Help with Exercise

I started taking a Pilates class about a month ago and it has been amazing for my abs and thighs. It's a good solid work out that is harder than it looks, but you get pretty quick results. I think my instructor was saying in like 6 classes you will be able to see a visual difference. And she was right.

It's also been amazing for my flexibility.

Go to Amazon.com and look for Kundalini Yoga DVD's with Ravi Singh and Ana Brett. Amazing workouts leave you feeling vibrant and definitely help with love handles and overall well being. Enjoy!

A Little About Me:
I was a personal trainer before I had my son and stayed home. He is 2 1/2 and I am 46. I was once 200 lbs - now a fit size 7. OK: Mythbusting 101. Women do not build bulky muscles like men do. So when you strength train you support your lean body mass - improve it , raise your metabolism which burns more calories & fat. You need both strngth training and aerobic workout. What is the BEST aerobic excercise - One you will do consistantly. Try the pool - I've had people change their bodies by doing work in the pool - and it's fun!!! Strngth training will firm the muscle under the love handles which feels different as it reduces "jiggle" you need that sculpting for when the adipose tissue (fat) comes off. You do need to expend more calories than you take in - to remove fat from your body.(There is no such thing as spot reduction!) So look at your intake and if there are simple carbs (white sugar/White flour) it is - bad news - simple carbs make the fat that exists PLUMP by attracting water to the cells. Rid your intake of simple carbs and switch to grains with high fiber(along with the other essential componants of a healthy food plan) and you will begin to shrink!!! And water fires metabolism - drink lots - 8 to 10 glasses a day. It's the train that fat leaves your body on!!

Also - FYI - Anything with High Fructose Corn Sweetner in it. I would advise anyone trying to lose fat (and everybody else) not to eat. Unlike real sugar - your body does not recognise it and it does not trigger the brain's I'M FULL response. That is why you could sit and eat a whole bag of oreos and not feel like you ate. Not helpful when trying to stick to a food plan and take off weight!!! And they put it in the 100 calorie packs - so don't be fooled. Read Labels!!
Oh gosh - I could go on - there's alot of mis-information out there on food and exercise. I hope any of that helps !!!

A.

Cardio is key in getting rid of unwanted love handles. I use different work out dvd's, and I have found that "The Firm" is the best workout program to do in the comfort of your own home. I believe the website is www.thefirmdirect.com.

JUST HAVE FUN ... DANCE with your children, run in the yard, use an exercise ball for crunches, take short walks, whatever seems like fun, go for it! Then you won't dread getting your body in the shape you'd like it to be in.

Well, with 7 kids I'm sure you do plenty of picking up toys and vacuuming and such. I use those "opportunities" to excercise. I do lunges while I vacuum, I do squats when I pick up toys, I do sit ups while I play with the baby on the floor, I do toosh-squeezes while I read the kids a book, I sit on my excercise ball if I get a chance to read in peace, etc. That way I am always working some muscle group. I am usually tired and sore by the end of the day (of course, what mother isn't?).

Matt Furey has a program called Combat Conditioning. The stuff is great and takes very little time. They are very powerful exercises. You can find him easily on the web. I understand the time crunch I have 6 kids. 3 boys 3 girls.
God Bless

My girlfriend is an instructor at the gym we attend and is asked this often...nothing works better to get rid of love handles and abs better than aerobics...you don't want to be building muscle under fat-just makes it bulky...If I understand correctly...but you must get plenty of aerobics running after 7!!! Try twists...Get in the V position of ab crunches and twist...knees and upper body in opposites...use weights to intensify! Hope this is helpful and understandable!

Leslie Sansone's "Walk Away the Pounds" workouts are excellent! You can choose 1, 2, or 3-mile workouts, or even 5-mile! The 2-mile takes about 30 minutes, and the 3-mile takes about 45. Very low impact, but a good workout nonetheless. She's got a variety of different DVDs -- you can look them up on http://www.lesliesansone.com/.

I especially like them 'cause there are no "fancy" steps -- if you're uncoordinated like me that means a lot!

I would try to do side planks or planks. They work well for me. Do a google search for side planks to see good form. There are lots of You Tube videos out there too.

Good Luck!

Hi,
I've been doing Tae Bo and have been very happy with the results. I suggest going to the library and checking out a variety of DVDs or tapes and seeing what you like best. If you enjoy doing it, it will be easier to do several times a week.
Good luck!

Hey A.,

I applaud you for being able to handle 7 children. I've always wanted that many, but I've been blessed with 2 and sometimes my husband counts as a 3rd and sometimes it's just too much. Anyway, something I do are pushups. Also, do the superman. If you're not sure what that is, you lay down on the floor face down and put your head, arms, and legs in the air. Balance like that for about 15 seconds and add time as you get stronger. Have fun with those kids.

First of all... God Bless you as a Mom of 7. I love to see big families - I'm the youngest of 8. That's a lot of work, though! As far as abs... have you tried Pilates? I'm working on my own (fl)abs after only 2 babies, though they were 9 and 11 lbs! Pilates really works the core muscles. The instructor at Gold's Gym in Chantilly (you can see it from route 28 just south of hwy 50) is great. All classes at Gold's are part of the low monthly membership fee at the gym. Check it out. ...and good luck! :)

Hey A.,

I used Tae Bo after all 3 pregnancies to drop extra weight and tone. It works like a dream...I LOVE it. Also, belly dancing is good too. I know bellydancersofcolor.com has a DVD for sale to use at home. Also, consider a work out partner. One of my girlfriends and i get together every saturday morning to do pilates, yoga and tae bo and supplement it during the week with other stuff. Good luck!

Dj

Hi A.,
First of all - hats off to you for raising 7 kids and being a full-time student! Wow!

Collagevideo.com has tons of great exercise videos - they also have 60-second previews of each video/DVD. I've noticed lately that they have a lot of ab-related DVDs out. Exercise videos & DVDs have been a life-saver for me - I exercise at home while my kids nap.

Crunches and sit-ups are great but in order to get rid of the love handles you have to do cardio exercises. Though weight training and crunches will tone the muscle you have to do the cardio to actually burn the fat off. Start with a walking routine and then build up to video tapes or Taebo is my favorite. There are a lot of great at home videos so you don't have to go to the gym. Also another great way is to buy a stability ball because it makes the abdominal muscles work harder to stabilize. Good luck.

You need to be doing cardio as well.

Hello A.,

7 kids! Well, that is only 1 more than my hubby and I want.. alas.. we are prego with #3 so I have NO idea what your day is like, but I would guess it is an amazing adventure! :-) and I am sure it is a blessing.

Prior to being a SAHM I had to go through a "boot camp" type academy for my career - that was hands down the best training and shape I have ever had! I missed that feeling of being in good shape after the babies came.. so...:-)After being preg with my two I tried Pilates, and Tae Bo I LOVE IT, I also found that Spinning (provided you can get out of the home... ) is excellent! I hope that you find something that works.

Have you tried bellydancing? There are some great tapes that you can use. The ones I love are by 2 sisters. I can remember their names exactly..mina/nina their names rhyme.