Last modified: Saturday, April 22, 2006 11:24 PM EDT Alfie Feaster of Attleboro says he enjoys aerobics, yoga and Pilates to keep his body toned and works out with his 7-year-old daughter, Tyler, on the weekends. He also uses Comcast's exercisetv. Launched in January, it offers more than 90 programs that can be accessed any time at no extra charge with Comcast's video on demand. (Staff photo by Tom Maguire) Working out watching TV BY STACEY M. PERLMAN/FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE Alfie Feaster has managed to lose 27 pounds with the help of his television. After trying everything from exercise tapes and DVDs to heading out to the gym, Feaster says he's found his match with Comcast's exercisetv. Launched in January, it offers more than 90 exercise programs that can be accessed any time at no extra charge with Comcast's video on demand (VOD). `` I love that everything's on TV,'' he said. `` You just click it on and there's so many varieties.'' Feaster is part of a growing trend toward work ing out at home with the help of technology. Another choice now available to fitness-minded consumers is mp3 workouts. With Web sites like www.iAmplify.com, www.beitfit.com and www.cardiocoach.com, people can purchase and download workouts, complete with motivational music and instructions, to their mp3 players and CDs. While each mp3 workout Web site is different, each allows people to download a workout at home, whether it be using exercising equipment like weights or a treadmill, or yoga and Pilates. iAmpli fy even offers hotel workouts for those on the go. Some are skeptical Not all, however, are sold on bringing the work out into the home. Jane Ann Chapman, an employee in the fitness department of the North Attleboro Hockomock Area YMCA and former fitness director of the YMCA, feels it will only help some people. `` People can have a whole gym in their house but it doesn't mean they'll work out,'' she said, noting that it takes self-discipline to routinely exercise. Chapman thinks that exercisetv is the next step up from exercising tapes and DVDs, but also says there are downsides. `` For some people that will be great,'' she said. `` It will be a good stepping stone for them. But you don't have someone familiar with your health histo ry. There are greater incidents of injury as well.'' Exercisetv underwent a pre-launch trial period beginning in October 2005 before its January launch. Results were positive with 236,000 workouts viewed within the first month in New England, and exercisetv has averaged 3 million viewed workouts per month nationwide, according to Comcast. `` People responded well because its personal ized,'' said Matt Strauss, vice president of content development at Comcast. `` We were pleasantly sur prised. Usage reflected what we thought would be popular.'' Many programs available0 0 A variety of different programs are available ranging from aerobics, yoga and Pilates to hula, belly and hip-hop dancing. Half of the workouts are updated each month to keep the variety fresh while there is also a `` viewer favorites'' category where the most popular workouts are kept. Feaster said he enjoys aerobics, yoga and pilates to keep his body toned and works out with his 7year-old daughter, Tyler, on the weekends. `` I'm trying to teach her the fundamentals of working out,'' he said, noting that exercisetv focuses on teaching breathing techniques, an important part of exercising. Feaster also notes that the workouts keep him entertained. `` It's not technical, this is fun,'' he said.