I did it i went swimming, 45 minutes in my ear bandit !! Got a few strange looks, my mate said it made me look 'sporty' ha ha . First time ever in my life!

Helen..the pilates must have strengthened your muscles enough so that you are past the pain..if you know what i mean when you first did the pilates did it hurt a little? if it did then you probably worked all the muscles in your midsection..the same muscles you would use to do a sit-up..if you had'nt been doing the pilates first and just done the sit-ups you would have probably been sore like you are expecting to be now...hope this makes sense

TQ..we'll have to re-name you ZORRO

TQ, you should go swimming with me - everyone will be giving me and my stomach strange looks and won't even notice your ear-bandit

Went to Aerobics this morning and we have all requested they keep this course going after half-term. It was initially only for 6 weeks. Its sounding hopeful. I suggested we had 1 hour on a mon, tue and wed morning but maybe I'm just being obsessive!

Swimming this afternoon was a real pain. My friend and I were aiming for 32 lengths but it was really busy. I ended up doing 1/2 lengths so I wasn't encroaching on the busy end of the pool but had already been slowed down enough that I only managed 25 lengths. I'm a really slow swimmer anyway so couldn't get out of everyones way or swim round them quickly enough and I'm not confident enough to swim away from the side. I do a special stroke I invented myself called "underwater crawl". My husband says its doggy paddle!

Cathy, yes the Pilates killed when I first started doing them, I can't believe such a little exercise could make such a big difference in such a short time. Did mention this "problem" to the aerobics teacher and she said it sounded fine to her and that I should stop crunching when I feel the burn. I'm sure I can feel and see a difference already between my bust and waist and have lost 1 1/2 inches of my waist though I've only lost 11lb and only been exercising a bit for 3 weeks now.

Well done on the inch loss Helen, keep up the good work.

And to TQ for the swimming, I'm off to do a few lengths shortly whilst Sean is in his swimming lesson.

Got up at 6:40 and did 30 minutes of Lorraine Kelly's second aerobic tape, then walked at lunchtime and still the swimming to come, plus all the times I ran up and down the stairs at work today. Will definately sleep tonight.

walked 3 miles on monday and tuesday will do same today (hillwalking)

i fibbed..i did 4 miles today

Swam last night - another half hour stint.

Also got up early adn did some callanetics. For somethign that doesn't involve a lot of movement it is a killer. I only did the warm up, the first stomach exercise and the cool down, that took 25 minutes and I ache - must be doing me good ???

No walk yesterday

Plan for today is a walk, my 3rd 30 minutes aerobics session of the week and natural calorie usage through house work.

Exercise plan for this coming week

Sat - walk
Sun - nothing
Monday - aerobics & walk
Tuesday - callanetics & walk
Wednesday - swim & walk
Thursday - swim & walk
Friday - aerobics & walk
Sat - walk
Sun - nothing

There I've put it in writing now, gotta stick to it :gulp

i tried my Callanetics tape ONCE i think some of the "poses" are hard to get into..do you find that Carol? but it does work the 72yr old on my tape has a better body than me and it shows before and after pic's..after 19 hours the pic's were incredible..maybe i should give it another whirl

I haven't tried callenetics. I bought the new Yogalates video two weeks ago but can't do it. I tried it but my stomach keeps getting in the way when I'm trying to get into certain positions, especially ones where you are supposed to hold your knees into your chest. I think I shall have to put it away for now and try again when I'm about another 3 or 4 stone lighter.

Would I have the same problem with callenetics?

Not neccessarily..if you can't do them she shows you another option that is'nt as hard for you to do until you get more flexible

Yes the poses in calanetics are impossible, am working my way through the tape slowly. Only managed one stomach exercise last time, couldn't face the second where you have one leg up in the air, not straight, your buttock still on the floor, chin on chest and roll up your shoulders, and then move forward half an inch - didn't even manage to get in to postion before they had done all 100 moves - maybe next time.

It is a big scunner when the 72 year old has a better body, but I'm working on it !!

Have a yoga tape too, but can't even attempt that one yet, as you say Helen maybe when we are a bit lighter, my tummy keeps getting in the way at the moment.

Have just been for a 3 mile walk in the glorious sunshine - was really good.

Have done lots of exercise this week, been for lots of walks and swam and done areobics and callanetics and boy do my stomach muscles know all about it.

Went for a lovely walk to the co-op this morning and then carried a whole load of shopping back in my rucksack. So doing weights as well

i walked 4 miles on my treadmill yesterday after taking 3 days off