*Escape your Shape* by Ed Jackowski

Michele S

Cathlete
Just wondering if anyone else has read this book and what they thought about his recommendations.

I'm considered a Spoon (his terminology for bottom heavy) and he says no weights for lower body, including ankle weights, no stepping, stair climbing, etc. I will admit that I haven't had the results that I have hoped for in my lower half, considering that I've been working my butt off (no pun intended, 'cause it's still there) for years.

Opinions, please!
 
Hi Michelle,

I haven't read Escape your Shape however I have read the Body Code that talks about the pear shapes and that we shouldn't do weights for lower body. Since I've read that ( a couple months ago) I gladly gave up doing heavy weights for my lower body, but I'll never give up step and ocassionally do light weights for step ups. I have an "inverted bubble butt" ;-) and I'm trying to add bulk and lift to my back side (which is tough to do without added bulk to my thunder thighs). I haven't seen results yet, but I attribute that to a lousy diet lately.

I'd be interested in others thought also.
Dawn
 
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON May-19-01 AT 03:06PM (Est)[/font][p][font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON May-19-01 AT 01:34 PM (Est)[/font]

look up

LOWER BODY SOLUTION a book by Laura

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-9715945-6316718

LESS weights...daily workout for lower body..
i found a rotation for daily lower body work using cathe and firm tapes...

http://www.virtualfit-trainer.com/LBS.htm#videorotation

i am home where i cant get directly on a cathe discussion (my computer crashes) .. I can only search and get into a thread..
but it would be cool if someone posted this web address for "LOWER BODY SOLUTION" as a new topic...
cinza
 
Funny, I just found out about this Lower Body Solution a couple of days ago. I am getting this book, and am going to try her workout plan, since my legs are my BIG trouble spot.

I am getting some extra Firm tapes and am going to work them in with my Cathe's. She advocates working your legs 4-6 days per wk., with a minimum of 3 times per week. This shouldn't be hard to do with Bodymax and Circuitmax as two cardio days. I'm determined have legs like Cathe!! I won't ever be tiny like Cathe, but I can have better legs.

I know I can, I know I can, I know I can!
 
Hi Michele! I just purchased the book "Look Great Naked" by Brad Schoenfeld. He gives you many exercises for our glutes, hamstrings, calves and thighs and explains fully why so many of us women are bottom heavy. I'll tell you though I was surprised when he stated in the book about the slow and heavy method. He says the method will not show any results by working it this way. If you want to cut bodyfat you must use the higher rep method. Won't have really big muscles but will be more cut. He does have another book out called "Shaping Your Body Perfect" (?) I think that's what it's called. Check it out, Kathy
 
the other book by Brad Schoenfeld is "Sculpting Her body Perfect"... a very fine book indeed... a larger book with more info than "look great naked"..

I have both...
i like the idea of higher reps..... (they are easier!!)

i will vouch for high reps and less weight...because when i was dancing flamenco and striking the floor with my heel several hundred times a day ... i got great definition in my thighs without ever thinking about it.

I had much better definition in my front thigh then than i have right now doing weights, and sqats and lunges... hmmm...

but that might be an individual thing.
 
Another Spoon

I've seen similar recommendations from a few trainers, then pick up another training guide that recommends endurance sports like cycling, hiking etc for pears partly because we're built for it & partly because it burns so much fat. The rationale part of me says that it would be better to be muscular than to just live with fatty tissue below the waist. The irrational part says maybe I could have Karen Voight's legs if I followed this advice.

Anyhow I skimmed the book today. He sure has a long list of activities we spoons shouldn't do! But his credability slipped alot because he recommends stationary biking @ 80+ rpm but opposes cycling & spinning. Both Spinning & road cycling are usually at a higher rpm. His recommendation was illogical.

I also looked at "Sculpting Her Body Perfect" & "Lower Body Solution" (the other book being talked about on the forum). That author says that you can't bulk up with cardio activities because you're using the wrong muscle fibers. I always get fast twitch & slow twitch mixed up, but his point was the weight lifting fibers have to be activated to build muscle mass & cardio workouts don't do it. So have no fear of the stair climbing machine or step aerobics, etc.

Debra
 

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