Customer Reviews

The 12 Second Sequence Special Edition DVD Kit: Volumes 1 & 2

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The 12-Second Sequence Special Edition DVD Kit is a 3-disc set of exercise routines developed by USA WEEKEND Magazine FitSmart Editor, Jorge Cruise. The first two discs each contain two 20-minute workouts. The third disc is a bonus "Coaching DVD" that details how the 12-Second Sequence program can help you to boost you metabolism by doing controlled tension exercises very slowly, thereby removing the momentum so your muscles work harder with fewer repetitions. The bonus disc also includes Jorge's advice on how to eat properly and explains the "feathered breathing" technique--one deep inhalation followed by three short exhalations. You also get a little booklet called a "Secrets Guide," which, among other things, includes an Ideal Foods List along with recipes for Fruit and Cottage Cheese Parfait, Curried Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups, and Portobello Pizza.

Every 12-Second Sequence workout consists of three 6-minute circuits and two 1-minute breaks. All of the exercises are perfectly demonstrated by Jorge's assistant, Heather, so all you have to do is follow along--you don't even have to count. The key to the 12-Second Sequence concept is that you always perform the exercises in a slow and controlled motion, holding for two seconds at the "maximum tension point" and using a weight that will adequately fatigue the muscle after just four repetitions.

You should know that you will need a few pieces of equipment in order to do this program. Namely, hand weights of at least three different sizes (Jorge recommends something called `GoFit'); an exercise mat; a sturdy chair; a broom handle; and one of those giant beach balls, sometimes called a `balance ball' or a `Swiss ball.'

The 12-Second Sequence is a non-impact exercise program that just about anybody can do. Best of all, you only have to do it for twenty minutes, two times a week.

First, I highly recommend the program! While the exercises will tax your body, the routine is easy to follow and execute upon. Know this, however, you will need an exercise ball, hand weights (preferably ones which you can change the weight easily), and a sturdy chair. Jorge recommends the SportBlocks hand weights. We've tried others and finally went with his recommendation and agree 100% with him.

Now, the DVD is definitely just an introduction to the program and only takes you through a couple week's worth of exercises. Good if you are a very visual person and would like to see how to position yourself for the exercises and to really see how long the counts are. I used it for those couple weeks and now it sits on the shelf. In hind sight, I wouldn't have ordered it.

However, get the book! It contains several weeks worth of routines and exercises and goes into much more detail on the program. Unless you need to see someone demonstrating the exercises, I recommend the book instead.

This workout is fantastic!! I am a super busy mom and just tried the DVD last week. I felt it the next day and it only took me about 20 minutes 2x per week. He also wants you to add 20 mins of cardio on the other days. Very doable program and he is not too bad to look at either!!! Looked like he has had a lot of success with clients on program too. Will try joining his online club. Great diet plan you can get easy access too there as well as the book. Thanks again Jorge for another great, doable program!!

I would give this DVD 5 stars, if only it had the entire 8 weeks of his program included!
Volumes 1&2 are only 4 sets of exercises, worth 4 days or only 2 weeks of the program. I didn't understand that. I bought the first Volume separately and bought it again, just so I could get volume 2. I have been training with the same four exercises for several months now hoping he would come out with another couple of exercises,if not the entire program. I guess I'll have to buy the book and forget about a complete DVD.

As some other reviewers recommended, get the book and work out with a friend to get a sense of the 12-second duration and where the 2-second hold/pause or MTP is.

Jorge should spend more time counting as you can't "just follow Heather" when in the proper position for many of the exercises, especially those on the FitBall. I'm fairly experienced in high-intensity, slow weight training, and with a FitBall. Getting into place quickly with the appropriate weights is tricky - then craning your neck to see where Heather is on the count is frustrating. It can also be dangerous.

This is a nice quick workout, but very light. I have doubled up and done the workout twice and that felt more like a workout, but of course took more time. I have also added weight to make it challenging enough with only 4 reps. He really emphasizes good form and breathing. This would make a good travel workout after a day of meetings.

No, it isn't a new concept, but there aren't a lot of "slow-type" workouts widely available on DVD, so there is room out there for good ones. This had the potential to be a really good DVD workout program, but it was not thought out well.

To start with, this should ALL have been on one DVD--talk about a waste of packaging. It could have been done with an interactive mix and match format to keep the workout fresh over time. The third DVD (the "coaching" DVD), you might want to watch ONCE, but if you don't bother, the little booklet that comes with the set has most of what you need to know, with a few recipes in it that are pretty good. The before and after pictures were not all that convincing--some of the improvement seen is due simply to better posture. How many calories you will burn with this workout depends on how much you weigh, so that might be more or less than the "150-pound man" that is usually used to illustrate such concepts.

He didn't need to introduce his exercise person at the beginning of each workout, or remind you to shut off your cell phone, etc., either.

The workouts themselves spent too much time on explanations of each exercise (should have been done in a separate section), and there was too much switching between the dumbbells, a Swiss ball, a mat, a chair, and a broomstick (which didn't really add anything to the exercise it was used in, IMHO). Could have added an exercise or two in each workout if he had you doing all the matwork in one circuit, all the chair work in one circuit, etc.

Too much time is spent mentioning other products he's selling or recommending. If water has calories in it, it is food, not water.

If you need to watch the exercises being done for form pointers, it is okay for that, but borrow from your library or buy used. Hopefully it will be redone in a more user-friendly format.

Bought the DVDs to see if I got better results than following the book. Have not accomplished what Jorge says will happen.

This is a well done exercise program. It relies on very slow movements and the holding the maximum stressed position for 2 seconds. That doesn't seem very long until you have done the 3rd rep and are trying to hold that position for the last time. I was amazed that such a slow moving exercise could be aerobic as well. I am just beginning, so the results remain to be seen, but to start with, it is very good.

I have been using the 12 second sequence since January.

I do go to the gym M-F each week. Monday I jog 2 miles (warmup), then take a 'shift and lift class-which is a combination of spinning and lifting; Tuesday I run 2 miles then do the 12 second sequence, week one day one; Wednesday I run 2 miles and take a step class; Thursday I run 2 miles and take a spinning class; then on Friday I run the two miles and do the 12 second sequence, week one day two. The following week is the same except I do week two, day one for Tuesday and week two day two for Friday. Saturday's and Sunday's are rest days.

So, what's the bottom line. I have been doing this in conjunction with the Jorge Cruise's Belly Fat Cure (BFC) book, and I lost 15 lbs in 8 weeks. I am a 63 year man, and weighed 186 lbs on New Years Day, 2010. Incorporating the 12 second sequence, into my weekly routine has made me a little stronger, not really buffed or anything like that, but I find I am now adding some weight to some of the exercises, as they are getting easier. Prior to the Jorge Cruise BFC and the 12 second sequence, I had been going to the gym for years and not loosing any weight or getting stronger. I think the reduction in sugar intake combined with 12 second sequence, has made a big difference. I have lost 2 belt sizes and my pants are fitting a lot looser than they did before. Might have to go shopping for new clothes.

Several people where I work have noticed the difference and when I told them how I did it, they got the book and exercise DVD's and have lost weight too.

I wish Mr. Cruise would come out with a recipie book with more recipies than he has in the BFC book. There are some basic recipies to get you started, and all of the one's I have tried are great and filling without all the sugar and carbs. The people at work said they were always hungry for the first week, but after that they found it easier to walk away from sweets and treats that always seem to be around work.

My advise to anyone is to get on a program and stick with it. I did plateau with the weight loss after the first 4 weeks, but then all of a sudden, I started loosing again. No one gains weight overnight, and it is even harder to loose it. You won't loose it overnight either.

So don't give up, stick with it and you should get the results you want.