Exercise Buddies - anyone want to join?

[Lorns]

Hi this a new thread linked to "We want to lose 10lbs NEW THREAD"

I'm a Group exercise instructor/Personal Trainer and have been offering advice to mumsnetters!

Following suggestions that it would be good to start an exercise/nutrition advice/motivation thread - well here it is!!

Hi everyone
How are you all? Haven't been online much since last week so have missed posting here .

No exercise over the weekend unfortunately, did some Davina DVD on Monday and I'm going to do some more today as can't get to gym this morning. Think I may go to pool tonight though after dc's go to bed as I wouldn't mind going for a swim. Still not losing any weight but is my own fault as I still can't break habit of snacking . Couldn't get to WW class last week due to tummy bug so will be going tomorrow (have accepted that my willpower is woeful and I need to be weighed by someone else to keep me disciplined ). Has anyone else on here followed WW, not sure whether to go for the NoCount or Points plan, any ideas.

Lorns, thanks for posting the abs info - it was good to read up on again, especially the pelvic floor reminder - easy to forget I ever had one now that I have the 3 dc's, lol.

Speak to you all soon, please, please nag me to keep motivated on the diet front. The shops are starting to stock lots of lovely spring/summer clothes and I need to get my act together before I can even think about treating myself to any purchases!

Laloop, I followed the point system with WW after having my DTS and lost 4 stone in about 8 months. Now I need to lose about 10lb as I have been slack on the snacking front because I keep baking cakes and biscuits. Coupled with exercising, it works for me every time.

Thanks for the WW encouragement, speedymama
I managed to shift the babyweight too after first 2 dc's with WW points plan and lots of walking/swimming. Haven't tried the new NoCount plan but had heard good reports from previous WW leader - but not sure I could rely on my appetite alone to regulate portion sizes, so will maybe start off with counting points for first week or two.

I have about 10lbs to lose as well, and they are being very stubborn. A few years ago, the weight used to just fall off me if I followed a diet for a week or two. Does anyone know if age has a big effect on the cal intake required to lose weight? I'm 37 now, had just turned 30 when I had first dc and it just didn't seem to be as difficult to achieve a weight loss then.

Laloop, I'm 42 now and I find that I need to exert more effort to lose weight. I also know that as we get older, especially pass 40, we start to lose muscle tone so have to work harder to compensate or the middle age spread will take over.

Consequently, I am now eating lots more fruit & veg, reduced my carb intake in terms of portion size and exercise/move around more.

I don't trust my appetite to follow the NoCount plan so I stick with points system because at least I know it works.

The key for me is to reduce the portion size of energy dense foods like pasta, meats, potatoes etc and fill up on no point or v.low point food like veg/fruit.

Plums are excellent as a snack because 3 of them equal one point, and what's more, my 3yo DTS love plums too so we eat them together!

Im doing WW - I cant get away with SW or no count because I can eat and eat and eat and then get frustrated that I cant eat and eat and eat the foods I want to eat!

With points it forces to be mindful of what Im eating.

Been to the gym again this morning with DH - he retracted his comments about my abs and said he meant that I shouldnt be expecting a six pack as after they have been so stretched there is only so much I can achieve but that Im doing really well.

I have quite a bit of definition on my upper abs (down under my ribs towards my belly button) but my baby paunch starts jsut above my belly button and looks like it has been stuck on to me - I swear I can see a good figure lurking underneath it if it would just hurry up and melt away!!!

Gym workout was good, I nearly didnt go as I was really tired but I did 20 minutes hard interval training on the bike then about 40 minutes weights/resistance with DH and really pushed myself then 10 mins on cross trainer.

Im tempted to do some tae bo tonight but am I overdoing it do you think?

I wont be doing any exercise tomorro though as weds is my busiest day.

We are all doing GREAT keep going girls

Pecka, if you have had a hard session at the gym, I would give taebo a miss or you will be over doing it. Give your body a chance to recover.

I was planning to do Glutes & Abs tonight but as I have just started my period and tummy is really bloated, I will give that a miss now. I'll just do a basic TaeBo followed by a 30 minute Davinia work out. I just bought the Power of 3 so I will try the legendary leg workout and see if it finishes me off for the evening.

Thanks pecka and sppedymama, good to have some WW buddies on here to keep me on track

Speedymama, hope you enjoy the legs session on the Davina Power of 3 - will be good to get your feedback on how you get on, it gets me nearly every time!
(Reckon we should all be getting commission for our numerous DVD recommendations, lol, I'm keen to try the Tae Bo one after reading all the comments).

You HAVE to try Tae Bo!!!! I am a bit embarassed at how hard I foudn davina because now I have done Tae Bo it seems much more intensive!!

anyone tried Nell McAndrew Ultimate Challenge? blooming DVD player on the blink so can't do any and am missing it!

Speedymama - thanks for the advice. suppose was concerned 30 mins not long enough to fat-burn

anyone any tips for geting out of bed early am to exercise?

Will maybe have to order it off Amazon, Pecka, do you know the name of the tae bo DVD or is it from a set? Sounds a bit scary, is it really, really difficult? (especially as i find Davina hard-going at times, lol!)

Laloop I ordered it from Ebay it was 9.99 inc postage for a box set of FOUR DVDS!!!!

Its weird cos it gets you working so hard and you can really feel the burn but its not actually hard to do.

Its one of those where you can really get out as much as you put in.

I tried it because I love the cardio box section of davina.

The abs and glutes one we have talked about includes a short warmup then its mainly floor work so your not jumping around trying to follow moves but really really concentrating the ab muscles and it is a killer but like anything just do what you can.

The actual tae bo workouts in the set come in an 8 min workout, basic, advanced etc and there is an instructional bit that talks you through everything first.

God, I do go on - basically I am not super fit at all and I am really enjoying it and really feel if I stick at it it will really do something good to my body!!

Hi dinny
I'm sure Lorns will have some info about exercising during early morning . AFAIK, a really good warm-up would be essential because your body temperature is lower in the morning and joints etc will to be more stiff.

Thanks pecka, will have a look on Ebay when I get the chance. Have to head out now, speak to you all later

Laloop, I have the Everybody Get Ripped Taebo DVD which I got from Amazon. It has instructional, 8 minute work out, basic Taebo work and 1 hour advance work out sections. It is absolutely brilliant.

Dinny, I have the Maximum Impact DVD by Nell which I understand is similar to the Ultimate Challenge and is very good, however, I don't find the trainer as inspiring as Billy Blank so tend to do TaeBo more often.

I work 3 days a week so on those day, I get up at 0545 to do tummy exercise, press ups and tricep dips for 10 minutes. You have to train your mind to resist the urge to stay in bed and have to admit, I sometimes fail.

blimey, must get this Tae Bo!

Laloop, the Taebo basic work out on the Everybody get ripped DVD is only about 30 minutes long and will gently ease you into the exercises but you still get a very good workout.

The advance section is hardcore and should only do this when you are use to doing the basic workout. Believe me when I say that the advance workout will leave you begging Billy to stop. He even taunts you half way through about your flagging energy levels and barks at his class to keep moving and concentrate. It is brutal.

The 8 minute section (which is actually about 20 minutes cos it includes a warm up) is short, sharp and intense. It will leave you breathless.

I have the Abs&glutes workout on a separate video tape.

Can you tell that I love Taebo.

Dinny, you will not regret it

Hi all. Well done everyone is doing soooo well!

Well, I am still working hard at my Turbo Jam and just finished my second week on Lo-GI Diet and my trousers are sooooo much looser. DH has commented at how saggy around the bum they are and I feel great. Even seem to be loosing some of my mummy tummy . I think I have finally found a form of exercise I enjoy and a diet which I never feel hungry on! I have managed to do the 45 minute cardio workout a couple of times, but mainly am still doing the 20 minute work-out and a 10 min ab workout every day. Tomorrow I am going to try the Turbo Sculpt which I haven't tried yet, but I have no weights so will be digging two tins of baked beans out!!

I also forgot to mention something quite extraordinary happened to me over the weekend. With this Lo-GI diet, you detox for the first two weeks, sticking to a 1200 calorie a day allowance and strictly no alcohol, which I thought I would really struggle with as I do enjoy a glass or vino or ten ! Well Friday me and DH spent the whole day decorating and were knackered by the end of the day, and I was just reaching the end of my two week detox, so decided to treat myself with a bottle of vino and a chinky. Well, Saturday I woke up, wasn't hung over but was totally amazed at how sluggish I felt in general. We went food shopping and DH stopped at the wine section and I just walked through and said no thanks, think I get some sparkling flavoured water!!! I have NEVER done that in my life and was totally thrilled to be honest. I am now allowed to save 100 cals a day for alcohol, which I will do and see how I feel at the weekend and may treat myself to a couple of G&Ts but apart from that, I just don't fancy it - how weird!!! Anyway, thought I would share that with you.

Well done, overtiredmum, sounds like you are doing great on the exercise/diet and reaping the rewards .

I'm rejoining WW tomorrow, going to the 9.30am class nearby. Wish me luck - always get a shock when I stand on their scales, why do they always weigh a few lbs heavier than my ones at home

just back from knackering ashtanga class - God knows how 90 mins of tht burns calorie-wise. loads probably as did so many vinyasas inbetween asanas

Hi Dinny. A friend of mine has just started a teacher training course in Ashtanga and swears by it - how long have you been doing it?! I think I would be terrible as I am not that flexible

I love yoga too, am going to try and find a good class - Dinny does ashtanga use the downward dog postures and sun salutations? or is that hatha yoga? Have you ever done hot yoga [bikram yoga] thats pretty intensive too.

Lorns, thanks so much for your advice re - the abs equipment/running/muscle buildup. I have to explain myself though, my bf is not a personal trainer, I think he goes on the advice that works for him. I was using the Bupa running plan, but I feel I can do alot more then it advises, so I am. I am ok and although I feel it the next day, I am pleased and don't think I am overworking my body by running longer too soon. When I meant my bf noticed I was doing too much muscle building exercise, this wasn't via weights, it was by using the cross trainer and thigh machine. My bf says these machines were not burning off my fat, just building muscle, and thats why he urged me to start running.

Anyway, I went to the gym on Monday, and am back again this arvo and again on Friday.

Am loving this thread so much, it really keeps me going, and its so good that everyone is doing so well. Remember if you can't work out one day/one week/one month, whatever, just pick yourself up when you can and start again. NEVER GIVE UP!!

Re yoga - overtired mum it might make you MORE flexible - it did that for me ... I find it so relaxing, too.

Been doing ashtanga for a few years; it does use downward dog & sun salutations ...

Have never done bikram but am from Houston so stepping outside in July is bikram enough Though have many friends there who do enjoy it ... think I'd faint, though!

Good morning everyone.

Overtiredmum, you are doing so well and the fact that your clothes are looser will spur you on. Also, your body is benefitting from the changes in your eating and drinking habits. Isn't it amazing how the body responds to high fat calorie dense food once it has been purged of it for a while?

Last night I did Davina's Power of 3 - the leg and abs sections. This morning my legs were like lead and I struggled to get out of bed. I need to complete the cool down section in future and give my legs a good stretch.

Tonight I plan to do the 8 minute Taebo workout followed by Taebo Abs & Glutes.

On Thursday I'm really going to go for it because I won't have a chance to work out on Friday. So I plan to go for a 2 mile run at 0730 hours after dropping DTS off at nursery followed by David Kirsch's Bootcamp DVD. Then in the afternoon, I will do the Kickbox Bootcamp DVD by Keli Roberts.

I will be fit and sleek for summer, I will, I will, I will......