Review of Denise Austin's Shrink Your Fat Zone Pilates

Denise Austin's "Shrink Your Fat Zone Pilates" incorporates Pilates movements designed to target specific problem areas in the body, most notably the abs and hips. The DVD is divided into three, 15-minute segments targeting the upper body, hips and abs, and promises to aid participants in shrinking these problem areas in three weeks or less.

  1. Spot-Reduction Challenges

    • Denise Austin's video promises to help reduce fat on specific areas of the body. However, spot-reduction is a fitness myth. It's impossible to remove fat from a focused area of the body. To burn fat, you need to pair a balanced exercise program with a decrease in the total number of calories you eat. Austin's video offers some low-intensity cardio through repeated calisthenic maneuvers. For most people, though, these maneuvers won't burn enough calories to shed fat. For example, Harvard Health Publications reports that 30 minutes of calisthenics will burn only 200 calories in a 200-pound person, and only 135 calories in a 125-pound person.

    Strength Training Benefits

    • Austin's video is primarily a strength-training routine that combines body-weight Pilates exercises with small hand weights designed to tone the arms and upper body. While these exercises won't help you burn fat, they can build muscle, creating a more toned appearance. Moreover, building muscle can help increase your metabolism because muscle burns more calories than fat. If you want to strengthen your body rather than lose significant weight, Austin's video is a good beginner option, but the maneuvers are unlikely to be challenging for a fitness expert.

    Limited-Purpose Exercise

    • In a review for the "Providence Journal," reporter Pamela Reinsel Cotter shared her experiences with the video. Cotter points out that the video primarily targets women's problem areas, with the most intense workouts reserved for the hips and upper legs. Consequently, the routine may only work for those interested in toning those areas, not exercisers seeking a fully rounded routine of exercise.

    A Healthy Fitness Routine

    • Austin's video won't undermine your workout routine, even if it doesn't burn much fat. For the best fitness results, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity and two days per week of strength training, such as that offered by Austin's video. For the best fitness results, though, you may need even more cardio. The Mayo Clinic recommends that people attempting to lose weight get 300 minutes of cardio per week. You'll also need to create a caloric deficit. A caloric deficit occurs when you burn more calories than you eat, and one of the simplest ways to do this is to eliminate unnecessary calories from sugary drinks, alcohol and snacks such as cookies and potato chips from your diet. In so doing, you'll eliminate a few hundred calories a day while burning more fat through regular exercise.