When it comes to weight loss, there are those that expect a quick fix with a magic pill and others that understand it will take time to see real results. If you regularly exercise and have tried losing weight in the past, you know there is no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to fitness. Changing your body takes time and effort. If you want permanent results, you need to eat right and get moving. With so many options for exercise today, it may be overwhelming to decide what physical activity you want to do in order to lose those unwanted pounds and sculpt your body. One of the programs that promises real results in as little as six weeks is the Slim in 6 program by Beachbody. Although six weeks is not exactly immediate results, it is a rather short amount of time to change your body. According to Beachbody and Debbie Sieber, the Slim in 6 instructor, you WILL reshape your body in only six weeks if you follow her program and nutritional plan religiously.
Introduction
Slim in 6 is a cardio based workout program designed to reshape your body in as little as six weeks. The program features intense, high impact cardiovascular workouts with low impact moves and resistance training blended in. The program promises to melt away fat, increase your endurance, define your muscles and improve your overall strength. According to Beachbody and Slim in 6 instructor Debbie Siebers, you will reshape your body like you never imagined if you dedicate six weeks of your life to the Slim in 6 Fitness program and nutritional plan.
Slim in 6 was created by fitness trainer to the stars, Debbie Siebers. Debbie began her career in the showbiz fitness industry by working with Body by Jake. She has also been featured on countless fitness segments on most of the network television stations, including CNN and E! Entertainment. Debbie is a certified member of the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America and has been one of the leading fitness experts for over twenty years.
Although Debbie has spent much of her life focusing on fitness and helping others reach their fitness goals, she was not always a fitness fanatic. Debbie struggled with a weight problem and compulsive eating during the college years. She felt hopeless when she was unable to shed unwanted pounds and felt hatred towards the way she looked in her clothing. When she reached her thirties, she discovered the technique known as Slim Training and lost over 40 pounds with the method. Slim Training is described as the middle ground training method. With Slim Training, you are not doing extreme workouts that max out your heart rate, yet you are not doing super slow impact activity such as walking or jogging either. By staying in the middle when it comes to intensity, you are working out at your optimal fat burning zone. In the Slim in 6 program, Debbie combines cardio and resistance training to keep you in that optimal fat burning zone for the duration of the workout. The results are a more sculpted, toned physique with less body fat and increased strength. Debbie created Slim in 6 using the Slim Training method and paired it with all of the knowledge she learned throughout her last 20 years in the fitness industry.
What’s Included in the Slim in 6 Workouts?
The Slim in 6 Series includes three workouts, the bonus Slim & 6 Pack workout DVD, the Slim & Limber workout DVD, a bonus Cardio Core! Express Ab workout, a 6-Day Express Diet Plan, Simple Steps to Success Fitness Guide, the Weight Loss Eating Plan, a workout calendar, the Slim Training resistance Band and Beachbody’s free online support system. Currently, Slim in 6 is available for 50% off at only $39.95 plus $9.95 for shipping and handling. Considering everything that comes in the kit, the program seems reasonable and definitely worth a shot. As with all Beachbody workout programs, you get a money back guarantee. If you are not happy with it, you can return it within six weeks and get your money back!
Slim in 6 Workouts
There are three main workouts in the Slim in 6 series and three bonus workouts as well. All of the workouts include the countdown clock on the screen so you know how much time has elapsed during each workout. This is typical for all Beachbody programs. Each of the workouts is described below, along with the other components included in the Slim in 6 kit.
Start It Up!
Start it Up! is a 30 minute workout that introduces you to the idea of Slim Training. In this video, Debbie teaches you some of the basic moves you will be doing in the series with the help of two other female instructors. Debbie offers modifications for each of the exercises as well. You will not use the resistance band during this workout and will be using your own body weight when doing basic exercises such as lunges, pushups and squats. This workout is ideal for beginners and the perfect place to start. It includes a five minute warm up and quick ab workout, followed by stretching in the end.
Ramp It Up!
This workout is a bit longer, at 45 minutes long, and focuses on moves that target your abs, hips and thighs. Debbie increases the intensity a bit in this video and also incorporates the resistance band. You will be working your abs with standing oblique crunches, your legs with plies, lunges and squats and the rest of your body with some floor work that includes stretching and yoga.
Burn It Up!
The Burn It Up! Workout is the longest at just under an hour. It is the most intense workout and kicks off the hour with a long segment of squats followed by kickboxing. Debbie also incorporates front, back and sidekicks into her squats, adding intensity and difficulty. In addition, you will also be doing standing ab exercises, punches, jumping jacks, and some jogging. As you can see, this workout is extremely diverse and really gives you a full body workout, unlike the previous DVDs. The kickboxing that is included in the workout will really make you feel the burn and will help tone your arms as well.
Slim & 6 Pack
The Slim & 6 Pack is one of the bonus workouts included in the Slim in 6 kits. At only 10 minutes long, it is a short workout and one that is intended to be combined with one of the three main workouts in the series. The Slim & 6 Pack is an ab workout that targets every muscle in your mid-section. Debbie uses regular crunches, reverse crunches and side crunches to help get rid of your love handles and tighten up your abs and obliques.
Slim & Limber
The Slim & Limber is a stretching routine that is approximately 10 minutes long. Most of the stretching is performed on the floor, stretching your quadriceps, hamstrings and inner thighs. During the latter portion of the workout, you will also stretch your upper torso, including your waist, neck and shoulders. The Slim & Limber can be done before or after any of the workouts above and is also a great way to start your day. Stretching is a vital component in any exercise plan and is necessary to avoid injury as well.
Cardio Core! Express
The Cardio Core! Express is an additional ab workout to enhance the core muscles and help improve your posture. It is a short video at about 10 minutes long and is also intended to be done in conjunction with the other videos in the series.
6 Day Express Diet Plan
This diet plan is a no nonsense plan created to give you quick, unprecedented results. If you follow the plan accordingly, you should lose up to six pounds and six inches in as little as six days. The plan is set up as a strict, boot camp diet and allows approximately 1,200 calories per day, depending on your size and gender. It is strict but, if you have been looking for that magic pill, this may be worth a shot. It is not magic, but it does promise quick weight loss.
Simple Steps to Success Fitness Guide
The fitness guide will walk you through each and every step of this series. It will clearly describe the moves you will do in each of the workouts and describe the schedule you will need to follow to see results. The fitness guide also promotes the various supplements sold by Beachbody. Supplements can get very expensive and, most of the time, they are not necessary to see real results. If you stick with the Slim in 6 program for the duration and make sure to follow the nutritional plan as well, you will see results without adding supplements to your regimen.
Weight Loss Eating Plan
The eating plan accompanies the previously discussed diet plan but is less stringent. This plan is a slower approach to losing weight and includes meal plans designed by registered dietitians. There are various plans offered, depending on your size, gender and caloric intake needs. The eating plan also includes recipes and snack ideas.
Workout Calendar
The workout calendar explains which videos to do on each day of the six week workout routine. It also allows you to chart your progress each day, along with your measurements, so you can see the results you are getting as you get close to completing the program. If you follow the workout calendar, you will be working out six days per week with one rest day in between. Some days you will be doing one workout and others you will be combining several workouts per day.
Resistance Band
The Beachbody resistance band is necessary to complete the moves in the workout videos. There are many resistance bands available at sporting goods and department stores, but the Beachbody bands are superior in quality. Many of those that have purchased they own bands, prior to ordering the Beachbody bands, have said that the quality does not compare and wished they had purchased the Beachbody resistance bands all along. The bands come as part of the Slim in 6 program so there is no need to purchase additional bands initially. If you do the program several times and want to increase the intensity and difficulty, you can purchase additional larger bands later down the line. If you prefer dumbbells and already have these at home, you can substitute them for the resistance bands and get the same results as well. Using heavier dumbbells will also help increase the intensity of the program if you feel the moves are too easy and/or it is your second or third time doing Slim in 6.
Free Online Support
Beachbody offers free online support 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Beachbody instructors, independent coaches and expert trainers are online to help answer any questions you may have about the Slim in 6 program. You can also get in contact with others doing the Slim in 6 program so you can share tips, advice and encouragement while completing the six week program.
What Can I Expect From the Slim in 6 Program?
The Slim in 6 Program is the ideal program for exercise beginners. It blends cardiovascular exercise and some basic strength training to introduce you to both concepts. The strength training is done using your own body weight and resistance bands, making it doable for just about anyone at any fitness level. If you are overweight, whether it is 10-20 pounds or severely overweight, you can still do the program but will most likely need to modify the moves and do the low impact version. In each of the workouts, there is another instructor working out with Debbie that demonstrates alternative moves and low impact modifications to each move. This makes the Slim in 6 program one that anyone can adapt to. After you have done the program several times and have adjusted to the moves, you can increase the intensity and begin to do some of the high impact moves.
Some individuals are hesitant when purchasing workout programs and aerobics videos because of the difficulty in following the instructors and doing the moves. The good thing about Slim in 6 is that you do not need much coordination to do it. Anyone can do this program, regardless of your dancing ability. Debbie Siebers shows you all of the moves in the initial workout and explains proper form, technique and even modifications for those that need them.
Slim in 6 Pros vs. Cons
It seems like most that have taken on the Slim in 6 challenge either love it or hate it, with very few on the fence about it. It is a basic exercise program intended for those that are looking to change their bodies but do not have a vast knowledge of exercise or a fitness background. Take into consideration where you are in your fitness level when reading the pros and cons and deciding whether the program is for you.
Pros
- The program is easy to do, whether you are in shape or you are just starting out with your first exercise program.
- It is one of the most inexpensive programs available.
- You can do the program more than once, increasing the intensity each time with additional resistance bands and/or dumbbells.
- If you are extremely overweight and need to start low, there are low impact versions of each exercise performed in the workout videos.
- Each of the videos has a timer on the screen. It helps you see how much time you have left for each workout and how many reps for each exercise as well.
- The nutritional plan is accompanied by a six day accelerated weight loss plan that you can do if you need to drop weight quickly.
- The workouts start at only 30 minutes and increase in time as you move through the series. This gives you time to get used to them and build up your endurance.
Cons
- Beachbody advertises their videos, workouts and website before and after each workout on the videos. This seems like a waste of time and the time could be better used with more activity.
- There are only three core workouts in the series, so it can get repetitive and boring.
- This workout is geared mostly towards women, focusing on the lower body areas such as the butt, hips and thighs. Men would most likely not like the program and may be better off with one that focuses on the upper body and/or whole body such as Turbo Fire or P90X.
Conclusion: Should I or Shouldn’t I Do the Slim in 6 Workout Program
As far as results go, you will definitely see a change in your body as long as you stick to the program and also follow the nutritional plan that accompanies it. You will feel the burn in your muscles as you are performing the exercises and will definitely feel soreness following them. Even if you have been exercising prior to beginning Slim in 6, the Slim Training method will be something new to your routine and will begin to change your body as you progress in the six week program.
Obviously, results all depend on where you are when you begin. If you are severely overweight and you follow the program correctly, you will definitely see results in terms of weight loss and lowering your body fat percentage. You will not sculpt your muscles and get a lean physique in only six weeks but, over time, you will see improvement in your muscle definition and continued weight loss.
If you only have a few pounds to lose and want to sculpt your body, Slim in 6 will definitely help you meet your goals. It targets all of the major muscle groups and works them repeatedly with a range of moves to sculpt them at every angle. Even the ab workout that is included as a bonus will surprise you. You will be doing ab exercises that you have probably never done before and will work ab muscles you never knew you had.
Testimonials
So far I love Slim in 6. The difficulty level is ideal for me and the moves are not so hard that I get discouraged and give up half way through a workout. I am not the type that regularly works out (although I need to be) and I bought Slim in 6 so I could get in shape for my sister’s wedding.
Guadalupe Jimenez – Albuquerque, NM
I started the program two weeks ago and I’m on the fence about it. I definitely feel sore after doing it but the reviews that said it is a boring program are right. With only three main workouts, it gets repetitive, even after only two weeks. I have practically memorized what is coming next on the videos and find myself constantly watching the clock running down in the corner to see when it will be over. I am not going to give up and will finish the program out to see what results I get but will probably not do it again.
Natalie Rainier – Salt Lake City, UT
Reshape your Body in 6 Weeks – Guaranteed with Slim in 6 Workout DVDs! Click here now!