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Employees Get Paid to Exercise, While Some Pay to Sit Out
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Some insurers and companies are recognizing that preventative health incentives can potentially save lives--and their bottom line.
There's evidence of continued, if slow, growth in this trend in a recent survey from gym chain Anytime Fitness, which keeps its doors open at odd hours to inspire more workouts. Anytime Fitness members, across its some 1,500 U.S. gyms, received nearly $4 million in health insurance reimbursements for working out 12 or more times per month in 2011. That's up $1 million from 2010, the company's second "Weight of the Union" survey showed.
[See 10 Workplace Myths, Debunked.]
"We are seeing an increase by both health insurance providers offering this benefit to employees and employees taking advantage of these programs that pay them to exercise," says Heidi Holiday, national director of Healthy Contributions, a fitness incentive consultant and administration company.
There's incentive for all sides to shell out a little more upfront and potentially cut treatment costs later. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, working with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, says that without change, some 86 percent of Americans could be overweight or obese by 2030. That means $1 out of every $6 in healthcare costs will be due to heavy Americans.
New image. In one example, insurer Aetna has rebranded itself as a "health-solutions company," a sign of the industry shift toward balancing prevention and treatment. Part of the rebrand involves more direct-to-consumer marketing, and Aetna-sponsored, employer-run incentives such as discounted gym memberships, according to marketing trade publication Ad Age.
One insurer is combining the daily deal coupon craze with healthier lifestyle choices. In February, Blue Cross and Blue Shield rolled out its Blue365 program for some 35 million eligible members. The plan offers discounts on services such as Snap Fitness gym memberships, eDiets.com meal delivery, and Reebok running shoes.
The economic argument is one way to draw more attention to the epidemic. Employment consultancy Towers Watson reports that employers have seen a 36 percent increase in healthcare costs over the past five years.
[See 8 Danger Signs When You're Job Searching.]
"High rates of chronic diseases, like diabetes and heart disease, are among the biggest drivers of U.S. healthcare costs and they are harming our nation's productivity," said Jeff Levi, executive director of the Trust for America's Health, commenting in a report called "Healthier Americans for a Healthier Economy." "Workplace wellness and community prevention programs are a win-win way to make a real difference in improving our health and bottom line all at once," he said.
Some companies are acting independent of their insurance plans. Gyms on company premises and lunchtime meetings for Weight Watchers or other programs are not new, but these are benefits many companies kept up even in a tough economic climate--some because they're beginning to penalize out-of-shape employees through higher insurance premiums.
Carrot and Stick. Some companies are taking a different avenue. Preventative healthcare choices are required at some firms, and if they're skipped, employees pay up.
For Cleveland Clinic's 29,000 employees, more than half have enrolled in the company's Healthy Choice plan since 2010, taking advantage of weight management seminars, yoga classes, and more. To draw more participation, the healthcare system, among the top cardiac treatment destinations, is changing the stakes--a potential 21 percent jump in insurance premiums for unhealthy employees.
[See 10 Ways to Make Any Job Healthier.]
Employees who sign up for Healthy Choice agree to see a doctor to determine whether they are at a healthy weight and whether they have one or more chronic health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure; or if they are a smoker. If necessary, individualized goals are set. If the employee is deemed to be at a healthy weight and falls into none of these disease categories, they can avoid the premium hike with participation in Healthy Choice and frequenting a clinic fitness center, or clinic partner Curves, or by joining the clinic's walking program.
It's hard to find fault with growth in gym and diet-plan benefits coverage (or even, ultimately, with the stick method, given the high-risk national situation). But some critics worry that preventative medicine expense could potentially cannibalize other coverage and care in the short run.
When it comes to seniors and gym incentives, the debate has intensified after the release of a Brown University study in the New England Journal of Medicine earlier this year.
Study findings show that covered gym benefits through select options may be helping Medicare draw healthier seniors to its membership pool and thus lower its overall costs.
[See our list of the 50 Best Careers.]
Cost-cutting can be a positive development, sure. But critics note that Medicare strictly forbids practices such as denying coverage based on existing conditions. Study writers acknowledged that if every plan offered the fitness benefits, it would no longer be an effective way of selecting for the healthiest members. However, until that day and given the continued incentives to take on more profitable enrollees, insurers may employ other related tactics to cherry-pick desirable enrollees. As healthier participants are corralled in certain plans, the cost burden on enrollees and taxpayers to cover the traditional Medicare format, where participants have greater needs, is higher.
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Slimming.com Launches Unique Diet and Fitness Platform Slimming+
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Longstanding weight loss provider Slimming.com announces the arrival of their online fitness community Slimming+. A unique platform dedicated to providing slimmer’s with the tools, the training and the motivational resources to lose weight and transform their life and body.
Nottingham, England (PRWEB) February 14, 2012
Slimming.com has been helping slimmers for years to overcome current dietary trends and lose weight with the support of clinically tested slimming products, so the introduction of Slimming+ was a natural step in their commitment to combating the growing obesity problem.
Recognising that successful weight loss cannot be dependent on slimming aids alone; Slimming+ provides slimmers with the platform to lose weight, tone up and get fit whilst taking into consideration their personal needs and requirements.
“The most successful diets come from surrounding yourself with a strong support network and Slimming+ can offer this kind of support. In one portal, slimmer’s can benefit from a personalised diet program, fitness program, tracker, coach and motivator - all rolled into one – plus can freely chat to other members from anywhere in the world.” comments Managing Director Rob Wass.
And given the initial results of their pre-launch (pre-registration over 2,500) Slimming+ has the potential to be up there with some of the biggest players in the diet and fitness industry.
Originally brought for $185,000, Slimming.com is a valuable domain name within this expansive industry as it is short and targeted. Yet thanks to the introduction of Slimming+, the company now has high hopes that it can now reach its full potential.
Offering what few other weight loss sites have managed to achieve: personalised diet and recipe suggestions; nutritional information; step by step fitness programs and exercises; an online community and food diary. Slimming+ will help pave the way for slimmers to safely manage their weight loss and overcome common weight loss barriers without having to resort to dangerous dietary habits.
As Slimming+ member Joanne Clark quickly found when she took part in the trial period:
“I’ve always found dieting to be so time consuming. Checking food labels, going to the gym, searching for low fat food recipes… I just never had the time to do it properly, but this time I am feeling pretty confident. Slimming+ has taken out all the hassle. If I want to exercise I can just pop on the computer and watch an exercise video. If I fancy eating something different, I can look at their recipe list and quickly compare their nutritional values. With Slimming+ I know exactly where I am with my diet and for once in my life I feel in control.” – Joanne Clarke, 31, Legal Secretary.
And this is great news for slimmers whose hectic work and social schedules leave them with little time to eat properly.
By combining Slimming.com with this unique online fitness community, slimmers will easily be able to achieve their goals and be a part of a real slimming group.
“Slimming groups such as Weight Watchers and Slimming World are successful because they allow slimmers to come together, share their experiences and encourage each other to keep striving forward. Slimming+ encourages this on a much larger scale, by allowing slimmers to communicate with members across Facebook and twitter so no matter where they are, they will never be alone.” – Rob Wass, Managing Director
And the features available on Slimming+ are certainly incentive enough to provide slimmers with the support system they need to lose weight. Offering their first 1,000 members a lifetime’s free subscription, this is sure to encourage slimmer’s to experiment with this platform and begin their path to a healthier lifestyle.
For more information on Slimming+ visit http://plus.slimming.com
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Slimming.com
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Slimming.com Launches Unique Diet and Fitness Platform Slimming+
Want to Lose Weight? Try Dessert for Breakfast
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By Mimi Nguyen Ly
Epoch Times Staff Created: February 14, 2012 Last Updated: February 14, 2012
Study finds that having a high-calorie breakfast with a dessert may help to lose weight. (Sandra Shields/The Epoch Times)
A new study suggests that having a sweet dessert as part of a full breakfast in the morning helps dieters lose more weight and keep it off.
For 32 weeks, researchers from Tel Aviv University in Israel randomly gave 193 obese, non-diabetic adults one of two diets every day, both of which have an identical calorie-count. Men were given 1,600 calories and women 1,400 calories per day.
However, the first group received a low-carbohydrate diet with a 300-calorie breakfast, while the second group had a 600-calorie breakfast rich in carbohydrates and proteins, which included a dessert item such as chocolate.
Participants in both groups lost about 33 pounds (15 kg) on average per person halfway through the study. But in the second half of the study, participants in the low-carbohydrate group regained an average of 22 pounds (10kg) each, while those in the big-breakfast group lost a further 15 pounds (7 kg) each. At the end of the study, the big-breakfast group lost on average 40 pounds (18 kg) more per person than the low-carbohydrate group.
“The participants in the low carbohydrate diet group had less satisfaction, and felt that they were not full” despite taking in the same amount of calories a day, as they had more intense cravings for sugars and carbohydrates and consequently cheated on their diet plan, which explains the weight gain, researcher Daniela Jakubowicz said in a press release.
“But the group that consumed a bigger breakfast, including dessert, experienced few if any cravings for these foods later during the day,” she added.
Jakubowicz says that having a higher proportion of calories for breakfast works because it alleviates cravings and improves body function.
Having a high-calorie breakfast boosts metabolism, which is important for weight loss and maintenance. Breakfast time is also when metabolism is most active and we can work off the extra calories throughout the day better.
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Want to Lose Weight? Try Dessert for Breakfast
Lose weight by using a fork?
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CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The idea comes straight from France where the waistlines have long been sought-after by Americans.
The Fork It weight loss plan uses the concept of light eating late in the day to melt pounds, or so it says.
The plan suggests eating like a king at breakfast using any utensils you'd like. Lunchtime should be a lighter meal or "eat like a Prince". Dinnertime is where the only real restrictions come in, eat like a pauper and only using a fork.
The idea bans fingers, spoons and knives after 6pm and meals should only be foods naturally eaten with a fork. Fish, whole grains and pastas are suggested under the Fork It plan.
We took the concept to Charlotte nutrition counselor Nettie Reeves. She says it might work, but only if used as a tool to teach, and not as a diet.
"I think they more or less listen to their stomachs, we listen a lot to our heads when it comes to food," Reeves said of the concept that Americans simply eat too much.
For more information on the Fork It plan, check out http://www.forkit.com
Copyright 2012 WBTV. All rights reserved.
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Lose weight by using a fork?
Top Reasons Why People Don't Lose Weight From Loyola Expert
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Newswise — It’s been more than one month since the new year and swimsuit season is lurking on the horizon – how are those weight-loss resolutions working out?
“Losing weight is one of the top resolutions made every year, yet only 20 percent of people achieve successful weight-loss and maintenance,” says Jessica Bartfield,MD, internal medicine who specializes in nutrition and weight management at Loyola University Health System’s Gottlieb Memorial Hospital.
Despite that fact that two-thirds of Americans say they are on a diet to improve their health, very few are actually decreasing in size. “Dieting is a skill, much like playing a musical instrument, and requires practice and good instruction, “ says Dr. Bartfield. “You’re going to hit some wrong notes and feel frustrated, but eventually you will succeed and it will get easier.”
Top Four Reasons Why Dieters Don’t Lose Weight
According to Dr. Bartfield, here are the top four reasons why many dieters fail to lose weight.
1. Underestimating Calories Consumed
“Most people (even experts!) underestimate the number of calories they eat per day. Writing down everything that you eat- including drinks and "bites" or "tastes" of food - can help increase self-awareness. Pay attention to serving sizes and use measuring cups and spoons as serving utensils to keep portions reasonable. Food eaten outside of the home tends to be much larger portion sizes and much higher in calories. Try to look up nutrition information of your favorite take-out meal or restaurant and select a healthy meal before picking up the phone or going out to eat.
2. Overstimating Activity and Calories Burned- “Typically you need to cut 500 calories per day to lose 1 lb per week. This is very difficult to achieve through exercise alone, and would require 60 minutes or more of vigorous activity every day. A more attainable goal would be to try to increase activity throughout the day and get a total of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise most days of the week. Buy a pedometer and track your steps; try to increase to a goal of 10,000 steps per day. But be careful- exercise is not an excuse to eat more!”
3. Poor Timing of Meals - “You need a steady stream of glucose throughout the day to maintain optimal energy and to prevent metabolism from slowing down. Eat breakfast every day within one hour of waking up, then eat a healthy snack or meal every three to four hours. Try not to go longer than 5 hours without eating a healthy snack or meal to keep your metabolism steady.”
4. Inadequate Sleep – “Studies have shown that people who get fewer than six hours of sleep have higher levels of ghrelin, which is a hormone that stimulates appetite, particularly for high- carbohydrate /high- calorie foods. In addition, less sleep raises levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, which can lead to weight gain.”
Dr. Bartfield regularly counsels patients through the Gottlieb Medical Weight Loss Program, an interdisciplinary, non-surgical 12-week program that seeks to establish good health routines. “Just as you rely on an expert to learn a new skill or subject, in the Gottlieb program, a registered dietitian, behavioral psychologist, exercise physiologist and a physician all partner one-on-one with patients,” said Bartfield. “Good health practices are more than just learned, they become a regular habit and a way of life.”
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Top Reasons Why People Don't Lose Weight From Loyola Expert
Swapping sugary drinks for diet soda, water leads to weight loss: Study
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(CBS) Drinking soda makes you fat. That's what researchers and the health police have been hammering into our heads for years, but a new study has actually proven that ditching sugary drinks for diet versions or water will lead to weight loss.
PICTURES: Sugary drink shockers: What new report says
For the six month study, published online in the Feb. 13 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers put 318 overweight or obese people into three groups: one in which participants switched from sugary beverages to diet drinks, a group in which participants switched to water, and in the last group, folks were educated by researchers about how making healthier choices could lead to weight loss.
What did the researchers find?
All three groups experienced small reductions in their weight - about 5 pounds on average - and waistlines. But participants who switched to calorie-free drinks and water were twice as likely to lose 5 percent or more of their body weight than people who were just educated on healthier choices.
What's more, people who switched to water had lower fasting glucose levels than their counterparts. The weight loss percentage and change in glucose levels are important, according to the researchers, because those markers are associated with obesity-related chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
"If this were done on a large scale, it could significantly reduce the increasing public health problem of obesity," study author Dr. Deborah Tate, associate professor of nutrition and health behavior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said in a university written statement.
The study was funded by Nestle Waters.
Teens keep chugging soda despite health risks, says study
Obesity caused by sugary drinks? What new report says
Tate said switching to both water and diet sodas had benefits, but told Reuters, "For other health reasons, water might be better." She did say that people who really like the sweet flavor or caffeine from sodas may be more likely to stick to the change long-term by switching to diet drinks.
Other studies however have reported health risks from drinking diet soda. A study in June 2011 found drinking diet soda could actually trigger appetite and cause people to take in more calories elsewhere and gain weight, HealthPop reported.
A study last February found people who drank diet soda every day had a 60 percent higher risk of having a vascular even like a stroke or heart attack.
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Swapping sugary drinks for diet soda, water leads to weight loss: Study
2012: How to Lose Weight Fast – The Actual Truth – Video
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2012: How to Lose Weight Fast - The Actual Truth - Video
Striving to live well, always
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Married, one dog, no kids. Vibrant, healthy and full of life. But as Teri Katzenberger explains, it wasn't always this way.
"At the age of 18 to 23, I had a severe eating disorder, I was severely bulimic and borderline anorexic," Teri Katzenberger said.
Teri was convinced she had things under control but quickly realized she was wrong.
"I lived on diet coke, cigarettes, coffee, yogurt, frozen yogurt, peanut butter and M&M's. I have family and friends that would vouch for that, it was horrible," Teri said.
As time passed, she became chronically ill and found herself weighing only 110 pounds at age 26. It wasn't until 1991 that reality checked in.
"Had a boss that introduced me to vitamins, minerals, herbs and it was from then I just dived into it and started self-educating," she said.
Teri realized she was hurting her body, not helping it. But medical experts say more and more people are turning to things like deep cleansing diets.
These are home liquid remedies, over the counter pills or store-bought systems that help you lose weight and rid your body of 'unwanted' digestive toxins. For up to weeks at a time, it's a strict diet allotting only a fraction of the nutrition we really need each day.
Being inexpensive and quick, though, many Americans will jump on any kind without informing themselves first.
We sat down with Avera Gastroenterologist Dr. Steven Condron.
"If you go onto a fast for a prolonged period of time, some are a few days to weeks, the body is somehow fooled into losing weight by cleansing toxins," Dr. Condron said.
He says that's something you want to avoid. Cleansing diets may only work for a short period of time because you're not eating substantially for several days. Dr. Condron says these diets deplete your body of sugar, sugar stores water so what you're losing is water weight.
"The minute you eat a pancake, you've probably put a pound or two back on. Most important part is the body, during those days, has been shocked into the concept that it's in starvation mode," Dr. Condron said.
He admits he sees that all too often.
"It's frequent in our practice, we see patients tell us I've been dieting for years and I seem to be gaining weight. I lose some, gain some, but if you trend my weight, I keep gaining. It's the body is not being activated in the right way," Condron said.
Teri knows first-hand because she used to deep cleanse and sometimes didn't even read the directions.
"I would buy stuff off the shelf, not know how to do it. So I would end up with stomach cramps, diarrhea," Teri said.
And that's just the tip of the ice burg. Dr. Condron says losing weight and being healthy takes work and dedication. He recommends the colorful foods - fresh fruits and veggies - all natural or organic.
It took years for Teri to realize eating this way is the way to go.
" choose to do that or else I skip breakfast, or may not have lunch. I can't live that way. I have to be healthy and well, skin, hair..." Teri said.
Instead of resorting to deep body cleanses for a short period of time, Teri chooses to eat well all of the time. Now she has a system: she makes nutritious meals for the entire week, she takes multivitamins and she makes smoothies with protein powder. She's even educating others along the way.
"I resolve to be healthy and well all the days. I don't want to be ill. I don't want to be sluggish, have headaches. I don't want to feel that," Teri said.
"if you want to eliminate toxins in your diet, your best bet is to eat healthy and that's why we talk about fruits and vegetables, staying away from pesticides, eat organically. That's where your focus should be," Condron said.
Twenty years later and Teri is feeling her best.
As mentioned, Dr. Condron says in order to lose weight, the most healthy and efficient way is to eat right and exercise. Always consult your doctor or nutritionist before beginning and program or diet.
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What the 2.4-Cent Penny Says About America's Budget Problem
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It turns out that the humble penny is a pricey coin. Specifically, each new penny coined by the government costs 2.4 cents.
My point here is not to remind you that pennies are anachronisms that ought to be dispensed with entirely—though that is true. This is actually a story about the federal budget, and why it’s so tough to manage.
Yesterday, President Obama unveiled his budget for 2013—a plan for everything that the government will spend money on and where it intends to get that money. I won’t bore you with the details, since this document won’t survive first contact with Congress and doesn’t offer a final picture of what government activity will look like next year, although it does reveal a lot about what the president thinks is important.
One good idea in the budget is to change the way we make those expensive pennies and nickels (which cost 11.2 cents each), using cheaper metals to do the job. Pennies are now made mostly of zinc, and nickels have more copper than nickel. If we switch up the raw materials—perhaps to an aluminum alloy, like other advanced economies, or else industrial porcelain—the Treasury Department estimates we could save about $100 million a year.
Of course, $100 million a year sounds awesome, but in budget terms it’s a tiny amount of money—less than one-100th of 1 percent of the entire $3.7 trillion the president proposes spending next year. But like everything that matters, budgeting is a game of inches, so lopping off small stuff—especially no-brainer waste like this—is a good way to find breathing room as you work your way up to the big stuff
Did I say no-brainer waste? This is where it gets interesting. Even though this idea seems like pragmatic good government, there are plenty of people who think it’s a bad idea. The Wall Street Journal wrote about many of these naysayers in 2010, the first time the president proposed the idea:
Zinc miners. Believe it or not, the people who sell zinc the government uses to make pennies aren’t eager for them to change their ways. Big Zinc spends a lot of time lobbying to keep pennies the way they are—even funding an organization called Americans for Common Cents to lobby Congress to keep the penny around.
People who conflate coins' value with the metal in them. Plenty of people think that coins are valuable because they have valuable metal in them, but that’s not how it works: Our money is valuable because we agree to use it as a medium of exchange. Supply and demand determines the rest; U.S. money hasn’t depended on the price of any metal since 1971. People who believe that there’s a scenario that involves selling their pennies to the local zinc smelter would probably be better off hoarding bullets instead. There are also a lot of people who just plain like pennies and think new ones won't be as nice.
Businesses that rely on coin-operated vending machines. Folks worry that vending machines, laundromats, coin-counting machines, and parking meters will need to be adjusted en masse if coins' weight or conductivity (two common ways machines identify change) shifts. This is a pretty reasonable concern, but when was the last time you used a penny or a nickel at a vending machine?
When all is said and done, these reasons probably aren’t worth the extra $100 million it costs us not to change the composition of the coins. But these people think about pennies a lot, and they spend money to let the government know what they think. When was the last time you thought about the penny, much less mentioned it to an elected representative?
Now imagine how this dynamic plays out when it comes time to cut outlays on more complex, more expensive issues like health care and national security, which affect nearly everyone and touch businesses across many sectors. The same thing happens with other deficit-drivers, like the Bush administration’s tax cuts or the raft of tax breaks we give out to individuals and corporations.
The penny paradox is a dilemma at the heart of democratic government—a engaged, concentrated group of people who benefit from spending can keep it going, even if it’s not in the broad public interest. Conservatives and other folks with an anti-government bias see this dynamic as one more reason to keep the government out of the spending business. Meanwhile, those of us who think the government can do more harm than good see this as a problem to be solved through better institutional design, a more engaged citizenry, and better politicians—if we can find them.
So if you’re ever wondering why Washington’s fights over the budget seem wildly out of proportion or overly gridlocked, remember that cutting waste and focusing on top priorities is harder than it looks. And the next time you hear someone complaining about our sky-high deficits, ask them how much it costs to make a penny.
Photo via (cc) Flickr user terrypresley
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Can't go to a gym? Fitness classes going live online
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Sarah Melone has not been to the gym in 10 years. Not coincidentally, 10 years ago she had the first of her three children. But Melone finds a way to stay fit, while being realistic.
STAFF PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH LARA AND KEVIN R. WEXLER
Sarah Melone does a BOSU ball workout from her Tenafly home through a streaming online exercise class from EMG, at left.
"I don't have the [money] to invest in a gym knowing I can't keep up with that schedule, because I have child-care issues and all those other things that get in your way," says Melone, who lives in Tenafly.
Instead, Melone logs on to emglivefitness.com to access live streaming of a fitness class or choose a recorded class on demand. She pays $5 per class, selecting from a wide variety of choices. And she does it on her schedule.
Streaming fitness classes is a growing trend — and business — that seems to benefit everyone involved. It could change how (and when and where) people work out.
"This is a no-fail routine," says Melone. "You can't lose money. You pay as you go. Because it's always there and available, I feel like it gives me more of that opportunity toward fitness."
On most sites, like yogisanonymous. com, users pay a time-based subscription fee.
"The response has been absolutely amazing," says Yogis Anonymous co-owner Dorian Cheah, who started streaming classes from their California studio last March and has daily, weekly and monthly subscriptions. "It's been growing very quickly and consistently."
Joyce Wells, who started EMG, saw the possibilities of streaming fitness classes. She had years of business and technological experience from careers at Citibank and Microsoft. And she is a self-described fitness nut who loved going to classes when she lived in Manhattan. No longer in the city, she misses that level of fitness class.
"Not that I'm criticizing anything here, but the classes were nothing like the ones I took in New York," says Wells, who lives at Crystal Springs in Hamburg. "When they did get up here, they were, I'm going to say, 5 degrees different than what they [were] in New York or Chicago or L.A."
So as she pondered what to do with the rest of her life after leaving Microsoft, she realized she could combine her love of fitness and her business experience. How could she bring high-quality fitness classes to others like her, who didn't have it immediately available or were traveling and missing their favorite instructors and classes?
Wells called her former Pilates instructor, Liz Clingham, with the idea of streaming classes online. Clingham, who lives in Tenafly and teaches in the area, including at The Spa at Glenpointe, was immediately on board. She helped Wells test the site and they launched in May 2011.
Better than DVDs
Now Clingham's kickboxing, step, BOSU ball and spin class are available on the site. She says the people in the studio do not get short-changed and the people at home feel like they are in the class. She knows who is on live and talks directly to them at times. Melone says it is a much better experience than the tiresome, slickly produced DVDs.
"The way [EMG's] taping it, from the angle, you're right behind the instructor as you would be in class, as opposed to trying to mirror them like you do with a DVD," says Melone, who used to do the classes while looking at her laptop screen but now connects her iPad to the TV. "You see real people in the class, moving the way you are instead of perfect models. That part makes you feel better as you're trying to keep up."
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Can't go to a gym? Fitness classes going live online