Focus On: Tracy Anderson Method
Morning friends! How’s your day going? Thank you so much for your awesome discussion on sugar last night and for the sweet compliments on the new job – I’ve very excited! I’m actually off to take my drug test this morning (ie Operation Golden Flow) so that I can start working soon. In the meantime, here’s a post with a Tracy Anderson Method review.
This is one that was a popular request on Facebook and I’ve been intrigued to learn more about it myself, as I’ve never tried the DVDs or taken a class. So instead of trying to research the deets without having real life experience and write a post about it, I decided to put the call out on Twitter for any Tracy Anderson pros. I DM’ed back and forth with Jenna, who so kindly offered to write a review post for me. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did 🙂
See ya this afternoon with the best gluten-free brownies everrrrrr <3
xoxo
Gina
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Tracy Anderson Method Review
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Hi Fitnessista readers!
I’m Jenna and I blog over at the online home of Upcakes, my baby business that I just started in London, where I live (www.upcakes.co.uk – no longer active). I’ve been reading blogs for a long time and Gina’s always been one of my favourite voices in the community. So when she asked me to review the Tracy Anderson Method, I jumped at the chance! It’s people like her who inspired me to start blogging in the first place anyway 🙂
What is the Tracy Anderson Method
The Tracy Anderson Method consists of two components: Dance Cardio and Muscular Structure Work (Mat Work). Tracy’s motto is that you have to work your small accessory muscles that surround your larger muscles, in order to get the ideal lean and feminine shape. She believes that conventional forms of cardio (eg running spinning) can overuse your large muscles and bulk you up, whilst the Dance Cardio portion of her workouts uses lots of varied movements that help you burn fat without the bulking. The Muscular Structure work is the ‘design’ part of the workout–a series of dancer-like movements in high reps that aim to re-shape your problem areas.
What to Expect from a Tracy Anderson Workout
In each of the dance cardio DVDs, there is a teaching chapter where Tracy talks you through each dance combination and breaks it down for you move-by-move. Once you’ve learned the combinations, the aim is to perform the 7 or 8 songs continually, which usually lasts about 45 minutes. During the Muscular Structure dvds, you just follow her along whilst she does the moves, always in high repetition with low resistance.
Tracy Anderson DVDs
–Tracy Anderson Method Mat Workout DVD: If you only purchase one thing from Tracy Anderson, this should be it. It was her first muscular structure DVD and I can rave about it enough! I think all her best, most effective moves are in here. Your butt and inner thighs will never look so good as when you stick to this DVD.
–Dance Cardio Workout: This was the first cardio DVD and whilst it’s the also the simplest, it’s not an easy way out! The music is super fun and you really start to enjoy the routines when you get a hang of them.
–Dance Cardio 2: The steps become pretty complicated in this DVD, but it’s not necessarily a harder workout that the first, so I wouldn’t recommend starting with it. I also find the routines are a little too similar in this one and therefore not as much fun.
–Perfect Design Series: This is a series of 3 DVDs that build on the Mat Workout, getting more complex with each DVD. They are equally effective as the Mat Workout, and having more to choose from allows you to switch it up, but it’s a little more of a pricey package. And I just happen to LOVE the results from the Mat Workout the most 🙂
-Post-Pregnancy DVD: This is mat work only – I haven’t tried this one myself, but I’ve heard rave reviews about it! Women speak of their loose skin snapping back and their saggy stomachs disappearing.
-Metamorphosis: This is Tracy’s brand-new program – a group of 4 DVDs, one for each ‘body type’ according to where you tend to store weight. When you buy this DVD you also gain access to her online community, where trainers will redesign your workouts for you every 10 days. Pretty cool, huh? However at around $120+, its definitely a splurge and I have to say I’m still saving up for it.
Equipment Needed
You’ll need a set of 3lb weights for some of the DVDs, but other than that all you need are a pair of sneakers and comfortable workout clothes.
Pros of the Tracy Anderson Method
– The muscular structure work really is a stand-out, and I can honestly say I’ve never seen anything like it for my body.
– I like the emphasis on getting a lean shape, rather than focusing on building muscles.
– Tracy has a really lovely manner and is not overly bossy or loud in her style (but that might be a con for some peeps).
Cons of the Tracy Anderson Method
– If you’re a workout purist and want to follow Tracy’s program to the letter, she demands that you do both cardio AND muscular structure 6 days a week – which is unrealistic for some. (She does say that you could do a minimum half an hour of each, but seeing as the DVDs are in sets of 45-60 mins, it can be hard to do half of one dvd and then switch to another halfway through).
– Tracy also advises you follow her diet plan whilst doing her workouts (not included in the DVDs, but can be found online and in her book ’30 Day Method’) but its super-restrictive and nowhere near enough calories for most of us to be able to function properly on. Proceed with caution. [***Gina’s input: I have researched her diet method and am telling ya’ll to say NO to it. Not a balanced plan that can be maintained as a lifestyle]
– Some of the mat workouts will not give you the ‘burn’ that many of us like to get from our workouts, but trust me, this does not impact the results you will get.
Let me know how you find it!
Jenna x
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Thanks so much for this review, Jenna!
Here’s a fun video of Kelly Ripa (and her very nice looking hubby) taking class at the Tracy Anderson New York studio.
Have you tried her DVDs before? If so, what did you think? If you haven’t, do you think this is a workout you’d enjoy? I personally would love to give it a try, but as far as fitness goes, I’ll happily try anything 🙂
Edited to say: I loved reading your discussion in the comments below. I added my two cents about the Tracy Anderson Method here. 🙂
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I’ve never personally tried this method but I appreciate the review! It’s definitely something to look into more.
Also Gina – congrats on the new job!
I just started her Metamorphisis Series and LOVE it. Not following her crazy diet, just a pescatarian high raw. Thinking of blogging my way through it after Easter. It’s amazing how using 3 lbs of weights and can make you as sore as I am today…
Which “body type” are you? I’d really like to know about the Metamorphosis series a bit more before I buy it! How many dvd’s come with it & how many times per week are you expected to do the videos + cardio? I’d really appreciate if you could let me know!
I’m Omnicentric. Comes with 4 DVDs but I am also enrolled in continuation so after I do the 3 mat dvd cycle she will send a new disc every 30 days. It is ab an hour a day and I do it 5 times a week though she recommends 6 times. I don’t have like a crazy amount of weight to lose so I’m not stressing myself out over it. My diet is somewhere similar to Gina’s. I’ve already lost 4 pounds in the last week just eating high raw, no dairy ab 1400 calories a day and have only worked out 3 times.
I gotta say, I’m pretty turned off my her emphasis on size- getting a “teeny tiny body” and “not bulking” the muscles. Aren’t women incapable of bulking anyways, what with our minimal testosterone? That being said, it does look like a fun workout- jumping around to high-energy music always gets my endorphins going.
Thanks for the Review! I’ve been doing Chalean Extreme off and on, sounds like they have TOTALLY different philosophies. Chalean is always saying higher weights till you “fail” What do you think about that?
Also, I think it’s definitely best for those who have a dance background…I could see those who don’t getting frustrated and confused.
It’s perfect for me.
Ehh I don’t think I’d try it, “help you burn fat without the bulking.” From all the research I’ve done, women generally cannot bulk, especially from cardio. And the fact that her diet plan is so sketchy…just does not seem legit to me.
Glad to see a review! I’ve heard mixed things about Tracy Anderson. Some say it’s great, some say she focuses on “toning” with light weights when weights that light aren’t really that effective.
I definitely need to try her butt workouts they look so challenging!
Looks like fun!
Thanks for the review. Curious about her ‘bulking’ versus getting lean. I have it drilled into my head that (most) women lack the testosterone to achieve the body builder look without some serious help from protein and supplements. I personally have reshaped my body into a lean machine with the help of heavy lifting, but I appreciate all exercise so I find this worth looking into.
I just looked up her “diet” and I’m appalled. Is she serious?
I think people forget she’s the one who’s responsible for the redic baby food diet that all the celebs were doing. Ummm no thanks!
I think I’ve tried one of her videos from youtube once and it’s sooo different than what I’m used to. After seeing Kelly do (since I love her legs haha), I’d definitely try it again and that little clip definitely helped give a better sense of how it works! Thanks for the info!
I’ve wanted to try this method for a while now! I might splurge & get the metamorphosis to get my pear shape in shape 😉 for my wedding!
congrats again!
sounds very interesting. ill have to look into it a little more once i get home and not sneakin a peek at blogs ha
I used to do the Tracy and it was so boring after a while. The workouts are so lengthy and grueling. I think Physique 57 is very similar but way more fun and a better burn. I do like the Tracy Anderson Post preg DVD(never been preg)because it’s killer on the abs but I only do it once in a while.
I’ve heard a lot of buzz about here mat workouts and am anxious to try the post-baby version in September!
I like the Mat workout and the post-pregnancy workout, even though sometimes she doesn’t really give much explanation or cues for what she’s doing (the rib sequence for instance) but I didn’t get into the dance ones at all and I’m a dancer/dance teacher. To me that was just a bunch of hopping around and definitely not enough cues. I’d get a better workout by cranking the stero and just dancing on my own for an hour. (Which I sometimes do :D) To me, it feels like Tracy is in her own little zone in the videos which is fine working out by yourself but as a fitness video I don’t feel she’s drawing me in to be a part of that experience. That being said, given the opportunity to go and take a real class I think would be a lot of fun.
I never heard of Tracey but that looks awesome! Oh man the video is so funny!
I’ve never tried any of her workouts. I’ve looked through her 30 Day Book and it scared me — it was not something I wanted to try!
Oh my gosh!! I HATE the “don’t lift heavy weights or you’ll bulk up” lie. It’s so not true! Try checking out: http://www.niashanks.com/blog –chica deadlifts over 300 lbs! weighs about 120? or what about Kelli Davis? http://www.motherfitness.com/behind-the-scene-meet-kellie-davis/ or April: http://foodsofapril.com/ any of these ladies –or any figure competitor for that matter, and I’ve competed myself and placed first in my category — will tell you that lifting heavy IS GOOD FOR YOU! It makes you tight and lean –not big and bulky! Those pictures of “weightlifting ladies” that scare people are steroid monsters –not natural humans. I’m glad Tracy is getting people to pick up 3 lbs. to start, but hey –a bag of groceries weighs more like 15 lbs. and nobody’s scared of carrying that into the house!
Had to google to find a quote I remembered reading somewhere that she said:
“Only 3-pound weights,” Tracy says. “No woman should lift more than 3 pounds.” (http://skinnyrunner.com/2011/04/17/the-tracy-anderson-method/)
Yea… okay…
I tried her dvd and i was a bit worried about the use of weights in some of her exercises because of the apparent lack of form. Some of the core/lower body workouts were versions of pilates moves but freakier (in that again lack of form seemed to be an issue). It seemed like the possibility of getting injured was fairly high. I did it once after paying $30 for the dvd and havent gone back…I much prefer my “proper” pilates dvds.
Maybe my comment didn’t show up because I put in links? I just want to say that the “low weight high rep” thing is a fast way to get nowhere. Check out Nia Shanks’s blog, Kelli Davis (Mother Fitness), or Foods of April. Pretty much any figure competitor will tell you that lifting heavy (Nia deadlifts over 300 pounds!) will not make you big and bulky (she weighs around 120) it will up your metabolism, lower your body fat percentage, and make you lean and tight. I’ve competed in figure myself, and placed first in my category. Those steroid guzzling monster women you see in pictures are not what you become if you lift heavy. 3 lb. weights are a start, but you are lifting 10 times that much if you carry two grocery bags in from the car!
amen sister!
I read those blogs too (and yours!) and I agree! Ironically, if you look at most serious heavy-lifting figure competitors, they’re as lean or leaner than Tracy. I’m following the blog of a woman competing in her first bodybuilding competition, and the HEAVYWEIGHT division is 122+ pounds! I think Tracy’s carved out a great niche for herself that’s making her money and getting her a lot of coverage, but I have to wonder if even she agrees with her own methods.
I totally agree!!!! I’m up to 125 lb deadlift and I’m 5’9, 135 lbs!
Good for you! I am 5’7″ 135, and hit a 185 pound deadlift for reps this winter. I am proud of my strength and lifting heavy is fun.
Anyone who recommends women lift no more then 3 pounds is a joke to me. I lost weight when I started lifting heavy weights. Why? Because I was eating the right amount of calroies for weight loss. So in the same respect, people who follow Tracy’s program lose weight because they are starving themselves. Not a fun way to live.
THAT’S AWESOME!!
Yay you!! I finally got up to 175 for 5 reps this weekend! I’m thinking months before I get to where you’re at. 🙂
I agree!! I love going to the gym everyday and saying “okay, I’m going to lift a heavier weight today!” It gets me out of bed and the morning and excited for my workout whereas before I started lifting heavy I’d sometimes be like meh. And I just squatted my bodyweight (5’8 138 and I squatted 140) for the first time this week and I was SO excited! You can tell I’m a newbie with that number, but it’s so cool reading about women squatting 250 lbs and thinking I could do that someday!
Agreed! I tell the women that I train that they have to use weights that are heavier than their purse, since they can carry that around all day no problem. One woman actually weighed hers, and it was 10 lbs!
I’ve been lifting heavy for over 2 years, and even though I can do full chin ups, deadlift 185 lbs and squat 155 lbs, I’m still only 5’3″ and 120 lbs! And I get to maintain my weight by eating almost 3x what Tracy recommends!
I’ll admit that the dance routines look fun, as I do love my Zumba, but I would definitely do that in conjunction with some real lifting!
I could never follow a workout plan made by someone who has said “women should never lift more than 3 lbs” and advocates a 700 calorie per day diet.
to be honest… I don’t really agree with Tracy at all. She has been so successful by having her celebrity cleintle… so woman go “oh I will look like Gywneth and Madonna too if I slave at these dvds!”
Once Tracy said “never lift anything more than 3 lbs!” I disagree completely. I am a Private Trainer and very successful and her routine is unrealistic for most people. Sure it may work eventually (I doubt it though) or you might feel new muscles you did not know you had because you are working smaller muscles- true, but this is ONLY BECAUSE YOU ARE INVESTING 1 1/2 hours a day!
There are so many easier ways to go about it. 🙂
Can I just say how glad I am that you both realize how ridiculous tracy anderson’s diet is? When I saw the title of this blog post, I was worried. THANK YOU GIRLS!!!
NO ONE should eat an 800 cal/day lifestyle – it will only lead to a slower metabolism and more health problems 🙁
And as far as the never lift more than 3 lbs…what about mothers that lift 30 lb babies?? Just ridiculous!
PREACH IT, SISTA!! Tracy Anderson is a nut… Sorry, folks.
I am interested. I’ve also heard the mixed reviews. I’m interested in the mat workout. Not sure what my “body type” would be considered, if I were interested in the metamorphisis.
Also, I rely on running for cardio and do not consider myself bulky:)
YAY (!) for the new job… and O.G.F. MAHAHAHHAHA … that’s funny G !!
Tracy Anderson is an idiot. This thing about lifting no more than 3 pound weights??? A half gallon of almond milk weighs more than that. And your babies? Way more. Her diet is super low calorie, and she expects you to do about 1hr45minutes of exercise.
I like your blog and I’m sorry to sound so harsh, but it always disappoints me to see Tracy being featured anywhere. Women need to learn that semi-starvation diets and over-exercising are NOT the way to lose weight. This is doing nothing for a woman’s future body (we are going to need that muscle to get out of our chairs and lift our groceries without breaking when we are older!)
This exactly. I can’t take anyone seriously that advocates an 800 calorie diet and not lifting more than 3 lb weights. She’s just perpetuating the idea that women can “bulk up” and starving yourself is the key to losing weight.
Yep. People like her are the reason I can’t get my girlfriends to lift weights with me, because they want to get “toned,” not “bulky”.
Oh yes, I have friends like that too. Years later, I’m looking more trim and tight than ever, and they just keep getting more jiggly and saggy. And they still REFUSE to believe that lifting weights will help them! Their loss, I guess.
I can’t thank you enough for posting about this. I have been dying to try her videos and wasn’t sure where to start. SO helpful!
I read about the diet over on SkinnyRunner a few days ago and it was crazy! Something about only being allowed to eat 7 foods in the first week and they were mostly all mashed up and gross. Not even close to a healthy caloric intake either!
As a personal trainer, surely you know that her workouts are ineffective and to be blunt, stupid. She’s the laughing-stock of the professional fitness community. The lean bodies she creates are a result of her ridiculous low calorie diet.
I really hope you will take the time to review her philosophies and share your professional opinion on such things as low weight, high reps, her focus on creating “long, lean muscles” (which is physiologically impossible), targeting accessory muscles instead of large muscle groups and her claim that you should tailor workouts to your body type.
Totally agree about the diet–no one can live on this. I also disagree with low-weight high reps. I did this for years and got nothing. It was only when I started doing heavier weights (doing Chalean Extreme) that I saw results.
That was such a fun video of Kelly & her husband – him trying to dance while those two tiny blondes just rocked it out next to him was pretty much priceless!
I’m interested to learn more about her and appreciate you bringing me to her attention and giving me your thoughts on the program! VERY interesting!
This sounds a lot like Jazzercize, which is structured to have 35-45 minutes of Cardio and then 15-20 of strength training. Jazzercise is different than zumba because it focuses on building muscle while you dance.
I know I’m down at least 1 pants size already.. My muscles are leaner and more defined. My abs have never been stronger… and the workouts switch every month or so.. so it’s not the same songs..
Never tried it before, but seems really fun and looks like a great work out. I love Kelly Ripa, too!!
On the one hand, her diet and “don’t lift more than 3 pounds” ethos are obviously absurd. On the other hand, I think that doing anything to exhaustion is effective (whether it’s high weight or low weight). So … I don’t know. I am a bit curious to try the workout and the dance DVD does look fun (kind of like Zumba). Then again, I can just take Zumba at my gym so what’s the point?
I have really noticed great results from doing Tracy’s DVDs. I haven’t followed the diet… I feel myself getting to obsessive about food when I try to diet. (Eating foods in the most natural form possible seems to work best for me). I have fun with the Dance workout although I can see how it can be frustrating to some. The Mat workouts are unique and challenging. I like how it varies from anything I’ve ever done.
I would also follow the mentality so many of us believe with diet. Some things work better for some and some things work better for others. We are all individuals and you just have to find the right fit.
I ordered one of the Tracy Anderson Method DVDS and tried it a few times, but I don’t think they are meant for me. I like heavier weights and running and eating more than 1000 calories a day! lol! Thanks for the review and congrats on the job! Does this mean you are staying and going to Valdizzy???
My friend got to work out with Tracy Anderson for a few months and be in her infomercial! Very cool 🙂
Her workouts just look silly to me, and I just can’t get on board with someone who recommends such a ridiculous eating plan. I’d rather “pump some iron” and feel powerful, even if her workout does get results.
On another note, Mark is sooo adorable! I love him and Kelly together.
I have the metamorphosis DVDs (abcentric) and I have been so disappointed in them. The cardio can barely be described as dance (I am a dancer, so I was expecting choreography) but rather bouncing around. Tracy doesn’t walk you through the moves, so you must constantly keep your eyes on the TV, because you don’t know when she’ll change up what she’s doing. So far, arms and abs combined have only been 10 minutes and the rest of the 20 minutes of strength have been leg lifts. It’s intense. I do like the strength portion, but have been using 8 lb weights instead of the suggested 3 lbs.
I also tried Tracy’s diet, for three days. I now know why it was rumored that Jennifer Aniston was on a baby food diet – because every other week it suggests that you eat purees or soup for every meal. I was also training for a half marathon at the time I started her program and it was no where near enough calories to get through runs and strength training.
It sounds like her other DVDs are better than plunking down the $100+ for the Metamorphosis like I did.
Great post! Her method really makes a lot of sense!
but from a physiological and kinesiological standpoint, it truly doesn’t.
different types of “burn out” will promote results, whether it’s low weight high rep or high weight low rep.
true, different types of burn out will promote *different types of* results. But her premise is that by doing 100 reps with little weight (or no weight. arm circles!? really?) that you can develop longer, leaner muscles. That is patently false. Muscles do not grow longer or leaner.
i really think it’s a marketing ploy more than anything. as fitness professionals, we know that what’s she’s saying isn’t accurate, but to the average jane gym-goer without a background in fitness education, it sounds appealing
Wow, i am intrigued! Thanks so much for the review Jenna, i am off to research it now. Do you think it is ok to do if pregnant?
Congrats on the job Gina, YIPPEE!!!!!
I’ve heard of the Tracy Anderson Method before, but didn’t really know what it was. Thanks for the great recap!! I’ve never really done a dance video but they sound like so much fun. Awesome review Jenna! 🙂
FYI, you can get some of her workouts at the library if you want to “check them out” before investing in them. Not sure if her newest ones are there but I’m pretty sure the mat and cardio ones first mentioned are…..at least they were at our library.
This post has seriously made me want to go to Amazon and look them up. As a huge Gwyneth Paltrow fan, I’m already pretty familiar with Tracy Anderson. I loved the review though and hearing about each individual DVD. Great post!!
While I appreciate the review, I am very turned off by Tracy Anderson. Isn’t she the one that “helped” Gwyneth Paltrow lose the weight for Ironman 2??
I have been doing the Tracy Anderson Mat Method (the sculpting only — not the dance stuff or the diet) for a couple of years. I LOVE IT! I train for triathlons, so I don’t devote the 5-6 days a week to her that I did when I first started doing it, but I still see results. When I was doing it almost every day, I saw results within 2 weeks that people commented on.
My husband teases about the “never lift anything more than 3 pounds,” but she does a gazillion reps with those three pounds and you wouldn’t want more anyway. I see the value in lifting more weight with a different kind of exercise, but 3 is sufficient for hers! I am a believer in the accessory muscles being activated and how it works. Personally, I do like the “six-pack look that traditional forms of fitness get you,” but her ab workouts have been effective for me — especially on the obliques. Most of the exercises are also working your core, and I like that aspect about it also.
One thing that drives me crazy is that she doesn’t count the reps so one side gets way more reps than the other on a few exercises. I’ve pretty much got the whole DVD memorized, so I just make my own adjustments to even out the reps.
I’d love to try the Metamorphosis, but I don’t have time to add in something new with the tri training in full swing. I will continue checking back to see if other commenters have done it with success.
I can’t wait for the gluten free brownies!
I appreciate your honest opinion on Tracey Anderson’s diet. Thanks for sharing it!