By Joe Burke (Springfield, OR USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Body Rx (Hardcover)
Originally, I was very interested in reading Body Rx. All the reviews I had read were very positive. I asked my wife to buy the book for my B-day. I started the plan in early February & was religious with diet. I've lifted weights 4-5 times a week for 14 years. For the last 10 years I've maintainted relatively the same body: weight (200-208), physique, and body fat content(10-12%).
I was hoping that Body Rx might help me change my body fat content and drop me sub 10%. I have traditionally been a big carbohydrate eater. I've always eaten a lot of protein as well, but not nearly as much as Dr. Connelly suggests. As a balance to the large carbohydrate consumption, I tortured myself with long cardio routines to burn calories. After reading Dr. Connelly's book, he insists that cardio is no longer necessary, and if anything, is actually detrimental to obtaining the long term results that a strong weight training regimen can achieve. I've always been heavy on the weights and also with the cardio. But, I decided to knock out all cardiovascular exercise and concentrate sqaurely on weight lifting.
After the first 6 week cycle, I ballooned to 218 pounds. I won't lie, it wasn't muscle. I was eating the carbs he suggested and ate nothing with fructose corn syrup. There was such a large intake of food that I continually ate past the point of being full just to get my daily protein requirements.
After the second 6 week cycle, determined that this routine must work, I continued on with the same desire and fervor. At the beginning of Dr. Connelly's book, he suggests throwing away your scale. That's a little unrealistic. I was at 216 pounds at the end of cycle 2.
I stuck through the 3rd cycle, figuring that the large increase in protein and subsequent decrease in carbs would be enough for me to lose the weight I had gained (not muscle). I did lose 4 pounds over that cycle which is an adequate loss over a 6 week period. However, I was still heavier an no leaner (12% body fat) than I had ever been. I sure as heck didn't have any 6 pack. I didn't even attempt the last cycle (maintaining your new body) because it just didn't make sense to enter an unproductive cycle in which I had made no significant gains.[/size]
The bottom line: Every body is different. No one plan works for every person.
I tried the Body Rx workout, though I substituted my own exercises for his suggested exercises. His plan actually forced me to gear down in my overall intensity. I think this book may help someone who is not used to working out or is more out of shape than I am. My suggestion: don't drop your cardio routine while working through the suggested cycles. Also, buy stock in your local chicken farm. If you don't take or can't afford the massive supplements he recommends, you'll be buying a lot of chicken and shrimp (super green proteins). I'd previously never been into supplements prior to this plan, but I had to start with a protein supplement just to make quota each day.
The book is an easy read. The plan is relatively easy to follow; it's very basic. As for toning up: maybe if you're basically an inactive person to begin with. But, then again, do you really need a book to know that overindulging on carbs and not getting exercise is a bad combination.
