Home-fitness regimes are likely to be the biggest exercise trend of 2009, with the financial squeeze causing many to cancel their gym memberships. So what to do instead? We asked fitness expert Louise Sutton, head of the Carnegie Centre for Performance and Wellbeing at Leeds Metropolitan University, to check out the usual rush of festive celebrity fitness DVDs...
TRACY ANDERSON METHOD: DANCE CARDIO WORKOUT, £17.99
Workout: Tracy Anderson is responsible for the honed physique of Madonna. The workout comprises eight fast-paced routines ('cardio dance' combinations); she suggests doing as many as you can, working up to them all, four to six times a week.
Expert's view: This features complicated routines performed at a fast pace with little instruction, making them difficult to do. What she says can be confusing. If you could follow it, the routine would get you fitter -but the average person would struggle. And doing this six days a week would soon lead to boredom.
Best for: Those who can already dance.
Rating: 2/10
DAVINA: SUPER BODY WORKOUT, £17.99
Workout: Like TV presenter Davina McCall's other exercise DVDs, this features her personal trainers, Mark and Jackie Wren. There are two full 40 minute workouts -Super-Sculpt and Super- Fit. For the super-fit there are three longer routines targeting specific body parts such as the abs, legs or arms. Davina suggests doing one of the routines at least three times a week.
Expert's view: The routines are polished. It's great that there is an easier version to each section, as it means the workouts are relevant to beginners and advanced exercisers. The routines are varied and include some kick-boxing, cardio work and strengthening moves.
Best for: The committed exerciser - male or female.
Rating: 9/10
GET TOTALLY FIT WITH MEL B, £19.99
Workout: Former Spice Girl Mel B followed this plan to shift pregnancy fat. Filmed outdoors in LA sunshine, the two full-body workouts are broken into segments including cardio and advanced cardio, and exercises to tone the back and chest, arms and legs, core and buttock muscles. Beginners are advised to start with four 30-minute sessions a week, gradually building up to the full workout and then increasing intensity over four-to-eight weeks.
Expert's view: This assumes no experience and gives excellent basic, practical advice for beginners. The only equipment needed is a broomstick for stability work and some bottles of water or cans for weights. Fun and easy to follow.
Best for: The easily bored or those new to exercise.
Rating: 10/10
DENISE VAN OUTEN: PURE DANCE WORKOUT, £19.99
Workout: The latest exercise programme from the TV presenter and West End star, this features four energetic dance routines each lasting about ten minutes, set to music. Within each dance are moves to target specific body parts including the waist, bingo wings, legs and bottom. Denise recommends doing at least one of the dance routines (with warm-up and cool down) three-to-four times a week.
Expert's view: I was disappointed. There are too many complicated dance moves and it lacks clear instruction for novices. You'd need to practise a fair bit to grasp the dance routines.
Best for: Dancers.
Rating: 3/10
COLEEN NOLAN'S DISCO BURN, £19.99
Workout: Coleen Nolan was once overweight but is now down to under nine stones and a size eight, thanks partly to this regimen. With her trainer, Mikey, she smiles her way through five workout sections set to disco classics - the workouts include disco aerobics (a low-impact cardiovascular routine), disco aerobics inferno (high intensity routine to make you sweat and burn calories) two disco tone sections which aim to condition different body parts and a floor-based core strengthening routine. Each lasts about ten minutes and Nolan suggests aiming to do at least one - but preferably all - of the sections (with warm up and cool down) three-to-four times a week.
Expert's view: This is great fun and the perfect DVD to launch yourself into a fitness regime. There are lots of well-explained fun-moves such as the funky pony. You might get bored of the disco theme eventually, but it's a fun way to kick start a routine.
Best for: Party animals, young and old.
Rating: 8/10
STRICTLY COME DANCING WORKOUT WITH KELLY AND FLAVIA, £19.99
Workout: Kelly Brook and dancer Flavia Cacace promise to work every part of your body with this romp through the various dances featured on the show. Each routine targets a different body part - the Salsa is great for all-over cardiovascular fitness and toning the legs and bottom, the Tango for the abdominal muscles, the Quickstep for the arms and the Jive for a fat-burning workout. You can do each of the dance segments separately, increasing the amount you do as you get fitter. Aim to dance three to four times a week for at least 30 minutes.
Expert's view: The steps for each dance were well demonstrated before moving on to the routine itself. Dancing is great for all-round fitness. Some of the moves are a little complicated, but most people will grasp them with practice.
Best for: Those looking for a fun way to get fit with a friend.
Rating: 7/10
CLAIRE RICHARDS 5-STEP FAT ATTACK, £19.99
Workout: As a member of Steps, Claire Richards was a svelte size ten, then the pounds piled on; at her heaviest she was over 15 stone. Eleven months later, she's a size ten again, thanks to this routine which includes some easy dance moves in the warm-up followed by a section of fat assault aerobics, combat moves such as strikes, kicks and punches, target and tone exercises for core stability and a cool down. Each section is set to Steps tracks and lasts around ten minutes, and Richards suggests working towards doing all of the workout three-times a week.
Expert's view: What I really like about this DVD is its variety and simplicity. It has a good aerobics section that will help to burn fat if done regularly and the combat section was well demonstrated. If you think you are too unfit to take up exercise, this is for you.
Best for: Those who think they're too unfit to exercise.
Rating: 9/10
| 
