Customer Reviews

Barry's Bootcamp Complete Workout System

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

For reference I am low advanced, used the black power bands, and followed the advanced modifier when I could. I absolutely LOVE this set. It is challenging and fun w/ NO dread factor. I have lost 4 lbs in 4 weeks with it and just started my 5th week.

Cindy Whitmarsh actually leads the workouts. I think she is a good lead-not too overzealous, not too serious. Barry walks around and says things like "great abs arent made in the gym, theyre made in the kitchen so be sure to eat right too" and pushes down on exercisers shoulders for added resistance. He is quirky and I liked him too. They show a beginner and an advanced modifier with Cindy doing intermediate. There is a countdown banner on the bottom of the screen that counts down each minute. I find it less intrusive than the banner on the SS w/o's. A buzzer goes off at the 10 seconds remaining mark and Cindy, Barry & crew countdown. The music is good IMO, upbeat, not annoying or too loud.

The kit comes with 3 dvds. There is a lower body dvd, upper body dvd, and a code red (get fit quick in 6 days) dvd. The upper and lower body dvds each have a 21 minute w/o and 6 additional Mission Specialist w/o's on them. The MS w/o's are 12 min each and are: upper body-beginner, lowerbody-beginner, abs-beginner, upper body-advanced, lower body-advanced, and abs-advanced. The kit also comes w/ resistance cord handles and 2 strengths of interchangable resistance bands. The green band is level 1 (beginner strength) and the black is level 3 of 4. It also comes w/ a torpedo shaped ball, the Transformer. The transformer ball is used as a weight bench, stability ball, and a prop for cardio & strength moves. The resistance bands can go around the ball while you are laying on it-so you can do bench press for example.

Lower Body Fat Blaster: it is 21 minutes plus a short warmup. The moves are bootcamp type moves and each exercise lasts for only one minute, alternating between strength and cardio moves. The moves included crabwalks w/ the band, mountain climbers, squats & lunges w/ and w/out the band, one legged hops, etc. It was tough! Because each exercise only lasts 1 minute it is very doable-but still tough. In between exercises you have 30 seconds to "rest" which is used to put down your band, get your ball, etc and introduce the next move. I kept my feet moving during the 30 seconds. My HR really stayed up the entire workout.

Upper Body Fat Blaster: The workout is 21 minutes plus a short warmup. There is a beginner and advanced modifier throughout. Each exercise is one minute with a 30 second "rest" inbetween that is used to set up the next move and get your ball or cord ready. She alternates strength and cardio moves. Some of the exercises include pec flys on the transformer ball using the cords, blow-outs (including a hop at the end-TOUGH!), fast run then down to a Mt. Climber on Barry's cue, upper cuts using the cords, jumping jacks pushing the transformer ball back and forth, tricep dips off the ball (TOUGH), etc. My only complaint is that the bands seemed too long when wrapped around the ball-too much slack to make the moves challenging. I ended up switching to dumbbells for those moves. You can use 2 bands in the handles at once, which would make it tougher but that seemed like a lot of extra work.

Mission Specialist Lower Body (Beginner): 1 minute segments, each one focused on the lower body. The exercises had a cardio effect but
were all toning exercises. It uses the bands and the ball. Some of the moves were done on the floor and some standing. The exercises were different than in the main lower body w/o. Both a beginner and an advanced option wereshown.

Mission Specialist Upper Body (Beginner): All strength moves in one minute increments. There are 8 exercises, most using the ball and/or the tubing. The moves were different than in the main UB w/o and included push-ups off the ball, tricep extensions w/ the cord, bicep curls w/ the cord, etc.

Mission Specialist Abs (Beginner): Ab work done in 1 minute increments. Used the ball and the bands in some of the exercises. Most were done on the floor or ball. Both a beginner and an advanced option were shown.

Mission Specialist Abs (Advanced): Ab work done in 1 minute increments. This was mostly floor work on and off the ball, included Russion twists, jack knives on the ball, bicycle abs w/ the ball, V-sits w/ the ball, etc.

I hate going to the gym, and working out. I could never get motivated on my own - so I didn't do it anymore. I saw Barry's Bootcamp infomercial and bought the DVD system with low expectations. (I've bought other at home workouts and couldn't get into them, but this looked...fun?) Barry's kinda goofball/meets the Energizer Bunny, but within minutes of my 1st workout I was sweating like a pig, and my arms were sore the next day. I like the intense 1 minute exercises, the workout calendar that tells me what to do each day, the fact that I was able to start off gradually and add more each week. It's my 4th week and I've added another rubber band to the handles. Love that!

I like the Barry's Bootcamp website where you can figure out a food plan, ask Barry questions (and he answers), and get support from other peeps on the Bootcamp community board.

But here's the real reason I like this program: My pants are falling down `cause I lost 2" off my waist! I'm 40 and I have my 30 year old energy levels back. I'm not stopping `til I get abs! And they're coming!

People are complaining that the Transformer is smaller than on the DVD. I inflated mine, gave it a day to relax/stretch, and then blew it up a lot bigger. It's easy with the foot pump provided.

ALRIGHT PEOPLE - I started 30 days ago. I am down 20 pounds. I am also down 3 inches off the waist and hps. one inch off each thigh, one inch off each bicep. my strength energy libido and level of excitement grows everyday, as I see results everyday. Oh, by the way, I did weigh 260 pounds, 5'7", permanently disabled, have lupus, and had a baby 19 months ago. How is that for encouragement? This program rocks- you feel so good about yourself when you can finally do a whole minute that isnt beginner. Today, i noticed my waistline in my shadow. I got curves again- I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS! I have been taking it at my own limits, doing modified versions of exercises, and lovin every minute- welcome to the last workout and diet you will ever have to try honey. Barry and Cindy got it going on!

I bought this system because it was a 20 minute workout, and that is about the amount of time I can commit to regularly for an excercise plan. No doubt about it , it is a work out! You really work up a sweat in a short period of time, which was great. Unfortunately, it requires a lot of jumping that I found to be tough on my knees and joints. Amazon was great about returning it, no problem, no hassle.

I had been eating healthy and working out hard, six days a week, at the gym when I saw Barry's Bootcamp on TV. I had lost weight and gained muscle but hit a plateau that had lasted three weeks. I needed to lose just under 20 more pounds and I was stuck and unhappy. I ordered BBC right away. In a nut shell these workouts will melt fat and sculpt your body and you should see results after the first week! After 30 days you'll be thrilled. All you have to do is follow the plan. Do the workouts and eat right. No going hungry, you'll eat small meals about every three hours. Barry's booklet that comes with BBC will help you, telling you what types of food to eat and when to eat it. The workouts are great, you'll sweat, you should be sore at first (it's a good sore) but it's fun and when you see results it makes you want to do it more! After just a few DAYS I couldn't fit into my shorts any more! Inches and pounds were melting away and I saw muscles I didn't know I had! They gym didn't do anything for my abs. I have had seven kids (3 + 2 sets of twins) and I had a lot of belly to lose. Belly is gone and the muscles look great! My "saddle bags" are gone from my thighs too. For the first time since I was a kid, I have a butt with a normal (sexy) shape/size! I am in better shape than before I had my kids. Barry's Bootcamp really sculpts your body. And girls, your muscles will not be bulky! At the gym my arms, butt and legs were bulky. I didn't like that. There is also a great website with lots of great support! Oh, by the way, the transformer ball is huge. You just have to keep pumping it up. I reached my goal fast, I lost more weight/inches than I thought I could, and I still do Barry's Bootcamp five nights a week. I love it and will do it forever! There are other DVD's you can order in the future, after your 30 days, so you can mix it up. They are all amazing!

I started Barry's BootCamp on August 1st, and as of today I am down 14 pounds! Barry is always there to help you if you have any questions along the way! I have tried a lot of different things, and yes they took the weight off, but nothing that has ever been life changing and transformed my body like BootCamp.

If you don't think you can do it just try it for the first 6 days. After that you will see a change and then try it for another 6 days! NO MATTER HOW HARD IT MAY BE STICK WITH IT! After no time at all you will wake up wanting to do this workout everyday!

Now I'm sure you are all reading this and saying, "Well you are young and have energy!" NOPE! I was the laziest person alive. I would eat like crazy fried food, sugar, salt. And after I did my 30 days of BootCamp, with a GOOD diet, I felt like I could take on the world! The other day I was telling a friend I want to take up kickboxing! She didn't even know who she was talking to! Today I spend less time in front of the TV and more time working out.

Barry has even helped me quit smoking! Okay well I haven't quit 100% yet but I'm VERY VERY close! And it's all thanks to Barry Jay.

And no I don't work for the company, and no, no one paid me to say this, no I'm not a "plant", and yes I'm a really person who use to have no self-esteem because of the way I looked.

BUY IT! It will change your life! If it doesn't you have nothing to lose cause they will give you your money back. GET OFF THE COUCH AND START CHANGING YOUR LIFE!!!!! NOW!!!!!!!

I bought Barry's BootCamp for about $50 at Sports Authority. I have been doing it for just over 2 weeks and have already lost 7 lbs with minimal change to a relatively healthy diet.

I knew Barry's BootCamp would work, because about a year ago, I bought BeachBody's P90 workout system and lost 25 lbs doing that and playing ice hockey. Unfortunately, I broke my kneecap playing ice hockey and gained the weight back and wasn't able to excercise for a year.

So why not just do P90 again? Even though its effective, it's boring. You do the same move for 2 - 3 minutes, then another move... Then repeat the same two moves. It's a snoze.

With Barry's Boot Camp, the moves last for a minute... That's it... No repeat... No boredom.

The other thing that's pretty impressive about Barry's BootCamp is for $50 or $60 you get everything you need to do the program:

1. 2 workout DVDs... With one main workout... And then a beginner and advanced workout for ab, upper body and lower body

2. 2 exercise bands and a great set of adjustable handles...

3. An extra "Code Red" DVD workout which is suppose to supercharge your weight loss - which I have not even bothered opening yet.

4. The transformer - it looks dumb and goofy, like an oversized pill, but it works WONDERFULLY! (More on it later)

So you get a lot for your money, and don't have to buy anything else for your workout... Unlike the BeachBody stuff, where you need dumbells, or bands (which were not included when I bought it)

The Transformer - you can use it in a million different ways. It's more practical and useful then a regular swiss ball... Everything you do on that thing becomes a ab/ core exercise.

And about Barry - yes the personality of the people on the tape matters... Tony Horton was cool... Barry and Cindy are better. They are not obnoxious, they are not super-charged or annoying. I like them better than the BeachBody stuff... Tony Horton would talk to himself... Kinda boring. Cindy and Barry kind goof around. I mean it's not Comedy Central funny, but it keeps you engaged.

Another plus... All the workouts are completely scalable. So in other words, after you get good at doing the 21 minute workout... You can make it more challenging by using a different band, strething the band more etc... Instead of say... Shelling out another $100 for P90X, lol ;-)

I really thought the claims on their website were overblown... It seemed like their people were losing a LOT of weight really quickly... Too quick. I should be 10 pounds lighter by the end of 3 weeks... Thanks for a great product.

One complaint - Truth in advertising - When I saw the infomercial, the workouts were supposed to be 21 minutes... The main workout is 21 minutes... However, after week 1 you are expected to start doing one of the additional workouts (abs, upper or lower body), then 2 in week 2 and all three in week three)... You WILL lose weight if you do just the 21 minute workout... But you will lose it slower, obviously.

So yes, Barry's BootCamp gets 5 stars.

the thing I hate about trying excercising videos/clubs, is that you NEVER know if a plus sized person can do the workouts. Some are VERY hard for just starting out! Now, I know showing a size 18 doing the workouts does not sell products, and obviously they are saying since they are doing the workouts, they are in shape! But when you are Big (and I am tall too!) you can't always do the excercises effectivly. You almost feel like FORGET IT! Because they make it for people that seem to be in somewhat good shape. But if this is you, like it is me, you can do this. And even though everyone says the transformer is smaller than on the video, I am 6 ft tall, and it works just fine. (althought I agree the tricep dips are too hard, so I used a chair) The key is to do the modified version. I was over 200 lbs and felt frustrated that I couldn't do it normally. But I tried to keep in mind it took me 3 years to put on the weight, it's gonna take time to take it off.I feel great every morning now, and want to get out and do something instead of staying in the house drinking coffee all day. I am pretty sore after the excercises, but it's a good sore! Barry is annoying at times, but he does distract you from the fact you are sweating and working hard. I only have one negative comment, which has been said before...I got my product off of Amazon.com-which was great!-but I didn't get the password for the VIP section of his website. Which is dissapointing!! I tried emailing them twice, but still no reponse from them! SO...other than that, I would recommend this product to ANYONE of any shape or size, and tell them, to start off slow. You will get better, and you will be able to progress to the next level, and you will start losing weight! I can't wait to type you back when I have reached to advanced version!

Make no mistake, despite the fact this is yet another tv-mercial product that tempts the bored, late-night watcher, the program has real merit as a workout. Barry is a personal trainer to the stars and he puts together a workout you can probably do even in a Tokyo studio apartment, though you will annoy the neighbors when you do jumping jacks (just tell them it was a minor temblor.)

The kit comes with a capsule-style physio ball (the "transformer", hmph, ok) a step-pump, three dvds (upper, lower, and Hollywood Code Red) and two resistance tubes with a set of handles.

First, the accessories. The capsule ball is an Army-green ball, the kind that has the somewhat tacky surface (not shiny) and it is said to be big enough for a six-foot guy. Well, I am a six foot gal and it pumped up a tad small. I pumped it one day, left it sit and am pumping it further, but I have an existing non-burst capsule ball from Carnegie that I think is better made. For one thing, the seam is rather visible. Call me paranoid, but you REALLY have to pump this thing UP and I worry about bursting. I have heard some lore about these capsules being occasionally prone to splits and that the company will replace defective items. So far, so good for my "transformer" but it did not blow up so hugely as they said the first go-around.

You need the ball as a sort of bench because one of the exercises is a set of flyes using the resistance band tucked under the ball and the handles out to the side. You lie back on the ball and do the flyes (works the pecs) as if you were using dumbbells on a weight bench. I recommend you put the "transformer" on a yoga mat because if your balance is wonky, you will find that you wobble on the ball a bit. This is not a bad thing--anything that has you use more muscles to stabilize yourself makes the workout more effective. The resistance bands come in two strengths (green, long and light, black, shorter and more resistance.) Here's another issue. I'm pretty tall and my arms are rather long even for my height. I found that doing some of the overhead tricep pulls were difficult because the taller you are, the more you stretch the band to get to the right height. Barry is not so tall. His companions are shorter still. If you are short-ish, this is going to be GREAT for you. If you are as tall as my guy at home (6' 8") you will be s.o.l.

Re the bands: you can buy stronger ones from the Barry's website, and also get other DVD's, which I have not tried. You can also join a "VIP" club depending on how you bought the set (mine was local out of a department store, so I cannot. Phone orders apparently get a membership, and you can purchase one. I have not bothered.) There is also an online community of enthusiasts if you like to network online with other members.

Back to the bands: the handles on the resistance bands are a special stirrup shape made of rigid silver plastic with a round, rubber-covered handle. I like the fact they distribute the strain onto your forearms rather than into your hands alone as most resistance bands do. But I bruise rather easily, just the way I am, and the pressure of the bands and handles caused some bruising. If you are like me, you will want to wear something like wrist protectors and a thick shirt.

The workout requires you to set up the "transformer" and then jump up and do other resistance band set-ups with band around foot, wrapped around foot, standing on it, so if you are a bit clumsy, you may find you are scrambling to get set up while the workout is going on. On the "Missions" you get 12 exercises for 12 minutes (great for the time-pressed) and some of the time ticks away unless you can also cleverly hit the pause button on the dvd player.

Because the resistance bands pull tighter as you extend through the workout, the dynamic tension works the muscles DIFFERENTLY than a dumbbell (even weight throughout) --more like the Bowflex which uses a cable-sprung steel tension system, and not at all like kettlebells, which have an off-center weight that challenges the balance during lifting. The dynamic resistance caused me to absolutely feel the 12-minute upper arm (tricep, bicep, pectoral, lat) workout in one of the Missions, compared to a similar workout I do with dumbbells. I have had to up my dumbbell weights weekly, but this workout with the lightest band kicked my you-know-what. I was trembling after 12 minutes because the workout never lets up. You do reps non-stop for a minute, then you get a bit of rest as you move the band to set up for the opposing muscle group (ie, you do biceps, then on to triceps.)

This is a VERY good workout. You WILL feel it. It is also a nice change from standard weights due to the dynamic tension and balancing, which gives a different workout to your muscles. Trainers will tell you that changing up your routine shocks your muscles into growth and fitness. I certainly know for my body type (slow, strong) that I adapt rather quickly to weights and this workout was completely different for me. That's why the kettlebells are also a good adjunct. Swinging those is completely different than standard lifting.

The workout team (Barry and crew) chat you through the workout. Cindy Whitmarsh counts and leads, while Barry chats about being a 90 pound weakling (actually, 120 pound, living on sugar cubes) and this reminds me of working with a trainer who chats you through the tough stuff and distracts you until you are nearly fatigued, then you count ten seconds down to the end. A buzzer sounds and you have 10 seconds to finish, so you are encouraged to work through. It's very like having a trainer next to you. I like it.

There are a LOT of options to each DVD for upper and lower--full longer workout of the missions which are 12 minutes and who doesn't have 12 minutes, or you can do the 21 minute Hollywood "Code Red" to blast into shape. (That workout has more aerobics and jumping around, warning for those of you who cannot hop around for whatever reason.)

The only thing I didn't like was the quality of the DVD menu. It's cluttered and hard to choose which workout by reading the text (white on red background.) Annoyingly arranged, too.

This is a great idea for a small home gym in a bedroom and certainly a pleasant change from a regular gym workout. I like it and I'm happy to grab 12 minutes during my busy season at work to make sure I get a workout in. The adrenaline pumps after one of these workouts due to the dynamic tension from the resistance bands. My summary? A great workout, something in it to keep you from getting bored and seems effective.

This is an awesome workout. Really. I burn and hurt when I'm done, but I feel so pumped the next day. And I am NOT an avid exerciser. I don't think I've EVER exercised this hard.

I've already lost two inches off my waist, after only three weeks of dieting (trying to hover between 1250 and 1450 calories a day - but usually end up closer to 1650 - *sigh...) and Barry's Boot Camp. And usually I find myself "hangin' with Kat" because my knees and ankles just can't handle some of the jumping exercises. But still. I'm losin'. Sweatin' out the bad stuff, building my strength, and increasing my energy.

The reason I'm giving four stars, however, is because I bought this program directly through Barry's Bootcamp hotline. They delivered it to the wrong address, their customer service was awful, they insisted that they delivered it to my address, when they obviously did not. Eventually, after I contacted UPS on my own, I discovered that they'd delivered it across the street to my neighbor, and I just went over there and got it myself. I was also mad, because they had to "do an investigation" before they would send out a replacement, and I'd already spent about $76 to get them to expedite the program, and then discovered that I could have saved $20 and gotten it here on Amazon, and I know they would have delivered it to the right address!!

Buy here. Be careful about buying directly from Barry's site if you do.. And stick with it when you get it!! It's hard, yes. OMG it is so hard. But it is so worth it. You discover muscles you didn't even know you had! It's wonderful.

"Work THROUGH to burn, not TO the burn!"

;-)