January 28, 2010

Yog-ahhhhh or Yo-grrrrrrr? A Review Of The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga DVD


It has been suggested by people who know me (and some people I pay to know me) that perhaps my weight loss is so glacial because I am supremely stressed. Yes, I know – we’re ALL stressed – that much I will grant you. But while many are lucky enough to have stable personalities allowing them to take it all in stride, there are the others of us who are fragile messes scanning the skies for the next house to fall on us. I reluctantly admit to falling into the latter category.

Unrelenting stress releases the hormone cortisol, which elevates your appetite and helps produce visceral fat – the more active kind of fat which settles deep in your belly and can interfere with liver function as well as wreaking other kinds of havoc. This varies from the other kind of fat – subcutaneous – which lies just under your skin and poses no serious health risk – unless you’ve got so much of it that you’re obese. To help alleviate stress of this nature, deep breathing exercises, antidepressants and yoga are often suggested. I’ve had my dance with antidepressants and while they helped soothe my jangled nerves, they also helped pack on 35 pounds that I wasn’t expecting. Eventually, I felt so stressed out by the additional weight that I stopped taking the meds (tapered down under doctor supervision). The deep breathing is all well and good but I needed something that didn’t give casual onlookers the idea I was a heavy breathing perv. Enter yoga.

I heard about the DVD a little while ago and rented it first to see if it looked doable. No sense in shelling out real money if you can’t stand the instructor, music, scenery or the moves resemble something along the lines of the Flying Wallendas (and look what happened to them!). It looked like something I could do (as long as no one else was in the house to witness the calamity) so I bought it for $7.99 at Amazon.com.

Let me first congratulate the producers of this DVD for using the Biggest Loser trainer and mellow fellow Bob Harper, instead of the screeching Jillian Michaels. I know a lot of you are huge Jillian fans because all that yelling motivates you but when one is trying to de-stress, being chided and humiliated is not a good jumping-off place. To me, Jillian is the female equivalent of counter-terrorism agent, Jack Bauer from “24”. I love me some Jack, especially when he’s going all Slingblade on the bad guys. I would not have such warm, fuzzy feelings if Jack were delivering the beatdown to me. Ditto on the Jillian verbal assault.

This DVD is Bob at his laid-back best; before he started dropping f-bombs all over the place a couple of seasons ago. Whatever happened to the good cop-bad cop approach that he and Jillian had going when the show first started? Who thought this bad cop-bad cop deal was such a good idea? What’s next – Biggest Loser: Reservoir Dogs Edition? Quentin Tarantino as guest trainer? But I digress. Bob hits a perfectly mellow pitch and is oh so gently encouraging in this DVD.

The workout has three levels of ability plus a five minute warm-up and cool-down. There are also the requisite disclaimers about checking with your doctor before beginning any exercise video – which we at Cranky Fitness endorse as well. Besides a DVD player, the only other piece of equipment which I’d recommend is a yoga mat; especially if you have wood floors.

The warm-up is a good mix of deep breathing and stretches which instantly helped to relax me. I selected Level 1 as I am a rank beginner at yoga and I have the coordination skills of a hippo jumping double dutch. I should caution you that if you’ve never done yoga before, it’s a little like that simplistic attitude some of us had about parenting before we actually had kids of our own: “What’s all the fuss about? How hard can it be?” Brace yourself.

This is not me (sigh)
Photo: Canon in 2D

It starts off easy enough except that Bob puts you in a downward dog position (on your hands and feet with your butt up in the air) from the get-go so that you’re facing the floor when you really want to see what’s happening on the screen. This happens at various times throughout the workout and I just took whatever liberties I needed so I could see what he was talking about. The pace was nice and slow as he worked me from one position to another (that’s not really as dirty as it sounds). I could not bend over and palm the floor or get into a plank position without granting myself some “accommodations” but that was just okey-dokey with Bob. Moving from one position to the next was a little awkward but I can see with practice that it could flow much more smoothly. There was the ever-present Forrest Gump on-screen participant doing the “Help, I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up” version of the workout so I wouldn’t feel so alone.

The yoga poses themselves were not very difficult until Bob instructed us to hold them for what seemed like an eternity, usually with one knee at a 90 degree angle to the upper leg. Oh yes, thighs will be cooking tonight. Make sure Frank Perdue and his Fry-o-later don't catch wind of this free range bird going rogue.

A difficult move for me was the plank – arms straight and supporting the upper body with a straight line down to your toes, which are supporting your lower body. Is there such a thing as “wrist splints”? I only ask because mine were screaming during any of these upper body poses. At this point, Bob wants to “test” your upper body strength and see if you can go from a plank position to a half push-up, and then into a full push-up. Maybe it’s just me but my upper body regimen is pretty much restricted to turning door knobs and threading needles. I double-Gumped my way through that one.

THIS is me.
Photo: lululemon athletica

As I neared the close of the workout I was indeed exerting myself. Muscles once lost had been found. There was ample moisture in all the right places but perhaps that was just flop sweat. I had to laugh (once I regained the use of my lungs) when Bob kept telling us to breathe throughout the workout, even if we were bent in such a way that our ass fat was impeding our diaphragms, making breathing a bit labored. Here again, that might have just been me.

All in all, I really did feel like I had gotten a good workout. Having tensed and relaxed so many muscles proved to be very relaxing once the workout was over. Yoga is not some glorified tree-hugging exercise. It really works your muscles and your core. I was sufficiently sore the next morning, which in my book makes it worth the effort.

I suppose for the weight loss benefit to kick in I would have to do this work-out more than just this one time. Kind of like eating your vegetables. Sure, I’ve eaten vegetables – back in 1979. You can’t get the desired benefit unless you repeat the process over and over.

Have any of you tried yoga? What did you think of it and have you made it part of your fitness regimen?

43 comments:

  1. Nice information Gigi. I wanted to try Yoga for many, many years. All those classes I attempted but this uncoordinated body just didn't want to bend like a pretzel. I did start doing Yoga stretches on my Wii this year. It is now a 3 day a week habit.
    I think I might try this video.

    And as a side note, I feel the same way about Jillian. I need the gentler side to get me moving.

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  2. Fun post.. and one to which I could relate. I've tried yoga several times. Each time I've come away from it feeling totally klutzy and uncoordinated. Not my cuppa.

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  3. i took a yoga class with my sister in college which was, at the time, the only class i WANTED to go to every week! i think what made me feel more coordinated and flexable were the 4 or 5 football players also in the class. :) I wonder if that would help for anyone else...

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  4. I bought a collection of yoga videos back in 2005 and have used them sporadically since (looking sheepish). When I do yoga regularly my lower back doesn't hurt. When I don't do yoga regularly my lower back does hurt. I don't have a serious back issues btw so don't think I'm suggesting doing yoga with a really bad back. It just works for me.

    I can get up a sweat doing nice gentle yoga and my balance has certainly improved. I don't do full yoga routines these days (not really sure why) but I do use some parts of the old routines to stretch before and after getting on the treadmill. It's a combination that seems to work for me.

    Barb

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  5. I will admit, I'm not a yoga person. I tried it about 1 1/2 years ago at my swanky gym in Chicago. I was over 200 lbs (at 5'4") and thought yoga would be a gentle way to up my fitness level.

    About 20 minutes into the class, after much wrestling with myself, I got a bad nose bleed and had to leave. I never get nosebleeds. Ever! I took this as a sign.

    I never tried yoga again.

    I SHOULD try yoga again.

    PS I can't imagine Jillian teaching a yoga class. BodyCombat? Yes. Soothing, relaxing yoga? Not on your life!

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  6. I definitely fall into the novice category. I've tried Yoga for Dummies and Crunch: Candlelight Yoga. I don't do yoga often but I do feel more relaxed and stretched out afterwards.

    The BL DVD sounds good. I always remember the over 400 pound Trent (the former football player)on the BL who was working the yoga moves and Bob cooing to him *this weight does not belong to you.*

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  7. I have done it several times, and like it. But, be careful how much you stretch yourself! I pushed myself too far into the stretches one time and didn't move much for a few days. lol. Not good for overachievers. But, the class I took was good.

    I'm with you on Jillian. Not a fan.

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  8. Not really a huge fan of yoga.... I prefer to go wither full force cardio/interval or relaxed stretching. I'm not one of those in-betweeny kind of people. I don't like holding the plank for an extended period of time, and I'm not good at "breathing through the movement", as I tend to just hold my breath and almost pass out....

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  9. I am BIG fan of yoga, and have used one particular video on and off for years, Yoga Conditioning for Weightloss by Susan Deason. I HIGHLY recommend however, taking a few yoga classes with a live instructor. Posture and correct form are absolute musts if you want to a)do it right, and b)not hurt yourself. As with any exercise, if you do it wrong enough times you can do damage. To get the maximum benefit of yoga, taking a beginner class in either the iyangar or kripalu style of yoga. Do NOT start with ashtanga or bikram (commonly referred to as Power Yoga) as these are for people looking for hard core workouts. Work up to those.

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  10. as someone who is studying to get her yoga teacher certification, I LOVE YOGA!!!!!! and i'm not a pretzelly person. i can't do crows or headstands or handstands. but i love plow, and peacock. go figure.

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  11. Yoga is not for the faint of heart. Those planks are pure torture. For $7.99 I might be willing to test drive this one. I do like Bob better than Jillian, although the idea of Jack Bauer telling me to get into a downward facing dog might intrigue me. LOL!

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  12. LMAO at "coordination skills of a hippo jumping double dutch" !

    I just started including yoga in my workout routine. And one of the DVD's I use is the Biggest Loser one you talk about here. I would like to point out that this DVD is much more challenging that my other Yoga DVD's but those are aimed at beginners so maybe that is why. After the first time I did the BL one I had trouble sitting for a day or two cause my hamstrings were really sore!

    In general I'm finding yoga to be a good way to relax after a hard day at work.

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  13. Love the review, thank you for being so entertaining while also letting me know what the dvd was like!

    I'm also one of those "fragile messes scanning the skies for the next house to fall on us," and really should be doing yoga or meditation or SOMETHING. Appreciate the nudge!

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  14. Thanks for the review! It's nice to know, before you buy. Looks like I need to find this one!

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  15. I really do enjoy yoga. I'm just not consistent enough for it to be effective. Something else for me to work on. Have you ever tried Hot Yoga?

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  16. One positive side effect that no one ever mentions is that yoga can help you clean your house. Yes, after 30 minutes of doing poses where I'm looking downward half the time, I am highly motivated to vacuum :)

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  17. I've never tried yoga but am interested in it. Thanks for the review - the DVD sounds good in a "not weird" way...I will have to give it a go. I've heard yoga will help you with regulating your breathing, which I desperately need as I end up "panic breathing" while I run.

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  18. I just recently discovered Bikram Hot Yoga and absolutely love it. I am a bit large to get into some of the positions fully but in the 3 weeks that I have been doing it, I have seen a HUGE improvement in my flexibility. I truly love this class. I have not however, tried any other type of Yoga classes - Yet.

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  19. Never tried yoga. I always thought yoga and weight-loss were mutually exclusive terms.

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  20. I'm so stiff from years of running I really should join a yogi class. I do practice the "downward dog" - a great stretch for the hams.
    BTW. I have a love / hate relationship with The Plank!
    Enjoyed your post!

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  21. I have tried yoga, but only on DVD. I've been wanting to try this one, so I'm happy to see it reviewed here. I also like Winsor Pilates, for the same yoga-ish mellowy thing.

    Did I read in an earlier post that you are a Neuro Nurse? I'm taking prereq classes to get into a nursing program here and am fascinated by neurology. If you have any tips, i'd love to hear them!!! summer.plummer@cox.net :)

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  22. Have not done yoga in years. Keep meaning to try it again.

    Once I'm not so stressed about all the other stuff I'm not doing.

    Phooey -- a vicious circle again.

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  23. I'm a super big klutz so I stay away from complicated classes like zumba, step aerobics--and anything else. I love yoga, though. It's slow enough that I can follow along, and I love how it works just about every muscle.

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  24. i couldnt keep up due to an old shoulder injury. everything was very painful. the most basic moves flared up my shoulder.

    btw-i love jillian!

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  25. I didn't even know the plank was a yoga manifested exercise.

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  26. I love doing yoga. I've been practicing for years. I find it's relaxing and calming. It has also helped with my balance and coordination.

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  27. I'm training to be a yoga instructor, so I love it. (Obviously. 'Cause I'm no masochist, believe you me!) There are so many different kinds. I always tell beginning clients to try out a restorative class first, then try out others to see which styles they like.
    For myself, I prefer to hold the poses rather than power through them. I take Bikram (hot) yoga once a week, and often do a few poses here and there just to stretch out.

    BTW, LOVE the review!!!!!

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  28. This is my favorite Yoga DVD. I use it about 2-3 times a week, especially when I am stressed. It is a great workout and I like having the option to increase the amount of activity or level. Thanks for reviewing it and giving it a great review.

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  29. I volunteered at a yoga studio this summer & got to take classes for free. Best summer ever. I tried all different styles & teachers, and with twice a week classes was in the best shape of my life & looked goooood. Good results can be had at home, but finding a teacher & practice that you crave: oh, it's priceless.

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  30. I only tried yoga once years ago and immediately decided that it wasn't right for me - maybe I should give it another go? I am with you on the planks though; I am almost done the 30 Day Shred (I'm pretty ambivilant when it comes to Jillian and she doesn't scream at me on the DVD, so it's all good) which has me doing a wide variety of them and they are the thing that I struggle with the most. My arms just can't DO that, you know?!

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  31. By the way, congratulations on reaching 500 followers!!!

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  32. I used to do yoga. I don't do it much anymore, I didn't like it that much. I prefer cardio and isometrics and stuff like that. I just stretch sometimes when I'm feeling blah with the old yoga poses. Anyways, nice post.

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  33. I have not done yoga but I have wanted to... still trying to get there. I never want to give up my weights! :-)

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  34. Ok, so this post was so so so on point with what I was thinking about stress and weigh gain. We are totally synced! Anyway, I am biased towards anything biggest loser because so far I love all the DVDs I tried.
    As for the YOGA, I too was skeptical at the beginning...but within a week I felt so so good. My suggestion is to give it a try for at least 1 week.
    Also, the one I did was a combination of flow and pose yoga, so a combination of Hatha and Vinyasa....TRY IT!!!

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  35. I just use a few yoga moves for stretching. I really would like a class before trying much else to make sure I don't hurt myself!

    I did watch a great documentary recently called "Enlighten Up" about the relationship between yoga practice and inner peace. The premise is what happens when you take a totally non-spiritual person and make them do intensive yoga for six months? Worth the watch :D

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  36. I struggled with weight gain and health issues. I found that my kids helped motivate me to get fit. Fitness and wellness should be free and accessible to everyone. I created a site dedicated to this.

    www.getfitstayingfit.com

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  37. LOVE the blog on Yoga! ROFL
    I enjoy doing yoga, either at home or in a class but can TOTALLY relate to feeling a bit uncoordinated during some poses.
    I would also recommend Rodney Yee's AM/PM Yoga DVD. 15 minute sessions, and easy poses.

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  38. I took a yoga class last year at the Y near my house. Hated it. Everyone told me I just needed to find another instructor. I tried one of those OnDemand yoga shows we get with our cable tv. Still hated it. Everyone told me I needed to find a live instructor and that yoga on DVD is no good.

    At what point do you give up trying so hard to do something you're not even sure you like?

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  39. I am an occasional yogi. I love how stretched and relaxed I feel after a good yoga session, especially after power yoga. For a real good yoga workout try Bryan Kest's Power Yoga Complete Collection. It comes with 3 sessions of increasing difficulty, all are about an hour long and they really work you. If you haven't done much yoga and you want something a little easier try "Power Yoga the Complete Workout - Stamina, Strength, Flexibility with Rodney Yee". It also has 3 sessions, but they each have a different focus, they are a lot easier, and they are only 30 minutes long. Try them, your muscles will thank you :)

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  40. I took a yoga class in college... for credit (an easy class to balance all the hard classes). I enjoyed the stretch but found being in the class a bit embarrassing at the time. I've recently discovered Exercise TV on demand though my cable provider, and I'm hooked on the yoga videos designed to do in the PM. I've found that it is increasing my flexibility, and it helps me to relax before bed.

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  41. I don't have a serious back issues btw so don't think I'm suggesting doing yoga with a really bad back. It just works for me.
    how to grow taller

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  42. I have done Yoga via taped instruction and classroom. Some moves are more difficult than others. Some moves become easier the more you do them. (That DVD won't seem as challenging in a few months). I like it because I get a workout without jumping and jarring my joints. It's nice to have a shift in pace from time to time.

    I haven't tried the BL Yoga DVD. I might give it a try.

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  43. I'm glad you enjoyed your Yoga workout. Because indeed, it's not just some hippy activity. It will workout your muscles and it will help you be more fit. Yoga will make you strong without stressing you out.

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