I don't know. I'd pretty much stay away from any exercise plan that's that old. There is so much people didn't know then that they know now.

Most of the new stuff they know now sells books, too. If it's a program you're comfortable with, do it.

Different programs give you different strengths and different shapes.

Pilates is way older than 5BX, and it's the hottest new thing. So are Russian kettlebells. Both work. I'm sure 5BX does, too.

Remember, any exercise regime that purports to strengthen particular areas will eventually change your shape. If you strengthen your core with something like Pilates, you will likely end up with a fairly thick and well-muscled torso. Yoga will lengthen your muscles (and make you smell of patchouli). Kettlebells or medicine ball workouts will give you killer arms, shoulders, and thighs.

Look at the products of any exercise system (people who you know have done it for years). If you notice similarities in their body shape, they may be attributable to the exercise regime. Choose a system with them in mind.

The more I think about it, the less I think age of exercise plan matters. I don't mean to be argumentative, but yoga, Pilates, calisthenics, and boot camp have all been around since back when people knew so little. Thay've been around so long, folks think they're new.

Looking over the 5BX plan, I'd say go for it. I might myself.

I knew someone was going to mention yoga and pilates. All true. You just have to really watch out for mid-20th-century 'scientific' calisthenic routines. There were a lot of exercises that promoted terrible form and were ineffective -- many bad for the back (like what we used to think of as a situp). I noticed that throughout the 5BX exercises, there are important updates that recommend changing certain bits of the form.

Form is everything in strength training. Wrong form, and you could be wasting energy movingaround a lot without improving anything, and perhaps endangering your back, neck and joints in the process. Just be cautious.

Mmmm. Patchouli. Wait, where were we?

Yeah, I have an RCAF booklet published in the 1960s, and I've used it in the past. I think it's overall hard to argue with, as long as you exercise knowing what we know now about warmups and such, but it's doubtful that it would be seriously dangerous.

What's nice about it is the combination of exercises with targets. I think it's good for starting out. When I would do it, though, I substituted some of the exercises for others that worked (for example) my abs and glutes better and seemed about the same level of exertion. The sit-up is deprecated now in favor of crunches, for example, so I did those instead.

You're right about caution and form, miko. I brought the yoga and pilates up as examples, not to really refute anything, but to nitpick. In the kindest of nitpicking ways.

Wasted motion is to be avoided, but at least it's motion. You're off the couch. And exercise gets cleaner as you figure out how to do it better.

You know, if there was one principle I could convey, that'd be it: you can always improve the way you exercise. Your form isn't perfect, and you know it; make it better. If running makes your foot hurt, sometimes running differently makes it better. Sometimes you have a sprained ankle or a dog bit you and you'd better rest. But if you try the exact same thing tomorrow, it will hurt in the same way again.

The thing about 5BX, though, is that they're giving it away for free. Approach with caution, but it's yours if you want it.

Me, I hate classes, hate joining things, hate doing anything in unison with anyone else. A free exercise booklet is just my speed.

Wow, what a ramble. I've scattered my thoughts to my own long wind.

Thanks Hugh, miko and stilicho, good advice all around. I think I'm gonna go for it, and if I end up breaking my spine doing prussian squats or something, I'll let you know.

check it!