Written by While enjoying some quiet time, an advertisement blared over my classical music station:
“No time for exercise? Tony Horton’s 10 Minute Training makes blasting fat and building muscle easier than ever!”
The Classical Music Interrupter
The 10 Minute Trainer DVDs employ:
-”Super Stacking Technique” to combine cardio and strength training (uh, you mean like super-setting and circuit training?)
-Resistance bands and the “most effective moves” (Riiight because 5lbs of resistance is going to build muscle… strong girls, is this correct?)
-A “10 minute” meal plan, not sure what that includes but somehow it helps.
-You’re supposed to do 3 workouts/day (so really 30 minute trainer would be more appropriate) selecting from: cardio, total body and lower body workouts. (and the bonus of the Abs DVD…cause that’s really what working out is all about… the ABZ)
oops, wrong 6 pack
Ahem, shall I?
Training methodology, professional opinion on the safety of these “moves” for untrained individuals and lack of feedback on proper exercise technique aside, 
what angers me the MOST about these kinds of products is the “magic bullet” mentality. They make it sound like it’s so easy, fast and mindless to develop a head-turning physique and/or jaw-dropping strength.
Here’s a picture of me from my old bodybuilding days:
ignore the goofy face
Know how long it took to look like that?
4 YEARS.
Read that again and let it sink in.
4 years of HARD work, busting my butt in the gym 5-7 days/week, picking up heavy things (many, many times for a lot longer than 30 minutes), following a strict diet year-round (not to mention the restrictive competitive diet I stuck to for 12 weeks prior to a competition. Helloooo broccoli and chicken.) Each work out and meal was meticulously planned and well thought-out; I tried my hardest every workout to focus all my thoughts on my training.
1-week in the life of a bodybuilder
Did I mention that it took 4 years?
Things like this disgust me. I ABHOR how many products out there preaching the the “‘body you want” is only “minutes away,”preying upon our society’s collective impatience. Remember strong girls, many things in life are fast an easy, strength and a healthy body are not one of them.
At SAPT, we “cook ‘em slow” because we know that strength gains and physique changes take time and hard work. Check out two of our champs, Ron Reed and Ryan Dickt. Both have been training with us for years and working their tails off in the gym 3-4/week and gettin’ AFTER it!
Heard of the workout “Insanity?” How ’bout try some “Intensity” THAT is what training looks like.
Don’t fall for the short cut and train like you mean it.
I’d venture to guess you were not overweight, was in relatively good health/shape and it still took you 4 years? Four years of consistency, determination of going through life’s surprises and not resorting to bad habits. In a land of abundance and instant-gratification, why would anyone want to hear about self-restraint and patience? Thank you for this post. I have a daily battle of lifting the heavy weight of my im/patience.
Sometimes we just see the quick before and after, the quick Biggest Loser game show and think I can just thighmaster it off, jazzercise the booty away, lift a dumbbell and blammo I have instant muscle, guzzle this canned meal replacement drink and by close of business I’m back down to my high school weight. Yeah…no.
Thanks Krishna! I was in decent shape when I started (not to mention young) so I had the upper hand to start. And you’re right, consistency is key. Anyone can achieve their goal, they just have to show up and work hard.
Just started reading this today and was reminded of your post:
http://danjohn.net/2012/03/guest-blog-by-anthony-mychal-mastering-practice-and-simplicity-for-solid-gains/
We just want to fast, changing from one thing to another, never to see things through. That is not always the case. But I have been/am guilty of it
That Anthony is a smart dude.
I think it come after an injury when you realize the basics are the most important and they ALWAYS work.