By 

L. Warren “LindseyLu8″ (USA) –

  

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.

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By 

H. Fairbanks “Rockin Mom” (Chicago Il) –

  

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!

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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.

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