Any Barre Results? Versus TA Results
 

I keep seeing all of these threads about Tracy Anderson results and I feel that barre workouts are just as effective.......at least they feel like it when I do them, as I've never done them long enough to warrant results. However, I'm so curious.....has anyone here ever seen an article like all the TA ones boasting about great results with barre? or have you had great results with barre?

I know my interest was piqued and I've wanted to start doing barre since I watched Fluidity on HSN last time it was on and I saw the before and afters and this is what made me start thinking......thus the reason of this thread.

Any responses would be appreciated. I've played around with barre, but never stuck with it long enough to warrant results, but lately that's all I want to do and I don't feel like lifting heavy and then I feel guilty as I feel like I NEED to lift heavy to keep the balance. So, if you've done barre for a while and taken a break from heavy lifting.....is that okay also?

I have had absolutely great results with barre. I can't tell you how much better I feel and easier I move since I've been on a steady diet of barre (18 mos. and counting--except for a 10 week hiatus doing Drop 2 Sizes, which I enjoyed but abandoned two week early b/c I missed the limber feeling I got from barre.)

My whole body feels strong and flexible, I feel pulled in all over. After a good barre workout, I feel like I am floating in the most lovely, blissful state... I call it the 'post-barre lalalas.'

I enjoyed the strength gains I got from D2S and after I returned to barre, I resolved to continue heavy lifting, but I really don't like it at all, so I'm back to strictly barre. I do P57 mostly, which involves heavier weights. Not super heavy, but I mostly use 10lbs. for my 'heavy' weights, and that plus the bodyweight exercises seems to be enough for me. I'm better at pushups and planks, so I don't feel that I've lost strength at all. You can read more about my love affair with barre on my blog, if you're interested.

I did TA for a while and got all kinds of aches and pains and plantar fasciitis from the dance cardio. I'm glad TA works well for many, but it definitely didn't work for me. I don't think there is any one perfect type of exercise for everyone, but barre (specifically Physique 57) is my workout holy grail! I also like live Pure Barre classes and the Ballet Physique DVDs.

Sounds like me! I like to dabble in TA and barre, but I have never just stuck it out with one method long term because I feel like I should lift weights etc...

It wasn't until I really committed to barre that I saw great results. When I was only doing it twice a week or so, it didn't really do anything for me.

Then I did one of P57's monthly challenges, which is usually 30-90 min. a day, six days a week and after that, I was completely hooked. My PF and all my other aches and pains pretty much disappeared. I also lost pounds and inches, but I was most excited about being pain-free!

Now I do 30-60 min. a day, six days a week. Occasionally I'll do something else for a change, but nothing makes me feel as good as barre.

I didn't realize that P57 even used weights as high as 10s! Using heavier weights with barre seems exciting to me. I have been interested in trying P57 for a long time, but have always stopped from purchasing because I don't spend much on DVDs and they seemed expensive to me. I love hearing about how fun they seem. Maybe someday!

Lulu, I am soooooo cheap. Really. My brother says I'm tighter than the paper on the wall! But I'd pay full price for Physique 57 DVDs again in a New York minute. They are BY FAR my most used DVDs.

They use 8lbs. as their 'heavy' weights in the DVDs. I find I do best with 10s. They have up to 10s and 12s in the studios, and a few 20lb. weights, I've noticed. Probably for the handful of men who take classes. There are still a fair number of reps, so I'm quite certain I'd never go about 12lb weights. I'm very challenged with 10s.

I am exactly one month in to my Pure Barre classes and I am having results. I took pictures to even compare the results. My arms are leaner and more defined, my butt is more lifted and smaller :o, my abs are finally moving in the right direction, my legs/thighs are very tight and strong and my hamstrings are as well.

It's a process, but I'm liking what I see so far and I am continuing with my classes. I have been going 6 days/week.

I've never done TA, but I have had an on and off love affair with barre for 10+ years. For a long while I did nothing but yoga and cycling, but I missed the barre burn. I also lift (kettlebells, but not very heavy. My biggest bell is 16kg), but I do barre and yoga on my off days. At one point I did it 4 times per week, but 2-3 times per week is my sweet spot. I love what Nuggie's Auntie calls the "lalalas"-- it's a real thing! Being able to stay with the burn really develops what I call "mental fortitude". I had it from yoga, but barre is more intense. My hips have really slimmed out and my booty sits higher than ever, but I have also improved my balance and general outlook.

There are tons of different styles and what works for some may not work for you. See if you can borrow/rent some different DVDs to figure out your type. I was Bar Method at the start (and still need some Burr from time to time) but I am currently using Suzanne Bowen's streaming site along with a Pure Barre here and there. I got the first month for $5 (it's usually $10) with the code Fitin40, but I don't know if that's still active.

ETA: You can get your first month free with the code "liveyourlife". I don't think that you will have to enter a credit card number for the trial.

I mainly use 5, 8 and 10's for P57 too. At one time I did p57 three times a week with daily cardio and stretching/yoga on off days and had good results. I am just getting back into barre and have been doing P57 this week. I've not yet done it daily or the 4-6 times a week. Though I am considering it. They are expensive, but they are probably among my most used dvds. A cheaper way to see if you like it would be to get the paperback book by P57 that includes a bonus dvd. The bonus dvd is a 30 minute workout cobbled together from various sections of the volume 2 set. It doesn't flow the same as the dvds, but it is edited well as far as I recall and would be a good way to test the waters.

And the barre lalalas are sooooo real. :love: