Greer Childers with Bobbie
Katz
I had seen the infomercials for BodyFlex and Oxycise a few years back,
and hadn't given them much thought (when you really want to see an
infomercial they never repeat it) but saw this book in our local
independent bookstore, and it was 25% off the $14 price tag (New
Year's Resolution Sale), so....
The first part begins with Greer's story of how she tried to lose weight
and how a friend paid $1500 for ten one-on-one classes in the "Rolls
Royce of Exercise" (Greer's quotation marks), and lost inches. Greer did
it too, a daily hour-and-a-half program, until she got it down to 35
minutes a day (now it is a 15-minute program). According to Greer, she
went back to the exercise physiologist who taught her the class and
said that she should lower the price so more people could learn this.
Supposedly the physiologist refused to budge, and Greer saw this as an
opportunity. The rest of this portion of the book talks about her
research and how she was able buy her own infomercial time without
outside funding. Interesting reading.
Part two is the breathing technique, which I'd call "creative
hyperventilating" and the 15-minute workout. Basically, you squat like
an umpire, blow out existing air, inhale as much air as you can through
the nose, force the air out immediately with a loud "pah" sound, close
your mouth, and pull your stomach in and up, holding this position as
long as you can. Then you gasp for air. This is one "breath". The
workout consists of various positions done while your stomach is tucked
in. Part three is well, you really should eat better, and by the way,
add some resistance training, along with some testimonials.
Does it work? You shouldn't do this if you are pregnant or have
glaucoma, and preferably should do it in the morning before you eat, or
at least 2 hours after meals. Supposedly it is 40% more effective on an
empty stomach. I tried a few breaths about 30 minutes after eating once
and still got my heart rate up, although pulling the stomach in was of
course more difficult. I found that the breathing alone was a great
energy booster, and that it depresses the appetite for a good couple of
hours. The two face positions (modified Lion's face and a chin stretch
are pretty good. I think the rest of them (discus thrower type stretch,
an ab crunch, the Cat, a wide leg inner thigh stretch, etc.) you could
subsitute your own stretches for. I use the breathing alone as a warmup
before walking, which is my preferred exercise.
How does it compare to Oxycise? BodyFlex is definitely the more forceful
of the two. I have seen the Level Two Oxycise video, and not one person
is doing the three sniffs and three puffs, so I think of Oxycise as
being more of a breath pacing exercise. Bodyflex is definitely the
funnier to watch, so if you're shy, find a hiding place. I did not find
it easy to try to do Oxycise breathing after doing BodyFlex. I know
people refer to them interchangeably, but they are different.
Interesting note: I always wondered who taught Greer, since no name is
ever mentioned. While doing a BodyFlex vs. Oxycise search, I came upon a
website selling videos for the LifeLift breathing technique.
www.aerobicbreathing.com If you click on "Is there anyone LifeLift
doesn't work for?" the founder, Rashelle Haines says she taught Greer
the method but that she (Haines) uses much longer, slower breaths and
movements. She does not mention the price discussion with Greer. Her
video is $29.95, and, although curious, I am not anxious to part with
that kind of money. If anyone has seen this video please review it.
Instructor inconsistencies: Selling exercise and selling supplements do
not mix. Complaining of being fat at 5'10" and 150 seems strange to me.
I did not know of the HealthRider connection when I first read the book
(hopefully that makes me somewhat unbiased), although plenty of reviews
on Amazon mentioned it. She supposedly does not eat after 4:30pm, but
doesn't say when she goes to sleep. If it's 8pm, that's one thing, but
if you're a night owl, you could get awful hungry. I think it is more
realistic to quit eating about 4 hours before bedtime.
Bottom Line: I would advise that you borrow this book before you buy
it, or wait till it goes on sale. It is available on Amazon
(discounted), and at some bookstores, but not all of them. I have seen
Oxycise only once in a bookstore, and it was a special order that
someone changed her mind about. Amazon carries it, but no discount. The
only other place I've seen it is the Oxycise website. To some, Oxycise
will make more sense than BodyFlex.
Amy
8/30/00
