The latest exercise craze has taken shape in Japan. A reality TV show has popularized the so-called “Up, Down” regime. It claims to make ambitious weight loss possible and fast, using just two extremely simple movements. But can simply bending up and down really transform your body? We spoke to Dr. Kang Chun-wei of Taiwan Adventist Hospital for a second opinion.
The trainer counts from one to five. Stand up on tiptoes and stretch your arms up. The up part of up and down will fit in every home.
Instructional video
You mustn’t let your knees collapse in, keep them pointing forward like your middle fingers, and bend down.
Then it’s a deep squat for down, and gently repeat five times. Then speed up – up, down, up, down, until the two parts become one fluid movement. Some students appear to get incredible results.
But can it really take 7 centimeters off a waist in one week? We asked a physical therapist to explain the phenomenon. He says this simple move is well chosen. The down is the basic squat used by sumo wrestlers.
Dr. Kang Chun-wei
Taiwan Adventist Hospital
Doing this, you use a lot of the muscles in your inner thighs, which are often very weak, because most of us are sitting all the time.
Meanwhile, the up has its own merits. It’s important not to let the soles of the feet collapse inward, or you could injure your joints.
Dr. Kang Chun-wei
Taiwan Adventist Hospital
This movement is quite important for our legs and maintaining our core strength, especially when you do it very slowly.
But the claim that you’ll slim down 7 centimeters in just as many days should be taken with a pinch of salt, says Dr. Kang.
Dr. Kang Chun-wei
Taiwan Adventist Hospital
If you just do these two movements, I think it will be quite hard to lose 7 centimeters, more than 2 inches, in a week. But doing more exercise is always useful, in any case.
This Japanese reality TV show wants to encourage viewers to exercise, which can only be a good thing. But everyone’s body is different. Rather than aiming for extravagant weight loss goals, perhaps cultivating long-term habits is enough.
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