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Here we go again with another Testing The Trainers, where I break down a popular exercise program and give you my take. In my opinion does the workout work, or is it worthless?

Beach Body, the company that brought us P90X, Insanity, and Turbo Jam is at it again. This program’s called the Brazil Butt Lift – but is it for you?

Program Shakedown

As the name implies, this series of DVD workouts is designed to shape up your backside. Whether you have a flat, fat, wide, or skinny rear, Leandro Carvalho, trainer to the supermodels, and his Brazil Butt program, will “reshape your booty, to a thing of beauty”. Using the exercises will supposedly lift, shape, and reduce your backside through “triangle training”, a system of exercise positions that work the glutes from different angles.

Leandro says his greatest challenge was learning to train the butt muscles without overworking the legs, so many of the program’s exercises are designed to isolate the glutes with specific, targeted movements. The regime is pitched as a one of a kind, booty sculpting sensation that works for everyone, and consists of 3 DVD’s; each with their own focus, a meal plan, a body makeover guide, workout cards, and a pencil. You can achieve a shapely butt for $55 – $72 at various online stores.

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Conclusion
 Well I’m all for shapely, nicely toned rear ends, but anytime I hear a trainer tell someone that using their program will reduce the size of a specific area I cringe!

First of all, Brazil Butt Lift is very similar to Zumba, a very popular aerobic dance class. What Leandro has done is combine components of Brazilian dance, with traditional glute exercises, and add in a bit of Capoeira; a martial arts/dance exercise. It looks fun, but it’s not groundbreaking, and in my opinion, exercises like traditional squats, step-ups, and lunges are the most effective at targeting the glutes.

Truthfully, reshaping your butt and trying to change it into something it’s not is a recipe for failure. You can certainly improve any area of your body with appropriate training, but if you were born with a flat rear end, the likelihood of you attaining bubble butt status is slim.

What bothers me most is once again we have a program pitching the use of specific training, this time the fancy sounding “triangle training”, will reduce areas of your backside. Nonsense! Training a muscle in a specific area does not reduce its size, slim the area, or reduce the amount of body fat covering it. We see this with abs commercials all the time and it drives me nuts!

If you like to dance, but want a little more variety than a traditional Brazilian dance class, then this might be a good fit for you. But don’t expect to transform your body or star in a rap video any time soon!

The Angry Trainer Says: If You Like To Dance, Give It A Try.