Posts by dlcooper

Well Bryndchildr, you must have missed the part where she says she already "walks 30 minutes" and "has been trying to lose weight forever" and and nothing is happening.

That is why I said that doesn't count. It's not doing what she wants it to do. If that is working for YOUR body, that's great. But you are not her, don't have her body, don't have her metabolism, and don't have her goals. You cannot compare yourself to her needs.

I'm a professional trainer and providing free expertise to guide her to meet HER goals in HER timeframe. And from her own statements, she obviously needs to do a lot more than just walk with kids.

But glad that's working okay for you.

The Body Bugg is an excellent tool for weight management and weight loss.  I cannot recommend it enough.

However, if you are the impatient sort, have no skills with or interest in computers, are frustrated by technology, then it is not for you.  I have one and use it extensively.  It saves data for up to a week, so it is not necessary to download information every night - every few days is sufficient.  Lots of people LIKE to do it more often though, because they can see there on the screen exactly what they've burned, what they've eaten, how much more they need to eat or move to be at goal for the day.  It's wonderful for me, but I love tech stuff.

The newer models (mine is about 3 years old), come with a watch type receiver that transmits the burn right to the wrist band so you can get real time burn information.  I might upgrade... not sure though if I really care about that when I can just download in 10 seconds and get the same information without spending the $$. 

People are curious about the Bugg and ask what it is.  Lots of fitness people already know though, and will just smile and ask how you like it.  I've worn mine to many different events without a care and people were curious.  Was fodder for some very interesting discussions with people that I probably never would have talked to otherwise. 

If you're single, try wearing it to a club like I did. The guys that were into sports and working out flocked around to ask questions about my routine and where I work out.  I got 2 hot guy's numbers out of the deal and some great dates, so hey, the Body Bugg has done WONDEROUS things for my body and love life.  lololol

I have a Body Bugg that I bought directly through the Apex website about 3 years ago.  I love it.   Using the online tool makes the package complete, though the food logging part is very similar to what you get here on Calorie Count, you get other benefits like being able to track how many calories you've burned from the arm band itself.  It counts EVERYTHING and with about 95% accuracy.  It even tracks the calories you burn while sleeping, and comes up with the most on track RMR and calories needed.  The only place you can't wear it is while swimming or bathing, as it is water resistant but not water PROOF.

Right now I am testing a similar product called SenseWear which is also made by BodyMedia (same company that makes the Body Bugg).  I just started this test this morning, so I have nothing to tell you about the difference or which might be best, etc. yet.  I'll try to remember to contact you next week with my analysis.

Beginner: Reverse Curls

Lay on back on carpet or mat. Knees bent, feet flat on the floor about 10" from butt. Head and shoulders should be relaxed and on the floor. Put your hands under your low back if you need assistance stabilizing your pelvis.  Keeping head and shoulders on the mat, you slowly lift your feet from the floor WITHOUT BENDING YOUR KNEES MORE AND LETTING YOUR FEET DROP CLOSER TO YOUR BODY, you curl your lower pelvis upwards. Maintain control as you slowly lift and lower, keeping that same 10" distance from the body and concentrating on using the proper muscles. Breathe!!

Intermediate: Low Bicycling (on floor)

Lay on back with hands behind head, chest lifted from floor. Extend right leg so that it hovers a few inches from the floor, left leg is bent with knee at about pelvis. Rotate right armpit towards left knee. Lower left leg to straight position as right leg comes up in bent knee as you rotate left armpit towards right knee. Keep belly button pulled in. Repeat rotation sequence, keeping abs drawn in and leg as low to the floor as you can handle keeping good form. Repeat for 50 reps on each side - 2 sets to start.

Advanced: Reverse Curls on Physioball

You need a 65 cm physioball for this exercise, and a railing or something to hold onto overhead. Lying on your back over the ball, you reach backwards and grab onto the railing. Lift your feet from the floor with bent knees, curling your lower pelvis towards your chest. Toes slowly lower and gently tap the floor. Repeat 25 reps. This is a very hard exercise as you are trying to maintain your balance on the ball. The lower fibers of your rectus are being worked like crazy at the same time. If you feel it in your back, readjust your position on the ball. If you still feel it in your back, it means your abs are too weak and you need to go back to the beginner exercises for awhile.

The great thing about forums and cyberspace is that people are free to say what THEY think, not what you want them to think nor what you want them to say.  My opinion on this matter (just as any others that dissent) is just as valid and just as reasonable as yours.

Secondly, it is common for women to come into weight training fearful of getting muscles.  For some reason they think if they lift a weight they will look like a body builder.  It is a common fallacy and one that trainers have to wrestle with eliminating every single day.  That is what I do.  And once a woman SEES the difference in how her body looks and how she feels, the fear of having muscles goes away.  That is all it is - fear.  But it is nothing to be afraid of and so I share information.

It is not rude, it is information.  Anyone reading can take it or leave it, just as they do anything else online. 

Well dang girl, you are probably water logged!  Why in the world are you drinking so much water?  Nobody needs to drink that much fluid.

Also, can ya go buy some new drawers? lololol!!!  (that panties falling off thing had me ROFL!)

But to answer your question, the newbie weight gain thing lasts sometimes about 3 weeks, then suddenly clients drop like 5 lbs.  Just about overnight.  I'm thinking if you stop overloading on water you will be under 200 pounds.  Again, overnight.

Why not get a heart rate monitor that counts calories and wear it when you ride your bike.  It would be set to YOUR weight, height, age, gender and body fat percentage, so the estimated calorie burn is pretty accurate.  I'm thinking that with an hour bike ride, you probably burn about 550-600 calories.  But to make sure, I suggest you invest in a Polar A5 Heart Rate Monitor.  Not the newest model but it fits the bill.  They are about $60 and are even sold at Target these days.  The newest weight loss type monitor is the F11... they are over $150 but you can often catch them on same for $129.  If you have the money to spare that is the better choice.

That way you don't have to be confused and you just look at the reader, write down what it says, and go on with your life! :)

Boy oh boy.

I am the manager of a fitness team and I want you to know, if a member complained to me that one of my staff members had talked to them in such a disrespectful, distastefully tactless way they would have been fired on the spot.

Our members are our life blood, and discouraged members quit.  Not our goal at all, so I apologize for your experience.  People like that give the rest of us a bad name. :(

Balance in life is the key.  I never tell my clients to cut out the food and events that make their life enjoyable and that are meaningful to them - I just point out that making smarter choices about said foods would be the smartest approach.  LIke, do you really need to eat bread AND pasta at the same meal?  Can you just have 2 tacos, not 4?  Can you cut back from a quart of soda a day to 1 glass?  See, things like that make a big difference and people don't feel so deprived.

Lastly, one of my specialities is post-rehabilitation.  The first thing that trainer should have done was address your back and knee problems with a postural assessment, corrective flexibility exercises, and core strengthening exercises. 

THAT is what you need and why you are having problems in the areas you are having them.  Short of a traumatic injury, tight muscles and misalignment of the hips is responsible for I'd say at least 70% of the problems people have with their knees and backs.

Again, I'm so sorry you had such a negative experience.  You really should discuss the situation with the fitness manager and request an assessment with a different trainer - one with some sense.

This is nothing to panic over. You can easily lose enough body fat to fit your dress in 6 whole weeks.

It will take some concentrated effort on your part and you will have to cut out all the extraneous junk that people typically eat. Soda, juice, margaritas, buttered popcorn, chips, hot dogs, burgers, fries, burritos, gravy, white pasta, white bread, etc. GONE GONE GONE.

Walking with kids doesn't even count. Unless they are big kids and you guys are hoofing it, that is just another leisure activity. You need to be MOVING in order for it to count as a fat burning activity. I suggest you do the following 3 to 4 days per week, making sure you do cardio twice per day even on days you don't weight train:

AM: Weight Training Workout:

• 25 squats - body weight
• 15 push ups - from knees
• 15 lunges to the front - body weight
• 25 jumping jacks
• 25 split squats with dumb bells
• 15 shoulder presses with dumb bells
  
• 15 biceps curls with dumb bells
  
• 15 leaping lunges body weight
• 15 bent over rows (for back)
• 15 bent over reverse flyes (for back)
  
• 25 triceps bench dips (can use a low table or stair)
• 25 jumping jacks
• 15 lateral raises with dumb bells
  
• 25 reverse curls (for abs)
• 25 long reaches (legs straight up in air, try to curl up to touch toes
• 25 side to side bends with hands behind head
  

Should take about 20 minutes. End with elliptical or a jog or rope jumping for 20 minutes.

PM:  Cardio - Elliptical in target heart range for 30 minutes.

Exercise will help with the pre-wedding day jitters and stress.  You should also see the fat melt off if you eat as listed above.  It's just for a few weeks -- you can do it!!  Your dress may even end up being too big!

Drink more water.  You are sweating a lot and probably not drinking enough flud to replace the loss of water.  Sounds like you are dehydrated, which is the #1 cause of muscle cramps in the legs.  Try putting a pinch of organic sea salt in your water bottle when you go to the gym.

Check your potassium intake.  Before bed start eating a banana or an apple - both of which are high in potassium and help with cramping.

Make sure your calcium levels are adequate for your age and gender.  Calcium is another mineral that contributes to cramps in the legs.