Firm for Life

Rating:
Summary: Good Supplement to the Videos
Review: I'd already been working out with the FIRM Body Sculpting Systems 1 & 2 for a year when I ran across this book. So I was already convinced of the FIRM's awesome track record. At first, I thought the negativity toward other workouts was in poor taste, but then I thought about how we're reading the book in a different time than when it was written. When it was written, in teh mid-to-late '90s, it probably still took some convincing on the part of the Bensons to get people to listen to their workout philosophy. I know I didn't even hear of the FIRM until 1999 or 2000. Until then, I was plugging away with Kathy Smith's workouts and getting admirable results, but nothing like I get with the FIRM. So when you read the part of the book when the Bensons go off on other workout gurus, just let the negativity go. It's not relevant anymore. Research has proven what the Bensons were barking about back then. Don't let it turn you off from the rest of the book, or from the FIRM workouts.
There is some solid nutrition advice, such as if you want defined muscles, eat lots of protein and have a protein "survival kit" that you take with you every day. Then they have more extreme nutrition advice like pretending that there's no such thing as cheese and dessert. Okay. So just take the advice that you know will work for you and chalk the rest up to the Benson Sisters being on their soapbox. And as other reviewers have pointed out, there is more than one instance where the Bensons do get up on their sassy horse about all things from spirituality to thong underwear to what you should be reading.
Remember that the Bensons built their empire, the FIRM, on these serious, awesome cardio + weight training workouts, not on being experts on etiquette or fashion or literature or spirituality. If you're searching for a workout that works, give the FIRM vids a whirl (there absolutely are not enough exercises in the back of this book), get this book to supplement what you learn from the workouts and the firmbelievers club(should you choose to become a member of that), and let the rest just filter through your brain like so much plankton.
One feature of the book that I loved was seeing the profiles of some of my favorite instructors and reading about their roads to fitness and why the FIRM works for them. They're real women, not fitness celebrities. They're all heights, ages, and body types. One instructor is an English teacher in real life. Another is a courtroom lawyer. Some instructors started with the FIRM in their 20s and are now in their 30s and they look even more fabulous in the new videos than they did in earlier ones. It's awesome to read about their struggles and how the FIRM helped them to overcome.
I would definitely recommend Firm for Life to anyone who is searching for a workout program that works and won't bore them in the process. But this book isn't enough on its own. Get yourself a Fanny Lifter and a Body Sculpting System and give the workouts a try, because when it comes to fitness, a video is worth a shelf full of books.

Rating:
Summary: Though reviews were bad I bought it and was not dissapointed
Review: After reading all of the negative reviews on this site I was very hesitant to purchase this book. I figured I'd look it over for a half hour, say "Yep, they were right, it [stinks]" and put it with my pile of never read books. Fortunatly, when the book arrived I was very interested in the content. I carried this book with me for 3 days straight and read it cover to cover, and some sections, such as Firm Fuel, I read through several times.
I found it to be very motivating, and while some concepts presented were not new(the benefits of eating whole foods over refined) the information was put forth in such a way as to make it seem real to me, and something that would be of grave consequences to my health if I were to ignore it. Some things however were new, such as eating small amounts of lean protien throughout the day coupled with complex-carbs, (every 2-3 hours)so that the muscles can rebuild effectively.
I thought the method bashing was minimal, considering how built up other reviewers made it. I was very impressed with the Benson sisters' and also many instructors' insistance that your lifestyle be balanced and exercise not be out of porportion in it's importance.They say to "Be well rounded: Make time for work, play, family, healthy eating and exercise" It was an overall great investment, and really motivated me to take it a step further, though the videos alone were very effective. This book just may motivate me to be FIRM FOR LIFE.

Rating:
Summary: Good supplement or intro to the FIRM
Review: I agree with the other reviewers that they spent way too much time on bashing other fitness gurus and debating on who invented what first--the point is their workouts work and are fun! I think the chapter FIRM Spirits was meant to be helpful, but I think they should leave stuff like that out in subsequent books (if any). They explained why their technique works quite effectively and the exercises. I was disappointed that they didn't include bios of the Susan Harris and the other instructors from the Classic series as that is/was the foundation IMHO of the FIRM. I would recommend this book for any diehard FIRM believer or someone who wants a good introduction to the FIRM; but, if you have 20 Questions About Fitness, you may want to save your money.

Rating:
Summary: Quite useful for those of us who need some extra motivation.
Review: I would have hoped to see more in-depth articles on how the videos are produced and some featured articles on the master instructors from each video volume; but overall, I was very pleased with the book. Much of the information is repetative of the "20 Questions About Fitness" video that you get free with any Firm order, but there was also a lot more solid, no nonsense information that I find helpful to have at my fingertips on a daily basis. The success stories and the tips for developing tough-mindedness and for proper exercise technique are the most important sections, in my opinion. Hopefully, the 'next' Firm book will fill in the information gaps that so many long-time Firm enthusiasts (and new ones) hope for.

Rating:
Summary: um, ew
Review: let me start off by saying the authors talk about etiquette then put down other fitness instructors to make themselves appear better. i found this hysterical (and tacky!). this book is nothing more then a written endorsement for their MANY videos. i found absolutely nothing here that was groundbreaking in any way. i'm not a huge fan of the benson sisters. i recently read they are now charging a fee to access their website, a website thats promotes and sells their products, needless to say even the 'firm believers' are growing tired of their greed...like i said before...TACKY.

Rating:
Summary: Not as bad as I thought it would be
Review: This book is infamous in some circles. The black thong underwear reference has brought many an online chuckle. I had heard so much about this that I HAD to buy it when I saw it.

Honestly, I did not think the book was as bad as it has been made out to be. It gives some solid references to the origins of the Firm, how the original Volume 1 was produced and a glimpse into what their workout philosophy is. Also, although they fall kind of flat with their prescriptions about diet and appearance, there is nothing in there that hasn't been said by many diet and appearance books in the last few years. FYI- the recommendation for black thong underwear is based on 1) their statement that you should wear black year-round (this has been in MANY appearance guides) and 2) the fact that a lot of women complain about panty lines. It's not that controversial.

I was put off by the bashing of Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda, and frankly, a little residual jealousy seemed to motivate it. Also, I was shaking my head at the full page of Oprah references- yes, she is a classic yo-yo dieter, but they could have been a little bit more charitable. That is perhaps the biggest problem in their book: they have a number of good points to make, but their biased and undiplomatic delivery makes it hard to take them seriously. Finally, I was very disappointed at the small number of exercises in the book (12 strength, 12 stretches, 4 "cardio minute" moves). Of all of the information they put in, this is what I would have liked to have seen the most of.

Regarding the new Firm Direct website, the Benson sisters are, supposedly, no longer directly affiliated with the Firm.