I am going to spend June obsessively following the Tracey Anderson 30-day method - anyone fancy joining me?

[Gerrof]

I am buying a bikini tomorrow in size 8 to motivate and take pics and do measurements before and after.

I have put on a bit of weight and look flobby.

I have got the book and DVD, and as tempted as I am to frisbee it into the canal and bulk buy some doritos, I think I can cope with 30 days of it.

So - 40 mins a day matwork, 40 mins a day cardio dancing and a diet to follow.

Anyone going to join me?

Oh I have just bought this, not used it yet but have watched it. Does it really do anything? some of it looks a bit iffy, I don't quite get the 'internalising ' bit

Isla, if you do it properly the whole way through, it kicks your butt. For the first few days I was knackered (had to go to bed early!). Also on day 3, lots of people get flu like symptoms, I don't know what this is - perhaps it is toxins being shifted - makes you feel like crap anyway. Once over that, you are on your way.

However, the workout is quite long and you are supposed to do it 4-6 times a week plus cardio to get good results. It is quite a time commitment. I am really enjoying the workout and it definitely makes you sweat so I'm happy to give it the time.

I know the standing abs and arms look a bit funky but they do really work you. I took me a few goes to do the standing abs - now I can do them, I can really feel the muscles working and this is one of the parts where I sweat the most.

Go on - join in. I would love us to have a Method thread - it will motivate us.

Ach well, I'll give it a go then :o
Probably won't start until after the weekend as I'm feeling a bit iffy at the moment. I wouldn't have time to do it 6 times a week plus cardio though, mind you it would probably kill me anyway, lazy cow that I am.

Go on Isla - give it a go when you are feeling better. 6 days a week is the maximum (you need a rest day). 4 days a week is enough and a bit less is always going to be better than nothing.

Honestly, give it a try. I have never stuck to a workout before and I am loving this one.

Right, I'm in then, you have inspired me with your talk of never having stuck to a workout before, but carryng on with this one. Have you taken measurements or anything to see if you are shrinking? Not that I'm suggesting you share your vital statistics on line or anything, but it's always handy to know if hips/arse/bingo wings/....insert problem area of choice, have gone down. I am in pursuit of legs that can safely be shown in public.
I will begin on Monday!

No I haven't taken measurements - I probably should as it could help with motivation. I want to tone up all over and lose a few kilos - it really is about toning though. I need it everywhere; legs, abs, bum, arms, back.

Goal is to go down a dress size - back to what I used to be before children. Also want to feel good in a bikini (live in France and people often invite me and the children over for a swim if they have a pool).

Made a HUGE mistake last night - after being very good about not drinking since I started working out, I shared a bottle of wine with DH. Felt pissed after a glass (weird feeling) and felt terrible this morning. Honestly, I felt like I had had a wild night out of hard drinking. Does exercise do that to you? Make you not be able to handle alcohol well I mean? Would do me good if so as it will motivate me to drink less - France, wine all over the shop.

I still did my workout this morning but couldn't do all the reps and got a stitch doing the cardio - felt unfit and feeble. Lesson learned!!

Isla - go for it on Monday. Give it a go. I'm crap at doing exercise and have always managed to stay an ok size due to natural build and reasonable diet. Now I'm getting older that just isn't enough anymore - I really need to tone. I want to get fit and feel good in my body. I'm going to be 40 in a couple of years time and my long term goal is to have a flat tummy with ab definition for my 40th. I really like the feel of Tracy's workout - makes me feel good about myself.

Oh and when I talk about feeling good in a bikini I'm talking about this sort of board shorts type not this sort of thing!!

We go to the beach a bit too and all French women wear bikinis. You look out of place if you wear a swim suit.

I love my board shorts bikini as it hides my muffin top if I don't wear it low slung. Would like to not have a muffin top to hide though.

OOh lucky you living in France. You sound like me with your body type, I have never exercised (and so can't answer your wine and exercise query at this stage) but have kept in reasonable shape, however, although I look ok in clothes, put me in a bikini and it isn't pretty. It would appear that I have reached that age where you have to put some effort in.
I had considered doing that shredding thing that everyone is talking about, as I liked the idea of it being a compact 30 minute slot, however, everyone talks about being half dead and then not being able to walk for 2 days afterwards so I know it's not something that would work for me.

Dear God, that would involve far more hair removal than I am could comfortably tolerate. Me likey the shorts set though.

I have been sticking to it - mat DVD and 40 mins of cardio - went shopping for cropped trousers today - one size down!
No big weight loss though - mind you, I have not really been sticking to a diet!
Will I'll get the Post -Pregnancy and the Meta later.
I think I'm getting addicted to the abs and arms sessions though...

Blimey! That's some going coffee, how long does that take altogether then? I can't remeber how long the mat workout is.
Are the arms exercises effective?

I've benn doing it on and off for a few months, and the arms were the first place so see results.
It's been brillant.
Must say though that I got better results when I added the cardio.
It's quite long - ann hours or so..
Stick with it, definitely worth it.
(now if only I wasn't eating Green and Blacks Raisin and Nut Chocolate right now...)

Living in France is nice sometimes - especially in summer. I'm settled now but found it hard in the beginning.

Board shorts bikinis do also have the advantage of requiring no lady gardening .

It does sound like we are similar types Isla. I look ok in clothes but am flabby and wobbly underneath them. I took a look at Shred but I just hate that sort of exercise - also it would do my knees in. I know I would never stick to anything that puts you in agony.

Tracy kicks your butt and you get the burn but you don't feel too bad the next day (bit sore first few days plus the weird flu like thing but not in agony).

The Mat workout is all sort of fluid and dancy. It is a bit of a time commitment but it doesn't feel like an hour when you are doing it. I'm lucky because I work from home so I can organise my time. I do the workout in the morning and work through lunch or catch up in the evening.

Great news about the trousers coffeeinbed - well done!! I am hoping to become addicted too. I have ordered the post pregnancy dvd but haven't got it yet.

Right off to do some work to make up for time feebly doing cardio on my rebounder whilst regretting drinking wine this morning.....

coffeebean: I'm totally addicted to standing abs and weightless arms!!

Isla: arms bit is very effective - you see results fast.

Post Preg is hard-core abs, the arms section is very short and not as good as Mat arms but i love the bum/leg section. I've never been able to do all sections of it. Sometimes I do it when i havent got much time its only 10 mins but excellent.

Meta is good, only 30 mins toning and 30 mins cardio. I dont do her cardio as a rule (do cardio in gym) but every now and then I'll do.

I don't follow any diet.

I live in Madrid. I go to the gym for the social aspect as well as exercising, if i lived in the uk (where all my friends/family etc. are) I'd be quite happy to give-up gym and do the various Tracy stuff.

I will probably incorporate some cardio once I have got her Mat stuff under my belt, being pathalogically exercise avoidant I don't want to over do it, in case I don't stick to anything.
Is her cardio the dance one? I have ridiculously uncoordinated, and wondered if I might find it difficult to follow.

Post preg hardcore abs sounds just like what I need.

The dance cardio is insanely difficult, especially if you are out of shape. I have got the dvd but I haven't even tried to learn the moves. I would probably hurt myself if I did. I have just copied some of the easier steps and freestyle to the music. It sort of helps to motivate me to have Tracy bopping like a mad thing on the screen next to me.

The last few days I have been doing the steps on a mini trampoline - much lower impact and it is supposed to stimulate muscle growth and gives your lymphatic system a boost (summat to do with G forces). It is kinda fun too (as much as anything that makes you sweat and get out of breath can be fun).

Forgot to say - I have heard that the cardio with Meta is easier to follow than the Dance Cardio dvd.

haven't tried her cardio,
sticking to elyptical machine. 60 min + mat on the weekends.
Dying of boredom on the bloody machine, went through my whole iPod. Have bikini draped in front of me for motivation.
Must be mad.

Cardio that comes with Meta is easy, its not a routine as such, just losts of jumping around in different ways. Ideally, I'd like to try it on a rebounder but its quite fun on the gound on a mat. I think the idea is to be off the ground as much as possible. Its 30 mins long.