even did a review of it on my own blog! 🙂
I definitely love the part where she says that yoga is a practice and while she cannot do the pose now, she’ll be able to do the post one day!
Oh and pigeon pose is totally relaxing to me! 🙂 Oh and I love the sense of humor through out the video. Oh and seeing her dog Cookie was cute too!
Hahah I went through a phase last year where I was obsessed with the dancing with the stars workout DVD. I am a horrendous dancer, so my husband got quite the kick out of watching me attempt the moves!
Jillian Jillian Jillian, but I’m not sure which is my favorite. I rotate through 4 of them to keep from getting bored, but shorter the better… 😛 So, 30 day shred is wonderfully quick, and fully exhausting.
Workout DVD’s aren’t really my thing…I did p90x for awhile though! I’m more of an online youtube work out movement follower haha ;D Love The Tone it Up girls and Bodyrock!
The DVD Divide is hillarious!!!
I love Bethenny’s first yoga dvd…but I’ll definitely have to check this one out. Anything that girl touches turns to gold. She’s so hilarious and real. Love her!
I don’t typically do workout DVD’s for that very reason! I also don’t really have enough space. I’ve hear that the P90x DVD’s are supposed to be really good. I haven’t personally tried them out though.
I’m not a workout DVD type of person, but I do wish I worked for her. It looks like they have so much fun in their tiny (or maybe not so tiny anymore) office. 🙂
I too LOVE TurboFire! The programs really get you working hard! TurboFire is perfect when you are away from a gym. I am studying in Spain right now and I can do my TurboFire workouts right in my apartment! It’s great! I too love group classes. Zumba at my college is my favorite work out. Working out with a group or even just 1 other person really gives you a push.
I am a HUGE fan of workout DVDs. I swear by TurboFire and ChaLEAN Extreme from Beachbody. I’ve seen great results from both programs and each one has 8-10 different workouts so I never get bored. They are both great options for when you’re on vacation, or, as you mentioned, not feeling like driving to the gym.
On the other hand, I love taking live group exercises at my local YMCA. Sometimes it’s hard to push through a tough workout when you’re all by yourself at home, following a DVD. There’s something about working out in a group that keeps me accountable and makes me give that extra ten percent!
AGREE!!! i LOVE turbo jam and turbo fire…hoping to get chaLEAN soon!
Workout DVDs are about all I have, that and the great outdoors. So I have a TON of DVDs, but stick to Jillian Michaels, Kelley Coffee-Meyer and Bob Harper the most. They give me the most intense workout for my time and I have seem massive fitness improvements from their DVDs. My doggie knows that when Jillian is on and I am rolling on the floor, it is NOT play time haha! It took some patience, but she figured out the routine eventually.
I love all of the Crunch studio yoga/pilates workouts that are available to stream on Netflix. I have a hard enough time doing workouts at home with 2 dachshunds running around. One thinks it’s cuddle time, the other just sits as close to me as possible and stares. Then it morphs into “bite the lady’s ponytail” as soon as I try ab work on the floor. Does lifting a 16lb dog as I crunch count for extra points?
ah, welcome to my life! having a home “gym” my pups are always follow me down and get in my way. My little Boston loves to put his ball in my hands during situps.
To date, Jillian Michaels work out dvds are my favorite. I own 7 of them and just pre-ordered her newest Kickboxing one. While she can get on my nerves she doesn’t annoy me and always leaves me a sweaty mess.
I’ll have to check out this Bethenny dvd! For your humor, please youtube search “The Situtaion” workout dvd. Why yes, Mike from Jersey Shore has a workout dvd and the trailer is hilarious!
I am not a huge fan of workout DVD’s. But when I am not in the mood to head to the gym P90X kicks my butt. I have never done the fully program, instead just use it now and then.
Ps. Your pizza looks delicious,
I definitely choose a class at the gym or a run outside to a DVD most days, but yesterday I just wanted an extra 30 mins in bed (round trip gym commute), so I did my Jillian No More Trouble Zones DVD. It’s a 50 min workout with dynamic moves using dumbells (I use 5 and 8 lb weights) and I love it! Definitely feel it today. I also love her Banish Fat Boost Metabolism which is 50 mins of cardio circuits (think burpees, jump squats, etc). And 30 Day Shred is great when you’re short on time – the circuits are half cardio/half weights. I sound like a walking endorsement, but I feel like I get a good workout with those DVDs! Super cheap on Amazon!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on that video! I’m not normally a fan of workout videos (for similar reasons as you), but I bet I would like that one b/c I love Bethenny and her funny comments!
My favorite Workout DVD is Jackie Warner’s Personal Training DVD. It has a 20 min lower, 20 min upper and 20 min core workout. My dog Gunner does the same thing when I do home workouts. Today I was doing some jumping jacks and he thought it meant play time and tried to jump on me. Then when I got to the floor for some ab work, he was trying to lick my face. 🙂
My DVDs are mixed with John’s, and just last week his roommate goes “we have Varsity Blues, Rambo, WTF, how did “he’s just not that into you” and “LEgally Blonde 2” get in this mix?! haha
I love Bethenny so much!
I started watching her on TV at the gym last winter and really enjoyedher “real” personality. I really like how she doesn’t act like she’s any different than any one else just because she’s famous!
And my dog does the same thing! It’s like the minute I start working out in the living room, she’s ready for playtime. SO funny!
Ooh I’m glad to know it is a good one! I like jillian Michael’s shred it with weights, and her burn fat and boost metabolism. Love the Sadie pics
Insanity – one of the most intriguing and intense DVD workouts. Some of the exercises remind me of the circuit training we had at mixed martial arts practice.
Sadie reminds me of my son – lol! I can’t workout in the living room with out being jumped on!
Your lunch looks awesome!
I am loving Physique57’s dvds right now. It is challenging for me to complete the whole hour workout, but it’s so fast paced that I never feel like an hour has gone by (ok, 57 minutes!) but I haven’t been able to work out for a couple of weeks due to a back injury. I am actually looking forward to getting back to my workout sessions this weekend! Put those under “words I swear I’d never say…”
I really want to try one of Bethenny’s workout videos!
I adore Bethenny’s attitude. She says it like it is. If i had that lunch waiting for me after, I’d go through all the segments too just to earn it 🙂
My fave is Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30. Quick n sweaty!
I don’t have workout dvds, but Ive heard that Jillian Michaels ones are good.
I would like to try yoga- I never have and I could use some flexibilty improvement! 🙂
Ooh, I did the same as you with that dvd…stashed away for at least a year, but I don’t think I ever even opened mine. Maybe I’ll do that after work if my dogs let me :-P. I’m glad to hear it ended up being an interesting workout. I love Bethenny!
Jillian 30 day shred without a doubt! You’ll never believe you get that tired/sweaty in 20 minutes.
big fan of p90x and anything jillian michaels….but I do find it hard to get through an entire workout video in one sitting.
I love insanity
I am a huge Jillian Michaels video fan. 30 Day Shred is a great one – sometimes I will do the workouts back-to-back like you did today.
I have Bethenny’s DVD with Kristin McGee and I love it. Her asides are hilarious and the workout is definitely challenging. Yet another thing Bethenny Frankel excels in!
I must admit your living room tv area is nice looking! I think we have the same TV. (I can tell by that blue glowy light thing underneath haha!) Also I prefer Ryan’s taste in movies haha I love those Batman movies. So excited for Dark Knight Rises.
I love finding new workout DVDs – thanks for writing about this one! I’ve watched snippets of Bethenny on TV and she does seem entertaining. I don’t do workout DVDs very often but I do like having them on hand in case I can’t make it to the gym. Like many other commenters, I like Jillian Michaels’ DVDs. I think she gives really good cues which I appreciate. I want to try the Physique 57 DVDs next! Btw, it’s so funny too see your DVDs next to Ryan’s – there’s definitely a big contrast, haha!
I have her Body by Bethenny video and I love the extra strength training segment. I love Sadie’s Yoga abilities:-)
I LOVE Jillian Michaels’s DVDs. They’re the only ones that ever make me feel like I’m getting a legit WORKOUT (like, a hot sweaty mess workout!)
My dog always thinks its playtime too when I try to do a workout DVD. I love Bethenny’s normal commentary so I’m sure I’d also love it during a workout!
I also get so bored during at home workout dvds, but this one sounds good! I’ll have to check it out!
I wouldn’t say that it’s my favorite, because the instructor is so cheesy, but I really did see results when I did the P90X program. Right now I sometimes do the workouts on OnDemand.
I just found your blog and love the energy! I also love Bethany’s Yoga DVD! It’s one of the few that I will stick with and go back to. The one I used was lead by Kristen McGee and was awesome – I was so sad when they took it off Exercise TV!
I don’t work out at home, hardly at all, but if I do it’s either P90x Plyometrics or a Pilates DVD a fellow instructor and friend of mine made–it’s killer awesome.
Cute pigeon pose, Julie 😉