Help for a pair

[Tricia Haley]

Hi, i am the classic pear. I am 5'3 120 pounds. I would like to stream line my lower body. I have been doing cathe for a few years now and have most of her DVD's. So i am comming to the educated pear crowd or anyone who has great advice for toning down the lower body. I work upper body heavey at least once a week to try and even up my upper body with the lower. I eat fairly clean probably could do better. So my question is what are you doing that has really worked to trim down and tone your lower body. Do you train your legs more than once a week?, i know you have to eat clean, should you do less cardio/more cardio? I am just looking for some up front advice that has worked for you pears out there or from the educated crowd. Thanks bunches for listening and i will be excited to hear your advice.
Tricia M.Haley









:+ :7

 

[kathryn]

Something like Slim Series (Beach Body) might work for you. It's a high-rep, no or light weight, lower-body focused series. Firm it Up is lower body only.

Freestyle training (working the lower body most days of the week, with lighter weights than you would usually do) was created for the purpose of working strength without much size increase. It might work for you. Carole (McMain) is our resident Freestyle expert.

You might want to pay attention to how stepping affects you, if you do it. Some people say that stepping makes their lower body bulky.

In general: work upper body less often, with heavier weights and lower-rep sets. Work lower body more often, with light or even no weights and higher-rep sets. Choose a cardio option that will not add bulk (ie: kickboxing, spinning or stationary biking at a low resistance and higher speed).

 

[ldy_solana]

http://web.archive.org/web/20010626174745/http://www.virtualfit-trainer.com/LBS.htm maybe this link will help. i haven't tried slim series myself but from others reviews this falls under same lines of using higher reps with light-no weight for lower body while heavying up on upper body for only 2x a week.


kassia

http://www.picturetrail.com/ldy_solana

"And do what thee wilt as long as ye harm none"

 

[6Swans4me]

Kathryn,

Yep, that's what seemed to work for me. P90X fits the general plan too. Strangely, I found a week's worth of painting between Phase 2 and Phase 3 helped slim my legs down. During that week, I didn't do any X-workouts. I was too busy moving furniture everytime I had to clean, prep, prime or paint a wall. LOL

I'm one of those who seem to bulk up with step. My quads appear bigger and out of proportion if I do too much of it. Yet, I love to step! I'd do it everyday if I could! Why is it that I'm attracted to workouts that go against my goals? ;( I've read somewhere to pick an exercise you dislike and focus on doing it because it's an area where your body needs it. I don't know how true it is in general. But, I hate core work. With P90X, I have no choice but to work it. It's helped, but I still hate it! ;-)


Wendy

 

[Lynn M.]

Hi Tricia-

I'm a "pear" too... while I'm still a work in progress, I will say that running and kickboxing have helped me to streamline my lower body. Also, while I am not doing it right now for cardio, plain ol' walking ( I'm talking "Power" walking, not casual stroll) leans up my legs too.

For weights, I only weight train them 1x/week and it's enough for me. I do cardio 5-6 days/week, so anymore lower body strength work on top of that would be wayyy too much lower body work.

I would try Butts and Guts, or Legs and Glutes for starters. They are both effective for hitting the lower body in a wide variety of exercises and don't use alot of heavy weight. For me, that wide variety is what gives me results.

Take care, Lynn M.

 

[Tricia Haley]

Thanks all for your input, i really appreciate all the advice i can get. Sometimes i get so frustrated with my self. I feel like i work out almost every day and i just wish i could see more definition on my lower body. Well enough winning! I am going to be on vacation this Friday with my family maybe i will take that time to make a work out schedule with all of your advice and see how my body responds when i get back. I don't want to be obsessive about my lower body but i wish my legs didn't look like to tree stumps. Wish me luck and if anyone has anymore ideas feel free to drop a line. I will be checking this sight everyday till i leave. Thanks bunches Tricia:7