Firm Believers Meet Here!

[Firm Believers]

We are a group of women who use The Firm series to lose weight, tone up, improve heart health, etc. The purpose of this group is to provide support and to make us accountable for completing our work-outs.

Let’s use this group thread to discuss our favorite videos, tweaks we’ve made to using the videos (added ankle/wrist weights when not called for, increased other weights when we need to boost our workouts), review new videos, share our calories burned (if you have a heart rate monitor) and other successes.

Feel free to join at any time. Don’t feel obligated to read the whole thread; just post on the last page with the following information (feel free to add or omit information as you see fit):

Me: name/age
Using The Firm since:
Why I use The Firm:
Why I love The Firm:
Firm Stuff I own:
Favorite Firm Instructor:
Favorite Firm Video:
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007:
Miscellaneous Information:

Please post all updates in red.

If you don’t have Firm videos or equipment but you’d like to get some, there are multiple places where you can purchase them. To name a few, you can support CC and buy from Amazon (http://www.constantchatter.com/shop/), you can buy directly from their website (http://www.firmdirect.com), you can buy from Target (online (http://www.target.com) or in-store), you can buy from individual sellers on eBay (http://www.ebay.com), or you can buy from Collage Video (http://www.collagevideo.com).

Also, if you’d like to share motivators, books, recipes, websites, tools, or anything else you can think of that helps you stay motivated, please do!

Your threadmistress is Reenie.

[Firm Believers]

Members

amtaylor
Me: Amber - 28
Using The Firm since: Tonight 8/7/07
Why I use The Firm: A few people asked "are you pregnant?" Nope... gave birth 22 months ago I also really enjoy classes, but don't have the time to go to a real gym
Why I love The Firm: Something about it caught my eye a few years ago.
Firm Stuff I own: The transFIRMer and the 3 DVDs that came with it
Favorite Firm Instructor:
Favorite Firm Video:
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007:
Miscellaneous Information:

APhiJill
Me: Jill
Using The Firm since: on and off since 1999 (now back on dammit)
Why I use The Firm: It is NOT boring and it is a great timesaver. Oh yeah if you stick with it, "results, results that you can see"--Susan Harris
Why I love The Firm: I can do it in the privacy of my home. The instructors are not barbie dolls. It is NOT a fad
Firm Stuff I own: Every damn thing the FIRM has ever put out. Including old school rotation calendars, VHS, DVDs, catalogs, books
Favorite Firm Instructor: Tracie Long and Allie
Favorite Firm Video: Maximum Body Sculpting with Tracie
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: -0 lb
Miscellaneous Information: in 2000 I did a pilgrimage to the FIRM. Took classes and met instructors

bamboo
Me: Bre/28
Using The Firm since: About 6 months before my wedding (2004), and just started again
Why I use The Firm: It felt like the best in-home workout of a bunch of workout tapes I tried back before my wedding. It's winter and rainy where I live right now, and I'm still holding onto some baby weight I want to lose.
Why I love The Firm: Good workouts, and I really like the mix of weights and cardio.
Firm Stuff I own: Fanny Lifter and Ab Sculpt/Cardio Sculpt/Body Sculpt DVDs
Favorite Firm Instructor: Allie
Favorite Firm Video: Cardio Sculpt, it's a little bit of everything
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: none yet!
Miscellaneous Information:

bethnjim
Me: Beth/28
Using The Firm since: 3/3/07
Why I use The Firm: Because when I used it before my wedding, I saw huge results within 10 workouts
Why I love The Firm: It is designed for women and it seems to target the areas I carry fat in
Firm Stuff I own: I own the first series they came out with that included the box
Favorite Firm Instructor: Allie
Favorite Firm Video: Cardio
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: Let's see, I started at 255 and I am now down to 230 so that would be a -25. I have dropped from a 22-24 to a 16-18.
Miscellaneous Information: My husband and I are starting to try this summer for a baby, which is why I want to be in shape.

cha4ya
Me: Chawon Smith/29
Using The Firm since: November 2006
Why I use The Firm: I wanted to loose weight before my 30th birthday.
Why I love The Firm: I am in the best shape of my life now!
Firm Stuff I own: Incline box, bar, videos
Favorite Firm Instructor: Pam ?
Favorite Firm Video: Like them all
Total lbs lost in 2007: 26
Miscellaneous Information: I use the firm video twice a week, and I also run 5 miles three times a week. I have seriously transformed my body. I am leaner more tone, and I can fit into old pants from my college days! I can also wear a bikini now!!

cocoa femme
Me: Bree, 29
Using The Firm since: This coming Monday (1/8) .
Why I use The Firm: I plan on using The Firm, because of the "results in 10 workouts" promise. We'll see...
Why I love The Firm: I haven't used it yet, but I love the convenience of doing it in my own home. Hopefully, I'll get some results.
Firm Stuff I own: I have the TransFIRMer Series (including 4 videos and the TransFIRMer).
Favorite Firm Instructor: Not sure yet. I'll let you know.
Favorite Firm Video: TBD
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: TBD, but I'd like to lose 15 - 20 lbs.
Miscellaneous Information: I haven't started The Firm yet. I plan on doing so on Monday.

Foley42
Me: Lindsay/24
Using The Firm since: I've had it for a year, but used it less than 10 times.
Why I use The Firm: I need to get my butt off the couch!
Why I love The Firm: upbeat, you can use in it in the privacy of your home
Firm Stuff I own: TransFirmer and 4 DVDs

lbs27
Me: lbs27/32
Using The Firm since: Um, can't remember, I think December 04 for the regular series and I bought the Transfirmer about a year after that, I think
Why I use The Firm: Used to go to the gym for aerobics classes and stopped when I changed jobs. I love this because the moves are a lot more like classes than other tapes I've tried
Favorite Firm instructor: I like Allie, but not all of her tapes. I also like Stephanie and Lisa
Favorite Firm Video: AbScuplt, Jiggle Free Abs, Ultimate Calorie Blaster, Supercharged Sculpting
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: down about 7 or 8 pounds since New Years

[Firm Believers]

Members, continued

Lily
Me: Erica/27
Using The Firm since: Just ordered it online.
Why I use The Firm: To lose my baby weight.
Firm Stuff I own: Excercise Ball & DVD's
Favorite Firm Instructor: Not Sure Yet
Favorite Firm Video: Not Sure Yet
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: -1.5 so far

Lizzie Beth
Me: Beth/32
Using The Firm since: used it for about 6 mos. until I got pg w/ my first daughter, Susannah
Why I use The Firm: It doesn't seem as cheesy as the others
Why I love The Firm: Good workouts, and I really like the mix of weights and cardio.
Firm Stuff I own: Fanny Lifter and the stick thingy
Favorite Firm Instructor: Allie
Favorite Firm Video: Cardio Sculpt
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: no idea
Miscellaneous Information: I had my second daughter, Kate, last November

meagle
Me: 30
Using The Firm since: January 2005
Why I use The Firm: When all the New Year's resolutioners hit my gym in January, I just want to stay home. The FIRM let me do that in 2005 and I got hooked, although I head back to the gym a bit more after everyone else gives up each March.
Why I love The Firm: I see results quickly and I don't need to be motivated to get dressed and drive to the gym. I can just put on my scuzzy clothes and pop in a DVD.
Firm Stuff I own: System II (Fanny Lifter + Stick), System III (Box), System IV (TransFIRMer), miscellaneous non-prop DVDs released in 2006 and 2007 (with Alison and Allie)
Favorite Firm Instructor: Pam
Favorite Firm Video: Jiggle Free Buns (TransFIRMer)
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: Lbs lost = 12

meggers
Me: Meghan/28
Using The Firm since: first used it in 2003
Why I use The Firm: I have a lot a weight to lose
Why I love The Firm: It works
Firm Stuff I own: Fanny Lifter, Sculpting Stick, The Box, & a bunch of DVDs
Favorite Firm Instructor: not sure
Favorite Firm Video: not sure
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: none yet
Miscellaneous Information:


Reenie
Me: Reenie, 26
Using The Firm since: off and on since January 2004; restarted January 2007
Why I use The Firm: to lose weight, tone up, and be heart healthy
Why I love The Firm: most of the instructors look “real,” I see results quickly, privacy of using at home, convenience of being at home
Firm Stuff I own: BSS I and videos, BSS II and videos, BSS III and videos, Transfirmer and videos, TransFIRMation system, many props and multiple other miscellaneous videos
Favorite Firm Instructor: Allie Del Rio Pointer, Stephanie Huckabee, and Nancy Tucker
Favorite Firm Video(s): CardioSculpt (Allie) and AbSculpt (Lisa) from BSS I; Max Cardio Burn (Allie) and Complete Aerobics and Weight Training (Emily) from BSS2; Fat Blasting Cardio (Lisa) from BSS3; Ultimate Calorie Blaster (Stephanie) from TransFIRMer; Calorie Killer 1 (Nancy); Super Cardio (spliced tape) from Cross-Trainers
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: -25.6 lb, -8.2% BF, and -28.5 inches
Miscellaneous Information: I love Spark People (http://www.sparkpeople.com) for tracking exercise, calories burned, and entering food and water intake (currently doing 1200-1550 kcal/day, 55% carbs, 15% protein, 30% fat); I also LOVE cardio, like ab work, and HATE sculpting

Scoutesina
Me: Scoutesina/33
Using The Firm since: Used it from Jan.-July 2005, am trying to get back to it at least a couple times a week
Why I use The Firm: The tapes helped me lose 35 lbs. over about 8 months last year. I've kept it off with walking, but I need to get back to weight-bearing exercise, especially tummy and upper arm toning.
Firm Stuff I own: I'm such a cheapskate, and I'm adamant that being healthy doesn't have to be costly. I bought 7 or 8 Firm tapes off half.com (thanks to a heads-up from my pal Reenie--most were about 99 cents plus $3 shipping). I use my trusty ten-year-old Denise Austin step instead of the Fanny Lifter, a broomstick and 3-, 5-, and 10-lb. hand weights instead of the Sculpting Stick. I don't have any of the newer Transfirmer series tapes so I don't know how/if I could improvise those.
Favorite Firm Instructor: the blonde lady with the Southern accent. It's been so long, I can't remember her name
Favorite Firm Video: I have some of the older ones but can't remember the names of my favorites. My least favorite is a really, really old one that's all arm-work, but sadly, that is what I need most.
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: holding steady so far. I want to gain muscle. I'm currently at 28% body fat.

Sue
Me: Sue, 34
Using The Firm since: early 2006
Why I use The Firm: to lose weight and tone up
Why I love The Firm: the results!, convenience
Firm Stuff I own: Transfirmer and videos, random DVD's
Favorite Firm Instructor:
Favorite Firm Video: Ultimate Calorie Blaster
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: TBD
Miscellaneous Information: I am also doing WW, I haven't been too motivated during the holidays, but it's time to kick it into high gear. During the summer when I was doing WW and The Firm, I lost close to 20 lbs. - and I was nicely toned.

zoeyzo
Me:31
Using the firm since: 5 weeks ago
Why I use the firm: I need to lose the weight that has been creaping up over the years
Why I love the firm: It challenging and I can do it at home after work
Firm stuff I own: Transfirmer and 3 videos that come with it
Favorite firm instructor: Allie
Favorite firm video: Supercharged Sculpting
Total pounds lost: 11
Total Inches lost: 6

[Firm Believers]

Second saved...

[Firm Believers]

And one more saved for good measure...

[Firm Believers]

OPEN FOR POSTING
C’mon, you know you wanna join! :)

[Reenie]

I’ll start. ;) I’ve just gotten back into the Firm after a year-long hiatus at Curves. Curves was good for me and I liked it, but I like the Firm better. My Curves contract just expired, so I chose to cancel and reunite with my Firm videos and equipment.

For these four weeks (January 1-27), I am using BSS I and a modification of its start-up schedule (because Tuesdays and Thursdays are totally impossible for me right now):
Jan. 1: CardioSculpt 488 CALORIES BURNED!
Jan. 3: CardioSculpt 450 CALORIES BURNED!
Jan. 5: CardioSculpt 411 CALORIES BURNED!
Jan. 7: AbSculpt DONE! (approx. 50 calories burned)
Jan. 8: CardioSculpt 353 CALORIES BURNED!
Jan. 10: CardioSculpt 395 CALORIES BURNED!
Jan. 12: CardioSculpt 300 CALORIES BURNED!
Jan. 13: AbSculpt DONE! (approx. 50 calories burned)
Jan 14: BodySculpt (entire tape) 295 CALORIES BURNED!
Jan. 15: CardioSculpt 355 CALORIES BURNED!
Jan. 17: CardioSculpt 300 CALORIES BURNED!
Jan. 19: AbSculpt DONE! (approx. 50 calories burned)
Jan. 20: AbSculpt and BodySculpt (lower body section only) 322 CALORIES BURNED!
Jan. 21: BodySculpt 330 CALORIES BURNED!
Jan. 22: CardioSculpt 351 CALORIES BURNED!
Jan. 24: CardioSculpt 365 CALORIES BURNED!
Jan. 26: AbSculpt DONE! (approx. 50 calories burned)
Jan. 27: AbSculpt and BodySculpt (upper body section only) 140 CALORIES BURNED!

I used my Spark People planner to send me reminders in my email so that I would know which video I had scheduled and to keep myself on track.

[Sue]

Thanks for starting this Reenie!

Sue
Me: Sue, 34
Using The Firm since: early 2006
Why I use The Firm: to lose weight and tone up
Why I love The Firm: the results!, convenience
Firm Stuff I own: Transfirmer and videos, random DVD's
Favorite Firm Instructor:
Favorite Firm Video: Ultimate Calorie Blaster
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained: TBD :)
Miscellaneous Information: I am also doing WW, I haven't been too motivated during the holidays, but it's time to kick it into high gear. During the summer when I was doing WW and The Firm, I lost close to 20 lbs. - and I was nicely toned.

[Sue]

Bree, I know I saw results in 10 workouts... amazing, but true :)

I plan on starting up again tomorrow. I have a gym membership, but I like to workout in the morning - I'm just too tired after work - and it's easier to roll out of bed and go downstairs. My DH goes a lot in the morning, but we have dogs and 1 needs to be crated, I feel so guilty crating her for an hour in the morning and then all day while we're at work.

[cocoa_femme]

Bree, I know I saw results in 10 workouts... amazing, but true :)
Sweet! :D!

[Firm Believers]

Updated :)

Welcome Sue and cocoa femme!

[Reenie]

Whew, I'm glad I'm not in here by myself. :o

I will be measuring myself around the first each month, but doing weight and body fat each week. This week, I lost 2.6 lb and 0.9% BF! :D I am glad about that, especially since there were two days that I wasn't on food plan, and a couple of days when I pushed my calorie intake to my upper limit. But I was on exercise plan the whole week! :)

Today, I am doing AbSculpt (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Ab-Sculpt/dp/B00008LDZW/sr=8-5/qid=1168186269/ref=sr_1_5/102-4355701-1263319?ie=UTF8&s=video) with Lisa Kay. I'm not sure how many calories I'll burn since it's more of a strength video with emphasis on the core, but nevertheless, I need the toning there more than anywhere else.

cocoa femme I, too, saw results quickly... even before ten workouts! It's awesome. What they say is true, too: you may not lose *weight* the first couple of weeks, but your clothes will fit differently (better). Good luck tomorrow! :)

Sue I'll have to try Ultimate Calorie Blaster (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Ultimate-Calorie-Blaster-Firm/dp/B000AYYVEC/sr=8-2/qid=1168186526/ref=sr_1_2/102-4355701-1263319?ie=UTF8&s=video). I already have it, I just have never used it yet. :o This month, as I said, I'm going to do BSS I, then next month I think I'll do BSS II, then BSS III, then the Transfirmer series, so I'll work my way up to that. :)

[Sue]

Whew, I'm glad I'm not in here by myself. :o



I think this is a great way to hold myself accountable. I did WW and the Firm during the summer and I lost close to 20 pounds. Then I kinda a fell off the wagon and did everything sorta half-assed. I maintained, which I'm very thankful for, because this last fall off the wagon I didn't do so well :( December was a cruel, cruel month!

Later today I need to plan out my videos for the week. It's so much easier to plan ahead :)

[cocoa_femme]

Sue and Reenie, It's great that you saw results so quickly. Did you guys follow the "work out every other day" plan?

[Sue]

Just about every other day, depending what my schedule was like for the week or what I felt like doing that day. There should be a video "rotation" that came with the transfirmer, did you get it?

[cocoa_femme]

Yep, I got it. Just wanted some "real life" opinions.

Thx!

[cocoa_femme]

I am so proud of myself. This morning, I got up and did the Supercharged Sculpting DVD. I made it through the whole thing, only pausing a bit on the leg presses. This is huge for me, since I haven't worked out in over a year (probably two)!

[Sue]

I am so proud of myself. This morning, I got up and did the Supercharged Sculpting DVD. I made it through the whole thing, only pausing a bit on the leg presses. This is huge for me, since I haven't worked out in over a year (probably two)!

That is awesome!! I did Ultimate Calorie Blaster yesterday and boy am I sore today!

[Reenie]

cocoa femme Yep, I use the rotations that come with their stuff, with a little tweak because of my Tuesday/Thursday debacles (I leave the house at 7 a.m. and get home at 9 p.m.... uh, too tired to exercise after all of that!). GOOD FOR YOU on the workout! That is wonderful (the first time I did my first video back in January 2004, I kept having to stop because I was so out of shape and out of breath! :o ).

Sue GOOD FOR YOU, too! You know, that kind of soreness always feels kind of good to me because I know I've earned it :p . Or maybe I'm a masochist.

Yesterday, I did AbSculpt; I knew I wouldn't burn much since it's not a cardio thing. I only burned 50 calories (in 24 minutes) :rolleyes: , but I did lots of work on my abs and lower back, so I know it's worth it to tighten up. BUT I won't be wearing my heart rate monitor for that one in the future since it turned out that I didn't really need it (50 calories!) and plus, the little piece that you pull to adjust the band was on my back and I did so many crunches, etc., that I now have a little rectangle-shaped bruise where it was.

Today, I am doing CardioSculpt again. Will update with my calories burned later.

Can I just say that I love my Spark People appointment reminder? I've entered all of my workouts for this four-week period, and it emails me a reminder at 2 a.m. (you can set it for whenever you want) for which workout (or rest :D ) I have that day. I initially did it so I wouldn't have to check the calendar, but now I'm finding that staring at it every time I open my inbox is motivating me to just do it! (I can't stand clutter in my inbox and I am not allowing myself to delete my reminders until I have actually worked out).

[Reenie]

CardioSculpt done. 353 calories. I am noticing that each time I do this video, my calories burned are going down. I wonder why? I'm using the same weights and I feel like I'm working as hard as I can without speeding up the routines. :confused:

[Sue]

CardioSculpt done. 353 calories. I am noticing that each time I do this video, my calories burned are going down. I wonder why? I'm using the same weights and I feel like I'm working as hard as I can without speeding up the routines. :confused:

Is it getting easy? Maybe you need to up the weights a bit?

[Sue]

I kept having to stop because I was so out of shape and out of breath! :o ).

Sue GOOD FOR YOU, too! You know, that kind of soreness always feels kind of good to me because I know I've earned it :p . Or maybe I'm a masochist.



Me too! It took a few times for me to get through some of the cardio videos. And I had to stop and rewind because I'm not that coordinated :D

I hope you're not a masochist, because I feel the same way!!

[Reenie]

Sue It does feel easier, but I have only just started using it this week! I don't know that I should have to up the weights already...

stop and rewind because I'm not that coordinated

Me, too! :o :p

No Firm for me today... it's a rest day. :D

[Sue]

Even though I was tired, I came home and did Aerobic Body Shaping with Allie :)

One good thing about exercising after work is I'm usually not hungry afterwards. I'll usually just drink a Slimfast shake to get something in me. I don't know what I'll do tomorrow... I'd like to exercise in the morning, so I'll need something a little shorter. I think I have a 30 min aerobic video, I'll have to check.

[Reenie]

Good job, Sue! How do you like Allie? She's my favorite. I would like to work out before work, but it just isn't realistic for me: I have to leave for work by 7:15, I sweat pretty heavily when working out, and I have trouble waking up; combine all of those things, and working out in the morning just doesn't work for me, no matter how much I'd like it to. So I am always very impressed by people who can do it! In the summer time when I'm off (I'm a teacher), I like to work out pretty soon after waking up.

Today, I did CardioSculpt with Allie again. 395 calories burned, so maybe I wasn't working as hard as I could have on Monday.

[Sue]

Man, my legs are killing me!! Took today off, but will do some cardio tomorrow.

I like Allie too! I have some of the older DVD's and it's so funny to see how they used to look... can you say implants :)

Once I get back into the habit, getting up in the morning isn't a problem, I like getting it over and out of the way. I don't have to leave until 7:45, so getting up at 5:30 gives me time to walk the dogs and get in a workout. I get home from work about 6, so it's hard to carve out an hour or so to work out with everything else I need to do.

[Sue]

Did Ultimate Calorie Blaster again... well, only 30 min :o I got really tired and stopped, but it's something. I'll give it another go tomorrow.

[Reenie]

Sorry your legs hurt! And don't feel :o about doing 30 minutes of Ultimate Calorie Blaster... much better than 0 minutes! :D

I get home from work about 6, so it's hard to carve out an hour or so to work out with everything else I need to do.

See, that's the good thing for me because I usually get home around 4-4:30 and I just try to do it right away. I'd have to get up by 5 a.m. at the latest if I wanted to work out in the morning, and I just don't think my body knows that hour! :p Our school is on three teaching schedules due to overcrowding (7a-1p, 8a-2p, or 9a-3p). I have always had the "late" schedule which is a blessing for me, and this year, I have an overtime class, so I have to start an hour earlier than I'm used to... but I swear that if I am on a 9-3 next year, I am totally going to keep getting up when I do and work out in the mornings!

[Reenie]

CardioSculpt again today. 300 calories burned; I was totally not into it and just sort of going through the motions (plus, I cut out the abs section, so about 6 minutes off). I am starting AF and I feel sooooooo lazy. I am glad just to have burned anything! :p

I plan on curling up with my book as much as possible this weekend, I think.

[Foley42]

Me: Lindsay/24
Using The Firm since: I've had it for a year, but used it less than 10 times.
Why I use The Firm: I need to get my butt off the couch!
Why I love The Firm: upbeat, you can use in it in the privacy of your home
Firm Stuff I own: TransFirmer and 4 DVDs

[Sue]

Welcome Lindsay!!

Nothing today, had a birthday party tonight. Tomorrow will probably be some more cardio.

[Firm Believers]

Updated :)

Welcome Foley42!

[Sue]

Made it through UCB today!

Tomorrow I'm going to plan out my weeks videos so I have a nice balance. I need to definitely do some ab work :)

[cocoa_femme]

Hi all. I've been busy with work, and the baby, so I haven't had a chance to post. But, I'll be back on Monday with an update.

Welcome, Lindsay!

[Reenie]

Welcome, Foley42!

Sue Good for you on the UCB!

cocoa femme I'll be excited to hear your progress. Do you have Monday off, too?

I did AbSculpt again today. Squeezed every inch doubly hard since I skipped the abs section of CardioSculpt yesterday. Tomorrow, I am doing BodySculpt. Even though I've had this set of videos (BSS I) since January of 2004, I've only attempted that particular video once :o ; I was easily discouraged because the instructor went (I felt) extremely fast and had poor cueing. But I didn't give her a fair chance, I think. I've been psyching myself up for it, so I hope I won't wimp out with it tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes!

[Lily]

Me: Erica/27
Using The Firm since: Just ordered it online.
Why I use The Firm: To lose my baby weight.
Firm Stuff I own: Excercise Ball & DVD's
Favorite Firm Instructor: Not Sure Yet
Favorite Firm Video: Not Sure Yet
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: -1.5 so far

[lbs27]

Hi all,

I'd love to join! I'm not a morning person, but that is when I do my exercise, so I usually ride a stationary bike in the mornings during the week and do The Firm on the weekends. I do it mostly because I miss aerobics classes at a gym, though I don't keep track of calories burned or inches, etc. I just got Jiggle Free Abs, which I love --some of the moves are the same as other videos but some are different -- it's taught by Allie. I like the Transfirmer series better than the Fanny Lifter series, and I totally ditto someone's earlier comments about the implants. There is a HUGE (;) ) difference between early videos and the Transfirmer series!

Today I did the Ultimate Calorie Blaster. Tomorrow is CardioSculpt from the Transfirmer series, and Monday is riding the bike and Jiggle free abs -- since I have off!


Me: lbs27/32
Using The Firm since: Um, can't remember, I think December 04 for the regular series and I bought the Transfirmer about a year after that, I think
Why I use The Firm: Used to go to the gym for aerobics classes and stopped when I changed jobs. I love this because the moves are a lot more like classes than other tapes I've tried
Favorite Firm instructor: I like Allie, but not all of her tapes. I also like Stephanie and Lisa
Favorite Firm Video: AbScuplt, Jiggle Free Abs, Ultimate Calorie Blaster, Supercharged Sculpting

[Foley42]

Wow, lots of posts here today! Hi Erica and Lori!

QOTD: Do you use weights when they are optional?

DH has a set of 20 lb weights. I probably need to invest in some 5 and 10 lb ones.

[lbs27]

Hi Foley42!

I'm not sure what you mean by optional weights? I use weights whenever it's called for. For me, light=3lbs, med=5 and heavy=8. I find that the 8lbs is definitely heavy enough for when heavy is called for (especially for the leg presses, the firm's "signature move", which are a bi*ch!). Personally, I think I would have a hard time with 10lb ones! What do others think?

[Foley42]

I'm not sure what you mean by optional weights? I use weights whenever it's called for.
Can't remember which video it is, but they say that you can use the recommended weights or you don't have to use any. Since I didn't have any (the last time I used it), I didn't use any. But my arms were still sore the next day even though no weights were used.

[Sue]

Welcome lbs27 & Lily!

QOTD: Do you use weights when they are optional?

I have a set of 5, 8 and 12 pound dumbells that I use. When I am first starting, I use the ends of the Sculpting Stick as my light weights. Once I've been doing the vid's consistently, I can move up in weights pretty quickly. Like lbs27 said, those leg presses can be a bi*ch, so sometimes I use the 8's, or I'll move down to the 8's if the 12's are getting too heavy. I also tend to build up leg muscles fairly quickly, so don't like to go too heavy with legs. I almost always use heavier weights for the upper body moves, I don't mind if I bulk up a little there.

[Firm Believers]

Updated :)

Welcome Lily and lbs27!

[Reenie]

Welcome Lily and lbs27!

QOTD: Do you use weights when they are optional?
I think what you're talking about, Foley42, is when weights are optional for beginners. What I would suggest is doing the videos without the weights until you don't hurt, then moving up to the weights. How many pounds are specified for your videos? I have been using BSS I and they suggest starting with 3, 5, and 8 pound dumb bells once you are comfortable using weights at all. I only needed to work out a couple of times before I was ready for the weights, and I followed their numbers. But I am now thinking of adding 10 and 12 pound dumbbells to my equipment. As other posters have said, there are some areas of my body that just seem naturally stronger and others that seem weaker, so I think that I'll up the weights perhaps not in pyramid but by my own "strength" in that area, if that makes sense. And you won't get the "sculpt" results (building of muscle) that is The Firm's motto unless you use weights of some kind.

[Reenie]

I weighed in today and I am -3.8 pounds and -1.8% body fat for this year! :D I am so happy! I'm getting excited for February 1 when I will take all of my measurements.

[Sue]

I weighed in today and I am -3.8 pounds and -1.8% body fat for this year! :D I am so happy! I'm getting excited for February 1 when I will take all of my measurements.

Awesome Reenie! Sunday is WI for WW and I was down 1.2, not as much as I had hoped for :( I'm thinking the big meal I had last night may have something to do with it, because all during the week I was averaging at least 2 lbs. I am also due for AF this week, so I hope it's just some water retention :)

I should really take my measurements too, I can tell from the way my clothes fit, but it'd be nice to see the actual inches lost. How do you figure out your body fat %?

[lbs27]

I'm so glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks the leg presses are hard. It's weird, I've been doing these videos, once or twice a week for around 2 years now and they're STILL hard! One thing I don't like is when the videos are light on the variety of the aerobics. For example, the cardiosculpt from the Transfirmer series is good b/c it's weights and cardio, but I hate the cardio/aerobics part b/c there are few moves and it's repetitive (i.e. same pattern 5 times in a row). I guess I make myself do that one because I know the alternating weights thing is good, but I find myself doing the ultimate calorie blaster more when I want just good aerobics. I love the Super charged sculpting, but while I know muscle helps in metabolism, I tend to get bulky and not in a good way, so I'm always worried about doing too much weight. However, after the holidays and judging from the scale this morning, I need to do something!

[Reenie]

I should really take my measurements too, I can tell from the way my clothes fit, but it'd be nice to see the actual inches lost. How do you figure out your body fat %?

Sue I have a special scale that measures weight, body fat percentage, and hydration percentage. Specifically, it is this exact model from this seller on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-GLASS-WATER-BODY-FAT-BATHROOM-SCALE-MONITOR-SCALES_W0QQitemZ130068769186QQihZ003QQcategoryZ331 66QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem), although I know there are WW models and other brands as well. Basically, you put in your height, age, and gender (which you only have to do once... mine saves the info for up to 12 different users, I think). The way it works is that it has metal where you are supposed to stand (people who have pacemakers should NOT use these devices), and when you stand on it, it sends a little electric current through your body (you can't feel it at all). I guess the wave travels faster through muscular tissue, slower through fatty tissue, and it determines your body fat percentage for you based on the speed by which the current travels through your body. Here's another page that may describe it a little more in depth and better than I just did (http://exercise.about.com/cs/weightloss/a/bodyfat.htm). And measuring really has helped me because there are times when the scale just doesn't budge but my inches do. FWIW, I always weigh and measure first thing in the AM after emptying my bladder and before consuming anything.

lbs27 Aren't the leg presses worth it, though? My thighs are pretty darn close to rock solid (thanks to The Firm), and I can feel them getting stronger! :)

[Sue]

That scale is pretty cool! I may have to look into one...


FWIW, I always weigh and measure first thing in the AM after emptying my bladder and before consuming anything.
Me too. I want to be as light as possible :D

[Reenie]

I did Body Sculpt with Jen Carmen (http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00008LE01/ref=s9_asin_image_1/102-4355701-1263319) from BSS I today. I was kinda scared because I tried it before and was intimidated by her in the warm up (she cues well, just needs to cue a little sonner, I think). Anyway, I got through it, although I did have to stop after 12 reps on a few sets (rather than doing the full 16). And wow! There are some areas of my body that need serious toning (good thing there are so many different tapes!).

I wore my heart rate monitor although I wasn't sure it would be useful since it's more of a strength video than a cardio video, but I still burned 295 calories in 48 minutes, so I know I was working HARD with those weights! :D

[Reenie]

Did CardioSculpt again today. Burned 355 calories. :)

[Foley42]

How do you know how many calories you burned?

[Reenie]

How do you know how many calories you burned?

I have this heart rate monitor by PolarUSA (http://polarusa.com/Products/fseries/f4.asp?cat=consumer). I got it at Sports Authority last year; it was kinda expensive (I think ~$75), but it is worth it to me.

[Foley42]

Thanks Reenie. I've been wanting to purchase something similar. I'll need to get my first paycheck though :)

[Scoutesina]

Ooh, can I join? I've fallen off the wagon but used The Firm last year. I have an injury at the moment but would like to work myself back into The Firm routine. I miss the endorphins and getting to dance around!


Me: Scoutesina/33
Using The Firm since: Used it from Jan.-July 2005, am trying to get back to it at least a couple times a week
Why I use The Firm: The tapes helped me lose 35 lbs. over about 8 months last year. I've kept it off with walking, but I need to get back to weight-bearing exercise, especially tummy and upper arm toning.
Firm Stuff I own: I'm such a cheapskate, and I'm adamant that being healthy doesn't have to be costly. I bought 7 or 8 Firm tapes off half.com (thanks to a heads-up from my pal Reenie--most were about 99 cents plus $3 shipping). I use my trusty ten-year-old Denise Austin step instead of the Fanny Lifter, a broomstick and 3-, 5-, and 10-lb. hand weights instead of the Sculpting Stick. I don't have any of the newer Transfirmer series tapes so I don't know how/if I could improvise those.
Favorite Firm Instructor: the blonde lady with the Southern accent. It's been so long, I can't remember her name :o
Favorite Firm Video: I have some of the older ones but can't remember the names of my favorites. My least favorite is a really, really old one that's all arm-work, but sadly, that is what I need most.
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: holding steady so far. I want to gain muscle. I'm currently at 28% body fat.

[Jill1228]

I didn't see this thread until now! Cool beans! :D

Me: Jill
Using The Firm since: on and off since 1999 (now back on dammit)
Why I use The Firm: It is NOT boring and it is a great timesaver. Oh yeah if you stick with it, "results, results that you can see"--Susan Harris
Why I love The Firm: I can do it in the privacy of my home. The instructors are not barbie dolls. It is NOT a fad
Firm Stuff I own: Every damn thing the FIRM has ever put out. Including old school rotation calendars, VHS, DVDs, catalogs, books
Favorite Firm Instructor: Tracie Long and Allie
Favorite Firm Video: Maximum Body Sculpting with Tracie
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: haven't done measurements yet. I need all the help I can get
Miscellaneous Information: in 2000 I did a pilgrimage to the FIRM. Took classes and met instructors

Gonna read the rest of this thread after my workout. I think I will do FIRM Vol 2 (an OLD SCHOOL ONE)

[Jill1228]

Right now since I am re-beginning (again), I do not use weights on some of the exercises (like lower body stuff)


Wow, lots of posts here today! Hi Erica and Lori!

QOTD: Do you use weights when they are optional?
.

[Reenie]

Welcome, Scoutesina (I hope you didn't feel forced to join :o ) and APhiJill!

I did my CardioSculpt again today. Burned 300. Not great, but okay considering that I started working out just after 8 p.m.

QOTD: Do you feel (or know, if you have a heart-rate monitor) that you work out better/harder at a particular time of the day?
For me, it seems like right after I get off of work is my best bet. If I do it in the morning (uh, on the days when I don't have work since I could NOT get myself out of bed an extra hour early to work out :p ), it's decent (again, I have trouble waking up, and I am fairly groggy for a whle), and if I work out too late (say, after 7:30 p.m.), it is just terrible. Am I just tired, or could this be an actual phenomenon?

[Firm Believers]

Updated :)

Welcome Scoutesina and APhiJill!

[Reenie]

the blonde lady with the Southern accent. It's been so long, I can't remember her name
Scoutesina Is it Lisa Kay (http://www.collagevideo.com/DVD-covers/7141.jpg)? I like her, too. She is so polite and kind of calm or something nice and gentle. My body fat was 27.9% at the start of the year, so I'm now down to 26.1%, and I will be THRILLED when it is in the healthy range (20-24%, I think).

APhiJill Glad you found us!

in 2000 I did a pilgrimage to the FIRM. Took classes and met instructors
OMGosh, how did you manage to find out about this? I would LOVE to do that! :o Was it so fun?!

[Jill1228]

Thanks for the welcome! i used to be on a FIRM email mailing list and the group did a trip. it was a blast. Looking at the pictures, i was ashamed of how big I was. hell, now I wish I could only be so fat. I put on quite a bit of weight in the past 5 years and I want to get rid of it, dammit.

Here are pix from the trip when I was doing the FIRM on a regular basis.
This is after Allie whipped my azz in a PT session.

If you are wondering about the height...I am 5'7

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/APHIJill/firmtrippix5.jpg

Before taking a class with Jen Carman
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/APHIJill/firmtrippix3.jpg

Some of the instructors. The guy in the front is a co creator of the FIRM. Anna Benson's ex husband
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/APHIJill/firmtrippix6.jpg

In front of the sign
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/APHIJill/firmtrippix4.jpg

before a class
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/APHIJill/firmtrippix.jpg

After a class
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/APHIJill/firmtrippix2.jpg

to only START looking like that again....

[Scoutesina]

Reenie - No pressure--I'm happy to join. I need motivation. Now if only I could get my stupid hip healed. I'm going to try to do Ab Sculpt and the old arm-tape this weekend since as I remember the hips aren't involved.

Yes, Lisa Kay is the one! I've never heard an aerobics instructor say things like, "Stretch a little farther this time, please." There's something about it...she's so polite, you don't want to let her down. :D

APhiJill - Those pics are so awesome! I had no idea you could do such a thing. Must've been kind of like meeting movie stars to see all the instructors in person. :cool:

QOTD: I don't have a heart rate monitor, but for me, the best times of the day are between 5:00 and about 9:00 p.m. I'm kind of a night owl, and I have started workouts as late as 8:00 p.m. before and enjoyed them. The only thing is, then it takes me awhile to wind down afterwards, so I prefer doing it earlier if possible--like you said, right after work is best, before I've had a chance to settle in. I've worked out in the morning on the weekends out of necessity (not crazy early--around 10:00), but I don't feel like I'm really awake enough in the mornings to give it my all. I wish I were a morning person and could just jump up at 6:00 a.m. and get it done with...but not in this lifetime!

[Scoutesina]

You guys inspired me--I did Firm Parts: Upper Body last night.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/362585870_99362a2573_m.jpg
If I'm reading the Roman numerals correctly, the tape was made in 1993, but it seems a lot older. All old-school instructors who are long gone from the Firm series now, and the attire--great comic relief. The pic on the cover is not representative--the ones on the tape were much worse (think g-string bodysuits with weird-colored tights worn beneath :eek: ). Mostly an anaerobic workout, but it was so nice to get back to it and feel those old endorphins again. And the little mini-lecture at the end about how most people over 35 gain 1.5 lbs. of fat a year and lose 1 lb. of muscle made me feel bad for slacking on weight training these past few months.

[Reenie]

APhiJill I love those pics! I wanna go!!!! I must investigate and learn if they still do those. Maybe I'm a dork, but if they still do them, I am TOTALLY scheduling a trip for this summer. :p Yes, thank you for posting your height, because you look extremely tall in those pics, when in fact, you are I think THE most average height for American women. They must all be really short, huh? My body type is most like Allie's (when she's curvier, like in BSS I, the rotation I'm using this month), which is probably one of the reasons why I like her the best. :p

Scoutesina GOOD FOR YOU! :) I'm glad the peer pressure is positive.

I'm finding it positive, too. I really didn't want to work out on Wednesday night, but I just didn't want to let you all down.

I did Ab Sculpt again today. Squeezed everything as hard as I could. I have one more week with BSS I and then I will move on to BSS II. I'll be glad for a new rotation, even though I'm not sick of this one by any means.

In related good news, I got FOUR compliments from four different colleagues today regarding my weight/physique. That made me feel really good. Except that I never know what to say, so I usually just say thank you if it's a comment, or "Yep, I'm working on it," if people ask.

[Jill1228]

Yup, just say THANK YOU or I am working on it. I have a prob with that too. One thing I always say when doing these workouts...modify if you need to! I use a dowel with leg presses. If it is high impact, I will do low. If I am doing lunges on a non tranFIRMER dvd, I will use the damn incline

speaking of working out..I need to get my butt in gear and do a tape.

FIRM Upper body was spliced from all the FIRM classics tapes. it was spliced in 1993 but the clips are from the tapes that started in 1986 or whenever they put out the Torture Tape with Susan Harris

I started to do FIRM Basics Abs Buns and thighs. I got 15 minutes done but I wasn't really feeling like doing it. However, I didn't let myself off the hook. I got my IPod, put in Leslie Sansone's Walk away the pounds and muted the TV :D I did 18 minutes of that. So since I got at least 30 minutes of exercise today, the day was not a wash! :D

[Reenie]

How are you doing, ladies?! :) I did the lower body portion of Body Sculpt today and Ab Sculpt, too. Burned 322 calories.

GOOD FOR YOU, APhiJill! I think it's much better to do something than nothing! :D

[lbs27]

I did AbSculpt today too! :) Before that, I did Ultimate Calorie Blaster from the Transfirmer series, I love that one. Tomorrow, hopefully Aerobic Body Shaping from the Transfirmer series-I don't love that one, but I try to do it every Sunday, which unfortunately makes me cranky until I've finished it. :p I do like weekends where I don't have too much to do other than clean, so I get in a Firm workout on both days!

[Reenie]

GOOD JOB, lbs27! :)

I haven't worked out yet today, but I will be doing the entire tape of Body Sculpt. One more week with BSS I and I'm moving on! :) I'll come back and edit this post with my calories burned. ETA: burned 330 calories. :)

So even though I haven't worked out yet, I wanted to come in to post my weekly update: so far this year, my stats are -5.6 lbs. and -2.4% body fat. :D Ten more days and I'll measure, too! That should be fun to see!

[bamboo]

Hi- I have a question about the FIRM systems that I'm hoping someone can help me with. Before my wedding I got the Fanny Lifter and three FIRM DVDs- the Ab Sculpt, Cardio Sculpt and Body Sculpt set. I used them and really liked them, and am interested in getting back into using the DVDs.

I'm really interested in the new TransFIRMer step and series, but I'm wondering a) if the new step is really necessary/worth it and b) where the best price is to get that set. Is there any way to do the new videos (modified), with the old step? I want to get a good workout and have a variety of choices, but since I already have one step and 3 DVDs, I'm hesitant to buy a pricey new system...

[Jill1228]

You can get the transfirmer at Target, overstock.com or newegg.com (I got mine from newegg for $40)

you can do the new DVD but you can't really do the incline steps. Right now I modify a lot so I don't put the step at an incline...unless I am doing lunges

Hope this helps

[Reenie]

bamboo As Jill said, you can do the new videos, but they'd have to be modified since the Fanny Lifter can't do the incline like the TransFIRMer can. But, if I were you, I would try getting a used TransFIRMer on eBay. I have had very good luck with that and scored Firm stuff very cheaply that way. (Obviously, just be careful of shipping charges). Let me know if you want to be added to our group! :)

[lbs27]

Thanks, Reenie! I did do Aerobic Body Shaping today. I really hate that damn tape. :p It just doesn't seem to get any easier, which I guess is good since that would mean I'm outgrowing it. Oh well.

I got my Transfirmer at Target about a year or so ago. i didn't want to buy another system either, but I think it was worth it, especially for the variety. I actually haven't gone back to BSSI, except for AbSculpt because I really like the Transfirmer Series.

[Scoutesina]

FIRM Upper body was spliced from all the FIRM classics tapes. it was spliced in 1993 but the clips are from the tapes that started in 1986 or whenever they put out the Torture Tape with Susan Harris


Ah, thanks Jill. That explains the outfits and hairstyles. I thought Susan Harris was very intense and scary!

Hmm, you guys are making me want the TransFIRMer, but I don't have a lot of storage space. Does it break down or get smaller at all?

[Sue]

Hmm, you guys are making me want the TransFIRMer, but I don't have a lot of storage space. Does it break down or get smaller at all?

It does fit inside each other... The green step fits inside the back of the blue step, so put together it's only as high as the blue part.

[Jill1228]

Let's talk about tall box climbs...how did you work up to doing those damn things? :confused:

Tall box climbs...not to be confused with the Leg press

Right now with my weight, the thought of doing them is making my knees scream. I was thinking work to do 2 or 3 and then increase from there

or should I start with a shorter box and do as many as i can

thoughts?

Speaking of leg press, I use no weights and support myself with a dowel on the side of the moving leg

[Reenie]

Hey, APhiJill, not to be dumb, but explain the difference between tall box climbs and leg press? :confused:

[Jill1228]

tall box climbs are done for cardio. to just get your heart rate up

leg press are the ones most likely to be done with weights

I hope ya know what I mean :)

[Reenie]

Okay, I did CardioSculpt again today; burned 351 calories. :)

APhiJill Gotcha. I would say work with the short box until you can do those effortlessly, then try working up with the tall box (2, then 3, etc., like you suggested). During the time when you're working up, just side-step or march when you can't do the climbs anymore. I know in the BodySculpt tape, Jen does sets of 16 for leg press and for some reason, they just kill (I can do 12 just fine in Allie's video, but for some reason, when I'm doing Jen's, I start feeling like it's way too hard after 8 :o ). So, I do as many as I can and then just walk around in a circle with the weights on my shoulders or at my sides until its time for the next move.

[lbs27]

I agree with Reenie. The tall box climbs are hard and definitely something to work up to. I think I would start with a lower box and work up to it. There is a definite difference between those and the leg presses, I think the leg presses, hard as they may be, are not something you can do on a smaller step, you'd just have to do less and/or drop the weights. I'm pretty sure in some of the videos, they say to use a smaller step for some of the stepping, um, steps. :D So, I would think the tall box climbs fall into that category. Good luck!

[bamboo]

Me: Bre/28
Using The Firm since: About 6 months before my wedding (2004), and just started again
Why I use The Firm: It felt like the best in-home workout of a bunch of workout tapes I tried back before my wedding. It's winter and rainy where I live right now, and I'm still holding onto some baby weight I want to lose.
Why I love The Firm: Good workouts, and I really like the mix of weights and cardio.
Firm Stuff I own: Fanny Lifter and Ab Sculpt/Cardio Sculpt/Body Sculpt DVDs
Favorite Firm Instructor: Allie
Favorite Firm Video: Cardio Sculpt, it's a little bit of everything
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: none yet!
Miscellaneous Information:

Okay, so I'm joining up. I did the Upper Body portion of the Body Sculpt video (with Jen), last night, and did Cardio Sculpt tonight. I kept up with the weights better than I thought I would, I guess slinging around a 23 pound toddler has kept my muscles in better shape than I thought :)

I think I'm going to hold off on getting the Transfirmer for now- I checked those sites but none of them seem to have the step anymore, just some of the DVDs. If I can stick with doing the videos I already have for a month, then I might treat myself to the new step+videos.

This may sound like a weird question, but do any of you have height issues with the Fanny Lifter? Or ideas for how I could adjust? I'm 6' tall, and the exercises that require being on all fours with your chest on the fanny lifter just don't work that well for me- my legs are much longer than the instructors' seem to be. In Cardio Sculpt there's one in particular, where you hold a small weight behind your knee and lift your leg up and across, and I just can't make that work since I can't hold the proper form they demonstrate. I just skip that piece, I'm just wondering if anyone else has that issue or and ideas?

[Foley42]

I'm calling myself out. Lindsay get your butt in gear and do The Firm tomorrow after work. Ok there I said it :o

[Jill1228]

I am calling myself out too! I printed out a rotation

Bre, welcome!


I'm calling myself out. Lindsay get your butt in gear and do The Firm tomorrow after work. Ok there I said it :o

[Reenie]

Welcome, bamboo! Regarding your question about your height, do you have a chair or stool that is taller? You're right that you should be doing those in the same form, and really, you just need something that is as tall as you legs from your knees to your hips. Heck, you could probably even stack a bunch of books up, but that would get old... Hey, Scoutesina, what do you do about it (she's about your height, I think, bamboo)?

Okay, Foley42 and APhiJill... you're going to do it today! No ifs, ands or buts! :)

[Sue]

I've been such a slacker lately... Tomorrow morning I AM getting up to work out.

[Scoutesina]

In Cardio Sculpt there's one in particular, where you hold a small weight behind your knee and lift your leg up and across, and I just can't make that work since I can't hold the proper form they demonstrate. I just skip that piece, I'm just wondering if anyone else has that issue or and ideas?

I'm in the same boat, bamboo (I'm 5'11"). I also have a non-official step I use, so I didn't know if that was the problem. What I do is take the two cushions off my loveseat, stack them on the floor, and lay across those instead of the step. It's a bit squishier (and I have to pause the tape to get situated), but it works for the leg presses. It doesn't work well for the lateral arm raises (not sure if that's the right term) though, since that forces you to bear your weight in your torso rather than your arms, and I get all off-balance. For me, a chair would be too high, but if you had a low stool like Reenie said, it seems like that would be better and more stable.

I think eventually I will break down and buy the TransFIRMer. It seems like it could be stacked high enough to work. They sell it along with several DVDs or videos on the Firm Direct website for $60 (plus shipping, I assume). I did see the whole thing for sale on half.com, but my problem is I don't have a DVD player in my exercise room, and it seems like the tapes that go along with the TransFIRMer are harder to find than the DVDs.

[bamboo]

I do have some cushions I could put on top of the FL, that's a good idea. I also hadn't even thought of trying half.com for the Transfirmer- thanks!

Reenie I have the same problem with the leg presses- those 4 extra ones used to just kill me in Jen's video! Her whole lower body section is so tough- I haven't tried it since starting back up yet.

[Jill1228]

You mean no ifs ands or lifted fannies! :D


Welcome, bamboo! Regarding your question about your height, do you have a chair or stool that is taller? You're right that you should be doing those in the same form, and really, you just need something that is as tall as you legs from your knees to your hips. Heck, you could probably even stack a bunch of books up, but that would get old... Hey, Scoutesina, what do you do about it (she's about your height, I think, bamboo)?

Okay, Foley42 and APhiJill... you're going to do it today! No ifs, ands or buts! :)

[Jill1228]

One modification I do too for hover squats, is I don't use a fanny lifter. I use a chair without arms or my old school 17 inch firm box. that extra 3 inches makes a difference....

[Reenie]

Okay, Sue, tomorrow's your day! You can do it! :D

Scoutesina My mom got me the TransFIRMer for my b-day last year (I asked for it), and since I use an old TV/VCR combo for my workouts (it's a little TV in the basement, the 13" or so?), I requested VHS. She got it directly from their site. Don't know the cost, but just so you know...and yeah, it comes with multiple videos. The only thing is that Jiggle Free Arms and Jiggle Free Buns didn't come with my package (it did include Jiggle Free Abs), and I want those! I can't find them on VHS, only DVD. So I'm thinking I might have to break down and attach a DVD player to the TV if I wanna get DVDs (plus, all of their cool newest workouts are only available on DVD.... poo!).

bamboo Glad to know I'm not the only one whose fanny gets kicked by it. ;) It's funny because that's a strength video, but I burn SO many calories when I do it, just as many as Cardio Sculpt, often!

APhiJill

You mean no ifs ands or lifted fannies!
I meant no ifs, ands, or butts. :p

[Firm Believers]

Updated :)

Welcome, bamboo!

[Jill1228]

I did Complete Aerobic and Weight Training with Emily

Modifications. for the step portion, I use my club step (just the platform-4 inches) and have it turned vertically

dunno if anyone is familiar with this DVD but the tricep pushups....

dude WTF? :confused:

[Scoutesina]

Reenie - Yeah, I think I'm going to have to do the same. I know you can get a simple DVD player for relatively cheap...my problem is I don't know if I can figure out how to get one to work with the ancient TV/VCR combo I use!

My boss at work has talked about getting one of those DVD-R/VCR combos so departments could convert all their VHS tapes to DVD (then I could buy the DVDs and borrow it to transfer the DVDs to VHS), but I think they have built-in copyright protectors. Allie has a new Cardio Dance DVD out that I want. So frustrating to be technologically challenged!

Jill - I don't think I have that workout, but in general I think tricep pushups are evil. I would pick the tricep dips (using the step) over the on-the-floor sideways pushups any day. Those things are just weird and awkward.

I did Ab Sculpt with Lisa Kay last night, though I followed Libby and stuck strictly with the beginner's moves. Baby steps. :D

[Sue]

I did Complete Aerobic and Weight Training with Emily



That's on the agenda for this weekend :) Not going to get to it tonight, I have a headache the size of Texas and it's kicked my ass :(

Wanted to drop this tidbit off... Looks like there will be 2 new videos coming late spring.


Bootcamp — Maximum Calorie Burn DVD
Led by Alison Davis and featuring The FIRM Master Instructors Allie DelRio Pointer, Sue Mi Powell, Kelsie Daniels, & Robyn Johnson

This 50-minute ultra fat-burning workout combines bootcamp training with cardio drills. As you jump, hop, squat and lunge your way through this high-energy workout, you’ll build muscle, speed and agility to see results three times faster than doing cardio alone.

If you want to go beyond basic cardio and get results faster, Bootcamp — Maximum Calorie Burn is the workout you’ve been waiting for. It’s fitness at its best with bootcamp conditioning basics and plyometric exercises used by elite athletes to take their performance to the next level. The moves are easy to follow so that anyone can do them and see immediate results.

Power Sculpt Workout Kit – with 3-in-1 Sculpting Stick
Led by Allie DelRio Pointer & featuring The FIRM Master Instructors Tina Smalley & Alison Davis

This 20-minute total body sculpting workout burns fat and shapes your body in no time flat! No muscle group is left untouched with The FIRM’s signature 4-limb exercises and just one simple tool—the new FIRM 3-in-1 Sculpting Stick.

Get flab-free and sculpted all in one super efficient, time-saving workout by using your stick! The all new design features 3 equal segments, each weighing 3 pounds.

Visible results are in your future with Power Sculpt Workout and the new 3-in-1 Sculpting Stick.

I'm not sure how this sculpting stick is different from the other one though :confused:

[Reenie]

APhiJill GOOD FOR YOU! :) I have that video, but I have yet to actually do it. :o It's in my March-April rotation that I've created for myself. :p

Scoutesina GOOD FOR YOU, too! :) I am doing Ab Sculpt on Friday this week. I saw the Cardio Dance with Allie (I kinda want it just because its her, but I am really not a good dancer, very uncoordinated. Remember those other workout videos you suggested to me? I bought them but gave up because I couldn't keep up and get the moves right. :o )

Sue Hope you'll feel better soon! I have read about that video, too. I think it's the same sculpting stick. If that's the case, Firm will sell the video on their website without the stick, for certain. I want the stability ball, resistance band, and pilates kits (but alas, we come back to my problem of no DVD player in the basement... looks like I'm gonna have to suck it up, as Scoutesina suggested).... But I am not buying any new Firm stuff for a while because I am going to use it as a reward for myself after six months of following my work-out schedules.

Now, if I do that, is there a way for me to transfer my VHS to DVD so I don't have to re-buy eveything?

I did CardioSculpt with Allie today. Last time in this rotation, so I won't be seeing that one for several months... funny that I didn't think about that until after it was over. Anyway, I burned 365 calories. :)

[lbs27]

Yay, I'm so impressed with AJPhil, Scoutesina and Reenie! Way to go!

I haven't done the CardioSculpt in ages, hmm...maybe this weekend. Though I HATE those whatever you call them where you lay on the step with the weight behind your left. WTF is that!?! I spend so much time trying to keep the weight from falling out that I'm sure I'm not getting anything out of it. The thought of doing those is what's keeping me from going back to that DVD. :o Sad, I know.

No Firm for me until Saturday probably, though I did make myself get up early today and got on the bike (normally would have skipped it since I had to be at work early). So that's something.

Sue, those videos sound great. I've been thinking about getting a sculpting stick video-I used to love that part when I took gym classes, so maybe I'll try this new one when it comes out. :)

[Scoutesina]

Now, if I do that, is there a way for me to transfer my VHS to DVD so I don't have to re-buy eveything?

Reenie - In my case, I was thinking if I could plug a DVD player into the old TV/VCR combo, then I could use either VHS tapes or DVDs, although in the long run it would be better to transfer everything to DVD since tapes disintegrate after awhile.

I'm AV-challenged, but I think there is a machine you can buy that will transfer VHS tapes to DVD. I think it's fairly expensive (~$200?). If my U buys one, I will test it out and let you know. Although I think that would be legal (since you bought the tape--it's not like you're making a bunch of copies for your friends or anything), there may still be some kind of built-in copyright protector that prevents you from recording any store-bought tape. :rolleyes:

lbs27 - Thanks! I don't like those things where you hold the weight behind your knee either--there's so uncomfortable. In general I just do the exercises without the weights bc I find them pretty tough as is! If you do get a Sculpting Stick, I believe the freeweight part of the SS might be easier to use for those exercises since it appears to be just a cylinder (I don't have one, so I don't know for sure). My free weights are barbell-shaped, so they just don't fit well in that crook behind the knee.

[Jill1228]

I was reading on a fitness board..these might be worth checking out

USB ware (http://www.usb-ware.com/ads-dvd-xpress.htm)


here was another post

There is a device called "Go Video" that purports to copy protected media. Last time I looked (admittedly a while ago) they sold it at Best Buy, right by the DVD recorders.

And not all of them are copy protected. I'd try first because you get the better copy without having to use the decoding device.


hope this helps

[Jill1228]

Today on the menu was Maximum Cardio burn with Abs...Allie's DVD

Some of the moves I will still have to figure out but I winged it

[Reenie]

Thanks, lbs27. :) I don't know what those are called, but I can feel the burn on those, so I kinda like them. I always make sure to open my leg, then put the weight right in the crook of my knee and fold my calf in until I don't need to hold on, if that makes sense. I don't have any trouble with it falling out that way.

Scoutesina and APhiJill Thanks for that info. Eh, I'll see what I can do. I'm not in a huge hurry or anything. Good job on the Maximum Cardio, APhiJill. :)

I did Ab Sculpt today. :)

[Jill1228]

Resting today. This morning I started the first period since my miscarriage last month and these cramps are kicking my azz

[Reenie]

APhiJill It sounds like resting is in order. I hope that you're feeling a little better. I'm really sorry that you had a m/c.

[Reenie]

I did Body Sculpt (Upper body portion only) and Ab Sculpt today. Burned 140 calories. :)

And with today, I finished my BSS I program! If you remember, I decided not to wear my heart-rate monitor on Ab Sculpt only days since it hurt my spine the first time, but I burned about 50 calories with it the first time, so I approximated that I burned that many each time that I did just that video for the day. Look at my totals, I burned around 5055 calories through exercise over the last four weeks! (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1137660&postcount=7) :D I'm so happy. And I didn't skip a single workout... there were a couple of days when I wanted to but I wouldn't allow myself because I had to be accountable for it here. :)

[Reenie]

Now for my new rotation.

For these four weeks (January 28-February 24), I am using BSS II and a modification of its deluxe schedule (because Tuesdays and Thursdays are still totally impossible for me right now):
Jan. 28: Total Sculpt Plus Abs BURNED 380 CALORIES!
Jan. 29: Maximum Cardio Burn Plus Abs BURNED 393 CALORIES!
Jan. 31: Upper Body Sculpt BURNED 141 CALORIES!
Feb. 2: Complete Aerobics and Weight Training BURNED 430 CALORIES!
Feb. 3: Firm Abs DONE! (only half, though... burned 33 calories)
Feb. 5: Maximum Cardio Burn Plus Abs BURNED 438 CALORIES!
Feb. 7: Complete Aerobics and Weight Training BURNED 380 CALORIES!
Feb. 9 rescheduled to Feb. 11: Maximum Cardio Burn Plus Abs only half... BURNED 287 CALORIES!
Feb. 10: Total Sculpt Plus Abs BURNED 340 CALORIES!
Feb. 11 rescheduled to February 12: Firm Abs DONE! (burned approx. 60 calories)
Feb. 12: Total Sculpt Plus Abs BURNED 361 CALORIES!
Feb. 14: Upper Body Sculpt BURNED 147 CALORIES!
Feb. 16: Maximum Cardio Burn Plus Abs BURNED 393 CALORIES!
Feb. 17: Complete Aerobics and Weight Training BURNED 387 CALORIES!
Feb. 18: Firm Abs DONE! (burned approx. 60 calories)
Feb. 19: Complete Aerobics and Weight Training BURNED 407 CALORIES!
Feb. 21: Complete Aerobics and Weight Training BURNED 385 CALORIES!
Feb. 23: Maximum Cardio Burn Plus Abs BURNED 406 CALORIES!
Feb. 24: Upper Body Sculpt BURNED 135 CALORIES!

Total Sculpt Plus Abs (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Total-Sculpt-Plus-Abs/dp/B0000C0FC4/sr=8-4/qid=1169940638/ref=sr_1_4/102-4355701-1263319?ie=UTF8&s=video) is with Jen Carman (http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0000C0FC4.01._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg).

Maximum Cardio Burn Plus Abs (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Body-Sculpting-System-Maximum/dp/B0000C0FCA/sr=1-1/qid=1169940804/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4355701-1263319?ie=UTF8&s=dvd) is with Allie Del Rio (http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0000C0FCA.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg).

Upper Body Sculpt (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Upper-Body-Sculpt/dp/B0001KNHO0/sr=1-1/qid=1169941008/ref=sr_1_1/102-4355701-1263319?ie=UTF8&s=video) is with Janet Brooks (http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0001KNHO0.01._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg).

Complete Aerobics and Weight Training (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Complete-Aerobics-Weight-Training/dp/B0000C0FC0/sr=1-4/qid=1169941141/ref=sr_1_4/102-4355701-1263319?ie=UTF8&s=video) is with Emily Welsh (http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0000C0FC0.01._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg).

Firm Abs (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Abs/dp/B0001KREGM/sr=1-1/qid=1169941234/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4355701-1263319?ie=UTF8&s=dvd) is with Nancy Tucker (http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0001KREGM.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg).

This is the system that uses dumbells, the Fanny Lifter, and the Sculpting Stick. I'm excited for a new rotation, but I'm nervous, too! :p

[lbs27]

Reenie--wow! That's great! Thanks for posting your new rotation, I was actually coming in here to ask about BSSII. I don't have any videos from that one but my friend who does The Firm said she likes the two aerobic ones from that series. She hates the tall box climb and said that the second series doesn't have those (I actually don't mind these as much as other things). So, I was thinking about getting those videos, but wanted to see if they worked with the Fanny Lifter. I don't have the sculpting stick though.

Today I did Ultimate Calorie Blaster and then Jiggle Free Abs. Tomorrow is my usual Aerobic Body Shaping, but I'm thinking I might either do CardioSculpt or CardioSculpt Blaster (weights and step and only 30 minutes!) from BSSI instead. I'm really getting into doing The Firm both Saturday and Sunday instead of just Sunday, so I'd like to get some more videos in rotation.

[Reenie]

lbs27 I actually have a duplicate VHS of Maximum Cardio Burn with Allie (because I have bought a couple of Firm "lots" from eBay and ended up getting that one in with some other videos that I was seeking). Do you use VHS? If so, I would be happy to send it to you. Also, I don't know if you're trying to get the whole set of BSS II videos, but I have a duplicate VHS of Upper Body Sculpt as well, because I had ordered a different used video on Amazon and the woman sent me the wrong thing; when I emailed, she said just to throw it out, but I thought that was silly, so I am saving it for someone else who could use it. I don't know how well either of those videos work because I've never used them (having copies already), but if you want them, they're yours. You may be able to get a used sculpting stick on eBay or Amazon for a good price; I actually got my whole BSS II with videos for $14.99 with free shipping from some site, but it was a while ago and I can't remember which one. And also, you can use a dowel instead of the stick if you don't want to get one. Good job on today's workouts! :)

I also decided that I'm too impatient to wait until the end of the month to measure :p so I will measure tomorrow morning when I do my weekly weigh-in (I figured it was the best time having just finished a rotation and all ;) ). I can't wait to see what I learn!

[Jill1228]

Thanks reenie! I am still trying to regroup
I am laid up again today. i managed to run a few errands but i went back home and laid down.

I need to look into the HRM you have. Also looking at going back to Weight watchers. Getting rid of some weight before TTC will help.
Re: Rotations. I am doing the beginner one that is on the Firm club website

[Reenie]

Okay, just FYI, I found the site where I got my videos plus sculpting stick. It's Active Videos. (http://www.activevideos.com/instructors/thefirm.htm) If you scroll approx. 2/3 down the page, you will see (it's listed below Firm Body Sculpting System 2 Videos). Anyway, it looks like right now, they're doing a deal where you can get the sculpting stick plus the three main videos (Total Sculpt, Maximum Cardio Burn, and Complete Aerobics and Weight Training) for $8.95-VHS or $29.95-DVD. The only thing is, I don't know how much they're charging for shipping, and also, it's just the basic edition, not the deluxe (deluxe includes Upper Body Sculpt and Firm Abs). Still, $8.95 VHS for three videos and sculpting stick?! That's awesome, depending upon the shipping!

Jill ;) I have copied and pasted every single one of the Firm Clubhouse Specialty Calendars since January 2004 into a special file on my computer. I love looking at their rotations... I have myself all set up through mid-June. :p

So, today is the big day! I am starting a new rotation today, so I did all of my measurements to see the changes that have taken place in my body over the last four weeks! Since January 1, I am -6.8 lb, -2.7% Body Fat, -5.75 inches! :D :D :D I am thrilled. I lost every which way except for my thighs, where I gained .25 inch each (hopefully, it's muscle from all of those leg presses ;) ). Ta-DA!

[lbs27]

Hi Reenie!

Wow, congrats on the all of the losses! That's so great! I'm willing to bet your increase in thigh measurement is totally muscle--that's the first place I see it too, unfortunately. :D

Thanks so much for your offers too! Unfortunately, I was using VHS, but the VCR broke so I bought the DVDs of the ones I liked. I would actually be ok with just the basic addition, I have 2 Abs videos I like and a body scultping that I like too. So, the two aerobics videos, plus the stick would be perfect (I'd like to not buy another Lifter if at all possible). I'll start searching amazon and Ebay.

[Reenie]

lbs27 Thanks for the reassurance re: the thigh increase. ;) ETA: that link that I posted sells BSS 2 without the Fanny Lifter (so in total, it's the total sculpt video, the max cardio burn video, and complete aerobics video AND the sculpting stick). Still $29.95 for DVD version plus whatever shipping is. That's kinda high unless the shipping is super cheap since you can probably get it on eBay cheaper including the stick. *shrug*

I did Total Sculpt plus Abs from BSS 2 today. Burned 380 calories. I actually think I could burn more on that video if I could figure out the tricky footwork. :o That'll take some practice for me.

[lbs27]

Thanks Reenie, I will check that site out, plus Ebay. I did CardioScuplt from BSSI today. I had forgotten I guess how many moves were similar between this one and the aerobic body shaping of the Transfirmer series (and I'm guessing Allie's video from BSSII as well). I did ok, but I didn't feel like I worked as hard as I do with the Transfirmer videos, but I wanted something with weights, so it worked. :)

[Jill1228]

I think I might have to pump up the workouts to minimum 4 times a week. In addition to the rotation I could toss in some workouts that are all floor work or upper body, stretch or something like that.

After being laid up this weekend (and missing a workout day) I will be doing total sculpt plus abs

down 1.5# this week

[Lizzie Beth]

Me: Beth/32
Using The Firm since: used it for about 6 mos. until I got pg w/ my first daughter, Susannah
Why I use The Firm: It doesn't seem as cheesy as the others
Why I love The Firm: Good workouts, and I really like the mix of weights and cardio.
Firm Stuff I own: Fanny Lifter and the stick thingy
Favorite Firm Instructor: Allie
Favorite Firm Video: Cardio Sculpt
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: no idea
Miscellaneous Information: I had my second daughter, Kate, last November

Hi, y'all, I'm hoping to get myself back into the swing of things. I used the FIRM the year before I had my first child, and I think I was in pretty great shape. After I had Susannah and went back to work and dashed around trying to figure out how to balance the two, I completely forgot about taking care of myself. This fall I had Katie (they are 23 months apart) and I am taking advantage of my maternity leave to try and get back into shape. I've been jogging every other day, but that's pretty much it.

I had the videos, but our last VHS finally kicked off, and I suspect my DH tossed them along with the VHS player. So now I have to go find DVD's. I guess I'll take a look at ebay, etc.

The only real problem I have with the FIRM is that it kills my knees. I really pay attention to correct form, I don't think it's that. Bad knees run in my family, and mine crack and pop with pretty much every lunge and squat. I feel them a bit with the jogging, but not consistent soreness after, as I have had using the FIRM. Any suggestions? When I do the french press thing, it also feels like my elbows are popping out and pop back in when I pull my arms up. I think it's more a joint problem of mine than a problem with the firm, but I wondered if anybody's had the same problem and what they've done for it.

I really hadn't been worried about my weight until I stepped on a scale this past weekend (Pre-pg about 150, currently 181) and DH and I had 2 formal dinners in the last 2 weekends. I notice it the most in my bust area (I'm still breastfeeding, so I'm sure that will change eventually) everything else fairly pales in comparison, but my jeans don't fit, either. I know that if I don't get moving now, it will NOT get any better after I go back to work (May) so I need to get it done.

[Firm Believers]

Updated. :)

Welcome, Lizzie Beth!

[Reenie]

Welcome, Lizzie Beth! Congrats on your babies and good for you for being proactive and taking care of yourself before you have to get back into the swing of work!



After being laid up this weekend (and missing a workout day) I will be doing total sculpt plus abs...down 1.5# this week
Jill I did that one yesterday! That Jen, she makes you work! (BTW, I wasn't sure if you wanted me to post your lbs. lost to your member info on p. 1, but I went ahead and did it... if you want me to delete it, let me know :) ).

As for me:Today I did Maximum Cardio Burn plus Abs with Allie. Burned 393 calories. As I said yesterday, I think I could have actually burned more had I had the footwork down. Until yesterday, I hadn't done the Firm except BSS I videos in over a year, and I forgot how much trickier the footwork is in BSS II as opposed to BSS I. Left-footed me is hating it right now, but I guess I should just enjoy the challenge. I remember when I thought that the footwork in BSS I was hard. ;)

How are things going for you other ladies? :)

[Sue]

I'm still here, just been a little lazy... ok - a lot lazy :o I've pretty much accepted the fact that working out after work just ain't gonna happen, so 5:30am it is for me. I just have limited time, about 45 min., an hour if I push it, so I have to plan my workouts pretty well. Hopefully tomorrow morning I'll have something to update :D

[Jill1228]

It's all good Reenie! :)

Welcome beth!

here are my suggestions:
french press, use a lighter weight for a bit to build up strength. You might want to reduce your range of motion too.

I got knees from hell here and the shitload of extra weight does NOT help

use lighter weights (or no weights and reduce your range of motion)
leg press: see what they are doing and pause the tape and do them at the speed you are comfy at your own pace. if they do 16 and you are only comfy doing 8 with good form, it's all good. you will work up. Hope this helps

Reenie, I was having difficulty doing the ab work with Jen's workout so I did my own thing. i really have to strengthen my midsection

I am gonna toss a cardio tape in tomorrow and Wednesday I do Max cardio burn plus abs




Jill I did that one yesterday! That Jen, she makes you work! (BTW, I wasn't sure if you wanted me to post your lbs. lost to your member info on p. 1, but I went ahead and did it... if you want me to delete it, let me know :) ).

[Jill1228]

sue you have to pick a time that is good for you. I don't do 530 am for nobody!

[Sue]

sue you have to pick a time that is good for you. I don't do 530 am for nobody!
Believe me, that's not my time of choice either!! I'm too tired and hungry when I get home from work at night to do anything. Since I'm up at 5:30 to temp, I might as well get my butt out of bed!

[Reenie]

Hey, Sue, have you tried any of the Blaster Videos? They're for when you're short on time.... there's Cardio Sculpt Blaster (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Cardio-Sculpt-Blaster/dp/B00008DDJC/sr=1-3/qid=1170123829/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/102-4355701-1263319?ie=UTF8&s=dvd) with Lisa Kay and Body Sculpt Blaster (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Boby-Sculpt-Blaster/dp/B00030DLLW/sr=1-1/qid=1170123943/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4355701-1263319?ie=UTF8&s=dvd) with Nancy Tucker. Also, I have an old Firm specialty rotation calendar (from July of 2005) that features only videos that are 30-45 minutes in length. If you want, I'll e-mail you with the file (it's a Word document) as an attachment.

Jill I like to use the Lisa Kay AbSculpt from BSS I to strengthen my core. I'm not having so much trouble with my abs work, just my footwork. At least you can work on your abs... I'm dance-challenged for a lifetime. ;) :p

So you all are gonna think I'm off my rocker, but I e-mailed The Firm yesterday to tell them that I love their stuff and that they should make four new videos: one for each trimester of pregnancy and one for post-partum (and I said for the PP video that they could maybe incorporate baby). No, I don't have kids, nor am I pg. But hey, I thought that maybe they'll do it and I'll have myself all set up for when it is my time. ;) Anyway, I got a response! The response was very generic, "Thank you for your interest and the suggestion; I will pass along the idea." I did notice that the woman who e-mailed me back carbon copied another lady on the thing, so who knows? I really hope that they'll do it, how lame am I? lol :p

[Sue]

Thanks for the suggestions, Reenie. I tried to pick up a couple of the shorter videos a little while ago, so I have a couple. I'd love the rotation, I'll pm you my email address. Thanks :D

I think the pregnancy videos are a great idea! I'm surprised they have done any yet.

[Reenie]

Thanks for the suggestions, Reenie. I tried to pick up a couple of the shorter videos a little while ago, so I have a couple. I'd love the rotation, I'll pm you my email address. Thanks :D

I think the pregnancy videos are a great idea! I'm surprised they have done any yet.

Check your e-mail. :)

Yeah, I was working out and thinking, "Surely, they've thought of this before and decided against it for some reason [liability, restricted use of weights, restricted muscle focus groups, something?" But I couldn't think of anything that could really be that wild that a legal disclaimer at the beginning wouldn't fix (and they already have legal disclaimers at the beginning of every video, anyway); the only real problem I could come up with is that they'd maybe have to wait for Firm instructors to be pregnant to do it? I dunno...

[Sue]

Got it! Thanks so much :)

[Scoutesina]

Lizzie Beth - I would definitely modify, like Jill said, if you are in pain. The french presses don't hurt my elbows, but they also make mine sort of crack and it gives me the heebie-jeebies, so I just limit the range of motion and use light weights on those. As for your knees, I would definitely do more shallow squats and lunges till your leg muscles get built up. I have cracky weird knees too but found I have far fewer problems when I get my quads and hamstrings strong.

Reenie - I also think the pregnancy videos are a great idea. Can't hurt to ask. You should demand a percentage of the royalties if they do it. :p

My stupid hip injury got worse over the weekend, so I'm still supposed to keep off it. I did Ab Sculpt again last night and added in some of the intermediate moves. At least my dog has made progress. He just sat on the couch calmly watching me writhe around on the floor, rather than jumping around and trying to lick my face like he did the first couple times. :D

[Jill1228]

Girl, when God gave black folks rhythm, he passed me over! :D

I did a 45 minute walk today

Tomorrow is Max cardio burn plus abs

I wonder if your message was ccd to Cathy Sovde. She is one of the higher ups! Very nice lady

Jill I like to use the Lisa Kay AbSculpt from BSS I to strengthen my core. I'm not having so much trouble with my abs work, just my footwork. At least you can work on your abs... I'm dance-challenged for a lifetime

[Reenie]

Just flying by... did Upper Body Sculpt with Janet today. Not really an aerobic workout, though I did wear my monitor. Burned 141 calories.

[Jill1228]

I did maximum cardio burn plus abs.

i am still trying to figure out that damn "step and scoop" move

[bamboo]

Okay, I found a good deal on the Transfirmer+DVDs so I went ahead and got it and it came today. I did the Ultimate Calorie Blaster tonight.

I definitely worked up a sweat, but jeez the footwork seems complex. I remember feeling confused when I first started doing the Cardio Sculpt with Allie way back when (I don't know series names!), but this seems even more complicated. I would have gotten a much tougher workout if I had been able to actually do all the steps! So I think I'm going to alternate the new videos with old videos (at least for the cardio ones that involve learning a new step routine), so I can learn the new stuff while still getting a good workout in. Which Transfirmer videos does everyone like the best?

Also, man that Transfirmer step is big. Way more awkward to move around, but I felt like they dealt with that in the video by not having you move it around too much. So it wasn't a pain, just a surprise that it's really pretty big!

[Reenie]

I am so glad that you all don't think I'm completely nuts for doing that (and, Jill, the lady who was CC'd on the e-mail was not her; her name is Erin Warren).

And also, Jill Seriously, that Step and Scoop (I thought she was saying step and scoot :o ) is so hard. But you already know that I find the footwork tricky.

Which brings me to you, bamboo. My recent posts have been almost completely like yours regarding tricky footwork. Don't worry, we can do it! And even if you don't get all of the footwork down, you're still burning calories! :) Plus, the more you do a video, the more you'll get the footwork. I have given myself permission to suck at the footwork but also demand that I work on it. Good for you for working out and getting yourself jump-started!

Scoutesina I hope you'll get answers soon on that Hip MRI. Good for you for continuing to work out your other areas.

Which brings me to my little thing: as I said yesterday in my fly-by post, I did Upper Body Sculpt with Janet yesterday. Woo, buddy, am I ever having delayed muscle soreness today! Holy moly! My posterior delts and lat dorsi are so sore today. But good sore, not can't stand the pain sore. Today was a rest day; tomorrow is a nice long workout, then Saturday morning, a short ab routine before my flight, then Sunday off since I won't be home.

[bamboo]

Reenie- I love that good sore feeling! The footwork is definitely hard. But as long as I keep moving, even if I'm stepping in the wrong direction, it's something ;)

Tonight I did the Aerobic Body Sculpting video with Allie, and that was easier to follow than the Ultimate Calorie Blaster. I think Allie cues really well, so that helped, and she explained the moves well also. I still futzed some of it up (like the box step thing and the bunny hop sequence :confused:), but oh well. I really do like the step, and it feels good to do things on the incline.

[Jill1228]

I am scheduled to do Complete Aerobic weight training but if I am not up to it, I am going to do a walk today

[Reenie]

Flying by yet again.... did Complete Aerobics and Weight Training with Emily today. It was a LONG workout, but I didn't really notice how long because I was kinda having fun. I like her almost as much as Allie... I think she cues pretty well (although a couple of times, she gave the opposite side cue since she's backwards to me, if you understand me there), and I like it that she gets out of breath, too, and then tells me, "It's okay if you're getting out of breath, that means your heart is working hard!" Anyway, I found the footwork less complicated on this video than on the others in BSS2. I burned 430 calories.

bamboo So glad for you that you're enjoying your TransFIRMer! That incline is great!

APhiJill It was a hard one, but I feel awesome now, and I am so proud of myself for doing it! But if you can't, good for you for committing to a walk. :)

[Jill1228]

I wound up doing the first part of FIRM 3 in 1 boot camp DVD. you can either do part 1 which is 42 min, part 2 is 39 minutes and part 3 is the whole damn thing

[Sue]

Just a quick post to say, yes I am alive... and YES, I finally worked out today - Aerobic Body Shaping with Allie. I'm going to follow the Transirmer rotaion this month, with some modifications here and there.

[Reenie]

Good job, Jill! I don't have that video. From what I've read, it's spliced from 90s tapes... is it worth the buy?

Sue Glad you're here! :D Good job on the workout!

I was OOT this weekend; flew out Saturday morning and came back yesterday afternoon for a very quick trip. Had planned to do Firm Abs with Nancy Saturday morning, but only got half-way through when DH advised me to stop working out because we needed to leave.... I burned 33 calories in that half-video, but again, the monitor's band around my chest hurt during the work, so I think in the future, I'll do the whole video and estimate at 60 calories burned and not wear the band so that I'm more comfortable. And I did Maximum Cardio Burn plus Abs with Allie today. I am so proud of myself because it's my second time doing it in this rotation and I've got the footwork down! :D I am so proud of myself. Plus, I like that one and Emily's Complete Aerobic Training the best out of the BSS2 set, so it was a fun workout (I'll be honest, though, I seriously didn't feel like working out since I am expecting AF and feeling sluggish, plus it is freezing bones here and I just want to hibernate :o ); I'm glad I did it because I feel energized now. I also burned 438 calories. :)

[Reenie]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that I weighed in on Saturday this week since I wasn't home Sunday. Lost 0.2 lb... not much but it's a loss.

[Scoutesina]

Feeling like a broken record...but I did Firm Parts: Upper Body yet again last night. I increased the weights on some of the exercises and made it through most of the three sets of push-ups (I had been wimping out and doing standing up push-ups before but I decided it was time to do the real things). That made a big difference, and I definitely felt the burn. At least if I have to get crutches or a walker my arms will be strong. :D

Way to go everybody! Jill, how do you like the Boot Camp video? I usually prefer dancey routines to boot camp-style ones (all those reps get to me!), but I am tempted to try that one.

[Jill1228]

I haven't thought of doing standing up pushups...are you talking about wall pushups?

Cause i can NOT do big boy pushups

I like the boot camp one. It uses a barbell but if you don't have one, you can modify (I do but I didn't feel like using it).

yesterday i did
The Firm: Ultimate Fat Burning. The footwork is tricky so I modified and winged whatever I needed to.

I was supposed to do a workout today but things got FUBAR'd. I had a doc appt and JUST as i was pulling into the space, they doc office called me to reschedule for later on today (like in an hour) :rolleyes:

[Scoutesina]

Jill - I'm so bad about knowing the proper names for exercises, but wall push-ups are what I mean--where you stand a few feet away from the wall and do push-ups against the wall. I can't really feel much when my arms are completely extended, but the part where your face is almost touching the wall is when I start to feel the burn, so I do a very limited range of motion. I can't remember where I learned about those...I can't do real big boy push-ups either--I do the girl kind where you're on your knees. But even those kick my butt!

My workout last night got thwarted too. Don't you hate when someone else messes up your plans?!

[Reenie]

I do knee push-ups, too. :p And I'm okay with that!

Yesterday, I did Complete Aerobics and Weight Training again (see, it's okay to do the same video, Scoutesina. Burned 380 calories.

Jill Sorry that happened. What's FUBAR?

[bamboo]

I do knee pushups too. And I don't do them on the step- I don't know if it's because of me height or what, but I get a much better pushup workout if I just do them on the floor.

I'm doing well- I've been doing a video 5 nights a week, trying to just keep cardio mixed up with heavier weight focused videos and work abs in there as much as I can.

Does anyone have any tips on lunges? I wish I had a side mirror to watch myself in- I find it hard to know whether I've got the form right on them. I also feel like my balance is bad with the lunges so I think that screws with my form too, I'm wobbly. They feel like they work my muscles, but like I'm not doing them quite right maybe? Maybe I should make DH come in and compare me to the video and tell me how off I am ;)

[Reenie]

Good job, bamboo! Sure, have your DH come in and compare if you don't have a mirror that you can check yourself in. I know I am constantly thinking about maintaining proper form. :p

Well, yesterday, I missed my first workout of the year. :( But I am only slated to do an abs video tomorrow, so I decided to double up (do the abs plus yesterday's missed video, Maximum Cardio Burn plus Abs). Today, I did Total Sculpt plus Abs.

I am 99% sure that I will be heavier tomorrow morning than last weigh-in. I have eaten at or over plan all week long. I started over again today with being back on plan. Actually, today I wasn't even hungry for all that I ate (and I only input 1200 calories today and plan to all week to make up for last week ;) ), but I didn't want to dip below my necessary number of calories. I think that the hardest thing for me, when I get to my goal weight, will be to figure out how many calories my body needs just to maintain. I know there are calculators that supposedly figure those, but every time I eat the amount that they say I need, I gain. :rolleyes:

[Reenie]

Well, I can't believe it! The scale today is EXACTLY the same as it was last Saturday! :confused: :D I'll take it! And the really good news is that I am also -0.4% BF! So I must've actually lost a bit of fat but built up some muscle this week... maybe that's why I've been so hungry. ;)

Okay, so I don't want to go backwards, so I am BACK ON EATING PLAN as of yesterday. :)

[Jill1228]

Yeah I had a crappy week so far. My last weigh in I was up 1.4..not goog

Back on the workout track today and checking in with FIRM Basics Sculpting with Weights :)

[Reenie]

Jill Good job for moving on and getting on track! I am proud of you! :)

So, I officially have some kind of a chest cold or something. Last night, my throat felt sore, but I thought it was just because of the dryness in the house. I put the humidifier on, and this morning, I felt worse but I thought, "Well, I'm kinda stuffed up, so maybe I was breathing through my mouth while I was sleeping." But no such luck. I have continued to feel worse all day, even getting in a 2+ hour nap. I tried to do Max Cardio Burn to make up for missing on Friday, and my heart rate was just out of control and I felt like I was going to pass out. I couldn't get it to come down. So I only worked out for half an hour (Burned 287 calories). I would ordinarily be mad at myself for quitting half-way through, but today I am mad for pushing myself when I knew I didn't feel well. Ugh.

[lbs27]

Reenie-sorry to hear you're sick. Unfortunately, to me that's a great excuse not to work out!! ;)

I'm still here reading along. I'm considering getting some of the BSSII videos, so I'm enjoying the reviews here. As for me, last weekend we were out of town, so nothing on Saturday, but Sunday I did Supercharged Sculpting and Jiggle-Free Abs (both Transfirmer). Yesterday I was short on time in afternoon, so I rode the bike in the morning (DH was still in bed watching TV, so no video for me) and then did Jiggle Free Abs in the afternoon. Today was Aerobic Body Shaping. I hate that one, but I know it's good for me. :D

[Reenie]

lbs27 Unfortunately, it's a great excuse to me, too! I have to be very, very rigid with myself or I'll just have a field day. :p I do like the BSS2 videos; there is a lot of emphasis on sculpting where, left to my own devices, I am a cardio-loving girl, so I need that. And I definitely have my faves in there, with Max Cardio Burn with Allie followed by Complete Aerobics and Weight Training with Emily.

So I figured out why I couldn't get my heart rate to come down yesterday; I was running a 101 F fever! :eek: I am really, really glad that I quit working out in the middle of it (and thank goodness for my heart rate monitor to tell me that my HR was soaring). No fever today, and though I'm still feeling a little crummy, I did make myself do Total Sculpt today (burned 361 calories).

[Reenie]

All right, I'm back again. :o I was slated to do Firm Abs yesterday but didn't since I wasn't feeling right during Max Cardio Burn, so I rescheduled it for Wednesday to double up with Upper Body Sculpt, but then I got to thinking that I'd like to spend as little time as possible working out on Wednesday since I think we're going out to dinner. So I doubled up for today and did Firm Abs (in addition to Total Sculpt, which I posted about above).

[Jill1228]

Reenie, did you pass your sickness to me? I have bronchitis and an ear infection and the doctor kicked my ass because I worked out yesterday. I am banned from working out for 2 days

[Scoutesina]

Feel better, Jill and Reenie. Get some rest and don't push yourself.

I finally felt up to working out--but not quite ready for a full-length Firm workout--so I did a 30-minute low-impact dance tape followed by Ab Sculpt. Hopefully I will be able to work up to the longer Body Sculpting tapes this weekend. I really need some better shoes, but I'm not going to use that as an excuse.

[Reenie]

Jill So sorry you are sick! That is no fun. But at least you have medical clearance for not working out. ;) :p

Scoutesina Good job for you! I think it's a good idea not to push it too hard, especially since you're getting over an injury. Did you feel the burn in your abs today? I know I've been doing some different abs moves with this set, and I can REALLY feel it in my obliques.

I am still not quite right; so much for V-day because I took a long nap after being overcome by dizziness. Thought I felt better, got up and did Upper Body Sculpt (burned 147 calories). I got through the whole thing, but I was really dizzy at some points (and trust me, since it's a sculpting video, there was no correlation). I wonder what's going on with me.

It's been pretty quiet in here... how are you other ladies doing? :)

[Scoutesina]

Oh yes, I could definitely feel the ab burn! There is one exercise on that tape that I don't get though--where you're laying on your belly and up on your elbows and you're supposed to kick your feet up toward your butt one at a time. I must not be doing those right bc I can't feel anything in my abs, just in my hamstrings and maybe my back.

Reenie, be careful with the dizziness. You may be pushing yourself too hard before recovering from your bug. For me, 1200 calories made me light-headed. I found the lowest I could really go was 1350. So maybe you need an extra granola bar or cup of yogurt or something.

[Jill1228]

I have been working out--by cleaning house for the company I have this weekend. It is not like it is really messy (it's not)...we just have lots of sq footage :)

[Reenie]

Scoutesina You know it's funny because I've never understood that exercise either. I just try to hold my abs really tight while I'm doing it. :p Either we're both doing it wrong, or there is something tight on us there that might not be on other women (maybe this has to do with tightening muscles that can get stretched out by pregnancy? Since neither of us has ever had a baby, that could actually make sense...). Yeah, and I have been very bad at staying at 1200 this week as I said I'd try... I just can't. I seem to go around 1400 kcal a day, and I think that's pretty much perfect for me. Although I was bad on V-day because DH brought me a big bag of my favorites, Twerps. :p

Jill Are you feeling better? Company when you're sick is no fun. But housecleaning really can get your heart pumping. Unfortunately for me, I have the opposite cleaning problem as you currently, so that's my next stop after this post...

I did Maximum Cardio Burn with Allie today (burned 393 calories... which is funny because when I added it to my totals, I noticed that another time I did that video, I burned the EXACT same amount of calories... I actually think that's kinda cool :p ). I just like that video so much! I was sad when I was looking at my schedule and saw that I only have one more time with it in this rotation. But I guess that's a good thing... don't get sick of it, and I'll look forward to it again when I use the BSS2 rotation. I can't believe I only have another week of workouts and I will be moving on to my third rotation of the year! The time is flying. I don't think that I'll see as many changes in my body this time because 1) I wasn't working out consistently before I started at the new year, and 2) I haven't been perfect about eating on plan (okay, accountability: I ate 2000-2200 kcal 8 days since my last rotation ended). I'm also wondering if I might be plateauing a bit... I got to this weight and plateaued last year, and I stupidly gave up instead of fighting the good fight. So if that's the case, I'm going to stick it out and WIN this time. I looked at pics of myself at my fattest and :eek: I am not going back, and also, slow and steady is working for me, so I just have to be patient... [/ramble]

[bamboo]

I missed three days earlier this week, but have gotten back on track.

ab exercise- Reenie, I have had a baby and I have never felt anything in my abs during that exercise either. I do what you do and just hold them in tightly, but I don't really get how that action works your abs in that position. :confused:

What do you guys think about Jiggle-Free Abs? Really good? Significantly different from Ab Sculpt with Lisa? I like Ab Sculpt fine, but if it's really different I'd get another ab video, it's always nice to change things up. I just don't want two very similar videos.

Hope everyone is feeling better!

[lbs27]

Hi Bamboo!

I LOVE Jiggle Free Abs (got it for Christmas). I also really like AbScuplt with LIsa, but I do think the videos are different. J.F. has some standing up Ab exercises where you bring your knee up and cross your elbow over to meet it but in a standing position. There is also some work with the Transfirmer, mostly sitting on it with your legs stretched out in front of you and then you lean back and forward while bringing your knee up to meet your chest, if that makes sense. My favorite part though is the regular ab work on the mat. She does this exercise where you..hmm..how to explain..you kind of do an up and around kind of thing while you're laying down. So you bring your head up, one shoulder off the floor, then the other shoulder and then back down. Does that make sense.

In any case, I really like it. It's about 20 minutes or so. I also got Jiggle Free Arms, but somehow lost it between my parents' house in PA and mine in MA. I'm completely bummed about that!

[Reenie]

I did Complete Aerobics and Weight Training with Emily today. Burned 387 calories.

Question: As a person loses weight, does she burn fewer calories because there's not as much body mass?

bamboo Thanks for the input from someone who has had a baby. :) Hm. I guess that exercise might just be useless. :p JF Abs is very good! I certainly recommend it over Nancy Tucker's Firm Abs, and maybe even Lisa Kay's Ab Sculpt. I like that Allie uses planks in there, which are really, really hard for me. She really works every inch and you can really feel it.

lbs27 Nancy does that around-crunch move in Firm Abs, and I like it, too!

My favorite ab things are: leg walks (lie flat on your back, lift your legs to the ceiling [ninety degree angle to your body], and take one leg up and down at a time. To really engage, do both together. :eek: ), pistons with obliques (bring one knee toward the chest while the other goes out and change, doing the opposite oblique crunch at the same time), and planks (come up on your toes and forearms, keeping your entire body flat and tight, suspended to toe-level). All of those exercises are really hard for me, but I feel like they're productive, so that's why I like them.

[Reenie]

Weigh-in today: -0.2 lb, -0.1% bf. I seem to have hit a bit of a plateau.... At least I'm still losing and not gaining, even if it is minuscule.

[Sue]

I have been MIA for a while :o but I am alive and well... sort of. I had a REALLY bad 3 days of eating - KFC, Mickey D's, Friendly's, Oreo's.... I have 4 days till WI for WW, so I better get my ass in gear! I'll be mostly concentrating on cardio, to burn off some of the crap I ate and sticking to my points religiously! Today was Ultimate Calorie Blaster.

Question: As a person loses weight, does she burn fewer calories because there's not as much body mass?
I believe so, it makes sense. Less weight to move, less energy expended to move less weight.

[lbs27]

Hi Reenie!

Those planks are killer. They sometimes hurt my lower back, but they're getting slightly easier. The JF Abs video has a lot of them done in a slightly different way which is cool. And I think both of the Transfirmer videos I do (Aerobic Body Shaping and Ultimate Calorie Blaster) have them.

As for me, yesterday I did Ultimate Calorie Blaster--I love that one even though it never seems to get easier! Today, I'm not sure, maybe AbSculpt, but I'm off tomorrow so I may push Aerobic Body shaping to tomorrow.

[Reenie]

Sue Good work on being accountable and getting yourself back on track! Isn't it so hard to be accountable?

And on that subject, today makes the ninth day that I threw the calorie counting and carefully planned meals to the side. :o :rolleyes: I have to get myself under control. I don't know what my problem is.

lbs27 I did abs today, too (Firm Abs with Nancy)! That one has a lot of the side planks and the taller planks, but to be honest, the toe/forearm planks with the long holds are the toughest for me. Sometimes my back hurts when I am doing leg walks, so I have to be very careful to make sure my whole back is pressed to the floor... takes off some of the pressure or something. Don't you love a video that you never get sick of? That's me with Maximum Cardio Burn. :)

Have a great week everybody!

[Firm Believers]

Updated. :)

[lbs27]

Reenie- I find the toe/forearm planks are the hardest where my lower back can start to hurt. The side planks are weird--I'm never quite sure if I am doing them right.

So, I'm starting to get bored the 2 Transfirmer videos I have, so today I went to Amazon and bought Maximum Cardio Burn plus Abs and Complete Aerobice and Weight Training, both from BSS2. I don't have the sculpting stick, but I think I'll make do. :) I got both for 32 bucks and free shipping. can't wait to try the Maximum Cardio one! :D

[Scoutesina]

Reenie - The base metabolic rate is calculated with your height, weight, and age, so yes, sadly, you burn fewer calories as your weight goes down (and as you age). But I've found I definitely get full faster than I used to and I'm trying not to let my portion sizes creep up again now that I'm in the maintenance mode.

I just read about the Wendie Plan (http://www.stormpc.com/ww/wendie_plan.htm) in another CC thread and thought it made a lot of sense in a weird counterintuitive way. I know from reading around here a lot of times women bust plateaus by having a heavy-eating day.

Planks are so hard! lbs - They hurt my back too. I usually modify the side planks by bending my bottom knee and resting on that and the top leg's toes instead of keeping both legs straight. As for the regular plank, I usually start out trying to do it normally, then when my back starts to hurt, I lower my knees to on the ground (but keeping my legs straight). I can still feel the burn with those modifications.

OK, so I guess those kicking ab exercises are mainly a good time to rest between the harder moves. :p

[Reenie]

lbs27 Let me know what you think! I really hope that you love them as much as I do (I will say that I think the Max Cardio Burn is super-fun, and the Complete Aerobics is not as fun but that's because it's so darn challenging, and as I've said, I prefer cardio to cardio+sculpt or sculpt).

Scoutesina You are too sweet to link that Wendie Plan in for me. I read it, and actually, it kinda makes sense. But I also have to be honest with myself: I might be hitting a plateau, or it might be the fact that in these 23 days, I've been off-plan for 9. And I don't mean very low, very high, etc. I mean, high on the plan, very high on the plan, through the roof even for non-dieting. :o So we'll see. I'll definitely keep that in mind if I do find that this is a plateau that wasn't self-inflicted. :p

I did Complete Aerobics with Emily today. Burned 407 calories. :) I hope you all don't think I'm a weirdo for coming in and posting each time; I don't want to take over the thread, but if I don't post each and every time that I work out, I won't stay accountable. It keeps me honest. :)

[Reenie]

Okay, so far, no slip-ups food-wise this week. :D I am so glad... I seem to have regained my self control.

QOTD When you fall off of the wagon (food or exercise), do you find it much harder to get it back together than just to keep it together in the first place?
There is another woman who has successfully lost and kept off a significant amount of weight, dieting all month and then having a free day. I tried to do that because I thought it sounded good, but after I spent the whole day being terrible, I went crazy for a whole week, and then I feel off the wagon all together. :o And I know it depends on the person. But for me, if I want something kind of bad, it's actually better if I just plan it into my foods for the day (and then usually have to eat not as much volume of food) than to go off plan. That way, too, I'm usually reminded that it's not worth how bad it is. ;) Oh yeah, and Scoutesina, based on my vigilant watch over the scale this week, I think it was perhaps a self-inflicted plateau that I hit. ;)

I did Complete Aerobics and Weight Training with Emily today. Burned 385 calories. :)

[Scoutesina]

Reenie - I have a similar feeling about the wagon issue. I try not to view myself as being on a diet, I just look at the 'cost' of certain foods and usually end up deciding I'm too 'stingy' to spend that many calories and find something to replace it. Example: Last night I was running errands and tired and hungry and really tempted to stop at Taco Bell. After remembering how many calories my favorite items have, I just drove home and made myself ground turkey tacos instead. Not the healthiest meal, but a lot fewer calories and I thought it tasted just as good.

See that's the thing with me--when I stopped eating a lot of fried and greasy foods, they stopped tasting so good and actually started making me feel ill when I ate them. I know if I allow myself to gorge on them like I used to, I'll get back to where eating like that is normal and then eating healthy will feel like a restriction and I'll resent it. I guess it's the whole cliche of seeing it as a lifestyle change rather than a diet. So yeah, I will occasionally indulge (I totally disagree with the whole Dr. Oz philosophy that there are certain things you should never ever eat--who can live that way?), but I try to make up for it that same day rather than going bonkers for a day and then starving myself for the rest of the week.

I hope you guys don't mind me clogging up this thread. I am living through you vicariously since now I'm on crutches and not even allowed to walk. :(

[bamboo]

My biggest food challenges are a) convenience and b) quantity. I have to just avoid something altogether, because I cannot limit myself. Like if I buy a bag of chips, it'll be gone in two days, so it's easier to just not buy it at all. My real challenge though is that with a busy toddler, I just don't have/make the time to cook healthy proper meals for myself, so then I skip a meal and get hungry and then buy a bagel or muffin or snickers or something when we're out and about. That adds up, and isn't very healthy and doesn't make me feel good. I never eat fast food at all, but on the go sugar/carbs get me. I make us all a healthy family breakfast in the morning, and DH and I generally eat a pretty good dinner later in the evening after I work out. But there's a good 10 hours at least between those two meals that I don't have good food planning for.

So what are the cardio videos you guys like best? Maximum Cardio Burn sounds popular- is it pretty much all cardio, not much weights? Ultimate Calorie Blaster is the only one I have that is totally cardio, and I like it okay but am not loving it enough for it to be my only cardio option.

[Jill1228]

I have finally come to the realization that I have to log what I eat even though it is hard as hell to look down at it when I have a FUBAR day. I just have to suck it up and deal with it. None of this "if ya don't write it, it didn't exist BS. It is still hard for me to do it

I do have to limit myself to some things (ie In N Out burger ONCE a week). That place is dangerous

Re: Side planks...I am not sure if I am doing them right either

Yesterday I broke out my BSS3 DVDs and did Stephanie's. Had to do a lot of modifying

Heading to LA tomorrow. I will have to log my food in my book because I won't have my laptop. Will be back on Sunday

[Reenie]

I did Maximum Cardio Burn plus Abs with Allie today. Burned 406 calories. :)

Scoutesina I know what you mean. I hadn't eaten McDonald's in about two years, and this week I have had a mad desire for chicken mcnuggets. So I programmed them into my stuff for yesterday (it was amazing that a 4-piece nugget happy meal took up SO Much of my daily allowances!) and got them on my way to the U. They were alright... but I could definitely taste the grease, which I found repulsive. And they weren't worth it, especially since I spent the rest of the evening with a stomach ache and bloated. You're not clogging up this thread at all, silly!

bamboo Yeah, me with chips is this: I have to buy the little 25 cents bags when I want them. I get to eat what's in the bag and that's it. And that's okay with me. I also love to pick up candy of almost any kind, and cupcakes are the Devil for me. So, like you, it's not fast food that kills me, but convenient treats that I have to stay away from. I deliberately try to avoid gas stations and candy stores because it's just too darn hard for me. I am a serious cardio-lover, so I like almost anything cardio. Have you tried Fat Blasting Cardio (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Body-Sculpting-System-Blasting/dp/B0007LDIKG/sr=1-1/qid=1172281570/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4025442-6015148?ie=UTF8&s=dvd), Express Cardio (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Fast-Express-Cardio/dp/B00030591W/sr=1-1/qid=1172281644/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4025442-6015148?ie=UTF8&s=dvd), or Calorie Killer? (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Calorie-Killer-Nancy-Tucker/dp/B0001KNHOK/sr=1-1/qid=1172281667/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4025442-6015148?ie=UTF8&s=dvd) Those are all fun!

Jill I am starting my BSS3 rotation on Sunday! We can commiserate when you return. Hope you're having a nice trip!

[bamboo]

Reenie, yup I avoid those places too as much as I can! I haven't tried any of those, so thanks for the recs :D

I'm bummed with myself because I overdid things yesterday- I got Jiggle Free abs and buns, and was excited to try the abs one so I did it while DD was napping. Then after she went to bed (my normal workout time), I did Aerobic Body Shaping, and somewhere in the two videos I hurt my lower back. Not badly, but it's pretty achy today so I'm taking tonight off (which I really shouldn't, but I don't want to make it worse). I need to schedule my workouts better so they're more balanced- I can do a short video (abs are perfect) during her naps a few times a week, but then I need to make sure to do a shorter video that night and one that doesn't have additional ab work- like just an upper body or lower body workout. I generally pick by my mood and what feels more or less sore, which is just not organized!

[lbs27]

bamboo- I do Jiggle Free Abs once a week (usually Saturdays) and Aerobic Body Shaping on Sundays and I usually skip the Ab portion of ABS. I also do a different sit up routine once a week (usually Thursday), so I don't feel too guilty not doing the Ab portion of other videos. :) I'm sorry that you hurt your back--feel better soon!

As for me, I'm anxiously awaiting my new videos from Amazon, they should be here any day now. I was hoping they would come today so I could do them this weekend, but no such luck, so I guess it's another weekend of Ultimate Calorie Blaster and Aerobic Body Shaping for me--blah. Although DH and I are also painting 2 bathrooms, so we'll have to see! :p

[Reenie]

bamboo I'm really sorry that your back is sore. That's so annoying, isn't it? :rolleyes: Some days I would like to be able to just pick whichever video I am in the mood for, but then I'd only ever do cardio. :p And the truth is, I need the structure of just having it set up and being "told" (albeit by myself) what I have to do (because I decide way in advance).

lbs27 I hope that you get your stuff soon. How's the bathroom painting coming? What color(s) are you doing?

I did Firm Upper Body Sculpt with Janet today. Burned 135 calories. For some reason, it felt really hard to me today even though I didn't increase weights or anything. I think I'm just tired.

[lbs27]

My stuff came! Wohoo! I was actually warming up to do Ultimate Calorie Blaster (AFTER priming the bathroom and waiting 2 hours for it to dry--how's that for efficient use of time?!) when I heard the mailman. So I go running downstairs and was pleasantly surprised to see my DVDs. :D

Today, I did Maximum Cardio Burn Plus Abs. I really like it--I need to figure out how much modification to do since I don't have the sculpting stick. The part in the beginning was tough since you use the stick as a weight (I actually had to go onto the computer mid workout to see how much the stick weighed so I knew how much weight to use). I used two 5 lb weights, one in each hand, which I think may have been too much. After seeing the stick weighs about 8 lbs, I may use one 8 lb weight and hold it at the ends. Not sure...the rest of the stick stuff seemed to be stick optional, like holding it to one side while climbing on the box. The only other think I could have used it for was the leg stuff at the end where you rest the stick on your calf/ankle. But I think I got a good workout without it. Does anyone else have an modification suggestions?

I didn't do the 9 minute Ab section (according to the back of the box), because I switched to J.F. Abs instead. :D Love that tape and I can't believe how different Allie looks between that one and the Max. Cardio BSS2. She's much more buff and her face is a lot thinner and her tummy flatter--I guess the stuff works! :) Tomorrow, I may try the other one, Complete Aerobics with Weights, since I need to do some weight stuff. If I'm short on time, I may just do Supercharged Sculpting.

We painted the bathroom blue--pale but not baby or pastel-y, it's like that blue you see with chocolate brown now. I wanted it for our guestroom and wound up with something more grayish purple, so I'm glad to have gotten the blue right somewhere. :rolleyes:

[Reenie]

Yea, lbs27! I'm so glad that your stuff came and that you liked Max Cardio Burn! Yes, those 5 lb. weights are much too heavy. I think that the twigs (the ends of the sculpting stick) are about 1.5-2 lb. each (and I'd actually like a little heavier weight in there, but not 5 lb). So maybe you could use some 2 or 3 lb. weights. I don't know what to do about the stick for when it's used for weight/sculpting, but what about using an adjustable shower rod at its shortest length for when it's used for stability? That would work (and I remember reading somewhere else that someone did that). The bathroom sounds perfect. We have a "fish" bathroom with that color for the bath mat, background on the shower curtain, the accessories, etc. Actually, we had a plumber here today to get a quote for total bathroom remodel, and next we'll have to price out new walls (tile for the bath area, drywall? for the other) and flooring. But it looks like total bathroom remodel is next on our home-improvement list. Our friends ended up with a grayish purple in their bathroom, and I think it looks really nice, but I know how frustrating it can be to paint a room and have it not be what you wanted (that happened with our bedroom.... perhaps I'll repaint it this summer).

[bamboo]

Thanks for the sympathy guys! I felt better today so I did JF buns tonight- man that is hard. I can do the whole Lower Body Sculpt video with Jennifer without needing to stop, but I had to pause at a couple of points in JF Buns and skip a couple of squats/leg presses (those leg presses where you pulse halfway up twice then go all the way up- OW). So that's nice, to feel like I have more to work up to in that video.

I also went nuts on Amazon and ordered four more videos (used though so good deals but it may take a while for them to come)- Fat Blasting Cardio, Express Cardio, Complete Aerobics and Weight Training, and Hips, Thighs and Abs from the Fast and Firm series. DH is going to roll high eyes big time when he sees the stack I've got now! I'm excited though, and it's all about the motivation right? :D

[lbs27]

That's funny, when I got my videos today, DH came up and asked what movies I got from Amazon. I said more Firm videos and he rolled his eyes at me. :)

According to the website, the sculpting stick has a 4 lb middle and then 1.5-2 lbs each for the twigs. So, I think 1 8 lb weight held with both hands will be good for the beginning moves where you do bicep curls and tricep whatevers while holding the stick and squatting. For the part where you just use twigs, I used a 3 lb weight in each hand and that worked really well. I think I can get away with not using anything for the balance (the abducts or whatever seem just as hard without it) and I'll only lose out on the bit of resistance at the end where you tuck it behind your leg. I really like the low impact part where you touch your ankle in the front then you foot in the back on the same leg--I had fun with that one! :D

[Reenie]

Yesterday, I finished my BSS2 rotation, and you know what that means… I can’t believe it’s my four-week progress check already! :p Since January 28, I am -1 lb, -0.8% BF, and -4 inches (and in 2007, I am -7.8 lb, -3.5% BF, and -9.75 inches). Of course, my weight loss slowed, but I think that was to be expected since my first rotation was a jump-start of this new regimen for my body, plus the fact that I ate badly 9 of the past 28 days. :rolleyes: Over the last four weeks I have burned approximately 5563 calories through exercise (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1174807&postcount=103) (and in 2007, I have burned approximately 10,618 calories).

And now it’s time for me to move on to my new rotation!

For these four weeks (February 25-March 24), I will be using BSS 3 with modifications to its Intermediate calendar that I made (because I still can’t work out on Tuesdays and Thursdays):
Feb. 25: Complete Body Sculpting BURNED 307 CALORIES!
Feb. 26: Fat Blasting Cardio BURNED 236 CALORIES!
Feb. 28: Total Muscle Shaping BURNED 332 CALORIES!
March 2 rescheduled to March 3: Firm Hips, Thighs, and Abs BURNED 161 CALORIES!
March 3: Fat Blasting Cardio BURNED 275 CALORIES!
March 4: Complete Body Sculpting BURNED 353 CALORIES!
March 5: Firm Hips, Thighs, and Abs BURNED 134 CALORIES!
March 7: Total Muscle Shaping BURNED 286 CALORIES!
March 9: Fat Blasting Cardio BURNED 250 CALORIES!
March 10: Complete Body Sculpting BURNED 330 CALORIES!
March 11: Total Muscle Shaping BURNED 308 CALORIES!
March 12: Fat Blasting Cardio BURNED 238 CALORIES!
March 14: Complete Body Sculpting BURNED 289 CALORIES!
March 16: Firm Hips, Thighs, and Abs BURNED 104 CALORIES!
March 18: Fat Blasting Cardio BURNED 247 CALORIES!
March 19: Total Muscle Shaping BURNED 272 CALORIES!
March 21: Complete Body Sculpting BURNED 295 CALORIES!
March 23: Fat Blasting Cardio BURNED 250 CALORIES!
March 24: Firm Hips, Thighs, and Abs (cx'd and did Fat Blasting Cardio again)BURNED 232 CALORIES!

Complete Body Sculpting (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Complete-Body-Sculpting/dp/B0002IQO00/sr=8-1/qid=1172288181/ref=sr_1_1/104-4025442-6015148?ie=UTF8&s=dvd) is a cardio+sculpt video led by Christa Riley.

Fat Blasting Cardio (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Body-Sculpting-System-Blasting/dp/B0007LDIKG/sr=8-1/qid=1172288355/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4025442-6015148?ie=UTF8&s=dvd) is a cardio video led by Lisa Kay (http://www.collagevideo.com/Instructorgraphics/Lisa-Kay.jpg).

Total Muscle Shaping (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Total-Muscle-Shaping/dp/B0002IQO4Q/sr=8-1/qid=1172288414/ref=sr_1_1/104-4025442-6015148?ie=UTF8&s=dvd) is a cardio+sculpt video led by Stephanie Huckabee (http://www.collagevideo.com/Instructorgraphics/Stephanie-Huckabee.jpg).

Firm Hips, Thighs, and Abs (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Body-Sculpting-System-Thighs/dp/B0006KZBLW/sr=8-4/qid=1172288528/ref=sr_1_4/104-4025442-6015148?ie=UTF8&s=dvd) is a sculpt video led by Pam Cauthen Meriwether (http://www.collagevideo.com/Instructorgraphics/Pam-Cauthen-Meriwether.jpg) (this video was actually also sold under The Firm’s “Fast & Firm” label… same video, different cover).

[Reenie]

bamboo It does feel good to know you haven't quite mastered a video, I agree. I feel best when I know all of the moves/steps but am working hard. Isn't it so fun to get new videos?

lbs27 I LOVE that part on Max Cardio Burn. That's my favorite. I also like the punch forward, elbows back/kicking section. :) Complete Aerobics has some fun footwork, too. I like the climb/clap sequence that Emily does on that one (and it's really funny when she says, "Let's make it FUNKY! Woo! Gettin' down with the Fanny Lifter!"). You can just tell she's having fun and I love that!

Okay, I know I posted all of that above, but I had to share my biggest success this month: I lost 1.75 inches off of my abs ALONE this month! I was so excited (and so shocked that I measured, remeasured, and had DH measure because I couldn't believe it). I'm doing Complete Body Sculpting today to kick off the new rotation. (I'll come back later and edit this post to tell you how many calories burned). ETA: Did it and burned 307 calories.

Also, I am COMMITTED to eating on plan every single day for this rotation to see how that impacts my weight loss. I can do it!

[lbs27]

Wow, I am so impressed with your losses this month! Although you may not have lost the number of pounds you wanted, the inches alone is so great! Like even though you didn't lose numbers, your body is still changing shape which is awesome. I'm excited to try Complete Aerobics today and I can't wait to hear how the videos in your new rotation go! What accessories does BSS3 use?

[Reenie]

lbs27 Thanks for the support. I'm convinced that, since I lost 4 inches but only 1 pound, I must have gained muscle mass (so I lost fat pounds but gained muscle pounds). Does that logic make sense, or am I tricking myself? BSS3 uses the Firm Box and dumbbells. I actually had the Firm (http://www.seenontv.com/prod-pages/images1/FirmIII-Thumb.jpg) Box (http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:jgte_4x0GbBGMM:http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/images/FirmIII-3-in-1.jpg) and I felt that the Firm Box might collapse (it has folding legs to adjust the height), so I sold it on eBay and use my TransFIRMer which does all of the same positions but is sturdier, IMO. Also, you need a mat or towel to place on the incline for ab work.

So I did Complete Body Sculpting with Christa; here are my notes:
1) No fancy footwork. I was able to get through the whole video with almost every step in place. That's good, but there are no really fun cardio sequences (the one short-step cardio sequence is okay but not challenging enough).
2) This video is not as challenging as other Firm videos (particularly the BSS2 videos). In 46 minutes, I burned 307 calories. I usually burn about 100 more with a video just a few minutes longer.
3) The instructor did not mess up on cuing at all, although at times I wished she would cue a little sooner. She also has a pleasant voice (actually, kind of reminded me of Cameron Diaz's voice), but I kept staring at how thin she is (she was a cast member in the BSS1 videos [at least CardioSculpt, for sure], and I thought she looked way better then).
4) The ab work didn't feel terribly challenging for me, and believe me, it's an area where I can usually feel it. I think that I'll try it on the floor next time (it does it on the Box's incline).

Otherwise, a pleasant enough video, but I don't see it becoming a favorite of mine.

[lbs27]

Cool, thanks for the notes on the first video in the BSS3 series. I now remember my friend saying she does the same thing with BSS3--using the Transfirmer instead of the Box because the box didn't feel sturdy. I remember hearing Christa's name in the BSS1, but I can't picture her. Interesting...

I did Complete Aerobics with Emily today. Didn't like it as much as the Max. Cardio yesterday. Emily is very, um...chipper. I like it well enough, but every time she said "this feels great" or "this is fun", I wanted to slap her. :p Is that wrong?! :) BUt, I liked the video-there was a lot of weights, which was good, I could have used a little more cardio, but it's a lot like Aerobic Body Shaping in the T.F. series, so it's definitely a great alternative to that one, which I get bored of. There was a lot of lower body it seemed like--it seems like this series of videos like the abduct work a lot.

Can't wait to hear about the next ones, Reenie! Great job!

[Reenie]

lbs27 Good for you for doing the Complete Aerobics! :D Sorry you didn't like it as much as Max Cardio Burn (I don't either, in fact, but that's because it's harder and, as I've said before, I prefer cardio to other videos). I know Emily's chipper, but I don't get mad at her because I feel like she's trying to be encouraging and also because I can tell that she's really working hard (she's out of breath, too ;) ); if she were saying those things plus her, "You might be feeling your heart rate increase and be feeling a little out of breath. That's okay, that's your heart working very hard!" I might feel like slapping her except for that fact that I really think she means it. But I'm also a pretty chipper person, too, and I think people might want to slap me IRL, too, sometimes when my intentions are entirely genuine. :o

I did Fat Blasting Cardio with Lisa Kay today. I've done this one before, but it's been some time. I had forgotten how much tricky footwork is in there! My heart rate was quickly elevated and stayed consistently elevated until cool down/stretch. I burned 236 calories in 30 minutes, and as I said in the previous rotation, I think I'll burn more with this video once I get all of the steps in place. My only complaint about this video is that I wish it were a little longer. Otherwise, perfect. Overall, a super-fun workout!

[Jill1228]

due to a fall (landed on my knee cap)...I am laid up :(

[Reenie]

Oh my goodness, Jill, I am so sorry! I hope that you feel better soon. Is your leg broken or sore or what? That sounds horrible.

I did Total Muscle Shaping with Stephanie today. I burned 332 calories. I don't know if it's because the BSS 3 seem to have less cardio, or they're a bit shorter, or if it has to do with where I am in my cycle, or what, but I don't seem to burn as much with these videos as with BSS2. But that's fine. I'm still working hard, sweating, and my heart is in the zone, so I'm not upset. I like Stephanie (I think she has a fantastic body) and she gives perfect cues. But I do like the peppier instructors like Allie and Emily. :p Anyway, the workout was very good, challenging; I had no trouble with the footwork except during the "turn on the box" move (which is also in Fat Blasting Cardio), so I'll have to get that figured out. The only modification that I made was that I did the abs work on the floor rather than the incline. :)

[Jill1228]

I just have a bruised knee cap. I am in a brace and am supposed to be off of it for 2 weeks

Stephanie has a great body...boob job and all (yes she had a boob job) :)

[bamboo]

Jill- so sorry about your kneecap, that sounds pretty painful! :(

I just did Fat Blasting Cardio for the first time and really liked it, although the footwork is definitely tricky. I think Lisa is a good cue-er, but it'll take me a few times through to get the hang of it for sure. I have to say though, it freaked me out a bit seeing how incredibly skinny both Stephanie and Christa are in it- I think Stephanie looks better now, she's still thin but not quite so scary thin. And Christa looks really ill compared to the way she looked in the BSS 1 videos (that's Cardio Sculpt right?). I actually messed up footwork a few times when they focused in on her because I was so surprised by how she looks now that I forgot to pay attention to what I was doing! I like the workout though, it's really nice to have a good cardio workout that I can do during DD's naptime!

[Reenie]

Jill That sounds awful! I hope that you will feel better soon! (And, BTW, I knew Stephanie had to have fake boobs... they're just too big for an otherwise very thin woman! :p )

bamboo I am so glad that you liked it! And I'm really happy for you that it's short enough that you can fit it into your DD's nap schedule... that's awesome. You know, I was just saying that about Christa! She really looks like she has a problem (and I thought she looked fantastic in BSS1).

I was supposed to do Hips, Thighs and Abs with Pam yesterday, but I signed up to chaperone a dance after school, so I did that and by the time that I got home and ate dinner combined with being premenstrual (which means I am just exhausted!), I just couldn't face it, even though it's only 30 minutes. :o So I rescheduled it for today and doubled up. I did the Hips, Thighs and Abs with Pam (burned 161 calories) and then did Fat Blasting Cardio (burned 275 calories).
About HTA video with Pam:
1) She's cues well and has a nice voice.
2) You have to be barefoot to do this video. I don't mean no shoes but with socks, totally barefoot. Trust me, it makes a difference (I took my socks off half-way through).
3) This video is deceptive. You see the move and think, "OMGosh, that's so easy." And then you do it, and well.... it's work.
4) I hate ab work on the incline. Even with a mat on it, I am always sliding down. So, again, I did it on the floor.

And about FBC with Lisa: got the footwork this time. I think I burned more (though I have to look back on the other page to be sure), and I actually had to tone it down at a couple of points because my HR was too high. Now that I've got the footwork down, I just love this video. :D

One other thing not related to workout but related to fitness: I went to Baker's Square today. :rolleyes: My fats/carbs/proteins percentages are perfect for today, but that's on 1900 calories rather than my usual 1200-1550 range. However, I ate 1250-1350 the rest of the week, so I'm trying not to beat myself up over this.

Hope everyone's having a fantastic weekend!

[Jill1228]

I do not like ab work on the incline either

I think for the near future I am just gonna do upper body weight work and slowly start working the legs again...I don't want to push too much on this knee

[Reenie]

Did Complete Body Sculpting with Christa again. Burned 353 calories, so up from last time and that's good. :)

Jill Sounds like a great strategy with the knee injury. :)

ETA: I forgot to post my weekly weigh-in. :rolleyes: I lost 1.8 pounds this week! :D So for 2007, I am -9.6 lb.

[Firm Believers]

Updated. :)

We haven't heard from some people in a while... come on back! No explanations needed... let's support each other! :)

[bethnjim]

I would like to join. I have the old system with the box stepper. I did the cardio on Saturday and plan to do the workouts every other day. I plan to do the Firm when I get home from work because I work out in the morning with my husband using The Biggest Loser DVD.

We have been doing The Biggest Loser DVD since June and I was shocked at how tired out I got and SORE from The Firm!

[Reenie]

BethnJim I'll definitely add you. I, too, was amazed at how much I hurt at first with doing the Firm even though I'd been going to Curves for a year. Do you want to put any of the intro information on for the first page:
Me: name/age
Using The Firm since:
Why I use The Firm:
Why I love The Firm:
Firm Stuff I own:
Favorite Firm Instructor:
Favorite Firm Video:
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007:
Miscellaneous Information:
?

I did Hips, Thighs, and Abs with Pam today. Burned 134 calories. I can feel the burn. :)

[Jill1228]

I just did weight training for the upper body and floor work for the back of the leg. I tried to do a leg press with the left leg and it was like "HELL NO!" My left knee was screaming! :( I tried the 14 inch box (nope) 12 inch box (nope) 10 inch (give it a week or so) , 8 inch box (give me a few days or so)

So tomorrow I am going to try the FIRM Pilates Kit since it is no impact

[lbs27]

Welcome BethnJim! I know what you mean. I've worked out both at home and at a gym taking classes for years and the Firm is still hard. I guess that's good though!

I'm still here...Saturday I did MaxCardio Burn and J.F. Abs. Sunday I did Complete Body Shaping...it was an all Allie all the time Firm weekend. :D I went back to BSS1 to see Christa on the tape and I agree she looks way different. I'm not sure about Stephanie though, I think she looks the same in the transfirmer as other videos I've seen her in, but maybe I don't have the right ones where she looks not as thin and has smaller boobs. I'll tell you what though, her "new" boobs are just distracting! :eek:

[bethnjim]

Thanks for the welcomes!! Here is my information!!

Me: Beth/28
Using The Firm since: 3/3/07
Why I use The Firm: Because when I used it before my wedding, I saw huge results within 10 workouts
Why I love The Firm: It is designed for women and it seems to target the areas I carry fat in
Firm Stuff I own: I own the first series they came out with that included the box
Favorite Firm Instructor: Allie
Favorite Firm Video: Cardio
Total lbs/inches/body fat lost/gained in 2007: Let's see, I started at 255 and I am now down to 232 so that would be a -23. I have dropped from a 22-24 to a 16-18.
Miscellaneous Information: My husband and I are starting to try this summer for a baby, which is why I want to be in shape.

[Firm Believers]

Updated.

Welcome, bethnjim! :)

[Scoutesina]

Jill - Please let me know how the pilates kit does with your injured knee. I'm still looking for something no-impact that doesn't involve standing since I'm on crutches for at least 6 more weeks. I'm avoiding Firm Parts: Upper Body as I think my arms are getting enough of a workout, and I'm doing modified Ab Sculpt occasionally, but anything I could add to the mix would be great. Hope your knee feels better soon!

[bamboo]

Last night I did Express Cardio and Hips, Thighs and Abs. Express Cardio was fun, tricky footwork that I couldn't totally follow, but definitely a good workout. HTA was hard! I couldn't do everything all the way through and I really feel it today.

But, I took the weekend off and now am skipping tonight (that's why I doubled up last night), which is not great.

[bethnjim]

I did the cardio again today keeping with my every other day schedule and it was actually a bit better! I wasn't as out of breath!

[Reenie]

Glad you're here, bethnjim. ETA: we cross-posted! Great job on the workout! :D

Scoutesina You might think I'm nuts and I don't know how it would affect your injury, but I was reading on Collage about the Preggi Bellies ball workout. The description page actually said that it's a good workout for anyone, not just pg women. Anyway, you sit on a stability ball to do the whole thing (their claim is that it helps pg women with their shifting center of gravity, but I just thought it could be useful to you since you're NWB on that hip right now).

bamboo Glad you had fun the the Express Cardio. HTA is hard; that's exactly what I meant when I reviewed it as being "deceptive." Which moves were most difficult for you? For me, it was the leg circles (the extend your body from the box make circles in the air with your legs move) and the inner-thigh with sculpting stick lifts. Did you go barefoot?

I did Total Muscle Shaping with Stephanie again today. Burned 286 calories. :) I so didn't feel like working out either.

[Jill1228]

I did the Pilates yesterday and it was tough

There were some exercises where you were on your knees with the band under them...I modified that, honey

I did some of them standing up

Tonight I did FIRM Lower Body Sculpt II

[Pink_Converse]

What Firm videos are easy for beginners to follow?

[Reenie]

Good job, Jill! I'm glad your modifications are working for you.

Pink_Converse The beauty of The Firm is that all of the videos show one instructor who is doing modifications for beginners, so really, you can kind of pick up any video to start. You should, however, get try to get a cardio+sculpt video to start (and if you like it, you can add on cardio only and sculpt only videos). Also, they suggest that beginners start with no weights and then move forward from there (i.e., when you can do a video without much challenge, add weights). I started with their Body Sculpting System One (BSS1), which has their Fanny Lifter and three videos, Cardio Sculpt with Allie Del Rio (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Sculpting-System-Cardio-Sculpt/dp/B00008LE00/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4025442-6015148?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1173486505&sr=8-1), Ab Sculpt with Lisa Kay (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Body-Sculpting-System-Sculpt/dp/B00008NJG7/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4025442-6015148?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1173486542&sr=8-1), and Body Sculpt with Jen Carman (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Body-Sculpting-System-Sculpt/dp/B00008LE01/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-4025442-6015148?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1173486577&sr=8-1). This Seller (http://cgi.ebay.com/The-Firm-Body-Sculpting-System-3-Bonus-VHS-NoRes_W0QQitemZ190090661461QQcategoryZ79760QQrdZ1Q QcmdZViewItem) on eBay is selling the Fanny Lifter and all three videos in VHS for a pretty good deal. You may want to check out Target (http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-4/qid=1173487022/ref=sr_1_4/602-4312009-2203051?ie=UTF8&asin=B000I7RCE2) if you prefer new, and this one looks like DVD anyway. I got my original system at a Target store. Their current BSS is #4/TransFIRMer. Anyway, it is the only workout plan that I have ever stuck with, and it really does work! HTH.

I did Fat Blasting Cardio with Lisa today and burned 250 calories. Pretty okay for a 1/2 hour workout. :)

[Reenie]

I did Complete Body Sculpting with Christa today. Burned 330 calories. :)

[lbs27]

Reenie-good for you!

I did not have a good week eating wise. Had chocolate cake on Sunday and Monday (at least I didn't eat the whole piece on Sunday, LOL!), then a big dinner on Thursday (though not terribly unhealthy) and some dark chocolate M&Ms throughout the week. Ugh. Plus, my MIL was here Thursday-today so I didn't get a workout in yesterday.

Today, I did Complete Aerobics plus weights with Emily from BSS2. Then I did J.F. Abs. Now, I'm tired. :p That video with Emily is really hard--those tricep pushups where you're laying on your side and pushing up with one arm are damn near impossible. The first set isn't so bad, but then the second set, which comes after all the chest and tricep weight work, is really hard! Ugh.

And, now I have to try and lift the swiffer to clean... :p

[Reenie]

lbs27 Try not to beat yourself up about the chocolate. It's done with now. :) Yes, those tricep side push-ups are SO hard, but I definitely noticed... I kept turning my arm after doing that video to feel how hard my triceps became. :o

I did Total Muscle Shaping with Stephanie today. Burned 308 calories. The arm work that she does while lying on the incline seems to be getting harder :confused: I couldn't do all of the reps today.

ETA: I almost forgot to post my weekly weigh-in. I'm -0.8 lb. this week. Actually, when I weighed in the second time today (after I had gone back to bed), I was down a whole pound from that, but maybe it was a fluke? Except that I weighed more after lunch than my initial weight this morning, so who knows. Maybe I'll just have an awesome loss next week. :p

[lbs27]

Reenie-congrats on the loss!

That's so funny--I totally kept turning and looking at my arm in the shower tonight. I definitely think all that weight work is doing something!! So, you're not alone! :D

[bamboo]

I just did that same video lbs, yesterday for the first time and it was hard! I think it is harder than Allie's video from BSS1- I liked it even though I screwed up some steps. Those side tricep pushups were really tough.

I did much better this last week with diet, but I had a splurge day today. Oh well! Back on the wagon tomorrow :)

[bethnjim]

I did the Cardio Sculpt again today. Aunt Flo arrived and I feel the need to eat cake...lots and lots of cake!! :)

[Reenie]

I did Fat Blasting Cardio with Lisa again today. Burned 238 calories. :)

lbs Glad I'm not the only one. ;)

bamboo Good job! I think it's much more challenging than Allie's Cardio Sculpt, much as I love her.

bethnjim Good job to you, too! OMGosh, I always feel like I need to eat cake; add AF into the mix, and I am a cake monster. :p

[Reenie]

I did Complete Body Sculpting with Christa again today. I felt like I was working hard, but I burned far fewer calories than I have in the past with this video... 289 calories burned.

[Reenie]

Did Hips, Thighs, and Abs today. Burned 104 calories. I get every Tuesday and Thursday off because of my schedule, and then I get one "free" day other than Tues/Thurs in my four-week rotation... I've schedule that for tomorrow. Is it sick that I kinda want to do Fat-Blasting Cardio anyway? :o

[Jill1228]

I am slowly getting back into my FIRM DVDs. Thanks to the knee, I have to do a lot of modifications

Last night I did Cardio Sculpt (used a 10 inch box to step on for leg press). Did step moves on 4 inch step and marched in place when i needed to

This afternoon i did ab sculpt

[lbs27]

I think today will be Ultimate Calorie Blaster and Jiggle Free Abs. I think I've done J.F. Abs probably 10 or so times now and I can see a difference in my stomach. Ok, so it will never look like Allie's but it's definitely improving! :D Now, if I could just get rid of my "pooch"! Tomorrow will probably be either Aerobic Body Shaping or Complete Aerobics with Emily. I've decided that while the tricep pushups are hard, they must be good for you, so I've actually added them to the day I do my non-Firm arm weight stuff once a week. :)

[Reenie]

I did Fat Blasting Cardio with Lisa today and burned 247 calories. :) I also weighed in, and I'm -1.4 lb since last Sunday (for a total of -11.8 lb in 2007). I'm looking forward to next Sunday's start of the new rotation and measure, etc., but I know I'm making progress because I went to Old Navy over the weekend and tried on some clothes and I'm officially in a size 10! That feels really good for me since I was pushing out of a 14 (and was probably almost a 16) just a little over a year ago. Two more sizes to go...

Jill You are so good about the modifications. Very smart. I am glad you are taking good care of yourself. :)

lbs27 Great job! The ab workouts have really helped me, too. I don't know that my tummy will ever look like Allie's (or any instructor's, for that matter- I naturally have a poochy belly, even when I'm my thinnest), but it helps. I'm glad that you are finding Emily's Complete Aerobics helpful.

[lbs27]

Reenie-congrats on the loss! That's great! And your YTD loss is really awesome! What's your next rotation-Transfirmer, or no?

Today I had a million and one things to do, so instead of a longer more involved video, I did Supercharged Sculpting. I figured that was ok since I did heavy cardio and abs yesterday. I really like S.C. Sculpting, it's just enough to make me feel like I worked, but not so much that I'm exhausted afterward (I had to go into work after, so I didn't want to feel all gross!).

[bamboo]

I'm still plugging along, doing about 5 videos/week, and keeping up a good mix of weights, cardio and ab work. I'm not seeing significant losses because I can't avoid sugar to save my life, but I'm working on that. I do feel much stronger, and I see improvement in my abilities within the videos (going up weights, doing all reps, etc) which feels great. And I got a body fat scale and that is decreasing, though I don't know how accurate it is. But I'll take a decrease wherever I can get one ;)

ETA: I've begun training for a triathlon (sprint distance, I did my first one last year and it was fantastic). All I'm doing is running twice a week right now, and using those days to do the JF Abs, but soon I need to start swimming and biking, so I'll reduce the number of videos I'm doing each week. I think my ideal schedule would be:
MWF: run and JF Abs
T: weight heavy FIRM video
TH: off
S: bike
SU: swim and cardio FIRM video

I'm hoping my sister will do the triathlon with me since it's really nice to have a training buddy!

[Reenie]

lbs27 Thanks! Yep, TransFIRMer rotation starts this Sunday! Good job on the workouts... I think it's good to try to alternate sculpting and cardio days.

bamboo That's awesome about the triathlon! Good for you! That looks like a really good rotation you've created, too. It's nice to have everything sort of laid out for you, isn't it? I figure if the BF scales aren't accurate in number, at least you can sort of tell something when the number goes down, right? That's how I see it.

I did Total Muscle Shaping with Stephanie today for the last time in this rotation. Burned 272 calories. I am so tired today, I have not had enough sleep the past two nights and it looks like I'm in for another late night and I just have no energy... it certainly shows in my calories burned today. Oh well. At least I worked out.

[bethnjim]

Reenie--Congrats on the size 10. I noticed a big difference in clothes size even with a smaller amount of weight dropping off. I guess the muscle helps!! ;)

I am still doing cardio every other day, which is fine for me for now. I might build up to doing the ab sculpt every other day too, but we work out in the morning and then I do cardio sculpt in the afternoon. Having one afternoon off every other day is saving me now and I feel like adding something else will burn me out.

Everyone is doing so great!!

[Jill1228]

I started back with doing the BSS1 beginner rotation on the FIRM site. i finished week one.
Week one was

Cardio Sculpt
Rest
Ab Sculpt
Rest
Body Sculpt
Rest
Cardio Sculpt

My rest days I did a walk ranging from 15-25 min. I still gotta take it easy with this knee

Reenie, congrats on the size 10! :D

I have weigh in at WW tomorrow

[bethnjim]

I weighed and dropped another -2lbs this week!!:D :D

[Reenie]

Thanks, Jill! That rotation looks great! I am so proud of you for the modifications you're making around your injury. I hope that your WW weigh-in went well.

bethnjim Great job on the workouts and the loss! That is fantastic. I am trying to talk myself into working out in the morning, but I think I'll start that habit over the summer (I'm a teacher).

I didn't want to work out at all today. I finally forced myself to work out (at 10:30 p.m... yikes!). I did Complete Body Sculpting with Christa and burned 295 calories.

The bad news is that I have been feeling just awful lately... exhausted and wanting to eat everything, and I am SUPER bloated. On Sunday, I weighed in at 140. I know that is accurate because I weighed around that all last week. Today, I am up to 146.4! :eek: :mad: :( I feel just terrible, and I don't know what to do to fix it. I have been out of control in a way. I weighed two pounds up on Monday from Sunday, so I ate 2000 calories that day. :( And then I did the same thing again today out of frustration, I think, even though I can see objectively that it simply HAS to be bloating. I have also noticed a major correlation between over-eating and being over-tired. I tend to overeat when I really need extra sleep. I'll have to remember that about myself in the future. Anyway, so now I'm kinda stuck until this bloating goes down. I feel awful physically and I'm having a lot of guilt and anger at myself over how I've handled this which isn't really helping the situation, so I just need to get over it.

[bethnjim]

Reenie--I am a teacher too!! What grade do you teach?? I teach 3rd learning support.

Also, there are days when I feel like crap and want to eat. There are also times when I step on that scale and I go up a pound or two, but I always say to myself, "Wow, more muscle" which makes me want to work out harder and eat better!! Just a game I play with myself. Don't let the 6 pounds bother you. You are working out, which is already putting you way ahead of the game!!

[lbs27]

Bethnjim--Congrats on the loss--that's awesome! Are you following a diet plan too, or is this just from exercise?

Reenie--I'm sorry you're feeling so bad. Hopefully you can give yourself a couple of days to wallow and then kick it to the curb and feel better. It's great that you worked out even though you didn't want too, a lot of people would have just said screw it! ;)

Question for the group: does anyone have Jiggle Free Arms? I had originally gotten it for X.mas with J.F. Abs, but somehow the arms video never made it back home. So, since I'm loving the Abs one, I am thinking about getting Arms. I think my arms are starting to look more defined and I'd love to replace my 1x a week non-Firm arm weight stuff with this video--should really help. Anyone have it and can review for me?

Thanks!

[Jill1228]

The JF arms one is a good video. It has some cardio in it and man it cooks your arms. I cussed Stephanie out while doing the video

Re: Weigh in...I stayed the same

Today's workout was abs sculpt. The landlord is gonna be doing painting in the room that is my gym :mad:

tomorrow I will walk. saturday I will be doing Body Sculpt

[bethnjim]

lbs27--I think it is a combination of switching jobs--went from a desk job to teaching and on my feet all day and then working out too. I haven't really changed my eating at all. I still have cookies, cake, fried food, etc. Working out is doing wonders!!

[Lily]

I received The Firm DVD's a couple of months ago, but am just now actually using them. I did 30 min. of Cardio Sculpt today and LOVED it! It was hard to use the Fanny Lifter for some of the squats. I haven't done cardio since my daughter was born 6 months ago so it was hard to complete the whole thing, but it's something to work up to. Looking forward (I think) to AbSculpt.

[Reenie]

bethnjim I teach high school English Literature, Reading, and Writing. Thanks for the support. It just feels so bad after I worked so hard for weeks that I can undo it (seemingly) in a couple of days.

lbs27 Yes, as others have said, JF Arms is great. This video is better than a lot of the purely-sculpt upper body FIRM videos because there are intervals of cardio, so it keeps your heart rate up for fat-burn, too. I wasn't sure how much of a review you wanted, but I FF through it so I could pull it all out for you.
(Start with box at short/green level)
1) Warm-up
(incline box w/Heavy and Med. dumbbells at either side)
2) incline push-ups
3) heavy bench press on incline
4) tricep work on incline
5) pec work on incline
(stack box for full TransFIRMer and put to the side)
6) Cardio on Floor
(bring stacked box center with Light and Heavy DBs)
7) tricep dips off of box
8) seated overhead press
9) front shoulder work
(incline the box)
10) incline step cardio
11) Heavy double row
12) Heavy hammer curls
13) Med. wide row
14) Med. bicep work
(blue/tall portion only)
15) step cardio
16) Heavy cling and press
17) Med. biceps curls
18) light posterior flies
19) stretch
20) step cardio
21) cool-down

Jill Sorry about the frustration with your landlord! At least you stayed steady with the weight.

Lily Good job for getting into it! I am proud of you! And I'm so glad you loved it. AbSculpt is hard and you can really feel the burn, but it is so worth it. I actually have a defined waist now. :D

The bloating bonanza continues. And so does the eating 2000 calories/day. I am bound and determined to do better. This is making me feel like crap, so it's not worth it. I am really pissed because Sunday is my 4-week check-up. I'm gonna do it to be accountable and all, but I'm not sure how accurate some of it will be. I did Fat blasting cardio today and burned 250 calories. Even though I'm not scheduled to do it, I am going to add it to hips, thighs, and abs for tomorrow to try to give myself a boost.

[lbs27]

Lily--Welcome! So glad to find someone else who likes the firm. CardioSculpt is definitely tough, even for those that have been doing cardio for awhile. I really like Absculpt--hope you do too!

Reenie--You're awesome! Thanks so much for the review. I couldn't remember if you had this one or not. It sounds like a lot, but I will probably go ahead and get it. We'll see. Good luck on getting back on track--we're all here to support you! The fact that you do these videos more than 2x a week that I go is inspiration to me! :D

[Reenie]

Thanks, lbs27, that means a lot. :)

I was perfect about eating yesterday and am doing great today. It has helped that the bloating has gone down quite a bit, and in the next post, I'll put my updates, but my guess is that the weight I am showing now is probably my actual weight (not bloating) because of being so bad this week.

[Reenie]

Yesterday, I finished my BSS3 rotation. I totally didn’t want to weigh-in and measure today because I’ve been so out of control this week eating-wise, but it actually went pretty well. Since February 25, I am -2.2 lb, -0.7% BF, and -1.75 inches (and in 2007, I am -10lb, - 4.2% BF, and -11.5 inches). Over the last four weeks I have burned 4899 calories (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1220458&postcount=177) through exercise (and in 2007, I have burned approximately 15,517 calories).

And now it’s time for me to move on to my new rotation!

For these four weeks (March 25-April 21), I will be using the TransFIRMer with modifications to its Intermediate calendar that I made (because I still can’t work out on Tuesdays and Thursdays):
March 25: Aerobic Body Shaping BURNED 366 CALORIES!
March 26: Ultimate Calorie Blaster BURNED 360 CALORIES!
March 28: Super-charged Sculpting BURNED 149 CALORIES!
March 30: Ultimate Calorie Blaster added bonus 8-min. abs segment BURNED 400 CALORIES!
March 31: Aerobic Body Shaping added bonus 10-min lower body segment BURNED 406 CALORIES!
April 1: Super-charged Sculpting added bonus 12-min stretch segment BURNED 150 CALORIES!
April 2: Ultimate Calorie Blaster added bonus abs segment BURNED 414 CALORIES!
April 4: Jiggle Free Abs BURNED 84 CALORIES!
April 6: Aerobic Body Shaping added bonus lower body segment BURNED 432 CALORIES!
April 7: Ultimate Calorie Blaster added bonus abs segment BURNED 440 CALORIES!
April 8: Super-charged Sculpting BURNED 205 CALORIES!
April 9: Aerobic Body Shaping added bonus lower body segment BURNED 416 CALORIES!
April 11: Jiggle Free Abs BURNED 93 CALORIES!
April 13: Aerobic Body Shaping added bonus lower body segment BURNED 461 CALORIES!
April 14: Super-charged Sculpting BURNED 215 CALORIES!
April 16: Ultimate Calorie Blaster added bonus ab segment BURNED 394 CALORIES!
Unscheduled Workout Added April 17: Ultimate Calorie Blaster BURNED 365 CALORIES!
April 18: Aerobic Body Shaping added bonus lower body segment BURNED 326 CALORIES!
Unscheduled Workout Added April 19: Ultimate Calorie Blaster BURNED 367 CALORIES!
April 20: Ultimate Calorie Blaster added bonus ab segment BURNED 413 CALORIES!
April 21: Aerobic Body Shaping BURNED 370 CALORIES!

Aerobic Body Shaping (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Aerobic-Body-Shaping/dp/B000ASDG12/ref=sr_1_2/104-4025442-6015148?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1173075867&sr=8-2) is a cardio+sculpt video led by Allie Del Rio (http://www.collagevideo.com/Instructorgraphics/Allie-DelRio-Pointer.jpg).

Ultimate Calorie Blaster (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Ultimate-Calorie-Blaster/dp/B000ASDG1W/ref=sr_1_1/104-4025442-6015148?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1173076141&sr=8-1) is a cardio video led by Stephanie Huckabee (http://www.collagevideo.com/Instructorgraphics/Stephanie-Huckabee.jpg).

Super-charged Sculpting (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Supercharged-Sculpting/dp/B000ASDG1C/ref=pd_bxgy_d_img_b/104-4025442-6015148?ie=UTF8&qid=1173075867&sr=8-2) is a sculpt video led by Pam Cauthen Meriwether (http://www.collagevideo.com/Instructorgraphics/Pam-Cauthen-Meriwether.jpg).

Jiggle Free Abs (http://www.amazon.com/Firm-Jiggle-Free-Abs/dp/B000E6GCGQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4025442-6015148?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1173076109&sr=8-1) is a cardio+sculpt video led by Allie Del Rio (http://www.collagevideo.com/Instructorgraphics/Allie-DelRio-Pointer.jpg).

[lbs27]

Hi Reenie!

Ooh, yay! You're on the Transfirmer series. I can't wait to see how you like these videos. Since you like Cardio like I do, you should really like Ultimate Calorie Blaster--very heavy on cardio, light weights. I love it. Aerobic Body Shaping is hard, and typical of the cardio and weights videos is not so great on the cardio. I mean, it's good to get your heart rate up, but I find the cardio portions (actually low impact) kind of repetitive. And, you know how I feel about J.F. Abs. You won't believe how amazing Allie looks in it. And Supercharged sculpting is great too.

Yesterday I did Max Cario Burn and J.F. Abs. I'm about to drag myself upstairs to do Complete Aerobics and Weights. My shoulders are sore from yesterday (I have to modify some b/c I don't have the stick and I think my weights are a tad too heavy), so I'm totally not in the mood. But today is "weight" day, so I need to do something.

[Reenie]

I did the Aerobic Body Shaping with Allie today and burned 366 calories (I didn't do the secret "extra" video on the end with just Allie. A good cardio+sculpt workout, trouble with footwork only once, and of course, I love Allie (what a great body!), so it was fun. There were a lot of moves that she does in Max Cardio Burn and CardioSculpt in there, which is fine with me. Overall, a great workout (and I was sweating like a stuck pig :o ).

lbs27 Woohoo, with that review I'm really looking forward to tomorrow because I get to do UCB! Great job on the workouts... I know it's so much harder when you just don't feel into it, but don't you feel so proud of yourself and glad you've done it afterward? :)

[Reenie]

I did Ultimate Calorie Blaster today, and lbs27 has me all figured out because I absolutely LOVED it! I burned 360 calories (and that was on an 8:30 p.m. workout, too!) I was sweating like crazy, and darn, there's a lot of leg work on the incline. I have a hunch that I'll be feeling that tomorrow... I was certainly feeling Aerobic Body Shaping today a bit in the backs of my upper thighs, and that felt nice since I haven't felt that in a while. I didn't do the extra "bonus" video on UCB today, but I think I will start adding the bonuses now that I know they're there. :) I think ABS and this might become new favorites.

I'm also doing way better with the eating. Today was my third consecutive day of 1200-1270 calories, so I am proud of that. Thanks for the support last week; I was really down. :)

[lbs27]

Reenie--Yay, I'm glad you weren't disappointed with my review! I know what you mean about the leg work on the incline. Those side squats where you build up by lifting up your knee or whatever are hard. Actually, I always know when the end of the sequence is b/c Stephanie's voice wavers a little bit on her last "lift" of "down and lift". ;) Is it wrong that that makes me happy? :) I have only done the bonus videos a couple of times. I could take or leave them I think.

[Reenie]

Stephanie's voice wavers a little bit on her last "lift" of "down and lift". ;) Is it wrong that that makes me happy? :)

If it is, then I am majorly wrong because one reason why I love Emily's Complete Aerobics and Weights from BSS2 so much is that she's out of breath much of the time. :o

I did Supercharged Sculpting with Pam today. I hate sculpt only days. :p I burned 149 calories, so that's good, and I'm biased since I hate sculpt videos so much, but this will not be one of my favorites. Plus, a lot of the exercises felt really easy. :confused: I wonder if I wasn't engaging enough. I'm super-excited about the rotation after this TransFIRMer rotation ("Work Out Your Love Muscle"- all cardio or cardio+sculpt--- no sculpt only videos) so I can be free of sculpt-only for a few weeks.

[lbs27]

I agree that SS Sculpting doesn't seem hard when you're doing it-I think it's because there's no cardio to make it harder. I do get out of breath a little when doing SS sculpting though, and let me tell you, I can feel it the next day. Not so much when I'm doing it, but definitely the next day. :) I didn't realize there was another rotation after the Transfirmer series?!

[Reenie]

lbs27 I can't feel anything so far today that makes me feel like SS is maybe not "worth" it. :( The rotation I meant is not a system like BSS1 or TransFIRMer, it's just a rotation of videos that I have copied off of the Firm Believers website (each month, they post several different rotation calendars... the two I always copy and paste into Word documents to save are their Specialty [contains any and all FIRM videos, not just "system" videos] and their System [rotation includes videos from all four systems but no outside videos]). All of the videos in this Specialty "Work Out Your Love Muscle" rotation are cardio and cardio+sculpt only:
Aerobic Body Shaping (with Allie from the TransFIRMer system)
Calorie Killer 1 (with Nancy, an add-on from BSS2)
Calorie Killer 2 (with Dale, not in a system)
Cardio Sculpt (with Allie from BSS1)
Complete Aerobics and Weight Training (with Emily from BSS2)
FIRM Cardio (with Heidi, not in a system)
FIRM Strength (with Pam, not in a system)
JF Arms (with Stephanie, an add-on from the TF system)
JF Buns (with Pam, an add-on from the TF system)
Maximum Calorie Burn plus Abs (with Allie from BSS2)
Super Cardio (spliced tape, many FIRM leads, not in a system)
Super Cardio Sculpt (with Nancy, an add-on to BSS1)
Ultimate Calorie Blaster (with Stephanie from the TF system)
I hope that makes more sense. :)

[lbs27]

Oooh, thanks for the explanation--that looks cool. I wish I could do The Firm more than a couple of times a week, but I exercise in the morning and I'm just not one of these people who feels all good and energized after I work out, so I don't think it would work.

[Reenie]

lbs27 That makes perfect sense. I actually feel fantastic after working out, but I am a heavy sweat-er, so I HAVE to shower immediately (plus, I think it's probably better for my skin). This is why I have never worked out before work, because all of that together equals getting up way earlier than necessary. But now I'm contemplating.

Did Ultimate Calorie Blaster again today and LOVED it EVEN MORE! It is super-fun. I also did the bonus abs-segment with Alison (I think that's her name), and I am proud to report that I burned 400 calories! :D

Just for a little experiment, I wore my heart rate monitor for 24 hours straight, from 9:30 p.m. Wednesday to 9:30 p.m. Thursday (no exercise in there, since Thursdays are "off" days). Just wanted to see how many calories I burn in a day without exercise. I am sad, sad, sad to report that it's only 1700. :( That just stinks. My morning resting heart rate is 47. :eek: I know I'm healthy so I'm not worried, but that is awfully low. And so, naturally, my resting heart rate for the rest of the day is pretty low, too. You'd think that would be good in a way, but I think it is also indicative of metabolism, and that's the bad part.

[Reenie]

I did Aerobic Body Shaping again today and tacked on the bonus lower-body segment in there. A good, long workout and burned 406 calories! :) I like this one, but UCB is definitely the favorite. :)

I have been perfect this week regarding eating (1200-1300 calories a day; actually, I think my highest was 1270), and I've burned ~1680 calories through exercise, so I'll be happy to weigh-in tomorrow and see how it comes out...

How's everyone else doing?

[Jill1228]

Week 2 is
rest
Abs Sculpt
rest
body sculpt
rest
cardio sculpt

I didn't feel like doing Cardio Sculpt but I needed to do something so I busted out fat blaster. I love my new polar HRM. I burned 556 calories today. (Since I am up there in weight, I stay in the target zone more and burn more calories)

My next workout will be Cardio Sculpt and I will be done with week 2. I have my mother in law here for the next 2 weeks. Stepson comes next weekend :o

This month I worked out 18 days! Pretty damn good considering I hurt my knee at the beginning of the month!

Reenie, congrats on the body fat loss and stuff

I gotta do better on eating

[Reenie]

I did SS today again; its only "eh," I think. I did the bonus stretch and felt like it was a waste of time, but then, I am not a big yoga fan, either. I burned 150 calories (as you know, this isn't really a calorie-burner).

That's awesome, Jill! I know, I love my Polar F4 so darn much, I don't know how I ever lived without it... no guessing, the info is right there in front of you. I'm pretty good about staying in my target zone with it. :)

I am off of work this week for spring break, so I will be a morning workout person now, if only for this week. :)

[Reenie]

I did UCB again today; I LOVE that video! I added on the abs workout, and I burned 414 calories! :)

Can I just say that those planks Stephanie does in the regular part of the video are SO hard? I don't find the side planks as hard as the downward facing planks, but those downward planks.... wow! I really have to concentrate on breathing or I'll hold my breath. But I can really feel a difference in my abs (internally) and see a difference (not as poochy a tummy... even when I am a skinny, skinny mini, I always have a poochy tummy), so that is good, good news. I am doing them on my feet (both ways), and I am happy when I get through them. :D

[bamboo]

Reenie- have you thought about going up a little in weights for the sculpting video? I recently bumped up weight in some of the sculpting exercises, and I am feeling it again. I actually really enjoy sculpting videos, but increasing the weights is important! I got some little wrist and ankle weights (1.5 pounds each), which is an easy way to increase a little without needing to get a new set of dumbells (I use 3, 5, and 10 for the FIRM videos).

I took the last few days off working out because we had family visiting and staying with us. I did okay with food, but feel sluggish. Tonight will be another night off unless I can squeeze in a run before dinner because my parents are coming over for the first night of Passover. I hate when I get so off my normal routine, even though family visits and dinners are fun!

[Firm Believers]

Updated.

(I think it's all accurate... bethnjim, do I have your weight loss to date accurate? Anyone else want to post loss updates?)

Scoutesina Hope everything is going well with the hip!

Cocoa femme, Foley42, Lizzie Beth, and Sue, we miss you! Come back! :)

[Scoutesina]

I'm lurking along with envy. :D Still doing yee olde Ab Sculpt tapes a couple times a week along with slow swimming 2 times a week and some very very simple and boring isometric leg exercises from the orthopedist. I'm wishing I could be dancing around with you ladies but with this diagnosis of osteonecrosis, that's still a no-no for me.

I'm going to need surgery, but if it's what I think (hip resurfacing--less invasive than total hip replacement), it will be important for me to stay active and do weight-bearing activities to help the bone regenerate...so I will be back to the Firm in full swing hopefully by late summerish. The good news is I have been able to maintain my weight--I think mostly due to being on crutches since late Feb. That'll burn some calories, but I don't recommend it for recreational purposes. :p

[Reenie]

I did JF Abs today... not really a calorie-burner (I burned 84 calories), but I definitely felt it when I was working out, and I can feel it a bit in my obliques still.

bamboo You're right, I probably do need to up my weights. The problem is that I have 3, 5, and 8 lb. sets, so I need to go buy a 10 lb. set, but my birthday is just a little over a week away and I am waiting to see if I get any birthday moolah. :o I have the cash so in theory, it would be taking it out of one pocket to put in another, but for some reason, I just want to wait. That's really fun about Passover; I know that holidays can kind of mess me up a bit, but it's so fun and important to celebrate, you know?

Question What's the heaviest dumbbells that you'll use? All of my FIRM books say no heavier than 10 lb. Do you think that's accurate?

Scoutesina You are an inspiration! I am so proud of you for finding something else that works for you while you are dealing with this. :) And you're right, weight-lifting is important for bones (I didn't know that!). Apparently, it's super-good for women because it helps prevent osteoporosis. Who knew?!

I was looking at my scheduled videos for next week, and I think I'm going to add in a 1/2 hour on the Gazelle on Wednesday so that I can reach my calories burned weekly goal.

[bamboo]

weights- the heaviest I use now is 10lbs for free weights (I use that whenever they call for heavy weights, plus on some medium weight sections when I know that I can do heavier- like biceps)- I don't feel that I need to move up from that in any of the exercises yet. I'd go up to a 12 or 15 though if it started to feel easy with the 10lbs. I used to do serious weight programs in college when I played on the basketball team, so from that I know that I'm not someone who really bulks up with weights. I need a lot of weight just to build/maintain muscles! My sister OTOH, builds muscle like crazy, so she probably wouldn't ever go above 10lbs. I think it depends more on how your body reacts to weight bearing exercise than an arbitrary number.

Just tonight I was doing Supercharged Sculpting and they call to pyramid down "a couple of pounds" from 10lbs, so I held my 5 and 3 pound weights together in each hand. I think next time I'm near a sporting goods store I'll pick up a pair of 8s- it would be nice to have something in between 5 and 10!

[Jill1228]

Last week was a crap week all over with food, working out and everything...and it showed on the scale

I am logging food this week and today I did a walk and ab workout...burned 382 calories

I gotta psych myself up to do Cardio Sculpt. I have to do it before mid afternoon (the stepkid flies in from Vancouver and is here till monday)


I'm lurking along with envy. :D Still doing yee olde Ab Sculpt tapes a couple times a week along with slow swimming 2 times a week and some very very simple and boring isometric leg exercises from the orthopedist. I'm wishing I could be dancing around with you ladies but with this diagnosis of osteonecrosis, that's still a no-no for me.

I'm going to need surgery, but if it's what I think (hip resurfacing--less invasive than total hip replacement), it will be important for me to stay active and do weight-bearing activities to help the bone regenerate...so I will be back to the Firm in full swing hopefully by late summerish. The good news is I have been able to maintain my weight--I think mostly due to being on crutches since late Feb. That'll burn some calories, but I don't recommend it for recreational purposes. :p

Babe, hang in there


I did JF Abs today... not really a calorie-burner (I burned 84 calories), but I definitely felt it when I was working out, and I can feel it a bit in my obliques still.

bamboo You're right, I probably do need to up my weights. The problem is that I have 3, 5, and 8 lb. sets, so I need to go buy a 10 lb. set, but my birthday is just a little over a week away and I am waiting to see if I get any birthday moolah. :o I have the cash so in theory, it would be taking it out of one pocket to put in another, but for some reason, I just want to wait. That's really fun about Passover; I know that holidays can kind of mess me up a bit, but it's so fun and important to celebrate, you know?

Question What's the heaviest dumbbells that you'll use? All of my FIRM books say no heavier than 10 lb. Do you think that's accurate?

In some of the old school firms they use barbells so you can heavy up as much as possible. At the actual studios where I took a class they have weights as high as 25 I think

Speaking of weights, a good place to get them from is Play It Again sports...great prices

[Reenie]

weightsI think it depends more on how your body reacts to weight bearing exercise than an arbitrary number.


Good point. I'll keep that in mind. Great job on the Supercharged Sculpting, too! :)

Jill Thanks for the tip re: Play it Again Sports. I wondered if we even had one around here, and it turns out, there's one I pass all of the time that I never even noticed! :o Wow, so some women at the Firm use 25 lb. dumbbell IN EACH HAND? I don't know if I'll ever be that strong, LOL.

I did Aerobic Body Shaping and the Bonus Lower Body workout today and burned a lovely 432 calories. :D Thrilled!