What Are the Shapely Secrets?
Shapely Secrets, a fitness program widely advertised on-line and in a series of television infomercials, has become a popular program for those looking to tone muscles and stay fit without weights or cardio-based exercise. The program, created by Greer Childers, is based on a concept of "Diametric Resistance" which targets specific muscles and tones them via extended "tensing" and "flexing."
While many report success with the program, positive results are not always the case. Many consumers have complained over the sales tactics employed by Shapely Secrets, which has overshadowed the impact of the fitness program.
Other People Are Reading
-
The Creator of Shapely Secrets
-
Greer Childers, the creator of Shapely Secrets, claims the exercise techniques in her program will tone muscles and help users lose weight. Childers developed the program after she had children and needed a way to stay fit without hard exercise. Childers, who is in her sixties and maintains a "size 4 to 6 body" (as claimed on her website), is the spokeswoman for Shapely Secrets and hosts the workouts that are sold on DVD.
DVDs and Vitamins
-
Childers sells her "Shapely Secrets" exercise program on DVD, which is marketed on a website as well as a series of television infomercials. There are several exercise programs available, from a simple program to more advanced workouts. Users are encouraged to start with the basic "7 Minute Workout" DVD, which is sold in a package with a book and a chart to track your progress, a bottle of a "fat-burning vitamin supplement" and several other items.
Users who have mastered the "7 Minute Workout" are encouraged to buy additional workout programs on DVD. An advanced workout is available, as well as an "Abdonda Breathing" workout which employs a deep breathing technique. Additional DVDs focus on advanced lower and upper body workouts.
Users who purchase the program in packages or individual DVDs are also offered a vitamin program, in which a supply of vitamins (to encourage weight loss) is sent to the user every month, with the charges added to their credit card. -
Exercise and the Muscle Groups Targeted
-
Childers' Shapely Secrets program is a series of what she describes as "Motionless Exercises" based on a concept of "Diametric Resistance" techniques. Basically, the exercises ask the viewer to tense their muscles for a set time. This tensing, which focuses specific muscles to provide resistance against each other, is held for a specific amount of time. By squeezing particular muscles for long periods of time, the program uses some principles of yoga, Pilates and resistance (or band) equipment.
The muscles targeted include the biceps and triceps, the buttocks, abs and the face and neck. Childers' techniques work some muscles while stretching or resisting against other nearby muscles.
Does it Work?
-
Like many programs, the results of Shapely Secrets are subjective. There is little doubt that tensing muscles and providing resistance does help tone. By doing so for an extended amount of time, many will find that their muscles are being taxed.
A number of users have reported success with the program. Users commenting on message boards at 3FatChicks.com, a site for those looking to lose weight and stay fit, report not only building more muscle, but losing weight and shrinking dress sizes.
By building muscle, the body tends to burn more fat, so the logic and techniques behind Shapely Secrets are sound. For those looking to lose large amounts of weight, Shapely Secrets may help, but other cardio-based programs may have more immediate results. Some users claim the program had little to no effect on them, either to tone muscle or lose weight.
Customer Service and Legal Issues
-
Greer Childers is not without controversy. In 2004, the FTC shut down her business, with an exercise product known as BodyFlex, for deceptive trade practices and making unsubstantiated claims. Many of her Shapely Secrets exercise principles, including her breathing exercises, were part of the original BodyFlex program. Her new program is careful not to make any claims as to results.
Some consumers who purchased Shapely Secrets have complained about sales tactics employed by the company's telemarketers. Shapely Secrets encourages buyers to sign up for a program which sends vitamins every month and charges the purchaser's credit card. Consumers have complained that Shapely Secrets telemarketers use deceptive practices to sign them up on the program, and find it difficult to cancel shipments and the recurring charges.
The Better Business Bureau has listed over 150 complaints against Shapely Secrets, and gives the business a "D" rating for failing to resolve some complaints. InfomercialScams.com lists over 50 complaints on their site.
Despite the complaints, the reported success of the program by many users continues to foster interest in Shapely Secrets.
-
