Shape

I do wish that the magazine would have a bit more variety. I feel like I keep seeing many of the same exercises repeated over and over. I also wish the magazine would realize that not all of us are in to New Age spirituality. If you do choose to subscribe, don't be surprised to see the latest issue at the newsstand before it arrives in your mailbox.


Not as good as it used to be   February 18, 2002
S. H. Drew (Va. Beach, VA.)
28 out of 30 found this review helpful

I've been subscribing to Shape for two years now and I have decided not to renew my subscription this year. When I first began reading Shape, it was almost solely dedicated to fitness and health. Now it's about 50% beauty and fashion (and a lot is articles that are simply trying to push products). I disagree with the writer who said that she wished they would stop showing moves with gym machines; this is one of the few sections of SHAPE I enjoy reading, as it does give great instructions on how to use the machines (definitely cheaper than hiring a personal trainer). But I do agree with the previous comments that the stories are starting to all sound the same from month to month - especially the success stories. If you're just starting to exercise, this magazine will be helpful for you. But if you're a long-time exerciser, skip this one.


I was one of their success stories   October 25, 2004
Sheila Pereyra (Dallas)
27 out of 32 found this review helpful

My name is Sheila Pike-Pereyra, and SHAPE featured my success story in their June 2004 issue. Though I was very clear about following Atkins, they fabricated an entire story, saying that I lost the 30 pounds by low-fat means. I'm a two-time low-carb cookbook author, and they stated that not only were my cookbooks LOW-FAT, but mere "collections of [my] favorite recipes." My cookbooks' *low-carb* recipes are entirely my own!

There were a couple of completely made-up quotes in my story as well, I suppose in order to make the story interesting, which added insult to injury. After this issue came out, I was inundated with e-mails from fans thinking I had sold out just to get my story in SHAPE. By the way, since people ask: I never saw a proof before the success story went to print.

To read about how I actually lost the weight, please see SugarFreeSheila.com.

P.S: Every SHAPE weight loss success story I have ever seen, before or since my own, has been a low-fat one. Food for thought.


do it for a year   January 23, 2002
26 out of 27 found this review helpful

I'm a past subscriber of Shape magazine. I enjoyed the Success Stories the most - I'd like to see one of these as a main feature, with more exercise/diet details.
I did enjoy it for a couple of years, then I got a feeling of deja vu - the articles started getting a bit samey, like they're running out of ideas and recycling the same old stuff. I might buy the odd Shape issue on the newstand if a cover feature catches my eye, but now I'm trying out some other fitness magazines for variety.
I agree with another reviewer that too many of the exercises use machines - I'd much rather see handweights. Maybe when they recycle the same ol 'moves again, they could use free weights.

And the clothes profiled are too expensive, not to the mention the emphasis on vacationing at health spas (why do these always smell of staff junkets...)

My advice is to subscribe for a year or two, then reread the same issues again...


Unrealistic   January 1, 2004
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

I am a subscriber to Shape and I will not be renewing my subscription. If I had a self esteem problem looking at this magazine would just make it worse. I have been quite disappointed with the models used in the articles. Most of them look as if they are posing for Victoria Secrets and not a fitness magazine and they are extremely skinny. The clothes that are advertised are not affordable for the average working women and many of the articles are not that helpful. The only section I do enjoy is the "Success Stories" which portray real women in real life situations. I really wish the magazine would revamp itself and gear it more towards the "Real Woman".