Louisa's Weight Loss Blog

As I’ve said before, 2011 is the year for exercise for me! If you sit in front of a computer all day in an office then you are very likely to have what is called a sedentary lifestyle, so in simple terms you aren’t moving around enough!

When you work at a desk all day it is really hard not to want to eat. I personally feel as though my mind is active but my body is bored… so I want to eat, regardless of whether I actually need to or not! In most jobs, it can be very hard to follow a calorie controlled diet as your brain needs proteins and fat (not saturated, good fats!) to fire on all cylinders. If you don’t consume enough calories then you may find it incredibly hard to concentrate and focus properly on your work. Nobody wants their pursuit for health to impact upon their ability to do their job, I am sure!

This is why it is so important to exercise, whether you choose to do it in the morning or in the evening.

The DVD I am reviewing today is Tracy Anderson’s Mat Workout DVD.

This DVD can be done alongside a cardio routine as it focuses on the typical feminine problem areas: arms, legs, bums and tummies.

The DVD aims to help give you a toned body and Tracy is adamant throughout that we don’t want to bulk up, we want to be tight and toned – like a ballerina. With that in mind, I was pretty keen to get started as one of the reasons I have been cautious with targeted workouts in the past is because I absolutely do not want to get big muscles and end up looking scrawny and veiny like Madonna. I have long arms and legs so if I were to bulk up I believe I would look strange and distinctly unfeminine. After watching this DVD for the first time I felt really optimistic about developing slim and toned limbs and felt keen to continue using the DVD.

Using the DVD you will be working smaller muscle groups which Tracy calls “strategic muscle exhaustion”, you’re telling me! The muscle workouts are really hard but they are completely do-able. The arms section is pretty incredible and hurts like crazy but you will get used to it as you use the DVD more often so don’t be disheartened if you can’t hold your arms as for as long as Tracy does in the DVD because you will get there.

You need to wear loose-fitting clothes or leggings as the leg workouts require a certain degree of flexibility. During the legs workout you will need a dining room chair with a high back to help you balance so bear this in mind before you start working out in your spare room. I found my hips clicked and cracked a lot at the start which was uncomfortable so it is a good idea to do a short cardio workout before starting this DVD.

The pros of using Tracy Anderson’s DVD

I thought this DVD was really great, there are loads of sets of movements that you don’t really see anywhere else and I really feel as though I may have made a bit of an exercise DVD breakthrough.

The cons of using Tracy Anderson’s DVD

Tracy doesn’t talk you through the moves enough so when you’re new to the DVD you really have to watch her and this is hard if you’re craning your neck to see the tv screen or if you haven’t tied your hair back. To see the best results, Tracy says you need to use the DVD 6 times a week. It’s really hard to throw yourself into an exercise routine as it is and I really feel that as soon as it becomes a chore you will tire of it and ultimately fail. In my opinion, I think that fitness newbies should build up to the magic six times a week otherwise the DVD will be making its way to the nearest charity shop.

Conclusion

I really like this DVD, it’s hard work but easy enough to follow. I’m not sure doing the DVD 6 times a week to start with is a great idea if you have a short attention span, but over time, it would be easy to incorporate into a daily routine. I feel really positive about the results I might be able to achieve with prolonged use and recommend this DVD to anyone looking to tone their body and look more Natalie Portman in Black Swan rather than Madonna.