Hi Leslie,
I don't know exactly which tapes you got, but like you my upper body is thin and my lower body is round and reminds me of jello when it moves.
My weight is also good enough for my height and frame and I'm not into losing pounds, though I could use more muscle on my upper body and less fat on my lower body.
For my lower body, these have worked on me best: Pure Strength Legs, Pyramid Lower Body, Slow and Heavy Legs, and the squats and lunges in Power Hour and Maximum Intensity Strength. I currently use a barbell with a maximum of 35 lbs. for leg work. When I started I used 8-lb. dumbbells on my shoulders. Some ladies claim their legs bulk up when using weights but mine haven't so far.
For my upper body, I'm using these to gain muscle: the Pure Strength Series, the Slow and Heavy Series, the Pyramid workouts, Power Hour, and MIS. Since I don't bulk up easily, gaining mass on my upper body remains a challenge but I'm definitely stronger and more toned with these workouts.
For cardio, my personal favorites are Power Max, IMAX 2 and Rhythmic Step. I also do Step Fit and Step Works sometimes. Since I want bulk in my upper body but not in my lower body, I find myself in a dilemma as far as cardio is concerned. I've read in many muscle building sites on the web that too much cardio can eat up the muscle you've already gained. I don't know how true that is, but I've come up with a solution that works well for me. For three weeks out of a month, I do 3 or 4 cardio sessions that are only 30 minutes long or half of Cathe's workouts, plus IMAX 2 usually on a Sunday. For one week out of a month, I do 3 or 4 full-hour workouts of my choice. This helps me keep the fat down while preserving the muscle I've gained.
Exercise is only half of the equation. Diet is the other. I keep it simple using the 40-30-30 ratio of protein, carbs and fat respectively. My protein sources are usually egg whites, cottage cheese, tuna, salmon, and lean chicken. Carbs are fruits, veggies, and whole wheat bread (only one slice per serving). Sometimes I have rice, but I limit that as well. Fat usually comes from olive oil or nuts like almonds and peanuts (very small handful). I have been loving the exercise portion of things; diet has been difficult and is a constant struggle.
My advice to you is to ease yourself into your program. It took me almost ten years to get from 2-lb. dumbbells to a 30-lb. barbell. When I first started watching what I put in my mouth, I was miserable a lot. My key has been to listen to my body. If I feel I need more energy, I'd snack on an apple or a slice of wheat bread with a tablespoon of peanut butter on it. Then I'd stop and see if my body would scream for more. Normally it doesn't. If the weight I'm using is starting to feel lighter, I bring it up a notch and see how I feel the next day. It's tempting to compare yourself with the next person. DON'T. This is why I work out at home. I don't have to feel depressed when I see someone lifting heavier or lasting longer on the step. I deal with my body on my own time in my own space. I get to listen to it instead of looking around and pining over what others have that I don't. And it pays to be patient with yourself, although I know it's hard to do. I usually give myself 2 long weeks to learn a new step routine or get used to a weight workout. Hang in there, it takes time. We are all a work-in-progress.
Pinky
