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44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
VERY tough, VERY effective, July 17, 2005
This review is from: The Ultimate New York Body Plan: Just 2 weeks to a total transformation (Hardcover)
After 2 weeks I lost 4 lbs, 2" from my waist, 2" from my hips, 1.5" around each upper arm. I'm 5'5" and 128 lbs. At first I was disappointed that I only lost 4 lbs, but then I saw the sleek muscles that I developed and my clothes fit better than ever before, I realized that it's not the weight that matters, but how your body looks and feels. I got on this plan to lose those last 5 lbs and I felt I was in a rut in terms of my exercise routine ( I did Body for Life 2 years ago and lost 15 lbs which I've managed to keep off). The New York Body plan was really tough, I broke up the hour and a half exercise a day into two parts: cardio-weights in the morning, and the 45 mins of cardio in the afternoon. I also bought the New York Body Plan DVD and I found that to be key. There is no way I'd finish the cardio weights session in 45 mins if I didn't have the DVD to follow. The first two days, I had to pause the DVD during a few exercises to complete the reps because they were too hard to do at the speed that David was doing them. It really helps to see someone doing the exerices because it shows you how it should look and the speed at which you should do them, so I highly recommend getting the DVD. As other reviewers mentioned, the recipes in the back are really delicious. I don't eat red meat, so I stuck mostly with the omelettes and fish recipes. For some recipes, such as the turkey lasagna, I substituted tofu for the turkey and it tasted great, my husband loved it too. The recipes are really keepers and I've worked them into my weekly menus. They're so easy, healthy and delicious. The plan was very tough, I was ready to quit after Day 2 (I was sore, hungry, and tired), but it gets exponentially easier on Day 3 and by Day 4 I began to see results and felt much more energized. It is really worth it, get this book and DVD to jumpstart your goal and maintain the results. David has a whole maintenance section in the back that tells you how to ease off the two weeks and keep the results. After following the plan for 2 weeks, I find that I look forward to doing the cardio-weights, they're very effective and David is highly motivational. In the book, there is a section that counts down the two weeks day by day, with a sample menu for the day, the exercise routin to follow for the day, a success story of one of David's clients, and an inspirational message from David. And there is space for you to chart your progress, what you ate, what exercises you did and how you felt. David is really with you every step of the way. You can do anything for 2 weeks. It's really worth it.
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37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Fastest Way to Lose Weight and Stick With It!!!, April 13, 2006
This review is from: The Ultimate New York Body Plan: Just 2 weeks to a total transformation (Hardcover)
If you want to know how people like Heidi Klum go from having a baby to getting back on the Victoria's Secret Runway in only a few months, get this book. There are celebrity endorsements from Linda Evangelista, Liv Tyler, and Faith Hill.
The scary part: the workout is challenging for the inshape (I say that having previously completed a marathon) and the diet sounds completely undoable until you try his delicious recipies. It's a no ABCDEF diet: No Alcohol, Bread, starchy Carbs, Dairy, Extra Sweets (including artificial), bad Fats or Fruits. Make no mistake about it, it's very strict.
The bad part: Kirsh doesn't do a great job convincing you of how absolutely yummy the recipes are. He does explain, in detail, that yes, this is a crash diet. And yes, he HATES crash diets too, for you hateful nutrition nuts. But the fact is it's human nature for people to put off treating their body right until about 3 weeks before an event. It's just the way people are. And if he can create a plan that works, that also makes people feel better, and then teach people to slowly transition into a healthier maintenance plan, more's the better.
This diet pushes you to eat small protein-based meals of egg whites, turkey bacon, chicken, or fish and vegetables at 7 am, 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm, and 7 pm. Salt is not restricted. You can have a tablespoon of olive oil mixed as salad dressing once per day. A serving of 7-10 almonds once per day. He recognizes that all of this cooking is painful, and (helpfully?) suggests whey protein shakes to be substituted for two meals a day to ease the burden. Conveniently, they can be purchased directly from his website.
I hate whey protein shakes. I think they taste chalky. Luckily, there are tons of extremely yummy recipes, and I don't mind cooking. From the end of the first day I feel better, but the herbal and green tea he suggests doesn't solve my Diet Coke cravings. I alter the program to 1)include Diet Coke and Crystal Lite, despite all his warnings about the effects of artifical sweetenters on insulin and fat storage; 2)decide I need more salad dressing than that and make mine 2 tablespoons of olive oil; and 3)decide it is a waste of my expensive omega eggs to just throw out the yolks and that I will use one whole egg and two egg whites every morning. Also, I am too lazy to measure meats so I eyeball everything, I use one chicken breast per meal, etc. I also am in the habit of eating until I am full so I often throw extra veggies in the pan. I figure the few extra calories are worth not getting so hungry I will later make a run for ice cream or chocolate. Usually I can't finish half a plate full of the meal anyway and the recipes are fantastic.
I haven't exercised at all except for walking the dog: a medication I am on throws off my balance, and I am feeling lazy. My lazyness is the result of a long-term illness, not this diet.
The miracle: despite all my bending diet rules and not exercising, in just the first 8 days I have so far lost 14 pounds! Woo hoo!
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100 of 113 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
DAVID KIRSCH KNOWS HOW TO TAKE IT OFF!, November 4, 2004
This review is from: The Ultimate New York Body Plan: Just 2 weeks to a total transformation (Hardcover)
As one who's started many diets and not finished any, I was attracted to the dustcover phrase "Just 2 Weeks To Total Transformation!" In the past, something of the utmost importance had always knocked me off a diet - holidays, a family reunion, a gift box of candy, the necessity of eating popcorn at a movie, an irresistible urge to walk into an ice cream shop. As you can see, it took very little. But, I thought anyone, even me, can stick to a plan for 2 weeks.
As I began to read this book I became even more impressed with the author, David Kirsch, founder and owner of the Madison Square Club. Of course, he's had his share of celebrity clients, but what came through to me was the amount of space he spent in explaining the importance of motivation, and how to care for yourself during the plan. He seemed to really care about his readers' well being rather than just selling books. For instance, he suggests supplements to be taken during the two weeks.
Further, when he clearly stated that he didn't endorse plastic surgery, I thought "This plan book's for me." He wrote," ....I didn't want to endorse the notion that someone would need to undergo such extreme and often painful means to look his or her best. That's just not in line with my philosophy as a trainer and wellness coach." Makes sense to me!
Mr. Kirsch's approach is two pronged - exercise and nutrition. Both are equally important. Since this is a 14 day program, the exercise requirement is a large one - 1 ½ hours each day. The exercises are clearly explained with photographs that show exactly how to do them.
His Nutrition Plan provides you with five small meals every three hours. Recipes are included, and they're tasty, especially his "Tuna Cobb Salad" and "Mexican Turkey Burger with Jalapeno Peppers and Mexican Salsa."
The author also has a bit of the cheer leader in him as he offers not only advice to keep you on track, but also words of encouragement. Finally, not to worry that all of this hard work will be lost because he also explains how to maintain the new you.
Well, my two weeks isn't up yet, but I can already feel and see a difference. I'll finish as I'm a bit like the Little Engine That Could...."I know I can, I know I can," And, I know I'll be delighted I did!
- Gail Cooke
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