Oprah: You either love her or you don't, but there's no denying her influence on our culture. I believe she's done a lot of good, but sometimes her promotion of products or people seems more faddish than "fact-ish."
Take Oprah's "Healthy Living" segment with Gwyneth Paltrow featuring Gwyneth's workout with Tracy Anderson. It aired in 2008, but a friend (who also used to be a client) emailed me this week after a re-broadcast. To paraphrase, she wrote that Tracy Anderson says never to lift more than 3 lbs. weights...what is up with that?!
I had the same reaction: What is up with that?! I remember when that segment came out...there was a lot of vitriol circulating around other trainers' blogs. It's not my intention to go there, but I will say from my research, Tracy Anderson promotes a training style that is not supported by exercise science.
In fact, it sounds like funny math to me:
No fewer than 100 reps.
+ No heavier than 3 lb. weights
+ no greater than 1000 calories
+ 80 degree F room
+ 2 hours training each day
= "Results"
In my experience and training, these "results" could range from overuse injuries (like tendonitis), osteoporosis (not enough load on the joints), fatigue, dehydration, dry skin (not enough fat), and liver damage due to extreme weight loss.
Basically, the training appears to be a very high repetition Pilates and cardio workout with a severe calorie restricted diet. As a trainer, I can't endorse this "method," as Tracy Anderson calls it. As I advised my friend, stick with the basics and switch it up every once in a while. Though we may wish to look like Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna (two of her clients), it comes at a cost.
Why not try something a little more tried and tested, applying similar principles: Interval cardio training 4-5 days/week and Pilates with resistance training 3 days/week.
