The Official Workout Support Thread

[berylayn]

ok i have changed my mood too...

Katherine, I just have to say I could not agree with you more about the abs. I have such a hard time holding my form too. Have you seen the Bosu Balls before (i assume you have if you work at a gym). They are my new favorite toy to work my abs.

 

[katspixiedust]

Originally Posted by Ali012281

That's great advice Katherine.

Thank you!

No problem.

Abs are my biggest concern with most people. I get really flipped when I see people in my classes or other people's doing abs with horrible form. It's bad for your back, neck, AND makes your abs go all funny! I think it's definitely my biggest concern as an instructor!

 

[ali012281]

Originally Posted by berylayn

ok i have changed my mood too...

Katherine, I just have to say I could not agree with you more about the abs. I have such a hard time holding my form too. Have you seen the Bosu Balls before (i assume you have if you work at a gym). They are my new favorite toy to work my abs.

Ooo. I have a core ball (I'm assuming is the same thing you are talking about). I love it!!! I use it when I do dips too. Helps with my center.

 

[katspixiedust]

Originally Posted by berylayn

ok i have changed my mood too...

Katherine, I just have to say I could not agree with you more about the abs. I have such a hard time holding my form too. Have you seen the Bosu Balls before (i assume you have if you work at a gym). They are my new favorite toy to work my abs.

Yes I have seen those! They are a really great tool for a lot of people. Glad you really like them.

 

[berylayn]

Originally Posted by Ali012281

Ooo. I have a core ball (I'm assuming is the same thing you are talking about). I love it!!! I use it when I do dips too. Helps with my center.

I think the core ball is a little different. Isn't the core ball like weighted. I think at my gym they call them the medicine ball.

The Bosu ball is not really a ball. Its like half of a ball...hmmmm...hard to explain. It's half of a large ball filled with air that rests in a plastic base. If you lay it on the floor and then lay yourself on top of it, it really does help keep your back aligned correctly.

 

[katspixiedust]

Originally Posted by berylayn

I think the core ball is a little different. Isn't the core ball like weighted. I think at my gym they call them the medicine ball.

The Bosu ball is not really a ball. Its like half of a ball...hmmmm...hard to explain. It's half of a large ball filled with air that rests in a plastic base. If you lay it on the floor and then lay yourself on top of it, it really does help keep your back aligned correctly.

A medicine ball is (generally...though some people call them different things) a larger air filled ball that you can sit or lay on to perform various exercises.

The core ball is (again, generally) the weighted ball, like you said.

 

[ali012281]

Hmm. I guess I have them mixed up. I thought a core ball was the big air filled ball and the medicine ball was the weighted one. Either way I have the big air filled one lol.

They call them Bally balls here too cause of the Bally fitness chain.

 

[ugaimes]

Katherine, thank you so much for that ab info! I didn't know that previously; that will certainly help all of us in our workouts!
That brought up another idea for Fran: Pilates. It is not also a great cardio workout (or can be, anyway) but it is "core-centered", meaning it focuses on your abs in nearly every exercise. You may be able to find a book in your library on Pilates and it is a very enjoyable workout!!

 

[katspixiedust]

Originally Posted by Ali012281

Hmm. I guess I have them mixed up. I thought a core ball was the big air filled ball and the medicine ball was the weighted one. Either way I have the big air filled one lol.

They call them Bally balls here too cause of the Bally fitness chain.

Yeah like I said, the names for all of the different balls end up getting interchanged and what not! I've heard them called 989796 different things, I swear!

 

[katspixiedust]

Originally Posted by ugaimes

Katherine, thank you so much for that ab info! I didn't know that previously; that will certainly help all of us in our workouts!
That brought up another idea for Fran: Pilates. It is not also a great cardio workout (or can be, anyway) but it is "core-centered", meaning it focuses on your abs in nearly every exercise. You may be able to find a book in your library on Pilates and it is a very enjoyable workout!!

Yeah Pilates is really great! It helps with learning the proper ways to hold yourself as well!!

 

[ugaimes]

Look how this thread has really taken off... I feel like a proud mama!

 

[fwan]

Originally Posted by ugaimes

GREAT JOB everyone!!!
Fran, I am glad you are being smart about the dangers of walking at night. Anyone on this thread who is exercising by walking: try to avoid going at night, stay aware of your surroundings at ALL TIMES, and walk with a friend or dog if possible. If you do walk alone (or even with someone) at night, consider taking along mace/pepper spray with you or taking a self-defense course first.
Fran, what are you doing for your abs? I found a great ab workout in an old issue of Glamour magazine. Let me know if you'd like me to post it!
Keep up the great work everyone

Post it!

 

[rockcat]

Originally Posted by ugaimes

GREAT JOB everyone!!!
Fran, I am glad you are being smart about the dangers of walking at night. Anyone on this thread who is exercising by walking: try to avoid going at night, stay aware of your surroundings at ALL TIMES, and walk with a friend or dog if possible. If you do walk alone (or even with someone) at night, consider taking along mace/pepper spray with you or taking a self-defense course first.
Fran, what are you doing for your abs? I found a great ab workout in an old issue of Glamour magazine. Let me know if you'd like me to post it!
Keep up the great work everyone

Thanks for the safety reminder. Walking in the early morning can be dangerous too.
Aimes, please post the abs exercise. THANKS!

GO MARGE! GO BERLAYN! GO Ali012281!
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP AIMES & KATHERINE!!! AND ANYONE I MIGHT HAVE LEFT OUT (SORRY!)

 

[ugaimes]

I'll try to post it sometime this evening, once I'm home and I have a copy of that issue in front of me. The issue is so beat up- I used to take it with me whenever I go on a business trip/vacation so that I could always work on my abs! I hope y'all get as much enjoyment from the exercises as I have!

 

[ugaimes]

So how did everyone do yesterday with their work outs? I have my gym bag packed and will be going after work today (even though I'm still kind of sore).
I also brought that issue of Glamour with me to work and will be posting those ab exercises later today after I get done making some presentations this morning.

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Remember, if it's raining where you are (like it is here), that's all the more reason to be indoors, WORKING OUT!

 

[berylayn]

Today is a new day everyone!!!

I went and did cardio for 35 min. I was going to lift weights, but my personal trainer had my excercise card with all my machines and weight numbers that i use. grrrrrrrrrrr, so I didn't have any of my info to lift. oh well. I'll be lifting with him again tomorrow, so it'll be ok. today I plan to put in 40 min at the gym again. What are your plans from the day??

 

[ali012281]

Today I don't have use of the car so I'm going to be painting my bedroom. I'll put on some house music and just move a lot when I do it.

My abs are pretty sore from yesterday but I might still do a few crunches on my big ol' ball. Today was supposed to be a weight lifting day too. If I'm not too exausted I'll do shoulders and arms here at home. Hubby has some 15lbs that I can use.

 

[berylayn]

Amy - i think you and i were thinking encouraging thoughts at the same time

 

[ali012281]

Originally Posted by berylayn

Today is a new day everyone!!!

I went and did cardio for 35 min. I was going to lift weights, but my personal trainer had my excercise card with all my machines and weight numbers that i use. grrrrrrrrrrr, so I didn't have any of my info to lift. oh well. I'll be lifting with him again tomorrow, so it'll be ok. today I plan to put in 40 min at the gym again. What are your plans from the day??

Awww Beryl. Isn't it a huge let down when you are super motivated and then... hmmm ya can't do what you want to do!!

Time for a little chit chat with your trainer so you can have access to your card when he isn't there.

 

[ugaimes]

Beryl, your mood is energized and Beth, your mood is peppy. No wonder y'all are doing so well getting work outs in- that is very awesome!!!

Beryl, great minds think alike! Great job y'all!!!!

I'm so excited about going to the gym after work- it's like it's becoming a treat. That's the way we all need to look at it- working out is a treat because it does nothing but great things for our bodies, health, and mood!!!