The Ultimate New York Body Plan

Rating:
Summary: It works
Review: As a lifelong athlete, I knew that I was wildly unfit, my eating was a disaster and that I felt generally crappy. I had spent the last 2 years drinking instead of eating, then eating instead of drinking and sleeping hardly at all. Despite my 5'7" frame and size four figure, my bad habits were really starting to show. I was small but fat and looked and felt tired all the time. My goal was simply to find my former athletic self, to change fat to muscle and to try to learn some good eating habits. I also knew that any changes I made would need to last a lot longer than two weeks. I looked at the program as an aggressive way to kick-start my new healthy life.

Kick being the operative word...I haven't worked that hard physically since college when I rowed crew. It was a pretty sobering reminder of just how much time one can waste in the gym if you don't have a plan of attack or a specific goal to push you past your comfort zone. I was humiliated on day 1 to learn how unfit I was, sore as hell on day three, exuberant on day four (David said that was really common) a little cranky on day seven and vaguely stupefied on day nine. By day twelve, I looked forward to my workout the way I used to look forward to my morning cup of coffee. I slept more those two weeks then I have in a year. And miraculously, by day fourteen, I really did feel and look strong again. The program totally kicked my ass and reminded me how great it feels to work really, really hard.

Two weeks is an extremely short period of time, and I wasn't sure what results to expect. Especially since major weight loss wasn't my main goal. David wouldn't let me look at the scale or my measurements during the program, so I wasn't sure how to quantify my progress. My whole body felt tighter and my cardio was enormously improved. In short, I was feeling like an athlete again, energetic, sharp and sassy. On the last day, I knew I was a lot fitter, but I didn't know how different I really looked. As I said, I'm a size four and remain a size four (although those pants are tight in different places now). I was a little astonished to learn that I had dropped 7lbs, 11% body fat, 2 inches off my waist, bust and hips and 1inch off my arms.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about the whole experience is how clear and clean my skin became. And added bonus to de-toxing process I assume. I get as many comments on the healthy glow of my skin as I do on my newly toned arms and abs.

For me the program (both the exercise and eating) really was a true transformation. It was methodical, balanced and genuinely helped me change my habits in ways that I can continue to live with and enjoy. Gaining the tools necessary to personally take control of my fitness and wellbeing is more than I can say about any other program I've done in my life. I consider that an enormous victory. Honestly, I loved every minute of it.

Rating:
Summary: A real transformation...Inside and out
Review: For our anniversary in November 2004 my husband and I dedided our gift to eachother would be to get healthy and loose weight before the new year. I contacted the Madison Square Club with questions about the plan and spoke with Bonnie. Not only was she extremely helpful and encouraging, she also gave me David's email address and assured me that it would be his pleasure to answer any other questions or concerns that may come up during the 14 day plan. I couldn't believe it and any doubt we had about taking this challenge no longer existed.

We ordered and received, all 3 of David's workout DVD's, both books, several boxes of both his protein drink mixes and delicious Vitamin mineral powder. Also, prior to starting we emailed David with questions and as promised he responded quickly and kindly answered all of our questions. We were ready!

The first 3 days were the toughest but the immediate results kept us motivated. My husband had been on high blood pressure medication twice a day but after checking his blood pressure first thing in the morning on Day 3 we discovered the reason he had dizzy spells on Day 2 was because his blood pressure was now normal and realized he no longer needed the high blood pressure meds. It's now been 2 months and he's not on any meds! By the way, David kept in touch everyday.

After 14 days my husband took off 20 pounds and several sizes and I took off 10 pounds and many inches! But today we realize that the weight loss was the least of the benefits of this plan. We now exercise a minimum of 4 days a week for at least an hour and our eating habits are 100% better! We have much more enery, are much healthier and we look and feel great. Our physician is amazed with the results and has written down the name of the plan to recommend it to others.

We have the New York Ultimate Workout book on our kitchen counter and it is currently our favorite cookbook!

Can't wait for David's new exercise DVD which is due for release this month! We will be forever grateful... thank you Mr. David Kirsch.

Rating:
Summary: A Change Of Lifestyle And Confidence
Review: I have read the book and I am a graduate of the Ultimate New Yok Body Plan. What a difference! This is simply a 14 day program which is a detox and fitness program. I had to incoporate exercise and eating healthily with a very busy work schedule and the recipes are not bad at all, they're great! Another good thing about the body plan is for those who have not had regular exercise, there is a pre programme that one can build on to head towards the ultimate body plan, so it works with everyone depending on your fitness levels.It is something that one has to be determined and it's perfect especially when there is an occasion coming like in my case my birthday and going on holiday. I have lost 19.8 lbs and i am going onto the maintenance part of it where i can introduce certain foods back into me eating plan but in moderation.The Body Plan has made me more aware of the effect certain foods has had on me and also eating later at night or at irregular times. With motivation and determination and from personal experience, highly recommended.


Rating:
Summary: Amazing results
Review: I have tried every exercise approach to losing weight with no luck.
This plan is unbelievable. In two weeks I lost 6 inches. I can now wear jeans I haven't fit into for years. It is a lot of work. The diet portion was not bad. I was not hungry and the food tasted really good. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to shape up.


Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK CHANGED MY LIFE
Review: I started this plan on January 3, 2005 at 134.5 pounds. At 5 ft 3, that felt like too much. I have never been happy with my legs and usually cover them up. My arms felt thick, and nothing ever seemed to slim them down, and lifting always made them look big and bulky. I have always felt "thick" or "big boned". I usually avoid lifting not only because I get bored, but because I feel like it makes me look bulky. So until now I mostly stuck to running alone.

The past two weeks have been extremely difficult, but also very exciting. I kept a positive attitude and never once considered giving up. This time I was going to do it. The eating part of the plan was actually not too hard for me, which I was suprised about because I have a very big sweet tooth. It was the workouts that were killer. I split up my sculpting and cardio workouts, so some mornings I was up at 4:30am for the sculpting routine!!! I don't think I've ever gotten up that early for anything in my life!! I was very sore until about the fourth day, which, in the past would have kept me from working out. But this time I pushed through it. I can honestly say that I looked forward to getting up (very early) each morning and working out. Even the sculpting routine was fun. Not boring like the lifting I have done in the past.

I had already begun to feel slimmer (and stronger) halfway through the first week, but I did not want to weigh myself or take my measurements until day 14. I wanted to keep myself in suspense.

Well, I DID IT! I made it through the Ultimate Plan and I feel better than I ever have. Not only have I lost 11 pounds ( I havent been at this weight since highschool!) but I also lost a total of 14 inches. This plan has definitely changed my life. I feel happier, more at peace with myself, confident, proud, stronger (physically and emotionally), sexier, more flexible, more energetic, cleaner, healthier...I DO have the willpower and the stamina, and I really feel like I can do anything.





Rating:
Summary: Size 10 to Size 6 in 14 days
Review: I wanted to "weigh" in on this book. I read about it in Elle magazine over Xmas and thought "Well, I can do ANYTHING for 14 Days." I consider myself pretty fit, but I couldn't even do the "minimum" (or "pre-training") routine in the book! Whew! But I did what I could, and definitely followed the nutrition section.

David concentrates on a mind-spirit-body approach, but he also REALLY made it easy for me with listing the "no-no" categories of foods for the first 14 days. I have been on the Zone, Atkins, South Beach, etc. and by the end of 2 weeks I felt confused and a little disgusted. Also they don't have an exercise routine that goes with them.

By having BOTH the exercise AND the nutrition (with the "no-no food categories"), PLUS a realistic maintenance plan, I finished the 14 days and I am just ecstatic. I have gone from size 10 to size 6 (which is what I ~wanted~ but never thought was possible). The interesting thing is I have only dropped a few pounds -- which really tells me that I have replaced fat with muscle (which weighs more than fat does).

The other key thing is I feel so much more energetic and healthy. In those 14 days, I really got to see which of the "no-no food categories" (eg bread, alcohol, sweets, starchy carbs, fruit, etc.) I was "addicted" to. It wasn't pretty to see, but after 14 days you really change your taste for things. I "grossed up" David's recipes, so that I would make servings for 4 meals, which made the cooking go a little easier.

His supplements (available through his website) are GREAT -- they might be pricier than the ones you can get at the store but it's because his ingredients are the highest quality. I never thought having a protein shake would make me feel "full" and I can say that his shakes really work well.

This book changed my life -- no joke. If you are really motivated, I think this is a wonderful book to do. The exercising is pretty hard-core though -- and for 14 Days, 90 minutes a day. I did the best I could, and even though I never made it even to his "regular" exercises out of his "pre-plan" routine, I still did great.

Give it a try! I also got his DVD from his previous book (I understand he's doing one for this book and also an audio CD that you could listen to at the gym to do the exercises in this one -- WHICH WOULD BE SO AWESOME) -- and it's a fun workout.

Rating:
Summary: This book changed my life
Review: I'm amazed how far I've come because of this book... I went in to the challenge mentally prepared; this program does work, but I did have to make some alterations...

1) Working out first-thing on an empty stomach did not work for me, even though David encourages you try it... My body simply couldn't deal with that type of stress without energy first and I felt exhausted... Even just a half a shake before my workout gives me double the stamina...

2) It was much easier for David to spell out what is nutritionally required (which he does) than to use all of the recipes given in the book... Sure, some are great, and many are a great example / idea, but I found that making foods from familiar flavours was a million times better than choosing some of his recipes with foods I don't like...

3) Some things I just can't live without, chocolate being one... I made the mistake of thinking I could it give up...
a) My cheating started when I bought a shake mix that has only artificial flavouring... I began adding 2 spoonfuls of the ice cream to make shakes drinkable (barely) just so I could get it past my tongue with a straw; my chocolate craving was staring me in the face and I gave in fiercely...
b) I decided a small daily dose of dark chocolate is fine with me if it avoids any ice cream insanity...
c) I'd have to say getting David's shake mix is probably best... I invite you to try some of my shake mix if you have any doubt...

4) I wasn't expecting to have such a difficult time finding a place at my gym to perform the moves David uses... The moves definitely work, but I hate to be stared at during my workout... I had to learn to ignore the stares at the gym of people who don't understand the effectiveness of the moves I'm doing, even of my gym's personal trainers...

I do, however love my results... My body is newly sculpted and reshaped (at least one dress size slimmer), and 8 lbs lighter... I'm stronger than I ever thought possible... I hope to keep my results permanent and stick with it; I feel great...

Rating:
Summary: Yes, It Really Works
Review: In brief, three of us decided to do this together. C, at the start, weighed 198 pounds; B weighed nearly the same; and A weighed about 150 pounds. Fourteen days later (more on how painful or painless those were below), C had lost 12 pounds; B had lost 7; and A had lost 9.

C says that her eating habits have been changed forever and plans on sticking as much as possible to David's instructions. B had a few breakdowns and didn't stick to the program but put in a valiant effort despite a personally stressful situation (and still managed to lose, now pulling out pants from her closet she hasn't worn in years). A liked the strictness and rigidity of the program and was glad it got her back into the gym to a fitness level where she should be anyway. Plus, she dropped a size. She is not, however, willing to forgo dairy or fruit for most of her life. Neither, for that matter, is B.

Some reviewers have commented that David's plan (exercise hard, eat lean) is common sense and while it's obviously true that the fewer calories you take in and the more you burn, the more you'll lose, The Ultimate NY Body Plan actually gives you a daily menu and exercise regimen to follow.

It was hard. Really hard. The "45-minute" cardio-sculpting routine took more like 1.5 hours at the start. Even by the end, when we had most of the moves down, to keep it at 45 minutes meant skipping some really odious exercises (like Spiderman) and keeping the reps low. The cardio part was not as difficult to manage, though, we admit, we occasionally did only 30 minutes.

The food was pretty darn good. The only difficult part was that it felt like one of us was always in the kitchen cooking for the others. Preparation of all the meals and snacks was very time-consuming. About the shakes, okay, you can get used to them. Watch out for sucralose if you're sensitive to subsitute sugars.

All in all, when the three of us had our final weigh-in (we did not monitor our weight over the course of the program), we were all pretty psyched and amazed. So, yes, it definitely works. But be prepared to work your butt off and want to quit. The strictness helps. The daily menu helps. The rules help. Good luck.

Rating:
Summary: Post Pregnancy--Something that works!
Review: This book and program is awesome! 8 weeks after I had my 2nd baby I bought this book and talked my husband into doing the 2 weeks with me. We both have worked out regularly. I was motivated to get back in shape after the baby! My mid section needed help and this program delivered. What should have taken months took only 2 weeks!! My husband also had amazing results. He is leaner and more defined than when he was working out with personal trainers. I am back in my size 4 jeans in 2 weeks. I made a trip back home and everyone said my husband and I have never looked better. This program is hard work but it will be worth it!! If you do it...you will not be the same!! Guaranteed...it has changed my complete view of working out and training. David's training is unlike anything we have ever done. Thanks, David! You're awesome! John and Melissa

Rating:
Summary: Buy this book!
Review: This program really works! As advertised, it's intense, but it's actually very easy to follow because it's so clear. If it's not on the plan, you can't eat it, no exceptions, and the exercise routine must be done every day, no excuses. Simple.

Simple, but tough!! You will work harder than you ever have in your life, while (probably) eating less food. Fortunately David offers lots of support and encouragement in the book, as well as inspirational client stories that help get you through the tough spots. I was lucky enough to work with David personally, but his dedication to his clients and their success comes through loud and clear in the book. He spends a lot of time on motivation for example, and really forces the reader to prepare her/himself for the challenges ahead. If you follow his pre-program suggestions, you enter the program with a level of committment and conviction that will really help you succeed.

Which is a good thing, because you will need it! This is not for the faint of heart, and there is no magic bullet promised. As David would be the first to acknowledge, the program is plain old hard work, sound nutrition, and absolutely no extras. Not surprisingly, the results are amazing. I lost eight pounds, almost 9% body fat and three inches off both my waist and hips. More to the point, I felt incredible-- my hair, skin and nails were blooming, I had more energy than my puppy, and I didn't flinch at the thought of a hour of cardio every day. I had also gained a real sense of what my body needed ( and didn't need!) on a daily bais and how much I was capable of in terms of exercise and strength. These are real life lessons, which will ultimately serve me better than the eight pounds-- though those were nice too.

I'm a real foodie, so I was surprised by how much I liked most of the recipes included in the book. The food was actually quite good, and I don't think that's just deprivation speaking. David's protein shakes and vitamin are the best I've tasted and I continue them every day, even though I swore mid-program that I would never swallow another protein shake again in my life.

All in all, I learned so much from this program (and the results were so gratifying), that I feel incredibly lucky to have put myself through it! Paradoxical, but there you go. That, and the fact that anyone can do it and succeed, really distinguishes it from any other diet/exercise book or program I know of. Buy the book and get started. It's amazingly fufilling.