please help need easy pilates tape

[debra123]

I am trying to help my sister get back in shape. She has been going through a very stressful time in her life. I will make a real long story short. Her husband has a disease and he is dying, he is 41 and has ALS, he is getting worse, he has no use of his arms at all, and has to be taken care of like an infant, feeding, dressing bathing ect,

Well in the last few years my sister has gained a lot of weight,she also fell out of the back of her truck and hurt her knee, she feels very bad about herself and has asked me

for some easy pilates tapes she could use lying down. I have a few pilates tapes, crunch pick your spot and the method all in one
and a few more.

I would really like to buy her one myself but not sure which one to buy that would be a little easier on her body until she gets in a little better shape. Thanks for your help. I have looked on collage, but wow there are so many, not sure which would be gentle to her body. I also gave her my watp tapes, because I don't use them anymore
but even those hurt her knee, she has been to the dr,and had physical therapy as well. She said she can't wait someday to try out the Cathe tapes and work out like I do, her day will come, I will keep her motivated and help her as much as I can.


NOW FOR ME, which more advanced pilates tapes is your favorites, I love the ones I have, but would love suggestions. I have heard great things about the winsor pilates.

I want to say thanks for your replies.

Debbie

 

[Rose11]

aw! What a touching story! I don't know if your sister can walk or not. You never mentioned it. Anyway I don't think she should do pilates exclusively if she's trying to lose weight. For starters, I love Mari Winsor. I have a lot of pilates tapes and she's the one pilates' instructor I always include in my weekly rotations. When I started pilates matwork (zeon years ago) I learned with an instructor then when I felt comfortable (and got tired of paying for lessons) I bought videos. The first video I bought was Pilates for Dummies (gosh I hate that title!), then I bought some of the Method tapes (with Jennifer Kries) and Moira Stott videos. The only one of those tapes I still use once or twice a month is Jennifer Kries' Target Specifics. I have no idea how old it is but it's old and it's not for beginners. I hate to admit it, but I learned to do the basics on my own (without any instructors) using Pilates for Dummies and practicing in front of a mirror. Thinking about some movements of Pilates, your sister can hurt her knee if she doesn't know how to modify the movements. There are some movements for her core where she has to keep the buttocks contracted and that might be uncomfortable for her knee. And there are some hand positions that she should modify (like putting her hand below the knee instead of above in some movements). For all those reasons I don't think pilates core work is right for her until she completely recovers unless you can show her how to modify the movements. However, she can do some lower body tapes and maybe some arm tapes.

Now for the video recommendations. For you and for your sister my favorite Winsor video is Bun & Thigh Sculpting. I think your sister can benefit from it since there are no movements that put direct pressure on the knees and oh gosh it feels so great. I am an advanced exerciser and what I do with it is I do a Cathe video (right now I'm rotating CTX) and before the cool down after I'm done with the cardio and weight portions I do that video. I do it twice a week. Your sister can do a warm up, maybe marching in place for a couple of mins if it's possible, then gentle stretching, then right on to the floor to do it. Another video series I've heard great things from is Leslie Sansone. Personally I haven't done the videos because they're too easy for me, but they're low impact and targeted to beginners, intermediate exercisers and people trying to lose weight. It's pretty much a "walking video" and depending on which one you buy you can "walk" from 1 mile to 4 miles without requiring a lot of space and equipment. This one would be more for your sister. Lastly, my two new favorite advanced pilates videos are Winsor Pilates Advanced Body Slimming (21 mins) and Super Sculpting & Body Slimming (55 mins) --this one is from the new Maximum Burn Series-- The first one I rotate with a Cathe video and the second one I do alone. I hope this super long reply helps you. Another recommendation is to go to collagevideo.com and request a catalog. That is the most comprehensive and informative video catalog out there. That'll help you make your final decision. Take care of yourself and your sister. Good luck with everything and never lose faith :+

 

[debra123]

Rose, thank you for your nice reply, I really appreciate it.

I did give my sister my leslie sansone tapes watp, you probally didn't catch that in my post, it was a long one, LOL. She told me her knee hurts doing the leslie sansone tapes.Yes she can walk, she works behind a pharmacy and stands all day long for 8 to 9 hours a day. She is an A tech, I am thinking she might have to work through a little bit of pain, she has to start somewhere, I don't mean pain where she is screaming, but I had a problem years back a bulged disc, in my back and I still have it, but I started off slow walking and now using nothing but CATHE TAPES. People she works with says to try pilates, maybe she should try just walking real slow for now, not sure.

I STARTED THE CTX ROTATION A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THEN JUST STARTED DOING ANY AND EVERY CATHE I WANTED TOO. I REALLY WANT TO GIVE THE CTX MY ALL SO I AM!!.

So as of MONDAY morning I am starting over, I have gotten lots of good advice FORM SOME VERY NICE CATHE BUDDIES ON DOING THE CTX ROTATION. I AM DOING IT FOR 8 WEEKS, HOW ABOUT YOU?.

AFTER THE CTX I THINK I WILL DO A BODY BLAST ROTATION OR DO ALL OF CATHE'S KICKBOXING TAPES WITH A FEW BILLY BLANKS ADDED IN FOR A FEW WEEKS.

I also got a nice mail back from Cathe and she thought ctx was great and to lose my last few pounds she said she thought MIC, IMAX2, IMAX,
WERE SOME GOOD ONES TO DO WITH THE CTX TAPES. I AM DOING THE TAPES JUST HOW THEY ARE, BUT I THINK I SHOULD ALSO ADD IN SOME PILATES AT NIGHTS, I ALSO HAVE THE METHOD TARGET SPECIFICS.

How long are you doing the rotation for?.

Thanks for your kind words and help

Debbie

 

[debra123]

Rose, I just checked out the winsor pilates on collage video. They look great, I think I might order the dvd for myself, I was also excited to find CANDLE LIGHT YOGA, for a real stressfull day and I need to unwind at night.

I think I may have found some stretching videos for my sister to try on collage video too. Thanks again for your help.

I think the pilates along with all my other Cathe work outs will be a big plus.

Have a good weekend

Debbie

 

[Rose11]

Hello there! I don't do rotations like most people, especially when I'm rotating CTX. I also love Yoga (did I say love? Yeah love!). Anything by Baron Baptiste works for me. And I love to mix pilates with Cathe. I started a CTX rotation this Friday (sorry couldn't wait till Monday ;-) ). The way I do my rotations is in what I call cycles. Why cycles? Because I can't fit the videos and workouts I like in a typical 7 day week. This time I'm doing 6 cycles of CTX (if I get bored while doing my 5th I'll cut it short and change it to some other rotation, but I'm planning to do at least 4 cycles). This time around I'm doing CTX as is, doing one video completely without mixing it (usually I do two CTX bodyparts per day) and I'm adding Winsor Pilates: Bun & Thigh Sculpting (two times per cycle) and Winsor Pilates: Advanced Body Slimming (one time per cycle). There are 6 videos in CTX so that's 6 days. Then the 7th day I do yoga only and I rest the 8th day. On the 9th day I start the cycle all over again. This can be a little exhausting so if one day I don't feel like exercising I won't do it, but I resume the cycle the next day. You have to rest at least one day per cycle and try to keep it that way, but if you can't then at most two rest days per cycle. Ok so that's out of the way.

I also agree with Cathe's recommendations but not in that order (if you start with MIC you'll need a tank of oxygen). I'd say IMax 2, IMax and MIC (or maybe MIC before IMax --whatever works for you--). She probably already explained why these are awesome to lose the last few pounds and she also probably told you that you shouldn't do these more than twice per week (that's a must every time you do an interval training video). In my opinion interval training works to lose the last few pounds, but you need lean muscle mass to keep them off so even if you add those videos to your rotations also remember to do "weight-training only" videos at least once or twice a week when you are doing those. Have fun mixing and matching and have a nice weekend too.

-PS I never saw your post on Leslie Sansone. Some weeks I'm too busy and I can't check out what's going on in the forums, but I try to lurk at least a couple of times per month.

 

[dani21496]

Just wanted to say HI Debbie and tell you that I'm so sorry about your sister's husband! I've had the best results mixing Cathe cardio with Pilates. Mari Winsor's are my favorite and they are listed on collage at Beg/Int/Advanced.

My most favorite as I've mentioned before is the Winsor Super Body Scultping and Slimming Advanced Burn Series! Check out the reviews on collage, they are ALL great! I've seen the BEST results ever using this workout...losing almost 2 1/2 inches around the waist in 4 weeks! My core is stronger than it's ever been and my arms and legs have really leaned out!

Good luck!

 

[nancy324]

I am so sorry to hear about your sister and her husband. The tragedy of ALS is that the person who has it is completely mentally and emotionally alert. It is a very rough disease for any family to endure.

I recently purchased Winsor Pilates 3 DVD workout set and the "20 minute workout" is very easy. Actually, it was too easy for me, and I went right back to Cathe and forgot the whole thing. It comes with a "Basics Step-By-Step" description of how to do each of the exercises which is very helpful. Sounds like it might be the right thing for your sister if she is a beginner. It is definitely for BEGINNERS ONLY! I think the set cost $39.90, which I thought was good for 3 DVDs. The 3rd DVD is called "Accelerated Body Sculpting" but I haven't tried it. I'm sticking with the ab routine on Cathe's Muscle Endurance these days, which I love.

Editing to say I would be happy to send you mine for your sister. I know myself, and I won't be using it again.

-Nancy

 

[debra123]

Dani, MAY I SAY WOOO----HOOO FOR YOU. What great results you are having. I am ordering the two you have, that is what I am looking for to go with Cathe's cardio and some of her weight work outs. I can't wait to get them. I am definately looking to lean out my legs and tone them up, and a few inches off the tummy wouldn't hurt.I don't want bulky upper thighs. Keep up the good work!!!, YOU GO GIRL!!!!.
Thanks for the kind words about my BIL it is very hard at times.

Nancy, that is very sweet of you, but she is thinking she might just need some easy stretching exercises to start. You are so right the hardest part of ALS is your mind is still all there and alert, and your body just wastes away to nothing. I wish there was more I could do to help her. I do go and help her at night when I can. He wears an alert band around his ankle, he has had some very bad falls lately, and has had to have the ambulance come and has had lots of stitches in his head and face. He has a wheelchair which he uses but now he can't operate it because no use at all of hands or arms. His legs are going fast now. I think his time let here on earth is short. But I guess none of us know when God wants to take us home with him, so I try to be a good person and help when I can. Sorry to go on, I just need to talk about it once in a while. My sister has to work full time, but the state is trying to get a full time nurse to help out, he is afraid to be alone now. The saddest thing his love of life was ROCK CLIMBING , HIS PASSION HE LOVED IT SO MUCH, AND HE WAS SO GREAT AT IT.

I am off to order the tapes thanks Dani, keep us posted on your progress.

Nancy and Dani, thank you both for your caring and kind words, God Bless you both.

Debbie

 

[hippahips]

Debbie, I am sorry to hear about your sister and her husband. Wow, rock climbing... I don't know what to say.

I got this Pilates DVD from Target for $14.99. I'm only a beginner in Pilates, so this is perfect for me. It's called Pilates for Every Body by bodywisdommedia. It has a variety of routines, from beginner to advanced. The teaching is kinda slow and it might bore you a bit, but if you're looking for clear instruction and details on form, this is it. Since it has routines for intermediate and advanced exercisers, this is a DVD to grow with. It's also a good addition to all the Pilates titles that have been mentioned. I just also got Karen Voight's Total Body Pilates. Haven't tried it yet, and seasoned Pilates exercisers have said it hardly does anything for them but hey, I need to start somewhere. I like yoga more and somehow Pilates hasn't grown on me, but I like having some workouts available because variety is important.

I wish you and your family the best.

Pinky

 

[debra123]

Thanks for the kind words Pinky, I do appreciate it. I will check the pilates tape out when I go to target. I have been doing pilates for a while but haven't been consistant enough. I really want to try and add them on with my Cathe work outs. I am really going to try harder this time. I think I will order the winsor that Dani mentioned, boy has she had some good results. Thanks and good luck with them. For stressful days I am also ordering the candle light yoga, it will be a nice one for evening, just to relax to.

Take care and thanks very much.

Debbie