Cable tv turns your home into a gym

No cable television flickers in our home, but that'll change soon as our oldest, a kindergartener, is seriously protesting the lack of Disney and Nickelodeon. When we do splurge on cable, I will definitely enjoy more home workouts thanks to a wide variety of available fitness programming.

If your gym membership card gathered dust over the holidays, how about giving cable TV fitness programs a chance to jumpstart your return to regular exercise? Record the shows and fast forward commercial breaks. If that's not an option, use the commercials to down some water, make a pot of coffee or jog in place for an even bigger calorie burn. You might want to try:

• Denise Austin on Lifetime and ESPN Classic. She combines aerobics, weights and yoga in two 30-minute episodes. You'll need hand weights and a mat, and you might enjoy her Trainer's Tip at the end of the Lifetime show.
• Total Body Sculpt With Gilad on FitTV features 30 minutes of strength training with trainer Gilad Janklowicz.
• Inhale on Oxygen will have yoga lovers rolling out of bed and stretching for an hour with Steve Ross.
• In Shape With Sharon Mann on FitTV is a 30-minute cardio bonanza working in pilates, kickboxing, tai chi and other trendy moves. You will need some equipment -- a stability ball, mat, hand weights, body bar, tubing and aerobics step. If you're short pieces, adaptations are offered.

Picture from www.bodiesinmotionwithgilad.com