Physique 57 Book vs The Lotte Berk Method DVDs

    Day 3 of Physique 57 and I'm still too sore to work my thighs using Physique 57 book techniques. I like being sore, knowing that I have worked my muscles, but I'm wondering if it is also because of poor form on my part. It's hard to say because the book is not clear enough in photos or description to be positive I'm in correct form. Physique 57 says at the beginning of the book that it is based on the Lotte Berk method. In fact the authors started as Lotte Berk students, and then opened their own studio when the one they attended in NYC closed. After reading that, I remembered that I bought Lotte Berk DVDs years ago and never got around to really trying them.

    All that given, I pulled my Lotte Berk method DVDs off the shelf this morning, blew the dust off, and started with "Muscle Eats Fat".

    The instructor, Barbara, can be chatty. I did my level best to look beyond that and keep with the program. I'm glad I did! I needed the instruction to start, but the DVD has the option of doing the workout with music only, no chat. Hallelujah! Once I have this workout down, I will be doing music only. Dear Barbara may be chatty, but she gives terrific directions on form. This is so important when doing this or any new exercise technique. Despite my still sore thighs from doing Physique 57 days ago, I managed to complete the whole video. I have no clue how long that was, perhaps 30 minutes.  I looked everywhere for the length of the DVD, but to no avail. I will time it the next time I do it, so I can let you know.

    Muscle Eats Fat has most of the exercises that Physique 57 has. That makes sense since Physique 57 is based on Lotte Berk. BUT, the instruction is SO much clearer. Physique 57 did more sets of each exercise, and in time, I will need more sets as I start to get stronger. I can achieve that with Muscle Eats Fat by simply going back and repeating sets or doing the bonus workout. I do like the seated work on the bum that P 57 does, but I can add that in myself to M.E.F. I did not compare the Lotte Berk DVDs to Physique 57 DVDs because the Lotte Berk DVDs cost around $6 new on Amazon while the P57 DVDs cost about $50 for a 3 DVD set. To get the same technique at a $44 savings, I don't think I'll be trying the P57 DVDs anytime soon.

    I also did the Lotte Berk "Hip Hugger Abs" DVD this morning, right after Muscle Eats Fat.

    There is a huge difference between this and P57's ab techniques. P57 concentrates quite a bit more on curl type exercises with repeated sets. It is my understanding that this type of exercise will BUILD muscle, particularly in the center front abs. I already have that. My abs and back are my strongest body parts. My belly has a strong belly pooch. Some people like that. I'm finding I don't. I would rather have a flat belly. The Lotte Berk method ab exercises are designed to strengthen the abs AND give you a flat tummy. Just what I'm looking for. The instructor on this DVD is not quite as chatty as Barbara on Muscle Eats Fat, but still I like being able to work to music only, once I have the techniques down.

    My daughter and I did this together and I had a hard time completing the stretches at the end of the workout because I was laughing so hard. There is one stretch where you sit on the floor and holding your ankles out in front with bent knees, slowly straiten the legs and balance on your bum. I'm was really concentrating on doing this move when next to me I hear Gwen saying. "Oh, oh, whoa, ooooooh....." Then crazy laughter as she rolled around on the floor on her back with legs in the air still being held at the ankles. Now how are you going to keep balance with THAT going on next to you!? I would up in the same position she was in. She's SO much fun to exercise with. I may not get in shape as fast, but I'm healthier for hanging out with her since "A cheerful heart is good medicine."

    Oh, my goodness, the bonus workout on this gives us something to really strive for! Gwen and I just watched most of it, trying a bit here and there. I'm determined to someday do this portion!

    You can read my pros and cons of Physique 57 on my previous post. Here are my pros and cons of Lotte Berk Method DVDs.

    Pros: DVD format - no flipping pages and checking print to see where you go next. To be fair to P57, they do have prohibitively expensive DVDs available so you don't have to rely only on the book.

Excellent cuing on form. 3 different levels of difficulty makes this good for anyone to use.

Option to use with music only and no talking. LOVE that!

    Excellent, proven method of exercise that has been around 30 plus years.The instructors are all good examples of what you can expect if you use this method of workout alone. Barbara, who has been using the Lotte Berk method for 20+ years, looks fabulous for nearing 50!

I could complete the DVD and still walk. Walking is nice.

    Lengthening and stretching of muscles more concentrated than P57. Stretching is done after each movement, not at the end of sets. We are told that this is to elongate muscles, not relax them. But we get both in the long run! Not bunchy, "I lift weights and forget to stretch" muscles. As I posted previously, this is what I'm trying to overcome. I'm terrible about stretching.

    Cons: The somewhat chatty instructors. Some folks may not find this a con, but I like just music to exercise to and minimal instruction, once I know what I'm doing. However, the chattiness can be eliminated, once you have form down, by using the music only function on the DVDs. Thank you, Lotte Berk method.

    The stretches are not held 20 seconds each or longer. It's my understanding that stretches need to be held this long to be effective. I could be wrong. Tell me if I am. There are a LOT of stretches, but it may be quantity over quality. You can ignore when the instructor switches sides and continue with the stretch for 20 seconds. This is what I do.

    All in all, I find the Lotte Berk DVDs better and easier to use than P57 and, fickle me, I am switching to these DVDs. It's all the same method, so I feel I am still giving this method a fair try. I'll let you know how I'm doing.