Cathe, I posted this in the open discussion part of the forum but then realized you could best answer this question. First, I would like to thank you for the best workouts I have ever done. Thanks to you, I have great definition in my arms and legs! The one part of my body that I struggle with are the dreaded love handles. Is it mostly diet that reduces them or are there specific exercises that women who are cursed with them should be doing? Again, thank you.
Love Handles
- Thread starter hulagirl
- Start date
Hi, Hulagirl--
I'm not Cathe, but in my experience, the thing that has made the most difference on any kind of visible fat for me is diet. I've been a pretty serious exerciser for years, going way back to the Jane Fonda audio tape days
and with Cathe workouts for the last several years. I never thought I looked as good as I thought I should for someone who did such strenuous workouts several times a week. Just within the last couple of months, I've started really looking at what I eat. Not so much following any specific plan, just really watching portion sizes and being very aware of how many calories I was taking in. All I can say is, I've already dropped a size, and it's only been a couple of months. No amount of exercise has ever done that for me. I think exercise is wonderful for muscle tone, and some fat loss, of course, but I think if you really want to see noticeable fat loss, you have to combine the exercise with sensible eating. And I have to say I've learned so much about sensible eating from reading these forums! Everyone here is very knowledgeable and helpful. If you do some searches about diet, I bet you'll find a ton of helpful info.
I hope that helps! Good luck!
-Marie
I'm not Cathe, but in my experience, the thing that has made the most difference on any kind of visible fat for me is diet. I've been a pretty serious exerciser for years, going way back to the Jane Fonda audio tape days
and with Cathe workouts for the last several years. I never thought I looked as good as I thought I should for someone who did such strenuous workouts several times a week. Just within the last couple of months, I've started really looking at what I eat. Not so much following any specific plan, just really watching portion sizes and being very aware of how many calories I was taking in. All I can say is, I've already dropped a size, and it's only been a couple of months. No amount of exercise has ever done that for me. I think exercise is wonderful for muscle tone, and some fat loss, of course, but I think if you really want to see noticeable fat loss, you have to combine the exercise with sensible eating. And I have to say I've learned so much about sensible eating from reading these forums! Everyone here is very knowledgeable and helpful. If you do some searches about diet, I bet you'll find a ton of helpful info.I hope that helps! Good luck!
-Marie
I too think dieting plays a significant role in getting rid of the fat. I am 35 years old and have exercised off and on for most of my adult life. I have 2 children and have done FIRM for the last 5 years. I recently got my first CATHE strenth DVD's and have introduced those to my workout. I love CATHE. However, the biggest change I have made is cutting out junk food such as chips, cookies, chocolate candy, etc. I just woke up one day and said I am not doing this anymore. I have seen the best results in my stomach and thigh area than ever before with any exercises and it has been about 7 weeks since I ate any kind of junk food. Also, I don't exercise as long as I used to because my schedule doesn't allow it, so I know that diet is helping to do it for me. In the past, I would work out 1 hour for 5 days if I was trying to lose a few pounds. Now, I have 30-40 minutes 5 days a week and I am still getting results, toning, etc. I am not counting calories, but pretty much eating whole wheat bread and plenty of vegetables, fruit and protein.
Bobbi
Cathlete
Hulagirl, it's very important to accept your body for what it is too! I was just joking to my husband that I am the fattest skinny woman around. I store my body fat very specifically around the middle. At 5', 7" and 122, (I lost about 8 pounds after a couple of surgeries last year) I still have a gut! I don't distribute fat all over and my limbs are thin. I am wondering how low I have to go to get flat abs! I also have to work very hard for muscle and don't get big ones no matter how heavy I go. Darn it! I agree that a clean diet is key. My diet is very clean but I know having abs like Cathe's is most likely out of the question for me. Work out and keep your diet lean and clean but keep your expectations reasonable too. If you are fit and strong, a little body fat might just be part of how you are designed.
Chicks's Rule! http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif Bobbi
Chicks's Rule! http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif Bobbi
>However, the biggest change I have made is cutting
>out junk food such as chips, cookies, chocolate candy, etc. I
>just woke up one day and said I am not doing this anymore.>
Just wanted to add that I had this same "aha" moment this past week. I really try to eat healthy but definitely have my weaknesses and tend to overeat more at night than any other time during the day. This week I am starting to tell myself that "food is fuel" and it has made an unbelievable difference (okay, it's only been a week
;-)) but I have had a great week watching what goes into my mouth, even with Halloween candy lurking around! I'm hoping that this is going to make all the lower body work that I've been doing really pay off!
>out junk food such as chips, cookies, chocolate candy, etc. I
>just woke up one day and said I am not doing this anymore.>
Just wanted to add that I had this same "aha" moment this past week. I really try to eat healthy but definitely have my weaknesses and tend to overeat more at night than any other time during the day. This week I am starting to tell myself that "food is fuel" and it has made an unbelievable difference (okay, it's only been a week
;-)) but I have had a great week watching what goes into my mouth, even with Halloween candy lurking around! I'm hoping that this is going to make all the lower body work that I've been doing really pay off!
Bobbi
Cathlete
Michele, I love eating healthily but I love to indulge too. I can now eat absolutely anything but only small portions and it is working because I feel satisfied but I know I haven't overdone it and I know that I can eat what I want, just not all the time. Food IS fuel and it needs to be eaten slowly and with focus. That way, half way through the meal, I can ask myself if I am satisfied and usually I find I am sated without polishing off everything in front of me.
I did have Halloween candy for dinner last night but I did not have it in addition to dinner so I'll call myself even;-).
Chicks's Rule! http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif Bobbi
I did have Halloween candy for dinner last night but I did not have it in addition to dinner so I'll call myself even;-).
Chicks's Rule! http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif Bobbi
Truer words were never spoken, Hulagirl! What you could get away with in your twenties, you just can't get away with in your thirties, etc. I'm going to be 40 next year----and it's amazing how much more diligent I have to be about what I eat, how much sleep I get, etc. Suddenly every little vice shows up on my face and body--so not fair!!!
Oh well, I'm very, very thankful for my good health, which allows me to keep up with Cathe (ok, more like try to keep up ), which helps me beat back Father Time at least a little!
-Marie
--and it's amazing how much more diligent I have to be about what I eat, how much sleep I get, etc. Suddenly every little vice shows up on my face and body--so not fair!!!Oh well, I'm very, very thankful for my good health, which allows me to keep up with Cathe (ok, more like try to keep up
), which helps me beat back Father Time at least a little! -Marie
I have had a huge success reducing body fat with the diet tools at
http://www.physiquetransformation.com/home.htm
This is a site that is run by body builders that have complete knowledge of how to reduce body fat while retaining muscle.
They even say that diet is 80% of how you look and only 20% is exercise.
Their tool is quite inexpensive, just under $8 a month. You don't have to buy anything else from them. You select your own foods and eat them in the ratio of protein, carbs and fats that the program determines will produce optimal fat loss for you. They have a wonderful supportive yahoo group that quickly helps newcomers with any questions or problems. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pfasupport/
When I only did Cathe workouts (many, many more each week than I do now), I only gained fat! I have lost many, many inches of fat on this plan and it is great to combine with Cathe's wonderful exercises.
Dona
http://www.physiquetransformation.com/home.htm
This is a site that is run by body builders that have complete knowledge of how to reduce body fat while retaining muscle.
They even say that diet is 80% of how you look and only 20% is exercise.
Their tool is quite inexpensive, just under $8 a month. You don't have to buy anything else from them. You select your own foods and eat them in the ratio of protein, carbs and fats that the program determines will produce optimal fat loss for you. They have a wonderful supportive yahoo group that quickly helps newcomers with any questions or problems. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pfasupport/
When I only did Cathe workouts (many, many more each week than I do now), I only gained fat! I have lost many, many inches of fat on this plan and it is great to combine with Cathe's wonderful exercises.
Dona