Turning that stack of dusty old VHS tapes into space-saving DVDs will not only eliminate some clutter, but the disks also last longer than videotape and are more convenient for sharing with friends and family.
It's easier than you might think. For example, Honestech's VHS to DVD 3.0 Deluxe (honestech.com, $79.99), puts most everything you need in one box. The bundled video-capture device lets you connect a VCR or camcorder directly to a USB port on a computer. Play a tape, and your PC records and converts the video into a digital file ready to burn to a DVD, or you can add transitions or do a little editing first with the included software.
If you have tons of videos to transfer, try Sony's DVDirect VRD-MC5 (sonystyle.com, $229.99). Just connect it to your camcorder or VCR and pop in a disk -- no computer needed. It also has a multi-format media-card slot for transferring images and videos from a digital camera to DVD. It's pricey, but its simplicity can't be beat.Go to top
Bring the workout to you
Does this sound like you? "I don't have time to get to the gym." "I don't know what exercises to do." "I don't like working out in front of other people." To counter those excuses, hire an in-home personal trainer.
In-home personal trainers erase excuses.
In-home personal trainers typically cost 10% to 15% more than hiring one at a gym, but you don't have to pay a gym membership fee. "With so many people skipping out on exercise because they feel they don't have time, having a personal trainer come to your house is definitely worth it," says Nicolas Frade, founder of Home Based Fitness Services.
To find the right trainer for you, start by asking friends for a referral. "Word of mouth is one of the best ways. Or try doing an Internet search," Frade says. Before working with any trainer, "have a conversation. A respectable trainer will offer proof of his certification and education and will provide you with client phone numbers for testimonials."
Whether your goal is to lose weight, tone up or get back into shape after having a baby or an injury, a personal trainer can customize the workout to fit your needs. "The great thing is, when they come to your home, they can design the workout around whatever is in your house," Frade says. "This could be stairs, your floor or some dumbbells you have. And once you have the workout, you can do it anytime you feel like it."
Contact FitSmart Editor Jorge Cruise, author of the upcoming fitness book "The 12-Second Sequence," at 12second.com.
In-home personal trainers erase excuses.
Feasting on a nice stew of corn and tomatoes warms you up, and it may boost your brain as you age.
Yellow corn has more antioxidants than white.
In French research, older people with the lowest mental functioning were nearly twice as apt to have low blood levels of antioxidants lycopene and zeaxanthin as those with better functioning. Lycopene is in canned tomatoes and tomato sauce; corn has zeaxanthin.
Yellow corn has more antioxidants than white.
