LL Cool J's Platinum Workout

Customer Reviews

• Emphasizes weight lifting  Jan 11, 2008 (175 of 175 found this helpful)

  This is a book to help you get into better shape. While the book covers stretching and cardio exercise to varying degrees, it clearly spends most of its exercise routines having the reader lift weights.
  
  The book intends to accomplish its goal of getting you into better shape by doing it in phases, with each one having different goals (too lengthy to go into here). Phase one is the Bronze phase (5 weeks), then the Silver phase (5 weeks), followed by a Gold phase (9 weeks) and finally ends with the Platinum phase (3 weeks), where the goal is to get a body like LL's. An additional phase, the Diamond phase, is included just for the ladies.
  
  There's a ton of info in here on just about every fitness topic and I really liked that throughout the book, there are these "rap session" sections where LL interviews experts in the fitness field and current information is shared- this is a big plus. LL fans will also like the LL trivia that is scattered throughout the book.
  
  One of the more interesting and informative fitness books on the market, I liked it. Also recommend Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff if you have a bad shoulder that keeps you from lifting weights.

• My personal experience  Jul 16, 2008 (70 of 72 found this helpful)

  I've created a webpage for my own personal experience with LL Cool J's 21 week Platinum workout. It details my experiences, advice, shortcomings, strengths, etc.
  concerning this workout plan. Here it is:
  
  http://Mischivis.googlepages.com

• Great Value for Price  Mar 19, 2007 (15 of 15 found this helpful)

  There are three things that I enjoyed about this book:
  
  1. The information provided by real fitness experts
  2. The colorful illustrations of each exercise routine
  3. The inspirational commentary along with the price
  
  
  The interviews and expert analysis that LL catalogues in the this book provide excellent
  
  information on how to fine tune your body. The illustration and instruction of each
  
  exercise provides flawless information on which muscles you will be working out while on
  
  that plan. The commentary is over the top as it helps continue to keep you motivated on
  
  your goal and to continue to push yourself to greatness.
  
  
  There areas I felt the book could improved upon were the following:
  
  1. Provide a workout program for on going maintenance once goal is reached.
  
  2. Provide a pocket size quick reference guide for referencing workout routines, while at
  
  the gym.
  3. Provide shorter workout routines for those business folks who only have an hour for daily
  
  workouts.
  
  
  As the program increases and gets more involved, the demand for time also increases. For an
  
  individual like myself, I am able to go to the gym during my lunch hour as I am usually
  
  press for time in the evenings. Unfortunately the book doesn't provide an alternative. I can't really complain though as I have lost 15lbs in my first 8 weeks.
  
  Overall the book is definitely (4.5 Stars) worth the money for the price. I feel the book provides great information for someone who is new to working out and good reinforcement and reference points for someone who is a gym nut.

• Good results, but have some reservations  Mar 2, 2008 (9 of 9 found this helpful)

  I've been lifting for several years now, so I'm not really new to it. I just fell out of the habit in late '07 with Thanksgiving, finals, Christmas and everything else. I decided I wanted to start out fresh in January, and I wanted to try out this routine because I'd heard some good things.
  
  I really like the fact that it clearly lays out each routine and what you're supposed to do pretty much every day of the week. It keeps you focused and when you have something you know you need to do, you're more likely to stick with it. The book starts at the beginner level, then takes you through different phases that will challenge you in different ways. I'm currently starting week 8 and have been noticing some nice body composition results. I've really been focusing on diet as well, and I've been doing much more cardio than is prescribed in the book so that's certainly helping.
  
  I do have a couple of issues with the workouts. They throw body weight exercises (pullups and dips) at you way too quickly, in my opinion. It takes a significant strength increase to be able to do these with proper form, ESPECIALLY if you're overweight. In addition to throwing these at you early, they're also thrown at you frequently. Most gyms will have weight-assisted dip/pullup machines which you can use. Personally, I've been substituting other exercises in place of them until my strength and body weight are more in line. There also appears to be almost no direct shoulder work in weeks 8, 9, or 10 which I think is a little strange. I've also yet to see a single shrug in any routine so far, but they're in his visual "how-to" section, so I'm assuming they're in there somewhere. Pretty bread-and-butter movement for your traps, so I don't know why they're not in there earlier. Similarly, there's no targeted work on your lower back. Since your core (abs and lower back) are important to form and overall body strength and balance, I don't know why these are ignored.
  
  There's some decent nutritional info, but I'd supplement it with your own research to find out how much you should be eating and target amounts for fat, carbs, protein, etc. There are a few very simple recipes scattered throughout the book. Not all that helpful, but I really like the Platinum Burger so I can't complain too much.
  
  Oh, and for those of you who just want to know if there are a lot of good muscle shots of LL, you won't be disappointed.
  
  Overall a pretty good routine, I think most people can get something out of it. I think it's pretty good for beginners and intermediates, but I would definitely recommend supplementing it with your own reading and don't be too stressed out about following it to the letter.

• great workout  Jan 22, 2007 (12 of 13 found this helpful)

  This book has some great down to earth recommendations for getting fit in a serious, but safe way. I read some other reviews that mention the lack of adaptabilty to a home training environment. That is not true. Each workout has at home suggestions for people who are not in a gym situation, though the suggested methods are for gym goers. Also, though LL discusses his on-the-road stories and references his trainer cooking for him, etc. He mentions it to illustrate that he makes the best of sometimes bad situations. In other words, if he can attempt to eat healthy at a diner in the woods at 3am, then surely we can pass on that extra fatty burger at the drive through. His suggestions are very real world savvy. I did not get the impression that his celeb lifestyle facilitated his success in his fitness endeavor. I mean he got off a bus and ran 5 miles in the desert so he could get in his cardio because they couldn't get to a gym?! I wouldn't do that, but I would get up and workout for 45 minutes before i go to my office in the comfort of an airconditioned health club. My only complaint is that the diamond workout for women is at the end of the book and it is a 4 week plan compared to the 22 week plan for men.