FIRM Check In Week 8

[MelanieC]

Good Morning everyone-

This morning I did one of my new tapes - The original "FIRM TAPE"- Volume #1 Body Shaping Basics with Susan Harris. She is a little hard to take the way she whispers and moans and of course those 80's clothes with the legwarmers makes you want to bust out laughing. Also the moves are super "cheesy", like they are trying too hard to be cute! It wasn't a bad tape though, the upper body is hard and sort of fast (I do like it slower though). The aerobics was mostly jogging with 1 1/2 pound hand weights, and I do like the variety that they have in the newer tapes. The floor work was tough though. I used 2 lb ankle weights and I took them off after the glute exercises. I did use them for a few minutes into the thigh portion, but my thigh was burning so hard and I actually felt like I was getting cramps in my thigh. The ab work felt long as well and was defininately burning. I noticed that Susan seems to pull her neck up when she is doing sit-ups instead of lifting with the elbows. That drove me insane while watching it. Its nice to have some alternative tapes that work different muscles, and this one is definately a killer with the floor work. If you did this once a week, you're butt, hips and thighs would have to improve. This may be a good tape to fast forward just to the butt, hip and thigh portion and add that to the end of a cardio tape. These are muscles that you don't use in a normal sculpt or cardio/Sculpt tape. No reason it couldn't be added on a cardio day, or even the end of any workout as long as the tape didn't have butt, hip and thigh work the day prior.


Last night DH took DD12 to the Confirmation practice, and we didn't go to the dinner/new car owner shop that we were thinking about going to so I got to use the treadmill. WOW is all I can say. I got such a great workout. I did 3.5 miles. I did a warm-up for 5 minutes, walked at 4 miles per hour for 10 minutes ran at 4.8 miles per hour for 5 minutes, walked at 4 for 5 minutes, ran at 4.8 for 5 minutes , walked at 4 for 5 minutes, ran at 4.8 for 5 minutes and walked again at 4 for 5 minutes and then walked at 3 miles per hour for 5 minutes with a 5 minute cool down. It said I burned over 500 calories! I was drenched, but I felt so happy that I could actually run for 3 - 5 minute bursts! I have never liked running and could never do it for long periods of time. It actually felt easier than the very fast paced walking.


Have a great day everyone

 

[s&k'smom]

Sueg, I'd walk with DH because sometimes me and my DH have some of our best talks while walking.

Christina-I find that I have to not over do it or I'll have a back problem especially doing the overhead chest work. But I would imagine with getting stronger back muscle it would really help with back issues, but maybe check with your doctor to be safe.

 

[sueg]

Melanie,
I was happy to see that someone else has less than a favorable reaction to Susan Harris. She is very prominant in Firm Parts 4 pk. and she is a little too breathless for me, (Cycle back up to that heavy poundage) When I loaned those tapes to an exercising friend, she said the FIRM wasn't for her because they were "too-too", noting Susan Harris. But I agree that her workouts are challenging and they seem to work for her. Do you know if she's still with the FIRM? SGG

 

[s&k'smom]

Hey gang, this am was supercardio burn with Allie. I really like the ab part of this tape. I think tomorrow will be my rest day but it's supposed to be a really nice day around here so I think we'll be able to finally start getting our walks in. Have a great weekend everyone and see you Monday.

 

[sueg]

FIRMIES!
I took s&k'smom's suggestion & did WATP w/ DH this AM. It's great for our morning schedule. Although it is not a challenging routine, it does get you up & running and it adds to my appreciation of the FIRM.
This weekend is the start of DSs baseball crunch. While oldest DS has been playing w/ HS since March, youngest DS's season starts this weekend w/ pictures, opening day ceremonies & his first official game in the majors. This time of year, April to early June really tests my commitment to myself & exercise. The demands of DSs' schedules are great & most weekends, I still have to arise at 5:30 AM to guarantee workout time. DS(16) is taking his driving test on 4/30 & if he passes, he'll be able to drive (YIKES!) himself to some games. Then I'll find out if I can exercise & WORRY at the same time.
Although BB pictures are scheduled for Saturday at 8:50 AM, I still plan a long tape tomorrow, probably CA&WT. Gonna try to "get down with the fanny lifter"! Since it will be a sculpting tape on Sunday, I think I'll take inspiration from Melanie & return to Standing Legs. We'll see how this "2-day" plan goes!
Have a happy & healthy day! SGG

 

[toystoryduo]

Good morning FIRMies!
Today was Total Sculpt + Abs w/ Jen. I really love the BSS2 tapes a lot! It will be a very nice weekend here in our neck of the woods so I plan on spending a lot of time outdoors. Have a great weekend everyone!

Tracy

 

[MelanieC]

Hey FIRMies-

Today was Maximum Cardio Burn with Allie. That tape is just so much fun and I love the music.

I don't know if I will get to post over the weekend, or even Monday. My mom is coming in from out of town and my DD12 has her confirmation on Monday. I will proably take Sun & Mon off, but maybe I will get to do something. Not sure what I will do tomorrow since I have to pick my mom up at the airport tomorrow. I would like to get something in tomorrow.

Have a great weekend if I don't get to post. Its supposed to be wonderful here. Sunny and in the 70's on Saturday and Sunday and in the 80's on Monday. WOW!

Sue - I don't think Susan Harris is around but I don't know.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Happy friday

I'm back into my Firming routines and I think in some ways the 4 day vacation is just what i needed. At least from the BS tape. My arms felt really good all weekend even though i didn't use any weights. At some point today i will do my AS tape, and get my tummy back into that 1 too since i was clearly out of practice on weds. I guess i should have gone back to that first. But no big deal since i've been working my abs consistently for months.

Yesterday was BS with Jen. I tried for the first time to see if i could do the whole Lower Body part of the tape. I made it through most of it. But on that last set of Leg Presses I had a rather unprintable conversation with Jen and told her what she could do with herself. I think it'll probably be a couple of more weeks or so b4 i can do the whole tape. And i still haven't gotten down all the footwork from the warm-up. But that'll come too.

Looks like its going to be a beautiful weekend here. So i expect to be outside for as much as i can. Hope everyone else has a great weekend too.

Melanie: enjoy your DD's Confirmation and have a good time with your mom.

 

[sueg]

FIRMIES!
I should know better than to make plans. I didn't get up at 5:30AM today for my workout. But I figured it was no problem, because I would have time in the afternoon. Didn't plan on oldest DS fouling a baseball into his eye & spending part of the afternoon in the ER. He seems alright, but he needs to visit our pediatric opthamologist (sp?)on Monday. So no CA&WT w/ Emily. I squeezed in Cardio Sculpt Blaster w/ Lisa Kaye, while DH grilled some chicken for dinner.
Welcome back, Octoberbride03. Sometimes a few days off can be the best incentive.
God bless your daughter, Melanie. Confirmation is a wonderful rite of passage!
Don't know what routine I'll do tomorrow. No more planning in advance, for a while.
Have a happy & healthy day! SGG

 

[toystoryduo]

Good morning FIRMies!
Today was Cardio Sculpt Blaster with Lisa. Plus, we are taking advantage of this beautiful weather and taking the kids to the zoo today. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Tracy

 

[ZerasPride]

Good Sunday afternoon FIRMies!

Sorry that I have been MIA for the past couple of days. Friday I did body sculpt (upper body), Saturday was BSS1 cardio sculpt with Allie and today I did BSS1 ab sculpt with Lisa Kay.

It is also weigh in day and I've lost 2 pounds which brings me to 51.5 pounds lost and as soon as the images come back on line I'll be claiming my beautiful 50 pound clippie!

It sounds like all have been doing so well. Keep up the great work everyone!

 

[Octoberbride03]

Happy Sunday Night

I have finally figured out how to reward myself for all my hard work with Firm tapes and the lost pounds I have. So first, I'm gonna get a job LOL. And second I'm gonna have a manicure and a pedicure. My nails will be happy LOL

So with luck I'll have a job by the end of the week working in retail somewhere. And then i can spend money on my nails.

Tomorrow is weigh in and hopefully i will have lost something, I actually think i have. We'll see in the morning.

Tonight I did AS with Lisa. Was the perfect ending to a nice weekend. Was really warm here all weekend so we were outside as much as possible. Yesterday DH and i did yard work, taking care of some long overdue leaf raking, and today we washed the car and teased our Cockatiel a bit while we did. Gonna be a hot 1 again tomorrow, so with luck I'll be up early to take care of exercising and start on my spring cleaning and then outside relaxing.


sueg: TY for welcome back. A few days off really was just the ticket to wanna jump back into my tapes.