Customer Reviews

8 Minutes in the Morning

5 star:		(148)
4 star:		(46)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

Jorge Cruise has developed a quick way to "jump-start" your morning. By performing only 8 minutes of strength training and following a simple diet Jorge says you can shape up! In fact on the cover of his book he guarantees weight loss in just 4 weeks.

I think the strength training aspect of his program is very good. The photographs are clear and the descriptions for the exercises are concise. Jorge leads you through 4 sets of 12 repetitions for 2 exercises, alternating them for greater effect.
There are a number of exercises including standing heel raises, kickups, knee pushups, and one arm curls.
Despite the short time period, I could feel a nice difference in my body in under a week. Though its easy to not exercise, its hard to make excuses when it's only 8 minutes! Great Concept!
It would be nice if Jorge had included modifications for those who had difficulty performing the exercises.

Jorge also includes a motivational thought for the day. Each day has a different idea to hopefully "kick" you into high gear. Ideas such as visualization, using light, rewards etc. Nothing new, but a nice addition to the book.

The diet is your standard low calorie type fare, with one addition. Jorge has you add one tsp. of flax oil (which you can also purchase from him) or olive oil to your meals to give you that feeling of satiation. I purchased Jorge's flax oil and indeed it does make you feel full..but I found the taste was very hard to get used to. Overall, I was disappointed in the diet. Jorge does not use the new information about how glycemic levels can be effected by certain foods and he suggests foods that easily turn to sugar in your body like bananas. He also suggests eating treats alone and that could trigger cravings in some folks if not paired with a protein.

Jorge says he has trained over 3 million people online in his book. So I was surprised when I visited his website that it seemed like it was still in it's infancy ie chat board just starting etc. I have been on a variety of fitness websites for over 5 years and have never heard of Jorge. I was also disappointed when he suggested on the board the if we needed motivation we buy a small outfit and try to diet to get in it.
Personally, I think we all need to feel good NOW about our bodies and try to make them better by buying clothes that fit and adjusting down when the time is right.

My thoughts are that he knows his exercise but put together a diet program by gathering information from others. I don't think his diet program is anything special or the answer folks have been looking for.

But the book is worth the price for the exercises alone. And Jorge is young and enthusiastic and his knowledge of nutrition will grow! Hopefully his next book will include the wonderful exercises and a better nutrition plan.

"8 Minutes in the Morning" is a weight-loss and weight-maintenance plan with a couple of interesting features. The first is the diet plan. Cruise calls it the "Eat Fat to Get Fit" program. Everything is outlined for you, including little reproducible food journal cards so you can keep track of what you are eating each day. Since I am not overweight, and can't even envision eating the amount of fat each day that he recommends, I am not using this portion of the book, but I can appreciate that it is well laid out and seems very user-friendly.

The second part of the book is the exercise routine. This is actually why I bought the book in the first place. Exercise is in two parts: strength training with light hand weights (dumbbells) and power walking. The strength training segment works two major muscle groups each morning, taking only about eight minutes, six days a week. There is a four week plan given, so you have lots of variety and no chance of boredom. The photos and text instruction are excellent. I like the fact that he rotates through the muscle groups, which gets everything worked out while not stressing to the point of injury, and the daily routine, which, while very short, gives me something to do each day. I am a creature of habit and I find I do better if I have a little to do every day, rather than a couple of big workouts each week. I also like the fact that this workout does not require any expensive or bulky equipment. Just light weights, a chair, maybe something like a mat to put down on the floor. He also gives instruction in "power walking" which is good for the aerobic component. The instructions are very clear in terms of frequency, duration, intensity, and proper form.

As I said, I am not doing the diet part of this program, since I have been with the McDougall Program for quite a while, but the book was worth the money for me just for the strength training routine it contains. I recommend this book if you want to form a solid exercise habit.

Of course you'll lose weight if you eat 1200 calories or fewer a day. During the first week of the plan, you are allowed even fewer than 1200 calories, although the author doesn't give an exact number. As someone who already exercises five days a week, I couldn't live with an eating plan like this.

The great part of the book (earning it three stars) is the weight training. I've incorporated morning weight lifting into my exercise plan and it really jump starts my day.

Don't buy this book for the eating plan unless you are willing to strictly limit your calorie intake. Do buy this book if you are interested in starting a weight training program. It's great for beginners.

I just finished reading this book and well, it's fabulous!!! Jorge's "make it plain" coaching style really helps for someone like me who has little time for nonsense. The exercise program, meal plan, and the Wake Up Talks are very clear, concise, and takes the guesswork out of trying to lose weight safely. I started the plan today and for the first time in my adult life, I didn't have a snack between meals. I mean I actually felt satisfied with smaller servings of food. Jorge encourages you to eat FATS to lose weight. But we are not talking any old fats. We're talking flax oil, olive oil, avocados, almonds, peanut butter (in small servings). These fats, esp. flax oil acts as a natural appetite suppressant and lets you go longer without snacking. I also enjoyed exercise routine, which required only minimal equipment (dumbbells, chair, and mat) and the Wake Up Talk/Journal helped me focus before I got started on the plan. It is very do-able for busy people (I'm a full time Ph.D. student who works also works 30 hours a week) who want to lose weight but not be consumed with counting calories or huffing and puffing in a step class. Worth every penny!!!

I was a very fit and active teen, but after I hit 30 the weight just started piling on until I found out by my doctor that I was 30 pounds over weight and needed to lose weight. I tried crash diets, but those didn't work. A friend of mine from work suggested that I read this book. She lost 15 pounds and was so excited by it that I decided to give it a try. It just made sense. This book is very easy to read and explains how the body works and what you need to do to lose weight. I went out and bought the oils right away and started with my 8 minute workout the very next morning. That was two months ago and I have already lost about 20 pounds. I can't believe it. Jorge's book really encouraged me to keep going. Once I saw the weight starting to drop off that gave me momentum to continue. I eat so much better now and like feeling strong and healthy. I would strongly recommend you buy this book if you want to lose weight and feel good about yourself.

I have mixed feelings about this program, having followed it for three months now. I don't regret the purchase, and on the whole, it's a great book. It even performed a few miracles. But Jorge's book has a lot of room for improvement.

First of all, it seems to be aimed at those who only have about 10-20lbs to lose. This is made evident both by the pictures in the book and the occasional comment that shows complete misunderstanding or insensitivity to serious obesity. Some of the exercises themselves are not even possible for a very overweight person to perform, and Jorge never gives alternatives. Secondly, Jorge's "motivational" tips each morning are, by and large, either insultingly stupid, or so absurd as to make you look forward to them each morning just for the dose of mocking laughter. Third, a month is simply not enough time to see tremendous progress in the body. Thus, the measurements and photographs that he makes you take at the beginning and the end can be very depressing, even if you're successful. Finally, I've found that the program's success is very precarious. I lost six pounds the first month, following it religiously -- less than the 2lb a week average. During the second and third month, a single day's variation from the food program erased an entire two week's worth of progress. (This is disappointing, since one cannot always avoid the occasional dinner party or other situation in which meal choices are not within your control and a little checkbook of food boxes would be embarrassing and inappropriate.)

All that said, the book did, as I mentioned, perform a few miracles. The first miracle was that it got my husband exercising with me. He agreed that if we couldn't devote eight minutes a day then we would never succeed at any exercise program. It will never get easier than this. The second miracle was that my muscle strength has improved tremendously. Though my weight loss achievements on this program have not been overly impressive, the fact that I started at a point where I could barely lift a five pound weight, and am now strongly and confidently wielding the fifteen pound weights and needing heavier ones is very impressive indeed. It's made me healthier, stronger, and more energetic. And the exercise regimen, spending a few minutes each morning doing these routines, is something I believe I can maintain.

All in all, I think Jorge has done a great thing here, and I value his book enough that I use it every morning, and likely will continue to do so. Kudos to him, and I look forward to the next one.

This program is great! Jorge explains things easy and clearly. I do not usually write these reviews, but I was so impressed with this weight loss program (I am very skeptical and do not usually like most weight loss programs) that I had to share with you all how great it really is. The 8 minutes of strenght training exercises are simple and great for a beginner, like me, or someone more advanced, like my daughter. She does the exercises with me, just with higher weights. The eating program is great for people on the go and do not want to have to do a lot of calculating. It is all done for you. You just have to check of what you eat each day in an easy eating card system. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to lose weight (for good this time) and become more healthy! Jorge also has a great website to support the book.

I have struggled with excessive weight for 19 years and found Jorge and this book through my mother's e-mail to me. I curiously checked it out purchased the book which i carry with me 24/7. I have tried fads, weight watchers, herbs, carb diets, protein diets, starvation ...you name it ...and 19 years later...i am heavier each year.....do the math. I have lost 6lbs in one week on this program!!!!!! My single-parenting job along with part-time teaching and running my art and photography studio keeps me high-stressed with little or no time to myself. This 8 Minutes in the Morning fits my crazy lifestyle perfectly!
It doesn't take long....it is fairly easy to complete...and actually has relieved some stress for me as well as helping me become healthy! All I can say is TRY THIS PROGRAM BY JORGE CRUISE.....I think it is in the flax oil...but I promise...you will not be hungry. I FORGET TO EAT....TOTAL NEW CONCEPT FOR ME!
THIS IS THE MOST POSITIVE THING I HAVE DONE IN YEARS.....A GIFT TO MYSELF.......JUST DO IT........MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Very Sincerely,
Laura Haines

I bought the book because I liked the premise, and I still generally agree with his plan...
- do 4 sets of 2 different exercises 6 days a week, for 4 weeks (different exercises for all those days), then begin the exercises again;
- keep a journal to stay motivated;
- do a food plan where you check off what you eat, but you are not told you CANNOT eat anything - some things are just suggested as being much better; and
- do power walking as your aerobic exercise of choice.

Overall, this plan is not bad - but I did have some problems with it.
- One seems minor; however, if I am going to write in this book, then I like the way Bob Greene did his book with the rings, so it could lie flat, better. That is also more convenient for doing the exercises.
- Next, while I did like the food plan, the biggest problem I had with it was the restriction on the amount of fruit I could eat (one serving per day - always!) - but the veggies were much more unlimited (depending on weight, up to 6 servings per day).

Overall, it's not a bad plan. However, be aware that while the exercises only take 8 minutes in the morning, when you add the journaling and power walking, you are doing more. For the person just getting started in trying to lose weight, it's not a bad plan; however, if you are only half-hearted in getting started with this plan, it is just as easy as any other plan to skip and cheat on.

I'm 50 years old today and am more excited than I've ever been! This book is FANTABULOUS! It is by far the best I've EVER seen because it encompasses the whole picture: what's a protein, what's a carbohydrate (etc), which exercises to do (all of which are very basic), how to get you motivated (and stay that way) and even offers a support group (who are ALWAYS willing to help out).

The 8 minutes of exercise daily are very effective and simple to do! Jorge also helps you stay accountable every step of the way! In 6 1/2 weeks I've lost 20 pounds and can't believe my energy level. Soon there will be several folks in my office who will be starting this program as well.

This isn't a bunch of hype! You can eat "normal" food. Jorge hellps you change not only internally but externally as well. Everything you need to know is contained in the book (including a weight maintenance program).

Even if you've tried EVERYTHING else, you NEED to buy this book and start on his program. You'll not regret it!

In a few more months I'll be at my target weight and KNOW that I will be able to stay there because of Jorge Cruise and "8 Minutes In The Morning". Thanks Jorge!