Customer Reviews

The Bar Method Body - Fat Free

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is set on a large studio with painted brick wall & 3 in good shape women backing up Burr Leonard who looks great at her age. Burr & one woman is using a bar while the other 2 are using a strong high backed wood chair. The music is synthesizer, but not too bad. The cool down has great Engima like chanting music by Daveed.
Here is basic the breakdown of this workout, though not perfect in time.
Starts with a 3 min min intro.
The next 3 min is wide pliates & going on your toes followed with 2 good leg stretches & 1 simple torso stretch.
Next for 4 min is push-ups while on your knees, child's pose in yoga, then reverse push ups (looks kinda like a very mild/beginner table pose in yoga) that are great for triceps. A simple arm stretch & standing foward bend ends it.
Next for 6 min is using a chair again, standing on your toes with straight legs & squating a tiny bit for a couple of min. After is the same with legs turned outward like a diamond. Next is pelvic crunches in that pose & a simple quad stretch & more leg stretches that are yoga inspired.
Next 8 min is standing on one leg & moving it backward only a few inches to work the butt. Then the other leg. Then lifting the leg to the side only a few iches then the other leg. Then stretching the legs while standing in a figure 4.
Next for 3 min is standing on one leg & lifting other very high backwards & lifting it an inch more in repitition & then the other leg. Then stretching the legs with a straight & bent leg.
Then for 4 min left the leg in front of you to your waist if posibble & moving it back/forth a few inches, then stretching the hip in a kneeling position. Next is kneeling & leaning the torso backwards to work the core muscles in a steady position, then again punching the air, then while doing hip circles. You then stretch the toso backward to relieve & a standing foward bend.
Next for 7 min is working the abs with a modified yoga boat pose with extra emphaiss on crunching the ab muscles with holding the legs, then holding one straight leg up, then the other w/o hands, then full boat pose. Then laying down knee to chest spinal twist stretch. Then cobra positions to work the lower back & child's pose.
More ab work for 8 min with modified small bridge pose yoga to work the lower back & butt & thighs, then laying down leg twist stretch, straight leg stretching while laying down, then seated wide legged single leg stetch.

There is a trailer for "Bar Method Designer Sculpting" on collagevideo com to get an idea.

NOTE: This review is also in The Bar Method Designer Sculpting DVD section.

I have been exercising every day since December 2008. I decided to make a lifestyle change when I found myself huffing and puffing up stairs and knew that it would only get worse with time. I cannot say enough how much The Bar Method DVDs have really changed my overall body tone and look.

In order to really impart how much The Bar Method has improved my physique, I have to give you a little bit of a background history. When I first started my new eating habits and workouts, I was a size 14/16 and weighed around 180 pounds. It was definitely time for a lifestyle change! I started light by using Leslie Sansone's workouts, and eventually worked up to Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred and No More Trouble Zones. After religiously working out with Leslie and Jillian and eating healthy, I have now made it to a size 6 (yay!).

HOWEVER, I did not notice any significant body changes until I changed up my workout program on days I wasn't doing cardio. I started using the The Bar Method DVDs on those days and stopped using Jillian Michaels. Yes, Jillian did give me stronger muscles with her workouts, but the flab was still there. No matter how much I was doing the 30 Day Shred, my body was not tightening up the way I wanted it to. I was only building muscle under the flab that I collected over the years.

Since using The Bar Method, I have seen amazing things happen to my body - things that I haven't seen since I was a teenager (I'm 41 now)! A higher seat, more dancer-like toned and defined legs/thighs, more definition in my core (abs and back), and boy do I look great wearing pants. I couldn't be more pleased!!!!

To be honest, I still use Leslie Sansone as my cardio workout, but use The Bar Method on my strength training days. I absolutely agree that everyone is built differently and that everyone can lose weight, BUT not every workout fits every person. Jillian Michaels' workout program is GREAT, but it just didn't give ME the body I wanted. I recommended The Bar Method DVDs to anyone who is looking to tighten up their muscle definition and yet get a great, challenging workout.

I am so happy with this workout. I had owned Designer Sculpting and really dreaded doing it, so eventually got rid of it. However, with all the hype about this program on my favorite exercise websites, I really wanted to see if this other program would be different. After trying it through Netflix, I bought it and am so pleased. The abdominal section is less of a contortion, the upper body gets a better workout - without those weights, and for all who swear by that pretzel move, I really find the standing legwork takes care of the same areas. The only dread is that it leaves me quite sore and I can't necessarily do it 3 times per week!

After years of only doing cardio exercises I realized that I needed strengthening exercises as well. I tried the usual exercises: weights and squats but wasn't really happy with the results. Plus, after 3-5 cardio workouts and 2 workouts with weights per week, I had no time for yoga which I really needed because a recent pregnancy had left me very stiff, especially in my back. Then I found The Bar Method: Fat free and the Lotte Berk dvds. Both methods are a combination of strenthening exercises and stretching to shape the muscles and improve flexibility. The advantage Fat Free has over the Lotte Berk dvds is that Fat Free works your whole body in one workout (the Lotte Berk dvds are shorter and focus on fewer areas of the body in each workout). The exercises are great--generally using body weight and small movements to achieve the results. I particularly like how the exercises are efficient: for example the push-ups work your whole upper body at once and the standing seat exercises work both the moving leg and the standing leg. The reverse push-ups are great for the triceps (they're similar to tricep dips, only on the floor so you lift more of your body weight). After each section, there are stretches for the muscles you've just worked as well as a general stretching section at the end. The stretching is supposed to shape the muscles you've just worked. My flexibility has improved tremendously because of the stretching. My muscles are more defined: my arms and legs are starting to look shapely for the first time in years and I feel stronger. If you like pilates and yoga you may like this workout. If you're like me and want to be both stronger and more flexible, you will benefit from this method.

I got this after having the Lotte Berk Method DVDs for a few years (and using them sporadically), so my review is going to be colored by that method. For the most part, I would say that if you had to choose between these two systems, go with the Bar Method. Although not perfect, this DVD hits your whole body enough to feel the burn, but not so much that you can't move the next day.

After a quick, stretchy warmup that includes pushups and reverse pushups to get into the back and chest, Fat Free goes into work for the thighs using plie and tuck variations. These really burn, but not so much so that they can't be relieved by the stretch that follows. Next we do three variations of seat work to get into the side and back of the buttocks. Burr explained this section particularly well to give you an idea of where exactly you should be feeling this. For both the thigh and "seat" work, she usually did ten slow and then 10 or 20 quick reps. It still burns, but it's nice to know what to expect.

After a stretch for the seat, move into Burr's version of knee dancing. Whereas the LBM begins from sitting, this starts from kneeling, making it a little bit easier to get into. Next we get into our abs. Here, Burr uses several different variations of the C-curve, varying the leg positions and then releasing the hands from the legs for more of a challenge. After a nice cobra or cat stretch (depending on your flexibility), we move onto bridging, or back dancing as it's called by the Lotte Berk instructors. This always works my seat no matter what else I've done.

I do not feel overly worked or gasping for air after doing this, but my muscles are pleasantly buzzing. I think part of the reason is that she does a great job of integrating the stretching throughout the resistance work. They do that on the LBM tapes as well, but here there are more stretches held for a longer period of time. However, I do feel like I am missing just a little bit from this workout, and I have no problem doing both on the same day. Not only that, I don't have significant soreness the next day from this either. Which is fine, but I like to feel maybe a touch more worked out than this leaves me.

As I said, this works the whole body, including back, chest (and arms to a lesser degree), legs, seat and abs. That makes it a better bet than the LBM DVDs, although the LBM add-ons/bonuses do have more advanced movements. So ideally you could have both but again, if you have to choose, go with the Bar Method.

If you like the Lotte Berk method.. you'd really like this. The moves are low-impact but man do they burn! You really feel your muscles getting shaped and toned into something strong and beautiful. I played soccer throughout college, graduated last year, and this burns my thighs.

I love the fact that the instructor is in her late 50s and looks incredible. Very encouraging. It's a good whole-body toning workout. It's not exactly aerobic, but this workout is a great alternative to weight-lifting.. especially if you're like me and your body can't handle hi-impact weight-lifting.

On top of it all, I actually enjoy working out with this tape!

This is different than typical aerobics videos. The instructor uses some original and some ballet-like exercises to target tough areas. The motions are simple yet effective, and designed to isolate muscles and increase stability. Since this isn't an aerobic workout, I think it is best to use this video on your "Day Off" from your other workouts to work on flexibility & stability.
The simple movements are appropriate for both beginners and intermediate, because the intensity depends on how much you put into it.
I like how the workout is no impact (no jumping around), and no special equipment is needed.

The instructor really emphasizes proper posture/form, especially what she calls the "pelvic tuck" (tightening your abs when standing)
She cues/explains the exercises very well; and once you've learned the moves, the DVD has the option to "Workout with music WITHOUT NARRATION" so you don't have to listen to her talk constantly. I also like how upbeat music and didn't find it annoying because the music varies throughout the program.

Plie, releve, leg stretch
Pushup, reverse pushups, arm stretch
Thigh presses (like mini-squats), pelvic tuck, leg stretch
Hip extensions (effective!), hip flexion, hip stretch
Lean back while on knees
Ab contractions, ab/back stretch
Bridges/pelvic tucks (killer!), butt/leg stretches

Bonus workout: ab contractions

As you can see, each segment is followed by relevant stretching, which I think is appropriate.
However, since I personally get impatient with so much stretching/slownees, I personally like the "Bar Method: Designer Sculpting" video more than this one.

This is great firming workout for your body. This is definatly along the lines of CALLINESTICS and LOTTE BERK. It is a little faster than LOTTE BERK. But I would still say that all three workouts are excellent for toning and firming. But do not think that you are going to lose extra weight by this workout alone, if anything you will lose inches. If I had two problems with this workout it would be that it is not long and there is no cardio. This video is better for those who are at their goal weight and just want to tone up.

P.S. If you have problems with your knees you might want to try callanetics first or a Ballet video.

I have been exercising all my life and i'm in pretty good shape but age is kicking in and lack of motivation is as well. This video has effectively toned my thighs and butt as well as my arms. My legs still shake when I do the exercises. I particularly didn't like the abs however I probably am too advanced and I think it is more for a beginner. Overall, I love this video and will continue to use it.

This video is great for beginners. Teaches you to stretch properly.Easy to follow instructions, but not just an easy workout if you are just starting out. Not super for abs, but helps with flexibility.