Jennifer,
Oops, I didnt mean to say cheating. but I know you has been very busy writing a book and your workout was delay. I apogolized for that . Im glad that you keep up doing with PY and got a good result. Im happy to hear that PY can give a better result. The only thing I want is best result that all. I afraid that other workout may be not give me best result. Just the Firm always give me best result and I like to try PY to see if it will help!

Keep healthy activity and have a great weekend!

Christy

Oh, I forgot to add that, I finally got my PY kit last night. I was surprise to see that so fast. I ordered it on monday and got it last night. I didnt realize it was shipped from Torrance's warehouse. Torrance is just 15 minutes drive from where I live. The products look great and Im looking forward to try them out on Monday.

Christy

That was fast! I didn't get mine for at least two weeks. Have fun with it!

Hi Jennifer! I'm so glad I decided to check this thread out today! I've been missing the PY support and discussion here.

Wow, congrats on writing a book! That's awesome! Good luck!

I'm really glad to hear that your knee and ankle are healed. I know how frustrating it is to miss workouts because of an injury- I've had 4 sprained ankles since I started working out 4 years ago. LOL

I'm in the same slow-to-lose-pounds boat as you are. I've been consistently sticking to the PY workout schedule and Fat Burning plan, but I've only lost about 4 pounds. I've had a couple fluctulations thrown into the mix, too. BUT I am losing inches. I took my measurments around the halfway mark and I had lost 6 inches. I'm very happy with that!!

I'm on Day 2 of Week 12. I'm looking very forward to taking my measurements at the end of the week.

Even though I haven't lost as many pounds as I had hoped I would, I think PY is an EXCELLENT program. I've benefitted from it in so many ways.

Hope everyone is doing well. I'm glad to be "back", and I'll be checking the board often now.

Connie

Hi Christy! Have you gotten started with PY yet? If so, how do you like it?

I used to do The Firm workouts, too. I started having lots of knee troubles though, so I had to shelve them. Sometimes I still miss them a little, but I've been enjoying PY's Full Body Circuit workout. Before PY came out, I had discovered Cathe Friedrich's workouts. They are kind of similar to The Firm, but have a gentler tone. Don't get me wrong her workouts are killers, though. FitTV shows her workouts a couple times a day, and I've been taping them to use for my post PY workouts. I'm excited about moving on, but I will miss PY.

So, welcome to PY and 3FC!

Good luck,
Connie

Hi Connie, I was thinking about you earlier. Good to see you back. So you think Cathe is gentler than The Firm? I've never seen The Firm but from the clips I've seen of Cathe, she looks brutal, lol. I love to watch her, though. Does she have steps in all of her workouts? The ones I've seen all have them. I'm not sure about using a step with my knees.

What workout are you going to after PY? Have you used any other Beachbody programs?

Aww, thank you Jennifer! It feels good to be thought of.

I've been thinking what I wrote about Cathe being gentler than the Firm all evening. LOL I'm not sure that was the right word. I don't know how to compare the two workout styles, they certainly are similar in alot of ways. Cathe's workouts ARE brutal, but somehow Cathe makes it enjoyable at best and tolerable at worst- to me anyway. I really like how much instruction Cathe gives in all her workouts, that's something I think the Firm could do better. Also, I feel like Cathe presents her workouts in a safe way and is very careful to show you the correct form and explain the moves.

I don't know...I guess I just like Cathe and her workouts more than The Firm and their instructors. I think The Firm went downhill after Goodtimes took over.

All of this, of course, is my humble opinion.

Cathe's workouts don't all use a step. Some of her non-cardio workouts use the step or a high step (like the Firm fannylifter or Cathe has one of her "own"). There are workouts that don't use the step at all. I think she has 2 kickboxing ones that don't use a step. There are also some weight lifting workouts that don't use it. Cathe does tend to use a wide variety of equipment, but most of the time she has someone doing the move without the equipment for people who don't happen to have it- like a stability ball. She has a great website- cathe.com. There is lots of details about all of her workouts, and you can even preview them. Very cool!

Oh oh oh, Walmart has a Cathe Step for about $25! I found it right after I bought a step at a thrift store for $5. LOL

I'm going to start putting together a workout routine for post PY. I'm not sure what I want to do exactly. I don't have any other Beachbody programs, or any other programs. I've got lots of Cathe workouts from FitTV, and I want to include some of those somehow. I copied a workout routine from Muscle and Fitness Hers a couple months ago, I just might do that- if there's a weight loss "track". I plan on writing a post asking for ideas about this very thing sometime soon. I'm really interested to hear other people's opinions about it.

Take care,
Connie

I've been reading the PY posts here and at Beachbody. I've never posted before, but I just received my PY package, and am planning on starting on Monday, which will give me all weekend to pig out and read my materials. I am a little concerned, however, because people on both sites seem to be having difficulty actually losing pounds. While it's great to lose inches, I need to lose a lot of pounds! I don't want to be a firm and fit 200 lbs! Am I reading things wrong? If I am diligent, will I lose weight?

In my opinion, yes, you will lose weight with persistence. Now first I want to clarify two things. First, I eyeball my portion sizes, and until recently, I've been eating in a LOT of restaurants due to certain circumstances in my life. I normally take home half, and eat the lightest thing on the menu, but I still have no clue what all is hiding in there.
Second, I have PCOS and generally we're blessed with slow metabolisms, or other insulin issues that makes weight loss slow. I have to eat less and exercise more than the average Joe.

Ok, back to subject - I am assuming this is similar to BFL with the weight loss. There are a remarkable amount of women that did not lose much/if anythng in the first 8 weeks of that program. In BFL for women, they even discuss that issue. Something magical about week 8 of BFL where women lose weight. I'm banking on that one to work for me. If you consistently weight train and build your lean muscle, you WILL lose weight. Muscle requires much more calories than fat does. So by increasing your muscle mass, your body will burn more calories automatically, which means more weight loss. If I were you, I'd count calories. I'm doing that much more strictly starting this past week, and I feel sure it will pay off. The plan in the PY book is pretty livable, but you don't have to do that particular one. If you do another plan, just make sure you are getting a good amount of protein due to the weight training.

Thanks for the response! I am planning on the trying the plan that came in the package. If that doesn't seem to be working, I was thinking about doing weight watchers again, and make sure I eat my "activity points". Hopefully the calorie counting will work for you. I'll keep my eyes on your journal, and my fingers crossed for you.

Hello KAS24, and congrats on your commitment to do Project:YOU!

I read Jennifer's response, and I agree with everything she said.

I'd like to add that if you're fairly new to exercise- or just strength training- you're more likely to lose pounds AND inches with this project, in my opinion. When I first started this journey of health, I lost weight at a good steady rate of 1-2 pounds each week. I've been exercising regularly for about 4 years when I started this project, and had already lost about 80 pounds. I feel like my metabolism has slowed down some because of my loss, and since I just entered my 30s. This has been an absolutely fantastic project for me in so many ways, and I don't fault it at all for not "causing" a big pound loss for me. Here are just a few of positive things that this project has done for me:

1. Establish consistentcy with weight training and yoga which has quite visabily slimmed my body down and toned it up at the same time.

2. Introduced me to Pilates and proved to me that it works and I CAN do it. My core is definately stronger and flatter, thanks to Pilates.

3. Cleaned up my eating habits which has balanced my hormones. My face doesn't break out during PMS anymore, my cycles have become regular, and my cramps are much less intense in pain and duration.

4. Showed me that *I* have control and power over my health and that I working in my own range really is best. I've learned not to compete with myself or anyone else during a workout. Every day and every person is different. Each day I do my best for that day. It's empowering and freeing!

5. The journal format is awesome! It keeps me honest and makes me really think about what I'm eating and why. It's a powerful tool, use it!

Those are just the highlights... I hope this inspires and reassures you. I truly believe that this project DOES yield positive results if you're consistent. You can do it! We'll be here to cheer you on and answer your questions along the way.

Connie

I have a question - on the Beachbody site Kathy Smith's Project:You! is showing $14.95 +s/h but then at the bottom it states that after 30 days you will receive shipments every other month for $19.95. It is only showing Foundation, Lower Body/Abs and Pilates Core workouts. The Fast Track 2 week slim down is listed as a bonus. Also inlcudes Nutrition Guide & Journal, Food Plan, & Calendar. Now, from the reviews and posts I've been reading this is not the whole packet. Am I just really confused or am I missing something? I've never seen anyone mention the additional shipments later on. I guess what I'm asking is what was included in everyone's packages and what was the cost? Thanks!

Wow, they've changed it! I bought it outright for .... $70? I noticed that Power 90 was that way. I don't see how they can do it unless they change the whole lineup on the dvd's. My dvd's have all cardio on one, all weights on another, and pilates/yoga on a third dvd. But you alternate lower body and upperbody weights, so I don't see how they can divide it evenly.

I did some research and chatted with a BeachBody advisor - apparently the new offer is :$14.95 + s/h and you receive the 1st 3 workouts - did not specify which those are. Then you receive the additional workouts approx every other month at a price of $19.99 + s/h. Nothing was mentioned about the Steady Strides CD. So, it appears you get the basic guide, nutritional guide & journal, the calendar, The foundation workout, lower body workout and the pilates in the 1st shipment then you have to wait 60 days before you receive any other materials. He would not state how many additional shipments there are. From what I've read in reviews and forums the foundation workout isn't going to get you very far. I'm very disappointed they've changed to this selling format. He did say he could take my order for the entire package during the chat but I was not comfortable with that. Maybe if you call the order line you can still get the whole package at once.

I would not order if you get it like that. What are they thinking?? Foundation only lasts one week, and you need the Upper Body workout on Day 2! I had considered getting P90 to try out/review after Kathy Smith, but they only sold it that way so I didn't get it.

I wonder if they have a problem with people copying the dvd's and returning them - or watching in advance and deciding the program isn't for them? This way, if you hope the 'next one' is better, you won't return the one you have. Plus they rack up extra bucks on shipping and handling. Hmm.

If this is the only way they will sell it, I'd watch ebay, and meanwhile buy her Peak Fat burning cardio dvd and Lift Weights to Lose Weight from Amazon. Pretty similar cardio workout by intensity, and I've heard the strength training is similar, but I haven't seen it myself.