Soror LovelyIvy,
I know what you mean about the false advertising that surrounds Pilates and lots of other forms of exercise. However, as long as you have a realistic outlook on what to expect, you won't be sorry. I would not recommend Pilates to someone who had 50+ lbs to lose and had not set foot inside a gym since junior high. Pilates works well for someone who is already in decent shape and wants to increase flexibility, tone and ab/back strength.
I like yoga as well. If you get the Oxygen channel, I would recommend you try the 6:00 a.m. yoga show M-F. But if you're a purist, never mind. The host is entertaining and the music is grooving, which can be distracting to me and my poses
depending on the mood I'm in. It does, however, make doing yoga at 6:00 a.m. a little easier sometimes.