Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 12/20/2005 Rating: Nr

Veteran fitness expert Denise Austin's Personal Training System is one of several exercise programs designed to take advantage of a valuable feature of the DVD format: namely, the ability for viewers to customize their own workouts by picking and choosing from various elements presented in Austin's prescribed routines. These include sections devoted to cardio (available at low and high intensity levels, both about 20 minutes long), upper and lower body exercises (offered at low, medium, and high intensity, each about ten minutes long), and abdominal and stretching segments (the same for all levels, these also last about ten minutes). Meanwhile, the "custom workout" option enables users to combine any or all of these elements according to taste and fitness level. There's nothing especially innovative here--indeed, the cardio sections are pretty much old school, Jane Fonda Workout-style aerobics, while the upper and lower body sections include light weights, bends, lunges, push-ups and other tried-and-true elements--but those looking for a thorough, sweat-inducing regimen will certainly find it here. Austin's relentlessly effervescent style will no doubt prove inspiring to some and cloying to others. On the other hand, the entire program can be done without her audio instructions, and those who simply don't want to work out at all can occupy themselves with an accompanying booklet filled with diet pointers and recipes. --Sam Graham