Action Hero Babe Review

Name: Action Hero Babe Training System
Creator: Valerie Waters
URL: www.actionherobabesystem.com
Purpose: To transform your body one-on-one with Valerie and create the strong, sexy, fierce look of an action hero babe.

Before the launch of her new Action Hero Babe System, I sat down with Valerie Waters to talk about what to expect from her latest workout program. Since then, I’ve had a chance to review the program myself and many of you have been asking how I like it. I am excited to finally get to share my bunz-burning experience with you.

The Package

When I received my Action Hero Babe binder the first thing I did was open it up and check out all the DVDs and the welcome letter from Val.

She begins,

“I believe that our health is our most important asset, and that feeling confident in how we look, allows us to get the most out of life.”

I couldn’t agree more. The program promises, if followed as laid out, RADICAL changes in how you look and feel in just 8 weeks and if you aren’t happy with the results after 30 days, you get your money back.

I flipped through the DVDs, which I noticed are the professional, pressed quality DVDs (not burned), and landed on the Let’s Get Started DVD that explains… how to get started, i.e. what DVD to watch next, what forms to print off, and what to expect from the program. I love that Val is so herself in these videos, just chatting, and even giving some of her own personal examples of how she stays motivated and committed to her goals.

After watching the intro video, I was totally inspired and decided that I am going to give this program 110%. So for the next half hour I spent my time getting organized.

The program comes in a neat black binder, with the little red tabs already set up for your action plan, workouts, nutrition plan, recipes, and extras. It also contains the DVD sleeves that hold the 12 DVDs, so everything is one place. Easy access. I printed out all of the forms, entered my day 1 measurements/weight, printed off my calendar so I can track my progress, set my intentions, printed my recipes, workouts, and got set up to start first thing the next day.

Next I watched the Basic Training DVD, which shows how to properly perform the standard exercises (squats), the not-so-standard exercises (i.e. belly robbers, witches cauldron, alligator walks), and also gives modifications so that the workout can be altered for various levels of ability. This was cool to be able to see the exercises actually performed versus just looking at the usual exercise pictures you see with most training programs, trying to figure out how to put them into action.

The Training

The program is set up in two phases: the first 4 weeks are phase 1 and the second 4 weeks are phase 2, where the workouts change and become a bit more challenging. Each week there are 3 different workouts to be done on non-consecutive days:

Build: All about getting strong, building the shape and create the foundation for those fierce action hero babe muscles.

Burn: Where you burn calories with a combo of exercises, sets, and reps that are geared to melt the fat.

Sculpt: Where Val says the magic happens, that gives the chiseled, lean, sexy look, working the smaller forgotten muscles that help correct the posture, flatten the abs, and tighten the glutes.

I consider myself in pretty good shape and after the first week of these workouts, I was SORE… in a good way though. I like feeling sore because I feel like that let’s me know I am actually challenging my body. I especially enjoyed the exercises that focus on correcting posture because I think that is an element that is often left out of many workout programs. I did notice that Val’s count was a little off in a few areas, but that wasn’t a big deal for me, an extra lunge never hurt anyone.

In each DVD (build, burn, and sculpt) Val performs the entire workout straight through (with water breaks of course). It feels so real that I caught myself answering her a few times.

Val: These one minute breaks are reeeeally important.

Me: You ain’t kidding sister. Wait…

It is cool to see that Val is kicking her own butt – she too gets out of breath and breaks a serious sweat.

In watching these videos, I also noticed that I had been doing some of the exercises too slow before, when I was doing Val’s other programs like Bikini Body, which also include some of the same exercises like Valslide lunges, etc. Again, it’s neat to actually see the system creator performing the exercises as they are meant to be performed.

At the beginning of each video, there is a list of the equipment that is needed, things like the Valslide, Valband, dumbbells, stability ball, etc. Val offers suggestions for weights, but it’s up to you what you can handle. She uses kettlebells often, but they are not necessary if you do not have access to them.

The program also comes with .pdf manuals that show pictures for each exercise. I like this a lot because they are a great quick reference, especially if you are working out at the gym, where you might not have access to the DVDs.

These workouts are supplemented with 2-3 days of cardio/yoga. There are several different printable interval workout included for cardio (great for burning lots of calories), which can be modified to your level of fitness, but Val also explains that you can do any type of cardio that you find fun. Yahoo for bringing fun into cardio!

The Food

The Let’s Get Cookin’ DVD is all about simple whole food meals. Val show some of her favorite recipes and tips for how to eat healthy, no matter what your schedule is.  One of my favorite quickie smoothie recipes is Val’s green smoothie with mango.

In addition to the video, I particularly loved the How to Eat Overview because I honestly think this is one of the biggest problems for people. Many people who are struggling with fat loss just don’t know how to eat and have lost that intuitive sense about food. Food really has become an emotional thing that we use for more than just nutrition (i.e. celebration), which is fine on occasion, but I think for many folks, the process really must begin with relearning how to eat.

Val lays it out very simply with sample meal timing charts, portion control guidelines, water guidelines, and a slew of yummy, healthy recipes for smoothies, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, salads, sauces, and sides.

The Bonuses

The Action Hero Babe System included several bonuses with its initial launch.

Rachel Nichols | Actress

This DVD is an interview where Val talks with Rachel Nichols about her journey into healthy eating and working out. It was so relaxed and cool and really hits home that no matter who you are, celebrity or regular Joe, fat loss and maintaining your ideal body is about discipline and mindset. And discipline doesn’t have to equal “difficult,” but rather a “decision” that you are going to make a change starting NOW and stay committed to that change for the long-term. It’s not about a diet, it’s a lifelong eating plan. My favorite part of this interview was when Rachel says,

“The best time {to start} is when you want to prepare, not when you need to prepare.”

This is the exact opposite of what we normally do, right?! Why do we always wait until the last minute where we think we are forced or under a deadline to start taking care of our body? Why not start now?!

Gavan Murphy | The Healthy Irishman

I love Gavan’s style of cooking – quick and easy gourmet recipes for the at home cook – so I was really excited to dive into this cookbook. His recipes are kid friendly, and can be easily sneaked… snuck?? past even the most savvy anti-health food family members. It was Gavan who taught me how to make super moist and flavorful boneless skinless chicken breast… who knew it was possible??

He includes pictures for each and every recipe, and even some step-by-step pictures showing how to make a dish, which is awesome, because one of my biggest pet peeves is a cookbook with no images of the food! Beyond that, Gavan does more than just give recipes, he tells a story. He explains why he likes a particular dish, or where he learned to make it. His humor combined with his genuine interest in teaching shine through in this non-intimidating cookbook that is equally great for both the individual who is new to healthy cooking as well as those that have been cooking healthy dishes for quite some time (i.e. me) looking for a little pizzazz.

Some of my favorite recipes (some I have made, some I am planning to make soon) are:

• Pesto Roasted Chicken with Yam Mash
• Black Bean Hummus
• Veggie Quiche with Whole Wheat Crust
• Oatmeal with Almond Milk and Fresh Berries (of course!)

It’s pretty cool too that Gavan, who used to be Cindy Crawford’s personal chef, even includes her favorite dish with a little hand written note from her.

Tom Morley | Celebrity Yoga Instructor

This DVD was a great introduction to yoga. It starts off with Val and Tom chatting about the benefits of yoga and how Tom got into teaching his style of yoga. He explains that he was an athlete who was looking for a way to bring another outlet for physical activity into his life. He describes himself as what many might call a type-A personality, and says that the personal awareness and slowing down that yoga offers got him hooked, while at the same time, he is all about having a good time, making it fun and exciting, and adapting it to your lifestyle. In this DVD he takes Val through a 15-minute session, showing some of the basic poses. Ultimately, Tom says, yoga is about peace.

“When we are relaxed, when we are happy, when we feel peaceful and calm… life is good, and we tend to make better choices and decisions.”

I think my favorite part of this DVD is the message that yoga doesn’t have to be strict and “perfect” for it to make a difference in your life. This really is a great overview for anyone who is looking to start or continue a yoga practice, and again whether you are new to yoga or have been doing it for a long time, Tom’s energy is contagious and I can’t help but feel all the stress fall away by the time I am done with the session.

Shauna Duggins | Hollywood’s Top Stuntwoman and Coordinator

This audio interview was interesting. Shauna has worked with many of Val’s clients, like Jennifer Garner in Elektra, Rachel Nichols in GI Joe, as well as Anne Hathaway in Get Smart and Val talks with her about how she stays in shape and eats right with her crazy work schedule.

Shauna and Val chat about how to set yourself up to succeed. Shauna points out that it’s consistency over time that makes the difference and sometimes the reality is that you just do what you’ve got to do to get your training in, but you make it fun. You choose to see your workouts as something you “get” to do rather than “have” to do. They mention food temptation (fresh baked cookies!) and I think this is so great because, again it shows that we ALL have these temptations/challenges, and we ALL have to choose to make better, healthier choices based on our own personal goals.

The Bottom Line | Is it Worth It?

I’m not usually into fitness DVDs, but this program had a whole different feel to it. From the stellar intro graphics and pump-it-up music to Val’s laid back and real personality, I look forward to doing these workouts. I feel like I am really getting one-on-one training with Val, working out with her at her home gym!

I look at it like this, Val is known for getting her celebrity clients into action hero babe shape in a short amount of time. So this workout program is essentially that experience and knowledge boxed and shipped to your doorstep.

The videos are very real. They are not completely perfect or polished, but I think that is what gives them character. It makes it very easy to insert yourself into that “action hero babe trainee, being trained” minset and in a way, it removes the curtain between what we think celebrity workouts and nutrition are all about compared to what they are in real life. It’s not super easy to look as good as Cindy Crawford or Jennifer Garner, but there is a trick. And that “trick” is combining the right training and the right nutrition with the commitment, and I think this program gives the average person the access and inspiration to achieve all three.

Are you using the system? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!

If not, you can get your copy and read more about the system here:

http://actionherobabesystem.com/

Also, check out my 2 months later Action Hero Babe fat loss results update!