My accomplishments w/The Firm

I know, I know... Every post I do is about the Firm, right? I feel like their new poster child! But it is an awesome program. I started 12/01/02 and I've lost a total of 9 pounds and 2 inches in my waist! My arms have gotten a little bigger and so have my calves (both good things b/c they were both on the slim side!) I am on a mission! I'll check back in with everyone in a month or so. What type of sucesses have you had since you started your regimen?

[pebbles]

That's excellent Caramela. You've convinced me. I'm going to get the Firm program. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Supergirl]

It's great to hear. Keep being their poster child!!!!!!! Okay, I'm going to go do Cardio Sculpt right now. I've been procrastinating this morning /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Allandra]

Way to go Caramela! /forums/images/graemlins/up.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Supergirl]

Oh--another question for ya: How are you taking care of the hair with your workout routine. Like what styles and then with the sweat, how often are you washing? Or do you just wet it, or just condition wash? Thanks girlie /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Supergirl, it depends really. Before I got layers cut in last weekend, I was rinsing/conditioner only washing almost everyday and drying in the ponytail method. Or I'd scrunch it and let it airdry in waves. Right now I've just been washing 2x per week and blowdrying/curling (see my post on the hair board). That seems to be working, I'd love to wet it everyday I workout, but it's harder to pull back w/my layers!

[hairfanatic]

That's great Caramela, I know a lot of people that swear by those tapes. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Michon]

I'm considering purchasing the Firm this weekend. I'm on the fence because I literally have a dozen exercise videos that I don't use, and I figure I should give them a shot first before I add to my inventory. I was wondering, though. Do you have to be in decent shape to get through the workout in the first place? I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to make it through the first ten minutes. I'm 33, approx. 5'5'' and about 140 pounds (I want to lose 15). I never had a problem with my weight until about five years ago when I passed my goal weight (125 pounds, I struggled for years to gain weight) and kept on going! The thing is that while I'm not terribly overweight (if I could get rid of the flab around the middle and the double chin, I'd be all right), but I'm very out of shape. I can barely make it through the One Mile Walk Away the Pounds video. So I'm wondering if it would be a waste of money to get a video that's as challenging as the Firm seems to be. Also, is the abdominal workout strenuous? Every time I do ab exercises I seem to end up with neck and shoulder pains that send me to my chiropractor.

[daviine]

Is it very aerobic Caramela becaue I want to build up my claves but I can't afford to butrn too many calories.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

1st question... about it being strenuos? yes, and I consider myself to be in decent shape. So if you're having problems with walk away the pounds you may struggle w/The Firm. But the good thing about it is, you can work up to do the whole tape. You don't have to complete the whole tape the first time thru. You're a beginner, and for beginners they don't even have you using weights. But in my opinion, I may try to build up my endurance if I were you, and buy The Firm when you can comitt to it 100%. It's an awesome program that will give you awesome benefits and results, however, you are only going to reap what you sow. You can't halfa$$ it and get good results, as with anything I suppose.

2nd question.... is it aerobic? Yes, there are aerobic segments, they alternate between cardio and weights. If you just want to build your calves, do calf raises on your bottom step and hold a weight in your hand. That should work for you!

[whitelily626]

Caramela. I am so happy for you. I have the body sculpting system. I used it regularly for about 2 weeks, and have gotten lazy already. I do like it, but with working over time and being a single parent, its hard to find the time. How many days a week do you workout? Do you do all the tapes? I have only done Cardio Sculpt so far.

Thanx, Whitelily! (btw, my Ma's name is Lily, that's such a pretty name /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) Anyway, yes, I have done all the tapes. I work out 5 days a week, taking 2 rest days, Wed & Sat.... I have actually incorporated other exercises into my program, but The Firm is my "base" and I add other things in here and there. I am hooked. I know it can be challenging to stick to a plan, getting up at 5 every morning helps me stick to it. If I can get up, and get that out of the way, then no matter what else happens during the day, I won't get sidetracked out of my workout time!

[Tebby1017]

Hey Caramela,
Congratulations with your success. Your updates are such an encouragement.

I have been doing The Firm and Tae Bo FAITFULLY for the last 2 weeks and following Fit For Life (trying to anyway) and I have lost 5 pounds. I can't find my tape measure (my daughter tends to get her hands on it and it disappears), so I don't know about the inches. However, I have noticed that my arms are more toned, as are my legs and tummy.

I was really toned and muscular when I was running track and I weighed 135. Since I'm not doing that kind of running now, my goal is to get to 140, so I have about 21.5 pounds to go. This week I'm adding Pilates workouts at night to my regimine and when the weather improves I will be running outside, both distance and wind sprints.

Have you hit a plateau yet? If not, what are you doing to avoid it?

Tebby

[smlwndr97]

First Caramela, congrats on your results!!!

Tebby, I have hit a plateau with my FIRM workouts, I have been doing them since Oct/Nov. What I have done is taken a break from FIRM and have integrated other videos. When I do return to FIRM, in about 2 weeks or so, I will increase my weights. I basically use 5 lbs for every segment and I will switch to 8 lbs for my "heavy" weight sections and use 5 lbs for the other sections.

One recommendation I would make is to make sure that you balance your FIRM workouts with some kind of stretching activity like Yoga or Pilates, especailly if you don't want to bulk up. I alternate nights (FIRM/Cardio on night, Pilates on the other nights).

HTH,
Monique

I've never been one to hit plateaus, really. Lucky me, huh? I do try to mix up my "rotations" and eat healthy 99.5 percent of the time. I also don't have alot of weight to lose. I only wanted to lose between 10-15 pounds. And so far I've lost 9 pounds!

[Tebby1017]

Thanks for the tips, Smlwonder. I am really happy with the results with The Firm so far. I do Cardio Sculpt one day, then any one of my Tae Bo tapes the next. Next week I will probably cut back on the Cardio Sculpt and incorporate the Body Sculpt. I think by doing this and alternating the Tae Bo tapes I will hit a plateau later rather than sooner. Also, with the Cardio Sculpt I am now using the blue step in the step segment rather than the purple to up the intensity a bit.

I can't wait to do the Pilates at night, starting tonight. I have noticed that my muscles are getting a bit tighter, so I'm sure the Pilates will make loosen them a bit (in a good way). My cousin had such nice results weight training, doing aerobics and Pilates, and I can't wait to see it for myself (my cousin in almost 39 year old with 3 kids and she looks like she's my twin sister at 24 but much more toned.) She thinks I won't hit a plateau for a very long time, if at all because I'm changing my cardio almost daily.

Tebby

[Tebby1017]

Caramela,
Have you changed your weights yet? Also, do you still feel you need to loose 10-15 pounds in light of the fact that you are loosing so many inches and toning? Just curious....

Tebby

[SexyGyrlNY]

Wow Caramela! You have me about to go out and buy the firm after reading your raves about it. I just have one question, you said that it toned your thighs and built up your calves, do you think that there is a way that I can focus solely on toning my thigh area up w/o adding more muscle to my calves? I don't want my calves to get any bigger then what they are-but I want to get these thighs toned up. Do you think that is possible?

Yes, I have increased my weights once. From 3,5, 8 pounds to 5, 8, 10 pounds. I am going to probably increase again in March.
Ummm, I really don't know about how it will affect your calves. I guess everyone is different. When I say my calves got bigger, it really wasn't that dramatic. I'm talking all of 1/4 inch growth! I guess b/c my calves were small, it's more noticeable. Also, it depends on how much muscle vs. fat you have on your calves. But I don't see any way you could tone the thighs w/o also toning the calves /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif since you have to use your calves to do lunges, squats etc... I don't think it will hurt u though, your calves may even slim down! Everyone is different!

And as far as weight loss is concerned, I do have about 5 or 6 more pounds of fat to lose, around my hips, and on my thighs. Now if that's replaced by muscle, and I wind up weighing more, I'll be just as happy. I think my main concern is shedding this extra layer of fat! Slowly but surely, it's doing a disappearing act. I want to be a lean mean bikini wearing machine! /forums/images/graemlins/weird.gif (corny, I know!!!!)

[Michon]

Caramela,

Thanks for the heads up. I agree with you, it sounds like I need to work my way up to doing the program. With the shape I'm in now, it'd probably kick my butt! Oh well, something to shoot for.

[Lindy]

I used to do The Firm FAITHFULLY, many years ago. I'd say for at least 2 years!! I even sent in a testimonial, then I got called and they asked me to come in and audition for their commercial /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif, but unfortunately, I didn't get chosen /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. I was really nervous about it, so I had lost weight prior to going in, so I looked really skinny. Later, when I saw the commercial, I noticed that all the girls they picked looked really muscular. (Then I didn't feel so bad about not being picked!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Anyway, for the past 5 years or so, I've gotten away from their videos. Now I do step tapes and interval training tapes, mainly, and just use 5 to 8 lb. dumbbells for weight training.

The Firm tapes are TOUGH!!! And they work!!!

[hada]

Quote****One recommendation I would make is to make sure that you balance your FIRM workouts with some kind of stretching activity like Yoga or Pilates, especailly if you don't want to bulk up. I alternate nights (FIRM/Cardio on night, Pilates on the other nights).****

LOLOL! Don't worry you won't bulk up on smaller weights. It takes tremendous work with heavy weights and diet to bulk up. Some women can do it with ease, but for most of us because of our hormones you will tone and not bulk up.

I am working with 20lb. dumbells right now, doing upper body movements and about to progress in a number of weeks upwards and I haven't gotten too big yet.

hada

[smlwndr97]

"LOLOL! Don't worry you won't bulk up on smaller weights. It takes tremendous work with heavy weights and diet to bulk up. Some women can do it with ease, but for most of us because of our hormones you will tone and not bulk up."

Girl, I wish!!! I bulk up REALLY fast. It takes no time for me to bulk up. I think its b/c I am so short, so my muscles really don't have anywhere to go! LOL! I try to limit my step workouts. My body frame is similar to the woman who does the Cardio Sculpt video. So I need to balance my workouts. I also found that I lose flexibility when I concentrate on toning excersises and yoga/pilates definitely helps to stretch out the muscle giving it a really lean appearance.

I can't even imagine what I would look like if I used 20 lb weights to work out with. Every "body" is different! lol!

-monique

[Country gal]

I tried the 5 day abs Firm tape. Day one was only 6 minutes but my abs felt sore the next day. I will let you know if it helps any.