Strength training has certainly paid off
 

Today was measurement day again. In this past 2 weeks I've lost another 8 3/4 inches. I have lost a total of 20 1/4 inches since January 2nd.

Wish me luck, weigh in day is Tuesday.

Just got back from the gym and I'm feeling GREAT!!! I hope everyone has a blessed and happy Saturday!

Thanks again Mel!

Congratulations! Tha't amazing. It's amazing how quickly those muscles do tighten up actually!

How often and long are you doing strength training? I'm doing it at least 3 times a week, sometimes 4--but only for 20-30 minutes each time. In the first 4 weeks I lost 9 inches.

Yeah, I'm doing the same as you Mom to...
 

I am strength training 3 times a week for 30 minutes each. I give myself a day or two between strength training days, to let my muscles re-coop. I do at least a half hour of cardio 5 days a week, but on the days I strength train, I cushion my strength training sessions with a half hour of cardio before and after. I use a treadmill to warm up for 20 minutes, then I do 10 minutes on the elliptical, then 12 on the recumbent bike, then I do 30 mins of strength training then a half hour of race walking on the track. I feel GREAT after that. I only do that on Mon, Thurs and Saturday. But I do stability ball and elliptical on the days in between. Cept Sunday. That is a day I don't do any working out. I have a Weider Crossbow that my hubby and I bought about 2 months ago. We just got it put together and I haven't had a FULL workout on it yet. But I'm anxious to. I love the machines at Ballys. I just have to watch the video and get used to the other machine.

Take care!

Can I ask
 

What type of strength training you ladies are doing and where did you find what routine you should do? I'd love some results like those!

Types of strength training...
 

I do between 3 and 6 sets of 8 reps on each machine at bally's and use between 20 and 50 lbs depending on which muscle group it's working. Usually no more than 30 lbs for upper body except the lower back crunch and between 35 and 50 lbs for legs. Higher for things like presses and adductor and abductor. Usually for my arms I stay between 20 and 30 lbs. I don't want to bulk up in those areas, but I do want nicely toned arms and shoulders. What I really miss is the squat machine Bally's used to have back in the day. They do however had a fabulous newish machine called the buttblaster and it's basically weighted donkey kicks. That thing ROCKS!

At home I do some 3 to 10 lbs dumb bells with my stability ball. I also own a Weider Crossbow, which intimidates the heck out of me and I need to DESPARATELY watch the flippin video.

I was rather surprised how well I progressed in my inches lost and how different I look after just a month of strength training. Well it won't actually be a month until Thursday of this week, but that's close enough, I suppose. I have such energy and stamina now. I actually handle cardio with greater ease and challenge myself to go a little bit further each time on the treadmill, elliptical and recumbent bike. I usually race walk on the track between 30 and 45 minutes too. That is a lot of fun. I can't wait until the weather breaks so that I can get outside.

Hope that helps answer your question. If you have any more, please let me know. Also, don't short change yourself, you've had fantastic progress based on your ticker! :) YOU GO GIRL!

congrats, that is awesome!