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Oxygen
Studio : Canusa
by Canusa
Publisher : Canusa
Availability : Usually ships in 1 to 3 months and eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
Number of Issues : 12
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 27 reviews)
List Price : $59.88
Our Price : $19.97
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Product Description |
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Dedicated to women who wish to better themselves through physical fitness & nutrition. Covers training, nutrition information & industry updates from the female perspective! In-depth articles on the latest medical breakthroughs, motivational pieces on professional athletes and much more! |
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The Good and The Bad |
If you are a fitness competitor, then this is your magazine. Hardcore, eat clean, fitness gals will also love this. If you are an avid weight lifter you might also love this (though after a year or two you'll find it's mostly wash, rinse, repeat because let's face it - there are only so many ways to switch up any weight workouts while keeping them as plausible options for most of your readers). I am not a fitness competitor and have zero interest in it, but I do lift weights and like to change up my routines.
The major downside of this magazine is that while they are all about fitness, weight lifting, and living a healthy lifestyle the majority of their ads are for unhealthy diet supplements and thermogenic pills to boost your metabolism (most of which are loaded with caffeine). That, as a reader, annoys me considering the hypocrisy of it, especially when one of their newest 'columnists' is also a a model for one of those supplements. Ah yes, great body, and I'm going to tell you how to get my great body through a healthy lifestyle and taking caffeine loaded supplements.
I guess it depends on what you prefer. I appreciate the weight training tips and info, so I'm on my 3rd year of this subscription. I don't care for the ads or competition stuff, so I don't read it, but given that it is a competition magazine, I can't take away stars for that. I'll just take them away for the ads, which lately, have become the majority of the magazine. |
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good read for a dedicated fitness enthusiast |
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It is geared towards women bodybuilders & fitness models. Because of that there are LOTS (TOO MANY) supplement ads. I enjoy the workouts that can be done at home & it is a no nonsense approach. I feel Tosca Reno (healthy eating) should remain in her column. There are times she is all through the magazine & I wish to hear from different people. May be overkill if you are not into the 6pack, shapely biceps, etc. A little on the pricey side. |
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A mixed bag... |
For awhile I was undecided about Oxygen; some of the articles were helpful, such as the guides in their 'Glutes' issue showing proper form for squats, lunges, etc. However, they didn't distinguish b/w some of the more advanced moves versus more basic ones. Granted, to the person who has been working out awhile, it would be obvious, but to someone just starting out, it may not be, and could easily hurt themselves. More detailed instructions would have been helpful. Other than that, the recipes looked good.
Also, I have to say their 'Off the Couch' issue was quite inspiring! It featured several stories of REAL women losing weight and getting into shape. For this, I give Oxygen BIG kudos for! Let's face it, celebrities have access to the best personal trainers money can buy. Real women don't - they have to make do with what they have, and the fact these women made such great strides in health and fitness, and look fabulous to boot? Again, brava, Oxygen! More stories like these, please!
What I didn't like about Oxygen, was the lack of scientific data to backup their nutrition and diet plans. One diet in the 'Off the Couch' issue I felt was a bit extreme; it was to lose 10 pounds in 21`days - so restricted were the calories, they advised not to do much exercise during the diet (first week was 1100 calories per day, gradually going up each week). And supposedly an earlier, simliar diet they published was even MORE extreme. This isn't necessary! According to Denise Austin, an actual exercise physiologist, you shouldn't lose more than 2 pounds per week, as you can be losing muscle as well as fat if you do. And with her diet in 'Shrink your female fat zones' the least calories you take in are 1400 and the most 1800. This is coupled with a sensible workout plan. There are many other diet plans that aren't as extreme as Oxygen's, and you can still get the same results, if not better, because you're not depriving yourself.
Ditto for their 'getting started working out at home plan' - again, a great thing to include as many people can't afford to go to a gym; but one of the moves I thought was a bit too advanced for beginners (specifically, the straight-legged reverse crunch on a bench; an easier version should have been included as well). And their refusal to explain why the plan works - as to not 'bore' the reader with whys and wherefors? How is backing up what you say boring? I personally like to know how and why something works. Your readers DO think, Oxygen. Really, they do.
Lastly, the constant advertising of 'buy more Oxygen!' and plugging Tosca Reno's Clean Eating books in practically every article was just irritating; even in the success stories, each person OF COURSE buys Oxygen and the Clean Eating books! Plus there was a not-so-impartial review of Reno's latest book. PLUS another article promoting her Training Journal book. My Gods, Oxygen! A few ads are ok, but do you have to push her books in every freakin article? Or buy more Oxygen! Subscribe and back issues! Subscription ads are one thing, but this was just too much! I don't like being marketed to while I'm trying to get info. Supplement ads? That's to be expected. ALL fitness magazines have these. But enough already!
So, all in all, I think Oxygen COULD be a great magazine, if they just tone down the marketing and backed up what they said; they should actually cite their sources, like Prevention and Fitness Rx do. This way, they would be reliable as well as motivating.
Oh, and one last thing, Oxygen - PLEASE get a REAL exercise physiologist to give advice instead of a publisher! Robert Kennedy may be a good publisher / businessman, but that doesn't qualify him to give fitness and nutrition advice - sorry...
I dunno...I think if you're looking for an affordable, but reliable, health and fitness magazine, go with Prevention. And if you're really into weight lifting, go with Fitness Rx, or even Muscle and Fitness Hers (though Fitness Rx is my first choice). |
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Fake tans and silicone boobs have got to go! |
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I much prefer Shape or Fitness magazines. Oxygen does have some good advice if you can get past all the bimbos! Everyone of them look the same and Robert Kennedy seems like a fugly pervert. If you can get past the bimbo look and all the diet supplement ads this does have some good advice. I just think this magazine is rather degrading to women. For someone that is really into body building and fitness competitions this could be just what you're looking for. |
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Great for toning and losing weight |
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I read this magazine for new clean eating recipes and for the workouts. I love the true success stories, also. I was never fat, but have carried extra pounds. I love this magazine for showing real, simple, and hard-working moves. I like that it shows you how to modify the exercises to fit your current fitness level and the safety tips. I have really seen a change in my body since reading this magazine and following it. I don't want to look like the models, but I still find them inspirational. |
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