Showing posts with label diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diet. Show all posts

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Tracy Anderson's 30-Day Method

Today- I tried this:



I did not purchase this product. I borrowed it from the library. When possible, I try to not invest in anything unless I believe I will actually use it. The biggest trap for me is fooling myself into thinking that if I spend the money, I will actually do the exercise. I know myself all too well. Now, I take a new approach. I check to see if whatever fad I am into is available at the library, so I can try it risk free. When I join a gym, I will only do so if I can cancel at anytime. OK, you get the point.

I read the reviews for this on Amazon, which were mixed.

Here are my first impressions.

Pros:
  • TA's 30- Day Method is an easy read. Tracy makes a compelling story for wanting to re-build the body, and in reading this book, she's got me into believing it's possible.
  • Tracy explains that she works out the smaller accessory muscles, instead of the larger muscle groups. This gives a lean "dancers body" instead of giving us ladies a bulky masculine frame. I never thought of it that way before!
  • This book comes with a DVD showing you step-by-step how to do each mat exercise.
  • In addition to mat exercise, the DVD also includes cardio. A two for one deal.
  • Personally, I like Tracy's style. She doesn't overly sweeten the deal, she's pretty straightforward. She also goes right into the exercise and cardio. Some find this off putting. I liked this. Instead of being a drill Sargent or trying to get me to buy into her personality, it felt like "let's get down to business." OK, I am in.
  • I enjoy the mat exercises. 40 reps per move is a lot, but I feel the results and I don't mind them. I prefer her moves to the typical lunges and squats found with every exercise DVD that's out there. I don't miss those at all!
  • Looking for motivation? Just YouTube Tracy Anderson and see all the testimonials. Works for Gwenth Paltrow? Can't argue that!


Cons:
  • The diet is a bit ridiculous  I assumed in reading other reviews, that perhaps people were looking for an excuse to not eat well and restrict calories. Well . . . in reading her diet plan, I can see why it receives the negative feedback. I won't go under 1200 calories a day. I believe in the research that anything lower than that is not good. And a quick glance at a day on Tracy's diet has me around 700 calories. Tracy says you can double portions if you are still hungry. I may try the diet in the future if I hit a plateau and double my way to 1200 calories a day. I am not sure about the diet part, honestly. To be fair, I will try a few recipes from the book to "test the waters." 
  • The reviews I read spoke of bad editing in the video. Nothing specific. Here is what they mean by "bad editing." In the cardio video, it's really noticeable towards the end. The second you start a dance move, it cuts to something completely different and does not flow. It happens quite frequently that it is frustrating indeed. I have heard this has been fixed in future cardio videos (her Metamorphosis project, for example.) My plan around this is to play my own music and not be so focused on her exact moves at the end.
  • As I progress along, the workouts will get longer, almost an hour and forty five minutes. I have committed to do this six days a week. I can wrap my head around six days a week, but I am not too thrilled about the hour and forty five. Since this book is written as a boot camp style book, promising results in 30 days, I understand why it is so long. 


Conclusion:

I love it. I am now in day 3 since I started this post, and I am really liking it. Already I feel results, I am sitting up taller and feeling more confident. I am even down on the scale. I count my calories on MyFitnessPal to stay accountable. I am going to keep up the 30-Day Method, and I am almost positive that I will continue on with her other projects after the 30 days. Metamorphosis, I've got my eye on you. I like this workout at home. I am really warming up to the idea. By the time I drive to my gym, do my work out, and drive home, I have lost more time than doing this DVD.

Tracy Anderson- I am a fan.