Denise Austin is arguably one of the best known fitness instructors. She has made an incredible 60 fitness videos – beginning in the 1980s, and continuing to the present day.
She is on the President’s Council on Fitness, and was also a columnist for Prevention magazine.Denise Austin has built a prolific media empire; her own range of skin care products, exercise equipment (treadmills etc), books, online programs, and of course her prolific collection of videos and DVDs.
Recently Denise Austin released a complete weight management program called “Fit Forever”. The on-line program comprises diet and meal plans, and a full and complete fitness program.
Free Fitness Profile
The program starts with a free fitness profile asking the basic questions (weight, gender, and goal weight). This takes me through to a page of 8 questions – asking things like;
How much aerobic activity (running, biking, tennis, etc) do you do?
How much weight-lifting do you do? (Lifting groceries and kids COUNTS as lifting weights)
How do you like to spend your weekends?
After answering the questions, I get the results of my profile. It tells me my BMI is too high, and I should try a 1,400 calorie diet. 1,400 calories is too low for me. I know this from experience – and I honestly wonder if it’s a mistake of some sort. However, after reading further I see that there are 3 calorie options; 1400, 1600, and 1800 per day.
Anyway, the three components to the program are: Targeted exercises for your fat zone, Personalized diet for your body type, and Daily Motivation “to keep you feeling great”. There is a picture of Denise coyly smiling at me saying “You can do it Jim” – so I’m ready to get started.
Diet and Sample Meal Plans
Denise Austin’s Fit Forever program allows 3 different diet plans, 1400 calories per day, 1600, and 1800 calories. You can change your daily calorie setting at any time, and Denise points out that these are guidelines.
The diet plans were developed by nutritionist Rachel Rodney (RD, LD, CFT). There isn’t any mention of nutrient ratios, you’re given a diet plan that looks to be low-fat, moderate protein, and moderate carbohydrate – in fact it looks to be about 50% carbs, 25% fats, 25% protein – an excellent balance for anyone undertaking exercise and resistance training.
1600 Calorie Meal Plan (sample)
Breakfast
Fat-Free Milk
Oatmeal
Lunch
Black Bean Soup
Ak-Mak Crackers (5)
Snack
Hot or Cold Chocolate Milk
Orange
Graham Crackers (2)
Dinner
Quick Veggie Pizza
Mixed Greens (2 cups, reduced-calorie dressing)
Treat
Pretzels (1oz.)
1400 Calorie Meal Plan (sample)
Breakfast
Cantaloupe
Scrambled Eggs
English Muffin (dry)
Lunch
Fat-Free Milk
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Celery Sticks and Baby Carrots
Snack
Mug of Granola (2 tbsp. granola)
Dinner
Mixed Greens (2 cups, reduced-calorie dressing)
Spaghetti
Treat
Ginger Snaps (3)
Someone To Talk To
The discussion boards are quite active, and the nutritionist is also around to answer questions – in fact Rachel (nutritionist) seems very helpful.
There is some complaint about the meal plans cycling around, and people getting bored with the same foods. This doesn’t bother me, as I tend to stick to the same foods as it is.
Reading through many of the posts on the message boards – it seems that the Denise Austin program is working well for most people. It’s a good balanced calorie-controlled diet, coupled with daily exercise – which would work for most of us.
Try youtube they have alot of her videos for free!
Google says you can find reruns on ESPN Classic and Altitude Sports and Entertainment. It use to be called Getting Fit with Denise Austin before Lifetime renamed it Fit and Lite. I’ve been lost without it for three years. I don’t have those channels but I’m calling my cable guy right now to see what can be done. I have 12 episodes still recorded on my DVR but I need more!
I want to commend Denise Austin on her DVD’s . I have every one of them and have been using them for 2 years. I am 60 years old and my doctor says I am the most fit of his patients in a particular age group. I can tell you that I feel wonderful, I have hard abs and am strong and flexible. I do yoga and strength training and cardio – all from her dvd’s. I would like to send her my before and after pictures – I weighed 192 lbs. and now 130 lbs.
I am 57 years old, live in South Carolina. I have watched Denise Austin on Lifetime faithfully for over 10 years. Her shows were discontinued on Lifetime in 2008. Thought you were bringing her show back to Lifetime!!
What happened? Do you plan to add her show to the line up in the near future?? I certainly hope so!!!
Who made the decision to end Denise Austin’s show.
Please bring her back.
I still miss working out with Denise every morning. I have put back on the weight I lost. And feel like crap. I felt so good. I no longer watch Lifetime and do NOT plan on it. I want Denise BACK NOW!!!!
well, I own a second hand store and recently purchased a denise austin complete ten system still in the box. I also googled it to find out what price i should put on it. I paid (50.00). Since you actually purchased one 15 years ago(that’s great that it survived use that long), could you let me know what they were selling for back then and what the system is actually used to strengthen? If i can avoid opening it, i would like to offer to my buyer in it’s new condition, but clearly i can’t find any info on it. thanx.
I also lost weight while doing Denise Austin Daily workout. I loved it and never felt better in my life. Dropped 35lbs and had more energy then ever but now I have gained it back and cannot find her show on tv anymore. I bought her workout tapes but I dont like them and cant do it. How can I find her old shows they are not on tv anymore (at least in ny). Let me know if anyone can tell me how to find them.
Thanks
Is there any way that I can get you to copy the manual for the Denise Austin Complete Ten flex trainer? I bought one used but there was no manual.
I’m not watching ANYTHING on Lifetime unless they bring Denise Austin’s workout shows back on. I suggest EVERYONE do the same thing.
Please bring Denise Austin back she was the best I love her daily programs it really helped me stay in shapte
I used to exercise with Denise three mornings a week and espn no longer carry her show.I miss it very much and hope they return her show soon.
Where’s Denise program on lifetime? I was about to star making exercises with her everyday and now I don’t see her. PLEASE PUT HER BACK ON LIFETIME!!
I very much looked forward to waking up to workout with Denise on Lifetime! She is always so bright and cheery, and that helped me wake up on the right side of the bed. What happened? Where is she? I’m glad i’m not the only one that misses her!
I still feel cheated and betrayed that Lifetime does not carry Denise Austin’s exercise programs in the morning. Please bring them back.
I have been doing thet.v shows for years and recording them, thankfully! I say that because the show has been removed from our territory also. and I miss them, so I have been doing the shows that I have recorded over the years, Is there any chance of the show being reinstated again? enjoyed the shows very much, hopefully if enough of us want it, it’ll be returned to us
Hopefully yours
F. Humbert
What time,what channel does your excerise fittness start please please e-mail me asap it’s incrediable I lost 15 pounds and since I have been able to keep them off but I would like to continue to lose more weight my husband does not let me go to the gym he says excerise at home i have not been able to find a excerise show as good as yours please sign a contract with lifetime soon.
sincerly,
your friend
Yvonne Martinez
Mcallen Texas
I worked out every morning at 6:00am on lifetime with Denise Austin’s Fit & lite Program.I need her back on. She helped me and made me feel so good about myself. I’m almost 51 years old…So I know about needing her back on lifetime too!!! Hope it happens soon!!!! Patty-Arkansas
Did you ever find the complete ten flex training program? My mom has one and she is letting me use it for the time being. I am also trying to find this machine for myself. I think my mom might be the last one to have this machine. lol
Denise Austin is great! Fit and Light was a wonderful show. Won’t someone please show it on TV again or make the episodes available for download or for purchase on DVDs?! You can see how many people adore this program. You have a built in audience waiting to consume this product. Come on, producers, get off your duff.
Please come back to Lifetime TV in the AM. I can’t do my exercises without you.
It’s a big mistake to cancelled Denise Austine morning show. I really miss a lot. Somebody has to start again, otherwise I don’t know what will happen. When that show was coming, I used to do regularly. Now I can not do without tv show. So please life time, start again for women like us.
It’s a big mistake to cancelled Denise Austine morning show. I really miss a lot. Somebody has to start again, otherwise I don’t know what will happen. When that show was coming, I used to do regularly. Now I can not do without tv show. So please life time, start again for women like us.
Rabu
Mpls-St.Paul desperately needs Denise on Lifetime. I know alot of people dissappointed in their taking it off the air. Put it back, please.
I totally agree with all of the comments….I watched Denise’s Fit & Lite program faithfully every day and it had made such a fantastic difference in my energy level, fitness and motivation. The new show is not the same and I hope Lifetime will bring her back. I would alos Love to have the Fit & Lite shows. PLEASE come back Denise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Please bring back Denise Austin’s Fit & Lite program. I got so much out of this program, it made me want to get up in the morning to do something good for myself.
I would work out with Denise every morning while in Chicago and one day this wedding show came on and I never saw the show again. Denise had me in the best shape ever and my donkey was right. Now I’m in Toledo, Oh and still no Denise. Its time for a chnage and that means bring back one of the best exercise experts around. Denise Austin Morning Exercise Programs are being requested in Toledo!
Where has the show gone? I used to do it faithfully.. But I fell off so to speak. I went to get back into the groove and it is gone. Can someone tell me what happend and how to fix it? Thanks Jessica
Please bring back Fit and Lite or make it available on DVD. I have tried many different fitness regimes and this is the only one that has worked for me. I got up every morning at 6:00 when I heard the music for the beginning of the program. I truly was in great shape during the year that I worked out with Denise! I have bought a few Denise Austin DVD’s but they don’t have the same successful combination as Fit and Lite. PLEASE make it available. Thanks.
Iam so sad.I have been exercising with denise since I was 11,I am 34 now.I have a 3yr old son so have gained weight from him,I do yoga,but really have enjoyed her shows from 6am-7am,I use slimquick hoddia now & wow it works,my tummy is getting flat,for once I feel skinny & I not hungry,it really works,This lady at work told me about it & I thank her so much,but I hope they bring denice back,I have had so much torture in my life,but waking up to her made life easier,bring her back please!
i am like the rest of you i really miss fit and light it was just part if my day. it got me going in the mornings. i really do miss it.
If Denise does not come back, would we be able to get some of her shows on DVD?
Denise is the best. Where can you get a great workout and never leave your home. She has always been up to date on all the latest information. PLLLLLLLLLLLLLLzzzzzzzzzzzzzz bring her back. Is is missed and wonderful.
THX
Laurel, did you find videos of Fit & Lite and her other show? I would be willing to buy them too. I can’t believe I didn’t tape all of them while she was on. Can you help? I’m trying desperately to find a tape of her work outs from LifeTime!!!
Can someone reach me so I can purchase Fit & Lite VHS of what you recorded of Denise’s shows from TV?
I can’t find anything like it.
Why isn’t she on TV anymore?
I have been waiting for Denise to come back to Lifetime and she’s not there. Why isn’t any station listening to so many of us? There are so so so many women who want to see Denise come back. Can someone tell me if she is on ESPN in Southern California? I can’t find her anywhere! Help – my fitness has really gone downhill since I haven’t exercised with her. It was EVERY morning for a FULL HOUR! HELP!
I exercised with Denise Austin five days a week 10 years,
beginning with her first program. Fit and Lite kept my osterporosis in line and my body lean and fit. I belong
to three dance clubs and enjoy hiking. Are any of these
programs on tape? I really miss the morning exercises.
My chronical age is 87.
Thanks, Denise
Wow! I gues I’m not alone ha guys? I’ve been trying to plan how to motivate myself & go to plan B since Denise disappeared! But there’s always hope right? My first choice is Denise! If we can bring her back, LET’S DO IT!
A year in half ago I decided to try Denise Austins DVDS…they really work…I lost over 50 pounds.I don’t know if she will ever see this but she has made a huge difference in my life! Thanks Denise for everything.