Note: I have come across several sites which offer free workout videos or exercise lists. I thought it would be fun to feature one site each Friday. Please let me know if you find these helpful, by commenting below or in the Facebook group. Thanks!
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| From Melissa Bender’s “About” page |
I was introduced to Melissa Bender Fitness through a Pinterest link which described a Hotel Room Workout. I am always interested in workouts that can be done anywhere with minimal equipment, so I followed the link to Melissa’s site, and WOW! She has over 300 workout videos, a blog, recipes, and she covers everything from yoga to running to strength training. Yes, guys and gals, she’s even a bikini model (In training… She is preparing for her first competition). My first impression of the website was “I can’t believe she is giving this all away for FREE!”
Melissa’s credentials include a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy, as well as being a certified yoga instructor. She also coaches a high school Cross Country team.
Melissa’s workout videos are homemade, with a male cameraman in the background providing a cue for each exercise, along with some comments and encouragement. Melissa does the hard work all by herself. These are the workouts she does as her daily fitness routine, and she invites us to join her. Here is a list of recent workouts, which really shows a variety of exercises:
Shape and Burn (intervals with dumbbells and treadmill)
Full Body Sweat (cardio, plyometric and abdominal floor exercises)
Stronger Core and More (kicks and plank)
Ultimate Body Weight Workout (the first workout I tried, in a hotel fitness room)
There are so many workouts, but this should give you an idea of what’s available. Each workout listed includes a screen shot, link to the YouTube video, and an exercise list. She uses dumbbells, a barbell, or other equipment depending on the workout that day, but it’s all done in what looks like a spare room of her home. At the top of her website there are tabs leading to different workout categories, such as Full Body Workouts or Beginner Workouts. There are also categories like Recipes and Healthy Life.
She has a very upbeat personality, so don’t expect her to be yelling at you to get those exercises done! I give her a lot of credit for doing all this on screen, by herself. Who knows, maybe she could have a bright future in the fitness video industry!
Melissa Bender Fitness
Melissa Bender (YouTube)
Melissa Bender Fitness (Facebook)
Melissa Bender Fitness (Pinterest)
Related Posts
Free Workouts
Here’s the Ultimate Body Weight Workout:
Thanks for sharing, and your kind words and encouragement! 😀
I just stumbled across her the other day on youtube and have been hooked since. I hate that you can buy videos and the people are never grunting or sweating. Melissa shows that she is in shape but also human. Love the comments from the male! I am hooked and also love how she shares her diet!
Hi! Sorry I missed your comment until now. Funny you should say that about the people in videos. As you can tell from my blog, I have been researching them a lot. 🙂 I think Melissa is just as capable, but the fact we are focused on her does allow us to see her strengths and struggles. Those other people in the videos are off camera a lot of the time when they are grunting.
Thanks for your comment (very rare for this blog!). Your blog and website seem very interesting too. 🙂
Well, it shows how nice you are in your videos and your Twitter replies. I’m glad I could make your birthday a little cheerier with a blog post in your honor!