Has Anybody Lost Weight from a Joyce Vedral Workout?
 

Joyce Vedral does aerobic weight training AWT and claims you can lose x amount of pounds in 6 months time for example just by a regular program.

Has anybody here ever actually done that? Just curious.

TIA to all.

Yes, I am curious also. I also receive emails from her with rotations saying you can lose weight if you do xyz.....

20 pounds in about 6 weeks using the Joyce Vedral Fatburning Workout, book not video. That was many many years ago lol.

This is absolutely no help, but I remember someone on here several years ago having amazing results. I am pretty sure she was blond in her pic. i'm sorry. I know thats no help, but I do remember that much, lol.
I've been curious over the years, as I had one of her books over 20 years ago, but I know a lot of people over the years were dis-satisfied with her very unfriendly customer service, and i kinda turned me off to giving her more of a try.

I used Joyce for many years, around 10 years ago. I lost some weight, but it was more about inches - lost a pant size in 3.5 weeks; was doing basically no cardio and not even working out every day. Her workouts changed my body. Prior to JV I used the Firm (mostly) and cardio / weight intervals (Karen Voight for instance). I still use JV some, but have been using mostly TA since meta was released

Although I heard stories about her customer service, I never had a problem.

Terrie

Mandy was one of Joyce's success stories. Maybe she'll see this and post more details.

I haven't stuck with any of Joyce's workouts/rotations long enough to see dramatic weight loss results and it has been a while since I have used her workouts, but I see almost immediate results in my upper body definition when I use her workouts (usually after only 3 workouts).

i have 2 of her books and have read a few of her other books from the library. i have heard bad things about her videos! like, they're nothing compared to her books. joyce was a maverick, advocating bodybuilding for women in the "early" days, having been associated with the wieders and rachel mclish. this was pre-BFL days, mind you.

if you did circuit style training the way she does, there could be a cardio effect. in her book, she doesn't mention much about cardio, at the same time, she doesn't discourage it. she has mentioned doing some cardio, but it's not an integral part of her system.

i have yet to do a JV rotation. her success stories, including Mandy's, are impressive.

ITA. Joyce's videos are awful, in my opinion; her books are where she really shines. The first weight lifting I ever did was with Joyce's books.

Supposedly you can get a cardio effect from her workouts; my guess is that if you lift quickly enough and go through the exercises quickly, your heartrate will rise. I wouldn't call her workouts "cardio", though; it's old school weight training, and it is highly effective.

In terms of losing weight, even Joyce says it's about what you eat.

About a year ago I lost about 10 pounds just doing Joyce Vedral videos and walking. I think I was alternating upper and lower body, doing a workout every day. I did not lose that weight super quick like she suggests though, my body is not that efficient. Probably, you could get better results following her books. She moves pretty fast in the videos so I find I can never use very heavy weights and some of her exercises tend to aggravate my weak shoulders. I am at the point now where I cannot do her workouts anymore or really any weighted workouts. I am taking time to do more yoga, fusion, pilates, etc to let my body heal.

I do like that she has really short efficient workouts, some are only 15-20 minutes. Her workouts are not fancy or have amazing music, etc, but they are no nonsense get the workout done.

Joyce has a package deal right now where you pick any 6 DVDs for $39.98 plus small shipping charge (not sure how much for shipping).
Joyce Package Deal

I followed one of her rotations about four years ago, along with walking every day and WW and dropped 25 pounds. I used her books way back when, and added videos along the way. I use a combination of the two now.

While I try lots of other instructors, at some point I always go back to Joyce.

Kathy

Same experience here, and I'm still using a combo of her books and DVDs. I dropped 28 lbs in five months three years ago using primarily Joyce's BUG (Bottoms Up Gold) for upper body, rebounding and walking for cardio, and a bit of yoga and qi gong for flexibility. I did tweak my diet, but I tend not to see any results unless I'm strength training regularly. For me, muscle eats fat. :)

About 7 years ago I had honest-to-goodness amazing weightloss and strength results with one of Joyce's more intense mix-it-up plans, the eating plan from her Bottoms Up book, and lots of walking. I lost about 10 kg in 12 weeks, and have have never had results like that before or since. This was despite several years with Cathe and The Firm.

Wow! Some very interesting and encouraging responses here! Thanks so much to all who have responded, and looking forward to more!

To thos eof you who have lost weight with JV workouts, which do you think is the best, fastest acting for weight loss?

every time i read a VF JV success post, i start considering doing one of her rotations from her books. i own the 12-min Workouts book and the fat burning workout.

i have trained in the gym using index cards.... i've often considered transferring her sequences to cards. i'll bet that you get the moves memorized after a few sessions.

my question to those who used her books with success -

did you do it at home, and what were your heaviest poundages for DBs?
i asked because i don't want to lift heavier than 15# for each dumbbell because i don't own racks at home, and i don't want to go to the gym to work out. Joyce says repeatedly in her books that you don't need super heavy dumbbells, and has even stated that 5# DBs in each hand and body-weight type exercises will yield muscle definition (you contract your muscles intensely during the moves).

when i did a CLX rotation, i had to switch to bands because i hurt my back just getting the heavier DBs into position (again - no racks at home). i squatted to pick up/put down the weights too, and even then, i had to be careful.

i have a weight bench at home too, but no rack for very heavy bench press. i can bench press 45 pounds with a rack and a spotter.

Of course, that's mostly about diet, but Bottoms Up Gold is the gold standard for me. The upper body segment alone is about 40 minutes and tough if you use heavy enough weights. There are so very very many reps that it becomes almost meditative for me. :D

The heaviest for me three years ago was 5, 8, and 10. I have a different set of dumbbells now and recently have worked up to using 5, 7.5, and 10 (yes, I'm a weight wimp :D). I lighten up on weights if I'm doing a full pyramid routine and lifting relatively fast to my own music (Definition, for instance). My goal is to get up to 10, 15, and 20. I believe Joyce says in one (or more) of her books that it's not necessary to go heavier than that with her routines.

this thread might interest you.

I did WTME book workout for 8 months a very long time ago. It pulled me in in all the right places. Two guys who live on our road hit on me. Never did JV regularly after that.

I also got injured but it was my own stupidity because I was new to lifting. I'm still paying the price for that. I think it was with a video but it was so long ago I don't remember.

If you do the work the workouts will work for you.

I worked out at home with Joyce's books. The very first book of hers I used was "The 12 minute workout" and I only had one set of 3 pound dumbbells. Later, I acquired more weights and started adding different poundages to Joyce's workouts. I went from with 3/5/8 pound dumbbells and worked up to 8/10/15/20 pound dumbbells (depending on what body part I was exercising). I stopped at 20 pounds (for lat rows) because I don't have dumbbells heavier than that.

No barbells or spotters needed.

In one of her books (Definition, maybe?) Joyce said that she didn't go higher than 20 pounds.

Numerous people on this forum have said that they got their best results using Joyce's workouts. You don't need much equipment or space, and they're time-efficient.

I used 3, 5, and 10s like the book recommended. I had never lifted weights before and it was very hard for me. I also did the rapid reps. I used an ottoman for the bench. Now I could go up to 35s.

I'm tempted to go back to Joyce. Just get a good playlist on the iPod. I don't even have to take off my jammies.

The 6 dvds for$39.98 sounds great. Those that are Joyce experts, what do you recommend. I would like a nice mix of old and new. I know I would get Buttoms Up Gold, but what else?

TIA
Julia

because of this thread, i stopped at the library on the way home (got a nice 12 min brisk walk) and picked up Definition.

i love the way she writes - funny and entertaining.

I can't say I lost weight because of her workout since I was also trying really hard to eat better at the same time. I got great results doing Fast Forward for 3-4 months. I consider that the most effective weight workout in my collection. I am seriously burned out on it though so I'm rotating through my Firm workouts now. My only complaint with Joyce is the lifting pace can make it really hard to go heavier. As I got stronger and increased my weights, she was often already well into the next set when I was finishing up the last one.

This!!!

I've tried Joyce's DVDs, but she moves at warp speed! It's ridiculous, and really unsafe using heavier weights. I really, really wish she would make videos using the poundage she herself uses (like Cathe does) with a modifier, like her daughter, using lighter weights.

When I feel like working out with Joyce, I stick with her books so I can work out at my own pace.

Definition is a terrific workout, but if you choose the option with the most exercises, it has a very high dread factor--or at least it does for me. When I do a Definition rotation I just stick with the base level workout and get good results.

Joyce is very amusing--I enjoy her writing style. She's a great example of the benefits of weightlifting.

I have a few of Joyce"s books, and many of her dvds. I haven't used them all, but generally gravitate to her "Just" series. This thread has inspired me to break out my Joyce dvds.

As some of you might know, I have been struggling with my health this year (fibromyalgia) so trying to take a different approach to my workouts. I'm wondering what a Joyce and lower body barre rotation would do as far as results? I also ordered her Cougar workout this morning. Any thoughts on this one?

I haven't done a Joyce wo in years however when I pick one, it's usually Definition. This workout delivers the promised results for me. I do the basic 15 minute upper body workout and my arms tone up nicely...... :)

This is what I've done in the past -- use the books. I'm a visual person, so her media is still nice for reference but I preferred to go it alone once I got the hang of her routine.

It's worth the hassle, though. If I was results-oriented, I'd only do Joyce Vedral upper body weight training. Her workouts are very effective but her DVD's aren't fun. They are low-cost productions. She really does move too fast. She's also rather goofy. Because her media is so bad, she's underrated on VF. It's a shame, really. I wish she'd get a VF'er to manage her. So much untapped market potential there.

I did JV weight training back in my running days. I don't know if she's effective for losing weight because I was already bordering on underweight at the time and didn't need to lose any weight. She's certainly effective at building and defining muscle, though. People who saw professional trainers at my healthclub would occasionally sneak behind their backs to ask me what I was doing to get my results. I just wrote down her book titles.

I generally stay away from the older titles because of Joyce's lifting speed (for those, I use the books, which is where Joyce really shines, IMO). The newer stuff with daughter Marthe counting is much more reasonable: BUG+, the Just Arms (etc.) series, Slow Duet, Quick Quartet, Fast Forward, Speedy Non-Stop (not really speedy), and Top Shape. Bone Building is good too.

I agree with Joan. Joyce's newer workouts are better. Bottoms Up Gold Plus, the Just Joyce series (but be aware Just Abs is 6 ab workouts from her older DVDs) and Speedy Non-Stop are some of my favorites.

I was going to do a Slim in 6/Slim Series rotation but now you guys have me thinking about doing a Joyce rotation instead.

I have one more question.....besides Joyce's Slow Duett, what are the differences in the style of training from dvd to dvd?

Joyce uses the pyramid system for strength training, doing a modified pyramid in some of her workouts and a full pyramid in others. Sometimes she completes all exercises included before moving up the pyramid, in others she will combine 2, 3 or 4 exercises in a set and go through the pyramid system with those exercises before changing to another set of exercises.

If you look at the review section, there are some good breakdowns for workouts that may give you a better idea of how they are set up.

Her book, Weight Training Made Easy, is a very good resource as well.

I have one more question.....besides Joyce's Slow Duett, what are the differences in the style of training from dvd to dvd?

What Sissy said. :) The Everything Joyce thread will also answer a lot of questions about differences in training style.

I am a Joyce Vedral success story. Back in 2001, I was still trying to lose weight from my pregnancy. I started using Joyce Vedral dvd's and rotated them. Doing 1 dvd for 1 week, then switching to another for 1 week. I went from a size 16 to a tight 8. I didn't own a scale at that time ...it depressed me. So I just went by the way my clothes felt. As an ectomorph, it's hard to put on muscle. Using Joyce workouts really changed the shape of my body. I got more muscle definition and lost inches. I don't remember changing my diet that much either. I know that is a big part of weight loss.

I started off with Fast Forward because it was fun to do and I liked the exercises. Then I added Weight Training Made Easier.

I used Weight Training Made Easier..the first time I did it, I didn't think I could make it through the floor work...now its a breeze. I love how Weight Training made easier day 1 has fllorwork with abs and Day 2 has floorwork with abs. I also love how it doesn't exhaust me. I've done other high rep weight training and hate how exhausted and the burn hurts. With WTME, you work supersets in between body parts so while one muscle is working, the other is resting. When I'm done, it doesn't feel like it burned that much but I feel it the next day.

I also love Bottoms up Gold plus. The ab work alone is worth the DVD. If you think about how many reps joyce does in supersets with rest, it blow's Tony Horton's Ab Ripper X out of the water. I still do Joyce Abs for my main way to train my abs. I love it

I love Speedy Nonstop and Quick Quartet when I'm short on time. I love how with Quick Quartet there is an option to do upper body all seated. The lower body is fast and over because she combines butt and ab exercises.

I do Definition and Fat Burrning on my own since I have them memorized.
I also have Interval Aerobics and love that too. I turn the volume down and use my own music.

I love her Just Butt(giant setting), Just Thighs(giant setting using full pyramid system), Just Bra Roll&boobs(I would have named it back and chest..lol which uses giant setting back and chest) and Just Arms(giant setting biceps,shoulders,triceps using the full pyramid system) too.

I rotate them all. They are my main way to train with weights.

The only other DVD's I found to be like Joyce was Amy Bento's Drop Sets and Cathe Friedrich Pyramid and her STS Meso 2 which I change and use the pyramid system.
I love the pyramid system. I love how Joyce uses the supersetting, giant setting, super duper giant setting using the pyramid system. it really works for me and makes the workout go by fast.

I turn down the volume and use my own music.

I got my teenage daughters to start using Joyce Vedral's Toning for Teen book which is basically similar to her Fat Burning workout. And now they have it memorized and workout in their room with their own dumbells. They used to take my weights all the time so I finally had to get them their own set..haha.
I use 10,15,20lb db. For Now or Never, Joyce uses a Barbell and so I use my old Firm barbell for that. I love Now or Never as well.
For Fat Burning, I use lighter weights because she works in giant setting within the same muscle group...its tough. Same with Definition. But I still use 12,15 and 20 for Definition lower body. My legs are stronger.

I think the books would be great too. I like her Weight Training Made Easier book because she has 4 different workout options and introduces working out with sets, then pyramid system, then supersetting with 2 muscle groups using pyramid system then supersetting 2 different muscle groups. She has great pictures WITH DIRECTIONS. There are so many books that show you the exercises but then don't tell you how many reps and sets..ect. I'm getting my daughters to add in WTME book to the Toning for teens. It's nice to have a variety.

When I do Joyce's workouts, I sweat a lot and my heartrate gets up there so I do feel its aerobic. But its nothing like Cathe's Tabatacise or Hitt Training.
My motto is "weights first" then I do my cardio for my reward. Muscle is so important for me and helps me burn more calories and I'm a heavier weight then when I didn't lift weights but still look better if that makes sense. Joyce talks about that in her books.

I do the workouts for the workouts, not because I'm a fan of Joyce. I love the pyramid system and think its magical. It works for me!
Also, I was and still am a die hard Firmie so Joyce's production and music is pretty bland compared to the exciting Firm workouts. But I just turn down the volume and use my own music and sometimes just workout on my own without a DVD since I have Joyce's workouts memorized.

I was so happy to see a Joyce Thread! Hence my lengthly post...I love talking about my JV workouts..lol

As you can tell, I love Joyce's workouts!

I'm technically still doing a Fe Fit summer rotation but this thread makes me want to dig out my JV books again, particularly 'Definition'.

JV's books were what I used after my 1st child was born and I couldn't go to the gym to lift heavier weights. I got really nice results and also did only 2 cardio sessions per week, mostly ~15-20 min Hiit.
Of course, that was also 12 yrs ago, so my age might have played a difference too, regarding metabolism etc. Still, I think JV's workouts (books) are very effective! ;)

i wanted to clarify - i picked up the book "Definition". does the video stray far away from the book in terms of sequencing?

i did a couple of searches on VF for old threads about FAQ about Joyce that i think would be useful in this thread:

comments about the most effective way to work out from a book (see Vee's post, 3rd from the top):
How do you workout with a book?


comments about the lifting speed:
Is it the speed of the Vedral workouts that give results?

That working out from a book thread is very helpful! Thankyou! I always had a hard time with that.

Have to add: You are the queen at looking up old threads. I am so terrible at it and can never find anything, even with tabs half the time!

Joyce Vedral's 12-minute workout book was my first experience with exercise, and I had fantastic results. But I think it was because I went from sedentary to doing something, anything :) I tried a Joyce rotation a few years later and didn't get anywhere near the same results. The only thing that does it for me these days is circuit training with cardio and weights intervals (Barry's Bootcamp, Jackie Warner, Biggest Loser/Jillian etc). It has been hard to motivate myself to do it in this heat, but I am pushing myself because I have time off in the summer to do it. If I were just working out for fun, I prefer Leslie and outdoor walking, but nothing gives me results like the circuit training does :)