What's the deal on body flex?

[nancy324]

I just saw this body flex infomerical and checked it out online. It sounds like the biggest hoax ever, but most people who have reviewed it online said they lost inches in the first week. How can people lose inches from a breathing technique?? Has anyone here tried it? It sounds so unlikely....

 

[FitnessGoddess]

Having only seen a few seconds of the infomercial, I have to tell you that I totally agree with your impression that this is the biggest hoax ever. Just the whole out of focus thing made me laugh. You have to keep in mind that if they can put an infomercial on that makes you think it's a hoax, the "testimonials" on the internet site may not be real.

I certainly don't think they are. The whole thing sounds too foney to me!

 

[kathryn]

If I measured 18 different points on my body, I'm sure some of them would decrease just because of the time of month is is, or how hydrated I am, etc.

I think this "workout" could help with breathing, but as for being "aerobic"...pooey!

And did you notice that Greer Childress is filmed with such a blurred lens (a very old movie technique to make older actresses look younger by smoothing out the look of wrinkles) that she seems to blur into the background? She used to push the "Healthrider," and credited THAT with he losing 60 pounds. So which is it? The HEalthrider or Bodyflex? And when are we ever going to see her "before" pictures? This all makes me very sceptical.

 

[Carol122201]

What amazes me (and I see a LOT of this type of "infomercial worship" on other message boards!!) is that people fall for this nonsense. I'm quicky getting to the point where I don't trust anything I see on an infomercial. We are so bombarded out there with them, and with gadgets on QVC and other channels, which deliver outrageous promises, and most people (not us of course!!) are looking for the quick fix cure. They want to be lean and healthy with a pill, or with a "miracle diet", or with a "workout" program which takes "only 20 minutes a day, three days a week!", and subsequently implies by showing you a super buff 18 year old model with a 6 pack that you too will have abs like that by doing next to nothing!! NONSENSE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! As you can see, I have VERY strong opinions on this stuff, and I get myself quite worked up on the WW message board when I see people hailing something they just bought off an infomercial, or worse yet encouraging the desperate on there to buy it too!! I literally have to sit on my hands not to respond, because it would be a very ugly cyber war. There is no miracle cure, or pill, or gadget that can give you a lean healthy body. It takes WORK. It takes strength training, it takes cardio work, and it takes commitment to a healthy way of eating ... for LIFE.

I too have seen the Body Flex infomercial, and I'm surprised no one has sued her for false advertising. What a bunch of nonsense. I've lost 38 inches since the end of April by working out with first the Firm and now Cathe, and by following the guidelines of the WW program. There is no way on God's green earth I would ever believe I could have done the same thing by BREATHING HARD - LOL!! If that were true ... well, let's not go there, but let's just say everytime I engage in one my favorite horizontal activities, I would have been shedding inches, you know? I mean, wouldn't we all???? LOL!!

Okay ... I'm done ranting now. I am really glad someone addressed this on here!! I am also so grateful to have found you - the Educated Crowd!!!!!!

Carol

 

[French]

Actually, I don't believe this kind of program would work for ME (or most anyone here), but I DO personally know of a woman on another board who is ON the infomercial and she really IS a success story. She started out at over 300 pounds, and frankly, was not really able to do any kind of aerobic exercise but the breathing. She's lost over 150 pounds. She completely credits this program, however she also is a low carber (Atkins). We'll probably never know for sure which, or if both were what made her a success at losing her weight.

The way I understand it, it is quite challenging. Especially for someone who is not in any shape at all. And I also understand that most of us do not breath correctly (from the diaghram). I know I don't.

Having said all the above, I still think for the vast majority of the population, it's a hoax. But it DOES work for *some* people. I'm not real sure why I posted this because in all honesty, I'm NOT trying to defend it as a viable weight loss option. I guess I'm just trying to say that I know someone who credits the program with her tremendous weight loss success.

I will NOT be buying this!!

 

[JamminX3]

How funny to come here and see this thread. I just got off the phone with my best friend (25 yrs) and she was telling me how much she loves Body Flex and her success with it.

She had done it a couple of years ago and had success, but quit the program for whatever reason. This time she's stuck with it for about 3 months and has gone from a 14 to b/w an 8 and a 10. Yes, she's decreased her caloric and fat intake, but it's the results with Body Flex that keeps her motivated to do so. That's success to me.

Body Flex is really about toning/pulling in the core. I read once in M&F about a technique that Arnold S. used to do before competition to pull in his abs and it's pretty much the same thing. In expelling all your air, your abs automatically contract...tightly. It's not just about that, but that's the main crux.

I don't have TV, so I haven't seen an infomercial for this, but apparently Greer does claim flat loss with this program. That, I don't know. I do know that my friend sent me the program the last time she did it just to see what it was about. I was doing FIRM and Cathe workouts by then and it really didn't thrill me, but I have to say, it felt like a workout. I was pooped afterwards. Still, it wasn't for me(I felt like a goof and I missed weights! )....but my goals are different than my friend's........and that's OK!!!!

Bottom line, this works for my friend. She wouldn't stick to doing the video workouts that I sent her, but she does stick with this. She's had 3 kids and had an little 'apron'. She's lost down to 114 before and still had the apron. With Body Flex the apron is gone and she's thrilled to pieces...and so is her DH.

Just my 2 cents!

 

[icklemoley]

I think people want to believe that there is some simple way to lose pounds/inches. And in reality, it ain't true. Diet. Cardio. Weights = lean body. We fall for it because it looks so convincing. Doens't it! But we have to realise that at the end of the day it takes hard work, not just a breathing technique to lose wieght. Saying that, Arnold S did use a technique for pulling in his abs and you can lose about an 1-2" if you follow it, all you do is really really really suck in your navel to your spine. Hold the contraction until you feel a burning senstaion then hold it another 30 seconds. It hurts, but it does falten the abs. Honestly.

 

[IGTamayo]

RE: Other Informercials That Really Work!!

Hi All,

Wanted to add my two cents worth.

This past Saturday I was at physical therapy for my knee (had surgery on the 3rd)and noticed that they were opening some huge cartons - they opened 10 Total Gyms - I couldn't believe it!! I own a Total Gym and I use it for pilates - purchased the attachment and it works great. So you see some of these infomercials are true to what they claim. The hokiest infomercial I ever saw was for that pulsating magnetic ab reducer - can't remember the name because there were so many on the market. I agree with Nancy, some of these infomercials are just so phoney and they are allowed to air their product with phoney testimonials and the like.. but you know what they say.... buyer beware.

Take care,

Iris