[flatlander]

Sherri, what are you doing for strength training?

I have weight trained for year’s (16) and nothing has worked for me like Joyce Vedral's Bottoms Up program. I am NOT hawking her wares, go to the library and check it out. Buy a large non-fat latte and curl up in a big chair at your local mega-book store.
It is designed for women, you will NOT develop "pipes" or a "cobra" and your thighs will not resemble 1,000-year oaks.
You need only 3 sets of small dumbbells to start, and an incline bench. The sets are deceptively simple, but man do they work!!
If you are like me, you want results fast and this program delivers. You will sweat and get an excellent burn with very little pump and your definition will last, not disappear 1/2 an hour out of the gym. 6 weeks into the program my waist was 14 inches smaller. I now have slight triceps definition and noticeable biceps with NO bulk.
I had not worked out for over 2 years due to surgery and a move to a new city (followed by a major depression/identity crisis). I wanted a workout I could do privately with minimum cash out lay. (I was WAY too embarrassed to present myself at a real gym, didn't have a spotter etc.) It takes time to acclimate to this work out, it is tough, but my body was dying to get back to work. I have a much more positive attitude about myself, which I am sure in large part, is exercise induced. In the New Year I hope to be in presentable enough shape to join a "real gym”, then I will switch to her "Now or Never" work out and do some serious sculpting.

I also never miss an issue of “Shape”. It is written for women and covers everything from yoga to bodybuilding. There is always a before and after exercise success story and best of all, most of the models are real women at real gyms.

Hope this helps just a little.

[lady06498]

Flatlander,

I don't really follow a program with the strength training. But I will look into the book. Does the book tell you what to do? Or is there a video you do? I would be interested in that. I do have a body sculpting video that last for 1 hour and I could do that 3 days a week. But then you are at that point of getting pressed for time again. I walk for 1 hour in the morning now and that is a longer workout already. I already have to start work or my routine later because of it. But I am going to stick with it and I have changed my life (routine) to do it. I get my daughter up at 7am get her out of bed and dressed for the day we walk down to my moms and I drop her off and meet my sister and we walk then I come back pick up my daughter and then go home and take a shower and most days I eat breakfast before I walk so I can burn it off. They say it is better to eat before anyway. Then by the time I get showered and changed it is already 9am. I can't go earlier because I walk with my sister and she has 3 boys that she gets breakfast for before they go to school. So we are going as early as possible. My poor daughter doesn't even get a chance to wake up before I am dragging her out the door. But I have to do this so I do it.
I was using the free hand weights and just doing different exercises from the sculpting video on my own and it would take me 30 min. I was losing inches doing this. The sculpting video I have is a killer also and really works. I think I might start doing that one at night. It is only 3 days a week how bad can it be.LOL

I also have a new attitude that I bought today in hopes that I can stay on track.

Thanks for the tip flatlander and I will check out the book. I don't like coffee or tea so I will just sit there and read it alone.LOL

Have a great day.

Sherri

[flatlander]

The book has detailed illustrations, and each routine (once you get the hang of it) takes about30-40 minutes. I scanned and printed the pics, cut them out, glued them to poster board and tacked 'em to my basement wall. This workout is a real departure for me, I always lifted as much weight as I could and did it the "Man's" way, and I split my workout into Legs, Arms, Back & shoulders, and chest. This work out is semi aerobic and focuses on lower body. It is broken into Abs, lower and upper. I thought it was kinda wimpy until I did it. The pace is brutal!

I have to admit though, the stronger and more fit I become, the more I want my big weights back. We just moved here and I don't have a workout partner, so until I find a spotter or gain the courage to ask a complete stranger to hang out over my chest, I will stick to this. LOL

Did a search and came up with this

http://www.joycevedral.com/

Looks like she has videos etc. I would really check it out first, it may not be right for you, but I sure like it.

Good luck finding the perfect fit for you! It's out there, waiting patiently.

PS What is your body sculpting video called and who is it by?


CC

[lady06498]

Hi Flatlander,

Thanks for all the great info. My body sculpting video is 1 hour long and they focus on the upper and lower body. You can do 1/2 of the tape one day and the other 1/2 the next if you want. But I usually do it all at once. It is a tape that was made by the owner of a fitness firm only 30 mins from here. I used to go there when I worked up that way and would go workout there in the aerobic classes after work. I did some strength training there as well. I also got a test done there about 6 months ago that told my fat for my body and how many cal I needed in a day and all. So this is not a famous tape but it is grueling for sure. What I did tonight was exercises on my own for 20 min total using the hand weights and doing stomach and waist exercises and leg exercises on the floor. I could feel it for sure. Better to start off slow right?LOL Plus I am walking a road that is filled with hills and I walk 3 miles a day.

Sherri