Clean or racy: The option is yours
Would you rather work out with country singer Julianne Hough, burlesque-style pop group the Pussycat Dolls or a mom from Encino, Calif.? All three have released new workout DVDs, and we drew our curtains and tried them. In “Cardio Ballroom,” the 21-year-old Hough shares some of the dance moves she taught celebrities as their coach on “Dancing With the Stars.”
While Hough offers tutorials on basics such as the cha-cha and ball change, the Pussycat Dolls jump right in with stripper-ready moves set to their Top-40 hits “Don’t Cha” and “Buttons.” At-home dancers are encouraged to “Grind it! Slap it!” and “Pop that chest! Pop that booty!” This cardiovascularly and mentally challenging workout is not for the prudish. Finally, Carolyn Barnes, the stay-at-home mother in Southern California, created her “cLEANmomma” program when she lost weight after childbirth by doing squats, leg kicks and push-ups … all while doing her daily chores. She demonstrates the “Rag Drag,” which works the inner and outer thighs while polishing the kitchen floor, and suggests making rules such as doing 10 push-ups every time you get a snack. Her creativity is admirable, but part of the benefit of a 45-minute cardio session at the gym is that you don’t have to think about exercise the rest of the day, especially not at snack time.
“Dance With Julianne: Cardio Ballroom” (Anchor Bay, $14.98) “Robin Antin’s Pussycat Dolls Workout” (Anchor Bay, $14.98) “cLEANmomma” (cLEANmomma Productions, $14.95) The Washington Post
See local
Native Eyewear shows its hometown pride with four new sunglass styles named for local landmarks: Wazee, LoDo, Larimer and Frisco. The lightweight, polarized lenses are comparable in price to other high-end shades, ranging from $89 to $139. The Wazees are lightweight and unisex. LoDo: oversized frames designed for women. Larimer: stainless steel frames with adjustable nose pads. Frisco wieghs less than an ounce. Sold at REI and other retailers.
