The Olympics have definitely inspired my family. My girls are enthralled by the female divers and gymnasts, doing flips off the couch after watching. My husband got caught up in the fever of the men's swim team and even tried to swim across a (small) lake during our vacation last week. I wasn't sure who was going to save him when he realized he wasn't Michael Phelps!

The Olympics are meant to be inspiring, and it's awesome to see people everywhere taking an interest in their favorite sports. But what we all need to remember is that Olympians dedicate their entire lives to their sport, training every day for years. The BBC is reporting that manufacturers of fitness equipment are fielding calls from DIY Olympians who want to set their rowing machines, stationary bikes, and treadmills to perform at the same pace as their favorite Olympians, so that they can follow along at home.

The danger in this, besides breaking your expensive fitness equipment, of course, is that the average Olympics viewer is not in Olympian shape. Instead of trying to keep up with your personal Olympic hero, follow along at home within your own personal limits. Be inspired by the Olympics not to beat your favorite athletes (an impossible task), but to challenge your own personal best. If you're looking for workouts to motivate you, check out Kristen's post on turning Olympic inspiration into perspiration.

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Gyms are a popular place to get fit, but they certainly aren't the only place. If you can afford the membership fees and have a location near your work or home, then a gym or fitness center may just fit perfectly into your life. But what if you don't have either of those things? Working out at home is not only a great alternative, you might just find that you prefer it. You don't need fancy machines and a room full of equipment to get in shape, and exercising in the comfort of your own home lets you control your environment to get an optimum workout. Looking for more reasons to stay home? Check out this list of ten more reasons why home workouts rock. What about you? Where do you prefer to exercise?

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Right now, I'm in the midst of a gym craze, which means I am going quite a bit (around 4 times a week.) Which is great, but I have to admit, there are times when I am definitely in a gym funk -- I just can't get motivated to make the trip. But I still need to work out so during those times, so I usually try a fitness DVD. They're especially good in the winter, when heading out into the freezing cold and scraping ice off your car is so not appealing. They're also great if you like you workout in the morning but don't like to get up early to battle the crowds at the gym. Yeah, DVDs can get repetitive after a while, but with Netflix offering them now so there's no need to do the same one over and over again.

This week, I decided to put together a list of awesome Fitness DVDs that will get your muscles toned and help you burn calories. Feel free to add your won favourites in the comments section. In no particular order:

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