[Kaz]

HELEN'S VIDEO NASTY!

BIG Brother Helen's new fitness video has been slammed by Melinda Messenger's body guru. Simone Price, one of Wales' leading fitness specialists, gives the flyon-the-wall star's Dance Workout With Helen, due for release on Boxing Day, a woeful five out of 10 rating.

Simone helped model Melinda Messenger to get her body back in shape following the birth of her son Morgan, so she's an expert in celebrity figures. But Newport-born Simone, who runs Simone's Fitness Club in Monmouth, said she wasn't impressed and thought it wouldn't help anyone dance their way to a better body.

"Helen's got the word `workout' in the title, which is why I'm picking up on the techniques she uses. In my opinion she should promote this as a dance rather than fitness video, although the video claims it shows you how to `dance your way to a better body'. "It's definitely a young person's video and, in my opinion, isn't geared at weight loss, or the `better body' that the cover promotes. Also, Helen saying, `You can eat all the chips and cakes you want after this' really isn't good advice. Kids eat enough junk food anyway, without being encouraged.

"I'm not sure quite what she's trying to achieve with some of the moves. I'm not sure she's holding some stretches long enough either. "I'd like to see Helen's fitness or dance qualifications on the cover. She's obviously had help co-ordinating the routine, so I'd like to see from whom and their qualifications on the cover or in the credits too. "She looks totally uncomfortable doing parts of the routine. I'm surprised by that, because she's apparently got a lot of dance experience and that's all about being fluid, but she seems stiff. "I bought the Workout With Barbie tape a few years ago, and even that was accredited by some of the major fitness governing bodies."

Simone, a qualified and registered personal trainer, Pilates Instructor and NVQ assessor on fitness, added: "This video's not suitable for anyone with a pelvic floor condition, or older people. Someone carrying a lot of weight couldn't cope with all the directional change and rotation in the routine.

"A lot of my instructors buy fit-ness videos to see if they can lift just one or two new moves to use in their own routines. I honestly haven't seen anything here that catches my eye to use in class. "And in my view she looks as though she's following someone behind the camera."

Simone has featured on Good Morning With Ann And Nick and writes for Health And Fitness, Woman's Own and Mother And Baby magazines, and has reviewed hundreds of fitness videos. She added: "The two girls who help demonstrate with Helen haven't got good positioning for situps. The one's seen knock-kneed and the other's are splayed."

But she said there are good things in the video too. "I take my hat off to her, though. If she can ride on her Big Brother fame and get kids on the right track to exercise, then that's great, but she shouldn't advise on junk food. "There's lots of repetition, so it's simple to follow and isn't complicated, so it's a good introduction to exercise.

"It's a lovely cover. It would defi -nitely attract my eye. The pink would appeal to the younger person and she's a very pretty, eye-catching girl.

"Videos are nice for people who are fit already, but amateurs should really go and get fitness advice. Lots of my instructors have routines which knock spots off this one, but they'd never get the chance to make a video."

----------------------------------------

Do you think we should tell her that Helen's video is all about having fun?

I don't think for one minute that anyone seriously looking to get fit is going to buy H's video - it's aimed at people who just fancy a bit of exercise and want to boogie along with Helen.

Chill out, Simone - don't take life so seriously!!