Whether you're watching one of Brenda DyGraf's exercise videos, infomercials or live performances, her contagious, heartfelt message is always the same: "If you can rely on the champion within you, you can do anything."

As president of Windermere Exercise Co. Inc., Brenda is responsible for designing and marketing bold new fitness products for The Shopping Channel, retail stores, infomercials and commercials. She has been featured in nine different infomercials, which have been broadcast in over 30 countries. For the past seven years, she has appeared on The Shopping Channel.

Brenda was co-developer of the number one selling fitness product of all-time, the Ab Roller Plus. More than 4.4 million Ab Rollers were sold within 16 months of their introduction.

The National Infomercial Marketing Association recognized Brenda with the "Best Female Presenter of the Year" award in 1996 for her featured appearance in the Ab Roller Plus infomercial.

As one of the top exercise trendsetters in the fitness industry, Brenda has also been responsible for the introduction of numerous breakthrough products, including the Lumbar Support Mat and her latest creation, the ABGYM (TM).

Brenda continues to reach new heights in the fitness industry by choreographing and starring in over 80 exercise videos, covering topics as diverse as disco, combined whole body moves and spinning. She was also featured in a Cosmopolitan fitness video and co-starred with Fabio in his fitness video.

Early in Brenda's career, she captured the prestigious United States Aerobic Championship in two categories - Single Female and Mixed Pairs. In addition, she has won 18 regional aerobic championships in three different categories - Single Female, Mixed Pairs and Team.

Fitness Tips brenda Dygraf

One month.

30 days.

If you can keep to your workout routine for this amount of time without falling off the wagon, everything will take care of itself.

Don't believe it? Ask fitness expert Brenda DyGraf.
-S. Wulffhart

"If you can keep to an exercise regime for one month, you'll start to feel better, have more energy and stamina and you'll probably start losing weight. You'll begin to notice that you're fitting into clothes that you probably didn't before. When you start to see those muscles pop and you see your butt sag less - that will be all the motivation you need to keep going."

The Michigan native knows all about motivation. As a leading fitness expert, DyGraf always knew that she had an inherent ability to motivate others.

"I've always been an energetic person. So I tried to figure out how to use my energy in a constructive way. Then I saw the Jane Fonda Workout tape and I thought to myself, 'man, I can do that! I want to start teaching health and aerobics.'"

A career path was born.

Brenda began teaching an aerobics class. In between wearing a microphone and counting down repetitions in front of a legwarmer clad class, she entered a number of aerobics competitions, winning many titles.

Although no longer teaching, Brenda continues to help motivate people to live a healthier lifestyle. Her name is known throughout the fitness world as an authority on new exciting fitness equipment that help everyday people achieve their fitness goals.

"This is an incredible product, especially for the ladies," Brenda reveals. "It burns fat and tones our biggest problem areas - the buns, hips and thighs. It's quite funny that it has taken this long to invent a product that combines a cardio workout with a toning machine. We've had steppers, treadmills and bikes and we've had separate equipment to tone, but never combined."

Brenda recalls when the developers of the Lateral Thigh Trainer approached her with the original prototype.

"It was so big," Brenda says. "I remember thinking to myself, no-one is going to be able to fit this into their house, let alone package and ship it."

With some careful reconfiguring, the inventors were able to reduce the size of the Lateral Thigh Trainer without compromising the integrity of the equipment and the beneficial motion that tones your body, provides a great cardio workout, yet is gentle on the knees and joints because you're not moving directly up and down.

The Lateral Thigh Trainer has become an instant favorite in the DyGraf household.

"I use this equipment for my cardio and toning. Beyond that I hit the weight room for 30 minutes a day, 4 times a week. The Lateral Thigh Trainer is perfect for watching television. I often turn on the news or my favorite soap opera and then hop on and exercise. It's easy to multi-task."

But she stresses that your diet is just as important as exercising. Brenda admits she's on the Low Carbohydrate/High Protein diet.

"Once you cut the carbs out, it keeps your body under control," she admits. "I'm 42 and I can't eat what I did when I was 30. If I do have pasta, I'll go heavier on the meat or fish and make sure I have lots of veggies."

But does she ever cheat? Would we ever see this fitness guru in line for fast food?

"If I'm rushing and starving to death, I will go to a Burger King," she reveals. "That said, I'll hold the top bun and get rid of the mayo. I have to say I'm very impressed with the fast food chains these days. They have healthier menu items. I love that!"

Brenda also loves that you're never too old to change your ways. Whether you're 19 or 90 it's never too late to start exercising and eating right.

"That's the cool thing about exercise - it knows no age. Even if you're in your 80s or 90s and do a little exercise, you can still gain strength and slow down or stop other health problems. It does make a world of difference!"