Will you lose weight with PILATES?

I have been doing the Pilates Crunch workout and boy do I feel the burn, but it doesn't seem like it would cause one to lose weight. Can one lose weight with Pilates? This tape is one designed to work the butt, belly and thighs. I have to do it right before bed because I literally cannot walk after I finish it. It is only 30 minutes but it is doing the job well.

Pilates will tone your muscles, it will not make you lose weight. You should do aerobics if you want to lose fat.

[brownrelaxedhair]

aparently you don't lose weight, like C said, you just tone up. pilates strengthens and tones your 'core' muscles, your stomach which in turn stablizes you back, improves your posture. It also elongates your muscles so you have a leaner more streamlined appearance over time.

Only cardio burns fat. (also weight work too via increasing muscle which burns fat).

I guess I am missing the point of Pilates then. Why does it matter if you are toned? I was doing Pilates before I knew what I was doing. I have always loved stretching so I am pretty sure I am toned. My understanding was that it would flatten the stomach when other exercises wouldn't. Is this true? I think I am already toned. I would like to lose 15 lbs too.

[brownrelaxedhair]

Toned is like this: Hold out your arm and wave it up and down with elbow straight. If you get the wiggle of flab (bat wings) on the upper arm then that's an untoned arm. This is why to some, tone *does* matter.

From what I understand like I said, Pilates will elongate the muscles as you train and hold postions in a straightened pointed postion, e.g pointed toes, lengthened taut arms, flattened stomach with belly button pulled toward spin. When you train that way, your body/muscles adopt that shape (over time).

Pilates is compared to ballet training to some extent because of this emphasis on holding 'lengthening' positions which is how a ballet dancer's body is.

belly button pulled toward spin.
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What does that mean?

I don't have any arm jiggle; a little but jiggle every now and then.

[brownrelaxedhair]

as in holding stomach in.

[NayNay]

I agree with everything that the women said. Aerobics-walking, jumping rope will aid in losing weight. I would like to add one thing that I believe Carrie has mentioned as well. Toning (ie Pilates, lifting light weights) build muscle mass. Muscles burns calories therefore the more muscle your body possesses, the faster your body will burn extra fat. It is easier to lose weight while lifting due to muscle mass increase therefore Pilates indirectly helps with the process.

[Pumpkin]

I had a Pilates trainer twice a week for 4 months and this is what I have learned.

Always keep your stomach in. She uses the term "Belly button to the spine." YOu will not get a flat stomach if you do not do this.

Even if you do moves that appear to involve your legs arms and back, engage the abs (tucked in) so that it is doing at least 60% of the work.

Pilates will help you shed a few inches and tone what is left over. This summer I was ripped /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif but in a nice feminine way. I also attribute Pilates to making my booty bigger.

Stick with it and you will see results. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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Pumpkin said:
I had a Pilates trainer twice a week for 4 months and this is what I have learned.

Always keep your stomach in. She uses the term "Belly button to the spine." YOu will not get a flat stomach if you do not do this.

Even if you do moves that appear to involve your legs arms and back, engage the abs (tucked in) so that it is doing at least 60% of the work.

Pilates will help you shed a few inches and tone what is left over. This summer I was ripped /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif but in a nice feminine way. I also attribute Pilates to making my booty bigger.

Stick with it and you will see results. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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I am very pleased with the Pilates. I alternate between Pilates one day and Yoga the next. It really gets your legs and but in shape. Big stomachs run in my family so I know it is going to take quite a bit of work for me to get a flat stomach.