TryinToGetSlim,
Ironically, i'm on week 3 of Brazil Butt Lift, right now. (I bought the DVD set at one of those 'As Seen On TV' stores. It was $52 incl. tax. I doubt I would've ever bought it directly from the company, as I believe they automatically sign you up for other sales offers, etc. Either way, I like to just go and buy things, rather than waiting for them to be delivered.)
I bought it simply to add something new to my daily workouts. I do ballet, pilates, and yoga, along with good ol' fashioned treadmill and weights. I have a couple of DVD's for each discipline, but I'm kind of bored with them, at this point. BBL seemed like it might be both a fun diversion, and target my derriere...for optimal results. (wink)
I do like it well enough. The cardio routines are a bit like dancing, but the intensive workouts are tough enough to feel it. I have a home gym with a powerful fan. Even so, I'm sweating by the end of 'Cardio Axe' (cardio ashay) and 'Bum Bum' (boom boom). If I didn't have a fan, I bet I'd be dripping with sweat.
The kit comes with a diet plan (don't they all), a rapid-start program, and pointed, 4-week workouts designed for four different concerns ('too flat', 'pear', 'too big', and a generic program). It also comes with a pencil. There's no more polite way to put it...the pencil is for you to tuck it under your butt, and see if it stays. I'm pleased to say I didn't have enough sag to hold a pencil, before starting the program. The kit also includes a tension band that is, essentially, a strip of balloon rubber. Mine is still perfect, but online reviewers have found it breaks quite easily.
I contemplated both the pear and generic programs, but settled on the pear. You workout five days per week the first week, then six days per week for the remaing three weeks...and beyond, I guess.
I do the assigned BBL workout for that day, first thing in the morning. Because I'm really trying to lose weight and get fit, I usually do a second workout (not BBL) in the afternoon.
Maybe because I have PCOS-related insulin resistance, I haven't lost any additional weight since starting BBL. I'm still losing a few tenths of a pound per day, but no more than I was before BBL. I can't follow their diet plan, as I eat a mostly vegan diet. Still, my diet is clean and low-cal.
But the point of this program is mostly to shape and tone the glutes. I can't say I've really noticed anything in that department. I mean, I feel the work those muscles are doing. But, at the mid-3rd-week point, I don't "see" a difference. Maybe I'll get my husband to judge, after week 4.
To be honest, I think the different workouts in the pear solution (so far) have mostly targeted my glutes and my triceps, with some cardio, while devastating my gimpy knee with all the lunges and squats.
I do like the workouts. You need a set of hand weights or resistance bands, and ankle weights, to do the advanced levels. The workouts are performed on a hard surface, necessitating a yoga mat for some exercises. My first day, I was using my instability shoes on carpet. That was hilarious, as there are several balance moves. We're still renovating our house. So, while the gym will eventually have hardwood, it still has carpet, right now. I switched to normal exercise shoes, and that has helped a lot. On the plus side, carpeting means I don't have to break out the yoga mat unless I want to.
The product is made by Beachbody. This is the first Beachbody product I've bought. The DVD's have advertisements for other Beachbody products before and after the routines. I'm fine with that. I find it kind of motivating. But I could see if some people don't like the ads.
The host, Leandro, is purportedly Brazilian, and has a cute accent. His mispronunciations are adorable, and I generally feel quite motivated throughout the workout. He says, "Nice," and "Don't settle for less," a lot. That actually sounds like "niiiiiiiiiiice" and "don't sell for less." My husband and I have jokingly taken to saying, "niiiiiiiiice," as a result.
Oh, there is an instructional video, as well. Some of the moves are tricky, so it's a good idea not to skip that step. But, if nothing else, there's a good laugh in watching the woman demonstrate "High Heels". (If you get the DVD, you'll know what I mean.)
So, in all, I didn't buy it expecting miraculous results. I bought it as a diversion, to augment my usual routines. I haven't had what I would call miraculous results, but I am enjoying it. Many online reviewers say the workouts are very hard, and the dance moves are too complicated. I haven't found that to be the case. From the first day, I did all routines all the way through, without too much difficulty. By the second or third time, they came naturally.
My feeling is, I'm gad I bought it. Once I finish the final week, I will definitely add 2-3 days of BBL workouts to my weekly regime.
I hope that gives you some more, first-hand info. about Beachbody's 'Brazil Butt Lift'. ;-)
P.S. Thanks for the tip about FrIedrich, workoutdvdfreak. I'll take a look at that low-impact routine, given my tricky knee.
