Chris,
If you go on www.beachbody.com under fitness products it's sold as "Great Body Guaranted." But all of their tapes, Slim in 6, Power 90 are all similar. so that would be a good website to check some tapes out.
I want to check out Booty-Yoga-Ballet, it looks like real fun.......
I think some of them come with a money back guarantee too.

Chris - I am using the Kathy Smith Project:You which was developed by Kathy Smith, but produced by Beach Body. I really like it - it starts of easier (sort of) and then gets progressively more intense. However, I like Kathy Smith. And she has so many tapes I can do all sorts of combinations.

But, Beachbody has all sorts of programs - they have an extensive forum at www.beachbody.com - you can look at their different solutions - they even have infomercials, although I haven't seen one yet.

I have also heard good things about Gilad, although I don't think I get the Health Network. Also a woman who does shows on PBS. And the TaeBo tapes always seem to get good press.

But, truthfully, the options are endless - the first question would be - what's your fitness level? And then, what do you like to do? If you have access to a treadmill, maybe just getting music or a book on tape will be the answer for you. Actually, I think this would work for anytype of cardio machine . . . I tend to look at an old movie, although I usually can't hear the words since I'm listening to the music, but it keeps my head busy, and I don't notice how long I've been working out.

Julie

Yes, Star, I think they do have a 30 day money back guarantee - the YBB looks really fun - want to get through Project You first. . .

There is a questionaire at the site that asks you what your fitness goals are and then it matches you up to the best program - it gave me Slim in 6 and P90 - but no P:Y - I decided to wait and see how I did on this go around.

Okay - Just wanted to share this thought. Being around for awhile, seeing tapes, programs come and go. I have decided that these trainers all have similar products but just change it up alittle bit. If Beach Body sponsors them, the more the merrier, they all make a ton of money. At the same time, giving us more options and more ways to spend our money. Like Julie said, a treadmill (as basic as it is) is a wonderful tool. I like to get on and watch tv. But the way to make the time 'speed' by is if your at the gym and you can get the person on the next treadmill to talk - that makes the time fly by. Since I had two treadmills in my basement gym, all I really need to do is rent someone to talk and walk with me.....lol
Another way to exercise, that is too much fun to be real work is to ride a bike outside or rollerblade to and around the park........plus you can get some fresh air and sun at the same time......great way to meet people too.....

Julie - I didn't notice the questionnaire the last time I checked out the BB website - I just did it now and it recommended Yoga Booty Ballet :dancer: . And Slim in 6, of course. :)

I have three more classes in the current session at my yoga place, then I'm going to check out the "Fitness Yoga" class at the gym - considering it's free and all! I guess it's sort of a pilates-yoga-combo class. Should be interesting.

Fiona

Julie - Fiona - Okay you chicks got me thinking now, I'm gonna have to go and so the questionnaire - they could hold the answer as to how to get that perfect body.

Fiona -tell us more about your consult with the PT at the gym last night.
Lifetime Fitness has everything you need and more, or so my friend says......lucky you!

Fiona and Star - maybe we'll be here in the fall all doing YBB. . .

Star - you're right, the techniques come and go - 15 years ago, what was kick boxing??

I think that if you can find the enjoyment factor, which you seem to have done so well, Star, that you can be fit even when the hair is blue. .

Well for me, they suggested Slim-N-Six and Power 90....so Julie I'll meet you there. I was secretly hoping for YBB......lol

Me too - well what do they know, anyway?? I wonder what Fiona put in to get the YBB?

And, yes, Fiona, DEETS on the consult.

I think I missed the kick boxing, but I'm thinking 15 years ago would have been around the "step" phase.
I still want to call and see if I can locate a Jazzercise class around me, they are a hoot.
Fiona - Fitness Yoga sounds great and actually there is something similar to that advertised on tv right now.....it looks very effective.
Julie - you know my goal is to be the blue haired arobics instructor at the retirement home.....DH will run the juice bar....

Oh, right, the PT. Yesterday we did a more extended cardio fitness test to establish my (wait let me get out my cheat sheet) ah - anaerobic threshold. (Although I understand what this is and how it relates to my own workouts, I don't think I can explain it so I'm just going to assume you guys know already. ;) ) Aside from establishing target heart rate and all that jazz, the part I found most interesting was that I discovered that 1) I don't walk straight - I stride longer and strike harder with my right foot than my left, which I'm going to need to work on so that I don't end up injuring myself; and 2) I need to put a priority on interval/incline training. During the test we did the how hard are you working, scale of 1-10 test, and on a flat plane I was fine, but as soon as we started bumping the incline up my heart rate jumped and my legs started feeling fatigued really quickly. So, considering the MS Walk is all outdoors, it's really important that I get better at dealing with inclines (hills).

Then, based on the results of the cardio test, she generated a sample 30-minute treadmill workout for me to try before our next appointment on Thursday. It's all at 2% incline except for two intervals at 4 and 6(!!!)%. Yikes! I think I'm going to be feeling it on Friday. Of course, part of the exercise is to keep your heart rate within certain "zones" at the same time, so if I'm feeling fatigued or my heart rate goes out of whatever "zone," I'll need to remember to slow down so that I can complete the whole 30 minutes. I think I'm going to need a heart rate monitor! I don't like using the hand sensors - it throws off my stride to hang onto them all the time, and minute-by-minute monitoring is a must.

So anyway, that's what it was! My next appointment is on building core strength - I'm guessing that means sit-ups - blech. :lol:

Fiona

Oh, and I clicked: have been fit/out of shape; lose weight; 50-100 pounds; entire body; 3-5x/week, 30-60 min/day.

And wow, $40 + shipping isn't bad - although I think DH would kill me for spending $$$ on at-home workout stuff when we just joined a 24-hour gym. :^:

Fiona

Star - oh yes, Step and Jane Fonda. . .maybe 10 years ago for kick boxing??
Also, I am sure that workouts and the juice bar will be the most popular place in the retirement home.

Fiona - that sounds like a great assessment - very interesting on your stride!
Let me know what you find out about heart rate monitors. I'm looking for one that's not too expensive but also gives calorie burn . . .When you did the walk the last time did they give you any kind of walking plan, sort of like marathon training? BTW, my defination of core is changing to PILATES - but I'm thinking that with yoga you may already have a pretty good core. .

Fiona - I guess to understand target heart rate or zones you just have it explained correctly. Now you know why I'm timing and counting all the time, I need the heart monitor too.....With time the fatigue feeling will pass, and you'll find it easier to stay in your 'zone.'
I can't do incline becuz my foot doctor told me it was too much pressure on my bunions,but I know it is more trying than flat surface. Unfortunately I have to listen to my foot doctor until I have surgery.
Working on Core strength is far more than abs, it's a balancing act using the core muscles of your body. I believe it is similar to what you do in pilates. Your yoga should come in handy for you here and in other areas of your new program.
Keep us posted and remember no matter how sore you get - it's all good!

Julie - Your showing your age with Jane Fonda, her tape was out in the late 70's becuz I remember I just gave birth to my youngest......lol

Hey and now that FI gave us all the right answers - we can cheat and be directed to use the YBB......oh goodie.....lol

There is a suggested 18-week training plan included with the registration materials - the first week you walk 3-4 miles x 4 days (13 miles total), and it steadily increases from there so that the last weeks before the event you are doing 30+ miles a week. If you follow the plan exactly, starting 18 weeks before the event, you'll walk about 425 training miles!

Okay, I'm still obsessing over YBB - some of those before and after pics are impressive!

Fiona

Fi - YBB looks like so much fun and I'm gonna go look at the before and afters.
Prior to this 'want' of YBB I was really liking the looks of the Urban Rebounder, but it passed......
Do you have good walking shoes?

New shoes are on my list of things I'm going to have to get in the near future - two pairs (Ka-ching!). There is a specialty ski-bike-run store on the way out to my parents' house, so I'm going to stop in there one of these days to get some expert advice on shoes, and maybe some help with my walking issues, too! I think my off-balance stride is probably part of the reason I hurt myself the last time I did the Walk, and we don't want to go there again.

Fiona

Fi - That is exactly where you need to go to get professional help with the correct shoe for you and your issue......sometimes it's a small thing that can make all the difference. With bunions I'm pretty anal about my workout shoes. I replace them real regular becuz I wear the inner heel area out, causing it to rub that area and possibly blister. Geez, so many issues to keep in check to try and stay fit.....lol

Fiona - also, listen to all the advice about shoes - I wear 7 1/2's and once I got up to 5 miles, my toes were going numb - I went up to 8's and was very happy. . . Will you be able to find a group of people to train with? Much easier to do those really long training walks with other people.

Star - I heard about Jane in the 70's, but didn't try her step tapes until the early 90's. .

Thanks for all of the wonderful & useful info, everyone!!

Chris - You are so welcome, for one, I am full of hot air that has to be expelled somehow.....lol But did you decide your plan of attack?
Had a good workout this a.m. It was tape/cardio day. When I get on the recumbent bike it is 6 a.m. and I watch Texas Ranger. It is a very physical show and entertains me for an hour.....Prior to 6, I watch Animal Rescue, sometimes QVC or HSN. That early in the morning I'm not too fussy about whats on.
Plan on going to the Power House gym near my new place this weekend. Want to check it out and see what time they open. Possibly I could get up, go there and come back home to get ready for work. My other option is too go back to the little gym I belong to near work. That means I would have to pack my gym bag to get ready for work there, like I use to. Decisions-Decisions.
I think I will lose my basement gym this Friday, DH is taking a truck load of "up north" stuff then and my gym is part of that load......I'm very sad.....boo-hoo
Later Fit Chicks.....

Morning Star!

Well, I was lazy last night and missed my yoga class :( . So instead I went to Target to look over there selection of heart rate monitors - HA! They had exactly ONE on the shelf, and it was a cheapo $25 one that you have to press your finger on the sensor to read your HR - not much better than using the palm sensors on the machine, I think. I did find an MP3 player I really liked (need something other than the clunky CD walkman that I keep tripping over!), but it was still $80 even on sale so passed for now.

For HRMs, I think I'm going to try my luck with ebay (big surprise). I did some research and I think I know what brand and model I want, so I'm just going to wait until one pops up on ebay in my price range. :D

Fiona

Fiona -
Tell us more about the model monitor you want, what all does it do and the price range, please...........................thx....

Well gals, I still haven't worked with hand weights for arm toning even though i said I would last week. I'm keeping up with cardio and plan to work arms tonight! I will report back tomorrow. DH had to get up early for work (3:30am) and woke me, I gave up around 4am and got up and hit the treadmill...now I'm halfway through my planned workout...will finish the other 30-35 minutes this afternoon.

Jen

Jen- Go get those arms! Summer is coming - sleeveless tops.....yoo-whoo...
Hey Chicks - Rate this thread - up at the top.......
Later

Star-this is going to sound really petty, but I have a flat mole on my right arm about the size a pencil eraser and have never been comfortable in sleeveless anything because of it. I don't mind when I'm in a bathing suit, but have just never worn anything else without sleeves...odd, I know!

Star - I added my rating, now we're 5 *****!

Jen - I have this thing with my legs. . .which is why no bathing suits for decades. . This year I have to get one, since I have a friend taking me snorkling (another new experience) this summer. . .What have you decided to do for an arm routine?

Jen - Have you ever looked into having it removed? With your new body - you should be thinking about all the ways you can change the styles you wore in the past. I mean at a size 12 you must be looking pretty dang good.....
Don't get me started on my body flaws. Okay just a funny one, I have really big ears. When I was a young teenager I always said I was gonna get them fixed when I was 21. Then other things became more important and they didn't bother me anymore. Today I love my ears, I do feel kinda sorry for my DS that got them too though......Thank God the GB's missed the gene......lol
You go chick!

Julie - Your legs are gonna see some big changes......and soon....

Note - I hope this dumb post about my 'ears' won't hurt our rating......

Star - from your lips to God's ears (and I hope they are BIG ones) about the legs. . .

Yeah Star, I'm going to rate this thread a ONE STAR just cause I had to read about your ears! ROFL!!!! :rofl: It's okay, I've NEVER liked my nose, but I'll probably never have a nose job - I'm way too indecisive and I'd never be able to pick a new one! :dizzy:

About the HRMs: Polar and Ekho are the two brands sold by my local bike/run store, which is a pretty good endorsement, I think. Polar is probably the best known - they are also the ones that LTF sells. But I found a GREAT deal on an Ekho that I just don't think I can pass up: go HERE to check it out. $40!!! Plus about $6-7 for shipping via UPS. (Even better than e-bay!) It has the chest strap for constant monitoring, the programmable "target zone" with the audio/visual alarm that goes off when you go out of your programmed zone, and a calorie counter, which is not something I really care about, but is a neat perk nonetheless. Oh, and for $20 more you can get the next model up which has FIVE programmable target zones plus five "activity mode programs" whatever they are.

Whew.

Fiona

FI - Oh no I'm tempted too...I really could use one. Plus I could save the extra 20$ becuz I could never figure out FIVE programmable target zones plus five "activity mode programs." I still haven't programmed my Health-o-Meter scale.....lol
Thanks for doing the research!
I'm so glad you had a giggle over my ears.....lol

Star - I never use the "save" settings on my scale, either. I should - that's why I bought it, after all...maybe if I can figure out how to CLEAR all the memory and start over from scratch.

I think I'm definitely getting that HRM as soon as I have $50 to spare. I also think that it's the coolest because it's red. :lol:

Fiona

FI - the HRM is very cute...and so red...I think I have to have it........
Julie - Did you check it out?

Let's consider changing this to:
"Happiness is not found in Having....or Being..... it is in SHOPPING!"

Shopping is a type of doing, isn't it??? :devil:

Fiona

Well, ofcourse it is......... :hyper:

Yes, I did take a look - I like that it counts calories, but not sure how you put your weight in so it gets that right. . . Maybe I'll take a look at them this week in brick and morter stores. . .

I totally agree that shopping is doing - plus it keeps the world going. . .

Me again - thought I'd post the sample treadmill workout my PT gave me and see if you guys had any insights, before I try and tackle it tonight. Here's some background:

My "AT" is 163, my "Zones" that I'm supposed to try and stay within are 1: 97-114 BPM, 2: 114-146, 3: 146-163. I know that at 0% incline, walking at 3.2, my HR is fairly steady at 160.

The program I'm supposed to follow looks like this:

5 minutes: incline 2%, Zone 1 (97-114 BPM) - warm up
5 minutes: 2%, Z2 (114-130) - warm up
2 minutes: 2%, Z3 (146-163)
1 minute: 2%, AT (163)
4 minutes: 2%, Z2 (114-130)
2 minutes: 4%, Z3 (146-163)
1 minute: 6%, AT (163)
5 minutes: 2%, Z2 (114-130) - cool down
5 minutes, 2%, Z1 (97-114) - cool down

I guess I'm concerned that I'm going to be fumbling with the speed buttons trying to guess how fast or slow I need to cause the appropriate change in HR, and not be moving my HR up or down (mostly down) quickly enough to match the intervals? Thoughts?

Fiona

Fiona - could you pick one to get straight first - are you most concerned with heart or doing the program as written?

Fiona - Order the HRM yesterday.....lol
My guess is that your heart rate will be up and you will have to relax and concentrate on staying at the correct rate. This doesn't happen right away either - so just look at it as a learning period...
It sounds like a great program.......you go chick!
My report today is - I DIDN'T workout this morning.......BUT I have a reason. My DH is home packing a truck to take up north and so I slept in with him, danrk coffee and got ready for work. It felt really strange....lol
Plus, I just found out that I don't have to work tomorrow. This is wonderful news becuz he was taking the truck up north tomorrow, now I can go and maybe drive the car hauler with the 57 Chevy in it. I was kinda worried about not being able to atleast supervise......lol