The Weight-Loss Kick-Start that Makes Perfection Possible

I tried this workout and only lasted about 10 days. Once things started cutting into the time I had planned on working out I fell out of sync and dropped it. It was really tough and I'm sure if I had stuck it out I would be very happy with the results.

Tracy says her plan is guaranteed to work. Eating very few calories and working out 2 hours a day (the premise of her program) will have that effect. But she also says to follow her plan to a T or else it won't work. Skip this book unless you plan on following her meal plans perfectly and working out 2 hours a day.

This boot camp is entirely unreasonable. The calorie intake for the amount of mat work and dance cardio you do is totally unhealthy. The menu is extremely time-consuming to make and way too expensive for the average person. The muscular structure work is do-able; I will most likely continue with this section. The dance cardio, however, is dangerous to do in your own home unless you have remodeled one of your spare rooms or basement into a dance studio. Warning: do not do the dance cardio on carpeting and be sure to wear the appropriate shoes (ie., not running shoes). I sprained my ankle the first time I tried the dance cardio workout, and believe me, I am no klutz. Like Miss Anderson's other material, this book and DVD are poorly edited and filled with inconsistencies. This whole 30-day boot camp concept is just not safe, healthy or convenient. Don't waste your money.

Personally I found the hard copy book quite unnecessary since it comes with a DVD illustration of how to do the moves...So u don't really need to read the book. Apart from that, the exercise program is great. I love the Dancing section. It's easier to do than those in traditional TA dancing DVDs.

And yeah...I wonder who would really follow the diet plans ?!! I don't ! It's too much trouble to cook day-by-day meals like that (especially for only 1 person), except when u have someone else to do all the grocery shopping and cooking for u !

I have never reviewed an item on the store before but I feel it would be beneficial to do so with TA method book/DVD. This is an INTENSE and TIME CONSUMING process BUT I lost 18lbs and 21inches in 30 days. My sister lost 20lbs and 19inches. We completed the entire method together, worked out together when we could, and prepared meals together. I really advise having a buddy to do the method with to keep yourself motivated. I am an extremely busy single mother of two working full time and my sister is a full time ER RN who frequently works long shifts, but we made time to complete the work out everyday. What I liked best about the DVD and method is that although you have to exercise for 1-3hrs a day, ( the workout never took less than 2 1/2 hrs for me) you can break it up into segments and complete it little by little through out the day when you have time. For example I would do 40-60 cardio in the morning, leg series in the afternoon, and arms and abs before bed. There were days I was so sore that I thought I was going to die, but after stretching and cardio I was able to make it through. If you want easy this is not the book or workout for you. If you want RESULTS and are willing to work really hard for only ONE month then I recommend this. The book is fairly well written, nice to reference when you want to make sure that you are positioning correctly. The menu is easy to follow I love that she focuses on not calories but eating good energy producing food. TA provides all the recipes and my sister who couldn't cook before this had no problem handling them. The downside, the cardio gets boring, BUT it works, the DVD is not edited the best but it comes with the book and most of her DVDs run 30 bucks anyway, so you can't expect perfection. I know other reviewers didn't like that she doesn't smile or talk much, but i personally liked it because it was so hard that if she had been smiley and talking it would have pissed me off-LOL. I have now moved on to her post pregnancy AB video and plan to stick with it.
FYI - I was lazy couch potato, hardly worked out ever and my sister was uber-active exercise freak, it was difficult for both of us but we both made it:)

I received my really fast. The company is great with shipping. I have been hearing about Tracy for a number of years. The book is great it shows you how to do the exercise. I like that she uses her body to do the exercises not just equipment. It is something you can do at home. I really like that it came with a DVD that show her doing the exercise.

The book is very well made, even the explanations are easy for understanding and performance. I play for 2 months the wise of Tracy already and I have results, I hope to achieve even better results with the book.

Thanks, tracy!!!

I've been intrigued by the Tracy Anderson Method for a couple of years now, but hesitated to spend the money on her DVD's, as they are somewhat expensive. When I discovered the book, which includes both a dance cardio routine and mat work, I bought it immediately. I've always been very active, yet have given birth to three kids. In my mid-40's, I'm very fit, but have just never been able to get rid of that pregnancy "pooch". After having done 20 days of the 30 Day Method, the pooch is gone. I've done so many different kinds of exercise routines over the years, but nothing has given me the tight, knitted stomach that this does. I'm now definitely a believer of using cross-vector muscles to knit the larger ones tighter. However, I do want to make a few comments:

CONS:

1. This workout is LONG! Tracy describes the entire workout as lasting between 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. If you are continually increasing the repetitions during mat work as suggested, that alone can take up to 1 1/2 hours, bringing total time to 2 1/2 hrs. I found I had to split the mat work from the cardio just to get them both in, otherwise, I would have to start my day at 4:30 in the morning!

2. The food. Even though I live in the boonies, I've been able to find most of the ingredients listed in the diet portion of the book. However, the diet seems kind of bland and repetitious. I understand the concept of "eating clean," so instead of following the diet to a T, I've made several substitutions that worked to my tastes and time availability. Anyone with internet access should be able to find more user-friendly recipes that are similar to what Tracy has in the book.

3. As mentioned by previous reviewers, following the cardio portion on the dvd is difficult not only due to editing problems, but there is NO instruction given. After several days, I finally "got" the routine, but it was frustrating in the meantime. It would be helpful if Tracy were to have her back to the camera so it would be easier to follow along.

PROS:

1. As I stated before, this works! I've done all sorts of exercise over the past decade or so - P90X, Jillian Micheals, yoga, Pilates, marathons, triathlons, etc..., and I've never been able to get my stomach reasonably flat. While I still have some excess skin from my pregnancies, my stomach hasn't looked this tight and flat since my early 20's! I can see definitive toning improvements in my hips, glutes, and arms as well.

2. I found the dance to be fun, and once I mastered the routine, I found that I could just turn on my stereo, and dance around the house to my favorite tunes. I found a couple other Tracy Anderson dance routines that were free on YouTube, so I wasn't stuck doing the exact same thing for days on end. Learning this DVD routine helped me master the other ones a little quicker.

3. I like how the mat routine gets increasingly challenging, yet you have 10 days to master each set of exercises. By the end of each of the first two 10 day sets, I was very aware of how all my little and big muscles were being used. I literally felt like I was controlling the outcome of how tight my muscles have become by controlling my movements.

4. Considering the price of Tracy Anderson's Mat Work DVD, and her Dance Cardio DVD (each around $30), this book/dvd combo is a bargain. It's easy to read, and it helps to understand the philosophy behind doing what you're doing for 1 1/2+ hrs. each day. It's helpful to have each exercise broken down in the book as well as on the DVD. Plus, you get several healthy, nutritious recipes as well.

Bottom line:

I really didn't need to lose weight, just the "surface fat" that Tracy discusses in the book. Still, I've lost 4 lbs., and I've dropped almost two dress sizes in just 20 days from using this book. If you consider yourself fit already, but not tight and toned, The Tracy Anderson 30 Day Method, if followed properly, WILL get results.

I like to call this book, "Anorexia for Beginners." Having been a health, fitness and nutrition buff all my adult life, I am always on the lookout for the next book or workout routine making headlines. I bought Tracy's book out of curiosity, figuring with all the buzz she and her "method" have been receiving, there must be something of value here.
What I found is a "method" that greatly restricts daily caloric consumption, denies your body of vital nutrients, and advocates an inordinate amount of exercise on an almost daily basis. At first I was confused by the numerous four- and five-star reviews, then I realized, women were rating the book so highly because, as they claim, "It works!," and "I lost weight!" Well, of course you did, my dears - you're hardly eating anything and you're working out like fiends.
Personally, I'm put off by Tracy's persistent emphasis on being "teeny tiny." I happen to be petite myself ~ 5'2", and I wear anywhere between a size 0 to a 2, depending on the store, cut, etc.; however, I like my body to have shape, contour, and more importantly, functionality and strength. Tracy's focus is appearance, not health, and that is this book's greatest detriment.
If you want to get HEALTHY (and lose weight, if that's your goal), check out "The Primal Blueprint" by Mark Sisson. If you want to shape and strengthen your body, I recommend the Physique 57 DVD's and walking, even just 30 minutes a day, a few times a week. Nothing has toned my legs, bum, and entire body like these two things put together. What's even better: no strain on the joints, no shin splints, no insipid bouncing around, and you'll save yourself a LOT of time.

Pros:
-This chick has absolutely no affect, seriously, a completely blank face, ergo video is HILARIOUS. Seriously like watching SNL.
-You will definitely lose weight, and quickly, which is a good motivator for most people
-You can definitely "feel the burn" at least if you're as out of shape as I am!
-This is an extremely strict and regimented program, so if you respond well to rules, you will do well.
-Food is healthy and delicious. I am honestly surprised by how much I like the food.
-I have low back pain and shoulder pain and recently had spine surgery (thus the joy of being incredibly out of shape), these exercises have actually relieved my (office job) shoulder pain and my low back is feeling better too. (I am being VERY careful not to injure myself again.)
-It's only 30 days. If I didn't travel, this would completely be a yummy and pretty easy adventure. It's after the 30 days that this will become questionable.
-Excellent vegetarian options (although proteins could be more varied than egg whites, soy products and cheese).

Cons:
-If you travel or eat out for work at all, you will be unable to comply with the diet as there are no substitutions and it's not like "eat a small salad" or whatever, the foods are very specific. Not sure what the implications of that are yet.
-This lady's lack of affect can also be annoying.
-You're looking at a serious time committment, like 3-4 hours a day. The recipes are quite simple, but you're preparing 4 meals a day from scratch and the repeats are spaced out (so you can't make a larger quantity and eat it a few days later). The workout takes about 1.5 hours as well. I work 12-14 hours a day, try to sleep seven and walk my dog for one, that leaves me a bit short of time to, you know, see my husband or friends. (my husband works from home and takes care of most of the dog stuff, so don't yell at me for dog abuse)
-This is not that different from how I normally eat (I lied, these portions are way smaller than what I usually eat, and I do like the occasional whole grain), except that I do like to, for instance, use a whole green pepper or head of escarole and eat the leftovers over the course of the week, instead of using two leaves. I am concerned about food waste.
-This is definitely not sustainable. If you are a housewife with no children and at least part of your job is to be pretty, then you have your plan here. For the rest of us, I think this is a good tool to drop a few pounds quickly and remember how good those other jeans feel.
-The video only covers one side of the body. Would it really have been that hard to do both sides? While learning the moves (I still am), I have to rewind to make sure I'm doing it right. Annoying to stop and rewind.
-Like another reviewer, I prefer a few more carbs (whole grains) to keep my brain functioning. There is a decent amount of fruit and carby veg, though, so I don't think you're heading into Atkins territory.

I read the book in one day. After receiving motivational encouragement from Tracy, I decided to commit.
Pros:
It's been 3 days and I've lost 3 lbs.
I like the idea of switching up the routine every 10 days.
The meals are not hard to cook (look at my cons for the rest of the menu)
It's ONLY 30 days!
Cons:
Cardio is VERY repetitve. I turn on different music so I can finish the 40 minutes.
1 1/2 hours to work out is long. I schedule it in. I am dripping with sweat after!
Meal plan is hard to follow. Lots of ingredients. I modify the menu by picking and choosing the meals that appeal to me.
No wine- I still have my glass of wine!
I am glad I bought it and am motivated to continue.

I bought this product hoping to get myself back on track after gradually gaining 20 pounds. I have always been fit and exercised regularly, aside from a few lapses when life was too hectic to fit in major workouts. My 20 pounds are my reward for my deep love of food.

I am well versed in nutrition and fitness. Ms. Anderson claims to be a sort of pioneer in her field but is absolutely not. I did the same exercises with Jane Fonda 30 years ago. She claims to be the only one who is aware of the assistor muscles. That is completely wrong. I am familiar with many a fitness expert who is well aware of these muscles.

Her diet is lacking vital nutrients. It is overall healthy but deficient in salt, and fat. Even for major weight loss goals, the body requires salt/sodium for vital processes and some fat to aid in processing important nutrients.

Yes, to lose weight, fat and salt should be limited but not completely eliminated.

The toning exercises are good but incredibly boring. By the end of each ten day segment, you are thrilled for some variety. The 2 dance components are, quite frankly, pretty lame. She disses so many forms of repetitive cardio exercises and her dance movements lack arm movements for the most part. There are two dance components. They are nearly identical. She is not engaging in any way and this can be a challenge if you are supposed to do her cardio portion for even 20 minutes, let alone the 40 she prefers you do.

I augmented her menu by adding a little sea salt to most dishes and a few bites of complex carbs here and there. It helped boost my energy levels just a bit when I started to feel weak. Instead of her dance portion, I acutally do the Just Dance game on my Wii. The workout is much more challenging, engaging, and rewarding.

Quite frankly, I would use her menu, if you need a strict guide to follow, and responsibly add necessary supplements, such as sea salt, a small amount of healthy complex carbs for energy, and healthy fats, as you need them and use the wide selection of Biggest Loser workouts.

Like many I did a 'modified version'. Didn't fully follow the diet and took 1-2 rest days each week. However, even with my modifications, I lost 8.5 pounds and 12.5 inches. I dropped from a size 8 to 4. Even better, I've kept with the program and continue to get stronger.

I likeTracy Anderson's DVDs that I have tried, so I thought the book would be a great accompaniment. A very large part of the book is Tracy explaining her weight issues, her research to come up with her method, and anecdotes on how she has changed people's lives. I was a bit out off by an early comment, that if you've had one, two or EVEN three children, she can transform you. I've had (gasp) four. So I'm hopeless? Well, anyway, the black and white photocopied photos did not illustrate how to to the moves well, nor did her instructions. The videos are much better. The diet section is really just common sense, and I already eat that way. Don't eat until you're full ....don't eat sugar, eat fruit, veg, tuna, turkey ect. The recipes are simplistic and uninspiring. For great food, try Hemsley and Hemsley. For workout advise, stick to the DVDs. If you want a poorly written biography with difficult to follow photos for workout moves, this is your kind of book. I should say that I did not open the DVDs that came with it, as I wouldn't be able to return the book...so I have no idea if it helps.

I've had other Tracy Anderson DVDs, and think the exercises and her approach is great. This book isn't that great.

1. Ok fine to follow her 1.5 hour a day routine. It's alot but it I can make that kind of commitment for the hoped for outcomes...

2. But on top of that, I just spent 1 hour creating 2 out of the 4 meals for the first day. I don't have this kind of time to create meals like this just for myself. Recipes call for things like "2 tablespoons of chive" which means I have to throw the rest of the chives away or figure out how someone else in my family will eat them...

3. There are quality issues with the DVD program. In the book, it says things like "you can start with 20 repetitions, move on to 25, when you get to 60 start weights and go back down to 40 repetitions." THe DVD, however, simply states to do 40 repetitions.

Because on the DVD she doesn't do the full 20, 40 or 60 repititions, I have to constantly stop the DVD so I can finish my complete set and catch up. Obviously, we are meant to memorize or follow along with the book -- but since this is a DVD and we have to follow along with the cardio anyway, why not just have her run through at least a full set?

The cardio is nice and fun, but it does move fast through the sequences. Four repetitions of a move, and its off to another movement. Most of her cardio DVDs are like that, there is a steep learning curve.

I think Tracy's knowledge and approach are unmatched in the fitness industry. Those who knock it, probably never sincerely tried it. I have tried many of the "programs" out there and never got the body I wanted. Now I have it and have been able to keep it for 2+ years. This book has a ton of great information in it. If you have tried the rest, you owe it to yourself to look into this book.

I started this book in January and by mid February I have lost 10 pounds, 3 1/2 inches off my waist, 1 1/2 inches off my thighs, and a inch off my upper arms. This is what I've been looking for. A diet plan plus exercise. I have worked out in gyms my whole life (spin instructor for 5 years)and have always been athletic. But after having a child (c-section) and miscarriage, my body was not coming back. I was stuck, even thought I started to train and run 5K's with my girl friends, my body was not losing weight or shaping up. But with this method it worked. I am super excited with the results and gonna get back to running and the gym to add beautiful muscle tone to my body (body pump), but continue with the diet and her exercise. I never did exactly what she said to do cause I don't have an hour and a half or 2 hours, but just doing what I could still made a huge difference in my body and how I feel. I have energy now, no more crashing at 3:00 needing a nap. This book is a true winner for me. Thank you Tracy

I consider myself to be in pretty decent shape and am a HUGE fan of Tracy's Mat Workout but this 30 day plan is just plain ridiculous. After three months I still find the Mat Workout challenging (the arms!) but have toned up considerably using both the DVD and a common sense diet. I decided to try the 30 day boot camp because I enjoyed the Mat so much but am extremely disappointed with the 30 day program. Tracy isn't the best at cuing but at least with the Mat you were doing the workout with her to lovely music in a beautiful setting. The DVD that comes with boot camp has her demonstrating each move robotically on one side and then expects you to pause it while you finish the recommended reps both on that side and the other. She wants you to be able to at least 40 of each on both legs (80 per exercise) - it's possible that because I also do the Mat this is miserable but I find it dreadful even if I use my own music (there is nothing on the DVD). It takes nearly an hour to do the routine and that doesn't even include the cardio, which basically consists of her jumping around! For all her talk about running being tough on joints the constant jumping isn't any better. With no cues, of course. You're better off turning on your favorite music and just doing your own moves.

And then there's the diet, which puts the body into starvation mode at 700 calories per day(no nutritionist recommends going under 1,200). So on top of miserable exercises you are also literally starving, no matter how tasty the recipes may be. Anyone will lose weight with this formula. The trouble is that once you enter starvation mode your metabolism slows, which makes it easier to gain weight when you resume a normal diet.

I find this a quick and painful fix if you need to drop a few pounds (you definitely will) but it is not sustainable and if anything you will gain the weight back quicker than you lose it unless you stick to the "diet." I'll continue to do some of the exercises on the boot camp DVD as an addition to the Mat workout but this book/diet program is neither healthy nor inspiring.

For the record I'd give the Mat workout 5 stars so I have nothing against Tracy and think some of her workouts are great.

I'm not 100% thrilled with this. Honestly, the idea behind the workout is sound. She targets smaller muscles to "pull in" the muscles around them, but her method is just not something I can do as a mother and wife. I can't follow her diet exactly, as she recommends, simply because it's not feasible for me to have all the different ingredients and I can't cook a meal 4 times a day. I'm happy to get one meal on the stove! That being said, her stretches and shaping moves are pretty cool. I've been starting the morning with her stretches as soon as I get up and I can certainly feel them! The floor work will challenge you as it's not super easy and some of the moves feel a bit un-natural in the way you move. Okay, the DVD...it's nice that she shows you how to do the moves so you can get your form correct, but it's black and white (making her look silver...kinda creepy) and she doesn't talk or smile or anything. The cardio was just not something I could keep up with. By the time I figured out how to move like she was, she was on to something else.

I consider myself pretty healthy - I exercise 5 days a week using a combination of cardio / weights, swimming and yoga and eat a healthy diet but I am always looking for new tips and advice!

This book offered both the good and the bad! To being with I appreciated the background of why this plan came to be, but as I continued reading, there was a little too much self fulfilling about why this program was the best thing ever and why you should abandon many traditional forms of exercise - there are folks that do yoga, weight lift or run who are in the greatest shape of their lives yet according to this book, you should initially abandon all of the above and only follow the forms of exercise in this book! Many people who are looking to get into shape may find themselves more motivated when they can incorporate some other forms of exercise which they currently enjoy I felt there were too many chapters devoted to how this program came to be and found myself skipping over some of the repetition in order to get to the actual plan!

Now the exercises were great - this is a good common sense approach to exercise and the movements certainly gain results! Small but calculated moves targeting different muscle areas as well as the chance to change the workouts every 10 days keeps if fresh and effective - you will certainly feel it! The included DVD makes this book well worth the price and you will find yourself with excellent cardio and muscle targeting exercises that will tone your body and help you develop strong lean muscles that will help you look good and burn fat! Though I work out frequently, I certainly felt the effects of this program!

Where this book really becomes a let down, is in the terrible menu section! Healthy eating is important when seeking results - exercise and eating go hand in hand in hand! This book has its ideas right when it tried to incorporate treats into the meal plan, because often diets are too restrictive and ask you to abandon all favorites which is when the average person feels deprived and is more likely to binge or abandon the plan! However simply incorporating 'treat' items does not make a diet effective or healthy!

As a vegetarian, as others have remarked, on some of the days the calorie content was well under 1000 calories! Sustained eating at this level together with exercise is too restrictive - the average person would give up quickly due to that sense of deprivation, but beyond that such low calorie content with intense exercise, plus everything else the average person has to do in a day will certainly result in weight loss, but it will also long term potentially damage the metabolism - the body sensing deprivation, will slow down, in trying to protect itself so as soon as you try and eat a normal calorific amount, you might be more apt to gain weight! One can eat at least 1500 calories a day with an intense work out session and still get in shape! The diet was also lacking in nutrients - most days I did not see an abundance of fresh fruit and veggies, nor did I see the protein and carbs the body would require to stay full and develop more lean muscle mass!

Its a shame, as we have excellent exercise advice with terrible dietary advice - sure if you followed the book you would lose weight - and maybe that is what the author is looking for, but generally this diet is far too low calorie to be healthy! A short term fix to a good body, is not a long term fix to great health!

When reviewing fitness books, I look for books that tell the reader how to fully use their bodies. I really like Anderson's method for two reasons:

1. She knows muscles. She knows how they work, she knows how to train them. In the book, the concept of using certain muscles to perform an exercise is clearly explained. This is a crucial part of muscle training.

2. She had a good balance between aerobic exercise and anaerobic exercise, and she has put them together in a good way.

Anderson was a dancer, she also took Pilates (the right way) and I could see both of those influences in her method. Don't get scared away by that--even if you've never seen the inside of a ballet studio, you'd be just fine working her method! But there is a reason that it is said that dancers are the athletes of God: because they are. Combining cardio (aerobic exercise) with Pilates (conditioning) and dance (alternating engage-disengage exercise to increase stamina) is the perfect combination for weight loss and muscle toning.

Now how to get there if you have never experienced any of that?

Anderson breaks the book down into different sections. The exercise portion, where she fully explains every stretch, position, and movement, is well described for the absolute beginner. More athletic users or advanced athletes would benefit also, but they wouldn't have to read the descriptions of the movements in their entirety.

The DVD is very good: It features Anderson working the exercises in the book enough time to hear the description, see all the details, and do it yourself.

There is also a section in the book with some great meals. The first section is a very thorough introduction that I do not recommend skipping! You'll learn tons about your body! I was also amazed at how much research Anderson did to create this method.

The only thing I don't like: The cardio routine has no verbiage. I expected some talking, either voiceover or real time, with some counting or some description of what you should be doing. However, it was just music and Anderson dancing. It would take me, who has been dancing for almost five years, two or three times doing the DVD to get the combinations. It would be a lot more difficult and confusing for someone who doesn't have practice taking what they see and converting it for themselves.

The other thing I wanted to see more of was proper stretching techniques. I honestly have yet to find a book that explains how to properly stretch without injury (it is possible!). My recommendation to anyone who uses this awesome program: stretch well. Stretch correctly. Get a dancer or a sports doctor to give you advice if you need it.

Recommendation: Ages 14+ for anyone serious. This program takes time, energy, and commitment. If you can't commit to about two hours of your day, it's not for you. If you use the program, make sure you follow instructions very carefully to avoid injury! doing exercises incorrectly is a very fast way to end up in the physical therapists office (I can tell you that from personal experience, though not experience from this book).

This review is copyright Haley Mathiot 2010. Do not copy without permission. See original review here: [...]

This is a good exercise book, with an unrealistic food plan. I really felt that the author wrote the book from her heart, and what she believes will work. I don't like the word perfection in the title. I don't believe anyone can define what a perfect body really is.

I like the mat exercises,and the cardio part is fun. I do think it will get a little bit boring doing the same cardio routines every day. I feel as a chiropractor, and fitness trainer, the exercises are safe and challenging. I don't agree with doing the workout routines everyday. I think the body requires rest days in between workouts.

I think the dietary recommendations are too extreme. There is not enough protein in the plan. Even though the food choices are very healthy, I don't think there is enough food to sustain a woman, who is working, and doing an hour and a half workout each day. I think if you follow this dietary program you are setting yourself up to overeat when the 30 days are over. I started to get anxiety just thinking about how little I could eat, and all the time it would take to prepare most of the meals and snacks.