Healthy Living Books VHS

Rating: - It probably gives great results, but I find it too boring
I have no doubt that this workout works. There are so many reviews on so many websites with people saying how it has reshaped their body, improved their flexibility, etc. However, I just can't stick to it long enough to see results.

So, I'm not going to write it off completely. It would certainly result in increased flexibility, less stress, a stronger, leaner body and more self-awareness. But if you prefer more 'moving' workouts (i.e. cardio based) then I would give this a miss. You may find it boring.

Bottom line: if you like yoga-type workouts and want a long, slim physique, this could be your answer, but if you find yoga mind-numbingly boring, avoid.

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Rating: - Excellent for beginners
Callanetics - the name itself brings forth visions of the 80's keep fit revolution with fit 20 somethings in multicoloured lycra. And that's not so far off the mark not that it's necessarily a bad thing!
I'm attempting to offer a different perspective to previous reviewers on this you see. How will I do that?
Well for starters I'm male.

Yes I'm not afraid to stand up and say that I am one of the few men to have taken on the challenge of keeping fit with Callan. I was glad when I put on the video to see that I wasn't alone. There were two other men in Callans class but the majority were female. Big age range too from early 20's to Callan's mother who was in her 70's at the time.
One of the men in the class had a Tom Selleck look going on - big moustache and lots of chest hair. Oh well it was 1986 - he can be forgiven I suppose.

My wife has also joined me in my exercise endeavour so my excuse to her at least is that I'm keeping her company.

Other reviewers have described each exercise in detail so I won't go over old ground but the entire routine consists of isolating a muscle at a time moving your body to a certain position usually to a point at which the muscle is stretched and stressed and then trying to move it just a little bit more - just an inch or so. This is done for 50 or 100 times for each exercise. Sounds basic but you really feel it by the end - if you're doing it right. I found that it took me a while to get the form right. You have to pay careful attention to what the people in the video are doing. You know its working when you can hardly climb the stairs afterwards and when you feel it for the next two days you know you're doing something right!
Luckily as with most things it gets easier after a while.

Some exercises don't seem to do much for me - the "exciting pelvic rotations" don't seem to have much of an effect Tipping up the pelvis during the leg lifts doesn't seem to be possible and the stretches where you have to practically do the splits and bring your head down to touch your ankle is impossible for both of us and doesn't seem to have got any easier during the month we've been doing it.

We've done the video three times a week for 5 weeks now

So what results have we seen? We didn't measure oursleves but I haven't seen any dramatic difference. Our clothes feel no looser. We don't weigh any less. In fact I've gone up two pounds (but I put that down to building muscle)

So this sounds like a negative review but its not really. For starters a month probably isn't enough to make a significant change. One of the main reasons we haven't seen inch loss is that we haven't been dong much cardio. So my theory is that the muscles are shaping up but there is still a layer of bodyfat on top hiding them from the world.

So our next goal is to order Super Callanetics (the advanced version) and do that twice a week and try and get a good long walk or jog on the other 5 days.

To sum up I do recommend the video as being great for beginners but after a month or so when you've done the routine for 20 times or so maybe its time to step it up a gear and do the advanced programme. Oh and most importantly don't forget the cardio to get your body fat down.

I'll review super callanetics in another month or two when I've given it a good once over. Hopefully with that and the extra cardio exercise I'll be reporting better progress.

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Rating: - NO! Too old and dated, and you have to be so bendy!
I have to disagree with the other reviews, although I admit, I did not stick with this one. I found it too dull. Some of the exercises are very similar to Pilates. Others are really hard to do, very hard on the neck muscles. Also, I found the woman a bit creepy, she is so tiny! A huge head, with a bird-like frame, spooky!

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Rating: - F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C
In a desperate need to tone up for the summer I ordered Callanetics. When I got it I was dissapointed, it looks old and boring and I really wasn't interested. However, once I put it in I found it amazing! None of what it tells you is a lie, it is perfect!

I have been doing it this week on and off and I have lost a whole inch off my stomach. This is definately the best and by the end of summer I will be healthier and fitter, you really know and feel it! For this cheap price, it is not a workout to miss!

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Rating: - This really does work!!
My mother had been trying to get me to do Callanetics for years, but I've always preferred the "jump about" type of exercise routines - how wrong I was!! I've done this only twice, but already can see and feel the difference. I usually do aerobics 3x a week, but had reached a plateau - Callanetics seems to be doing what I wanted, toning me up without having to push my body to extremes. I also find the video really relaxing and like Callan's attitude towards pacing yourself and working at what feels comfortable for YOU!

I have already recommended this to several friends and would highly recommend this to anyone - an exercise routine that works without breaking a sweat AND relaxes you - fantastic!! This may be dated, but the old ones certainly are the best!