My recent journey into personal nutrition and fitness led me to Joyce Vedral's Bathing Suit Workout. After getting my eating habits in hand and incorporating cardio workouts into my lifestyle, I decided it was time to tone up. A friend (already seeing great results after 2 months) recommended this book, so I figured I'd give it a shot. After all, if 55+ Joyce can look that good, 25-year-old me should be able to do it!
The book is easy to read because Joyce's style borders on folksy. I'm guessing she writes like she talks. The routine itself seems rather intimidating and intricate at first glance, so Joyce's writing style helps temper that and keeps the reader going. She is very encouraging, but honest at the same time. She isn't promising instant results and readily admits that toning up isn't an easy task. At the same time, she's so positive that anyone can tone up with these exercises that her enthusiasm catches on.
A nice Before-and-After section lets readers see real people with real results. Joyce includes her own before and after photos, as well, and includes an area for the reader's before and after photos in yet another positive reinforcement.
The section describing the exercises themselves is clear and concise. Photos show the starting and finishing positions while text describes the actual movement, tips, and any options (such as adding weights or doing the same sort of workout at a gym). The exercises are "tri-sets", meaning there are 3 exercises per set. Here's the confusing part: the basic workout consists of 7 tri-sets, and you do each tri-set 3 times before moving on to the next tri-set. Once you get going, it all becomes clear, but my poor brain was struggling with the math beforehand.
The book contains handy tear-out pages with smaller photos of all the exercises so you can hang them on the wall where you workout rather than continually flipping pages in the book. Once you've gone through the workout once or twice with the book and textual descriptions, the tear-out guides will do the job. Then you can pass the book on to the friend who asks how you got such a flat stomach. ;)
I've just begun the workouts (2 sessions) and am already seeing results in my abs and thighs. I'll be sure to update as I get further along. A couple of tips: Read the entire book before you start the workout. Even if you're all sorts of eager to start RIGHT NOW, hold off until you've read the book (it won't take more than a couple of hours). You'll understand why once you've read it. Next tip: When Joyce says break into the workout slowly, she means it! Currently I'm able to do the first 4 tri-sets 3 times each, then the final 3 tri-sets 1 time each. Even then I'm sweating and breathing hard. My final tip: be sure to stretch well afterwards! You're giving your muscles an intense workout and they will complain if you don't stretch.
Update 01.17.02: Wow, I can't believe it's been so long since I first reviewed this book! I stuck with the BSW for about 4 months and saw fabulous results. Lost 3 inches off my waist, 2 off my stomach, and an inch off each thigh. I did start getting bored with it after about 3 months, stuck it out for another month, then remembered what Joyce herself said in the book: If the workout gets boring, switch to something else for awhile. I did switch to bike riding and other more aerobic activities, then shortly before Christmas I noticed the flab returning and got back to doing the BSW. I haven't been as strict about doing the workout (you know how it is in the post-holiday, beginning-of-the-semester rush), but the toning up is going faster this time around. In fact, I think another week or so of the BSW will get me back to "fighting form" and I'll be ready to tackle Pilates. I still highly recommend Joyce's workout, just be sure to add new workouts once your body gets used to this one.
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