tf-gal
*was supposed to be published earlier this month, but was working on a new page that I will add my my blog soon.
This is my first Review of a Beachbody program after a very long time, and as of now, I have officially completed the Slim in 6 program. I first saw someone’s YouTube uploads of Slim in 6 (which were deleted because of copyright reasons) and an advertisement that was after certain Yoga Booty Ballet/Live DVDs, and I was impressed by the intention behind it.
In the infomercial, Debbie Siebers struggled with her weight and body image in the most difficult time in her life, and she had no control over what she was eating. She then developed the Slim Training technique: a breakthrough combination of low-intensity resistance training with simple aerobic moves to quickly turn the body into a fat-burning machine.
The program is divided into three phases: Start it Up, Ramp it Up, and Burn it Up. For each week of the Slim in 6 program, you do each phase for 6 days before having a rest day at the end of the week. Each phase gets progressively more difficult as the weeks go on, but the repetition can get old really quickly, causing a plateau to develop. To make sure that does not happen, I used some of the bonus material on Disc 2 and some other DVDs to add some variety to the routine.
My version of the Slim in 6 program is the 2009 reprint version, which has updated music and previews for other Beachbody products. Both discs include the bonus workouts Slim & 6 Pack (a 10 minute ab routine) and Slim & Limber (a flexibility routine). Disc 2 also contains two bonus workouts: Thin Thighs Guaranteed! and Cardio Core! Express (from the Slim Series Express program).
I essentially tried to combine it with the Jillian Micheals: 30 Day Shred program, but I stopped doing the 30 Day Shred at the start of Phase 3 is when the program was getting too intense for me to dedicate 80 minutes of time, due to my busy lifestyle. However, the Slim in 6 program has been tested with people from a test group to ensure the program is safe and effective for everyone. After 6 days of the program, people started to notice results and improved their endurance while doing it. Some testimonies state that they kept off the weight after doing the program, too.
Additionally, from another commercial for the program (from the Slim in 6 2-disc set) there is a make-up/recovery week after the program is over, and there is a supplementary workout from the Slim Series called Keep it Up!, but that is an optional part of the program that you can do when you are finished with it.
Weeks 1 though 3 of the program were a cakewalk for me, and the challenges of the 30 Day Shred were starting to increase my stamina and endurance. Debbie utilizes fun, innovative aerobic moves and resistance band training (in Phases 2 and 3) as part of her Slim Training method, which boosts the metabolic rate in which you burn calories. The repetition got to me during Phase 3: Burn it Up, and I was starting to notice that Jillian’s interval training method assisted me during each workout session.
During the segments where you target the buns and the abdominal muscles, I placed a towel under my knees and elbows for protection of the joints, and sometimes I got to a point where I needed to modify or stop the exercise. She does provide modifications for those who need it, and you can always do that instead of the normal move.
Debbie herself addresses the viewer’s struggles, and always reminds you to do a modified version of the move or take a break whenever you need to. She’s pretty laid-back but is not like Denise Austin because her voice can sometimes get on people’s nerves, and also she is not like a bootcamp/drill sergeant instructor who sounds really strict. I like how she interacts with the people behind her, and it’s not in a way that is distracting the viewer from doing the moves.
My interactions with her are like my previous experiences with the Valerie Bertinelli: Losing It and Keeping Fit DVD, so of course I enjoy interacting with Debbie. At the start of each phase, Debbie mentions that the people behind her are actually part of the test group which I mentioned earlier, and their success stories were perfect to show to viewers before the workout even begins. She talks to the viewer as if they were in the room with them, and the subtle changes in her tone of voice is beneficial to not make the workout seem monotonous in nature.
The repetition of the program does seem monotonous is Phase 2 and 3 of the progam, so here’s where the two bonus workouts (on Disc 2 of the 2009 reprint) come into play. Thin Thighs Guaranteed was one of Debbie’s first workout videos that she produced for Beachbody, and I saw Tony Horton doing the exercises with her. On the other hand, Cardio Core! Express is a 30 minute workout combining classic Slim Training moves with new moves that target the midsection.
To make a long story short, I would recommend this program for beginners and people who have not been working out in a long time. The program is great for slimming down, toning up, and building stamina/endurance.
Instructor(s): 10/10
Set: 10/10
Outfits: 9/10
Music: 7/10
Production Value: 9/10
Overall Benefits: 10/10
Exertion: 8/10
Ease of Movement: 9/10
Audio/Visual Modifications: 5/10
Special Features: 8/10
Use of Equipment: 9/10
Total Score:
Intensity Level: Moderate Intensity
Impact: Mixed Impact