Two-week results of "legs every day"

[Govtgirl]

All I can say is, why didn't I go back to this before??? The thing that peeled the weight off me years ago was doing the FIRM every day, and just being mindful of what I ate.

And it's working again. I'm doing some of my old FIRMs (yes, still have a soft spot for them), Cathe, and running. Basically working out for an hour a day, total body, using weights that make me sweat but not tearing me apart (like, two 10 lb dumbells for squats, two 8 lbs for tall box).

It's working. I'm down 5 pounds in 2 and a half weeks. I even checked on the doctor scale at the gym to make sure I wasn't deceiving myself, and it says down 5 lbs too. This is MAJOR for me. The scale was not budging before at all.

FYI, I'm 5'4", and got kind of chubby (for me) over the winter at 139 lbs. Got to 136, then 134 when I started "legs every day". I'm now 129! I haven't been in the 120's for at least 3 years. My goal is to be 125 by August 16, and I do beleive I'm gonna get there!

By the by, I'm kind of a curvy type girl. Apparently heavy gym weights just don't work for my body type, at least not to lose weight. I will probably do one day a week of heavy weights later on, but just for strength's sake, not for any notion that I'm going to lean out that way.

I'm also going to start INSANITY tomorrow. I have a feeling that's gonna make the last 4-5 pounds fall off! I'm a bit scared, that is one tough workout, but I'm giving it a shot!!

 

[ms71069]

Congratulations for finding what works for you!

I've yet to find my "magic formula," but I know that my legs respond better to lower weight/higher reps, but my upper body needs that heavy lifting routine to even things out...ugh!

 

[Fit_mommy]

Congrats Govtgirl! You rock! 5# in 2 weeks is AWESOME! Wish I could find something that would do that for me!

I am currently struggling myself. I have tried heavy lifting, endurance lifting, a little cardio, alot of cardio. I just can't find that "recipe for success" these days! I am eating pretty well and watching my calories and macros yet I'm really not seeing much change and I've been at it for MONTHS now!

I am starting to save the bucks for a GWF now. I staunchly protested it for quite some time (due to the price) but I am at my wits end and think I need to give it a shot.

 

[kariev]

congrats on your weight loss and finally finding what works for you. that is the hardest thing to do. i wanted to know what firm and cathe workouts are you doing? what does a typical week look like for you?

 

[syzygy314]

Congrats on finding your magic formula! I, too, have been stuck at 130 these last couple of months. I'd get down to about 128 and climb right back to 130-131. I finally backed off of the weights and added more running/interval running. Also, I'm making absolutely certain to burn over 500 cals with each workout. This seems to be doing it! I'm finally down to 127.2 and, hopefully, all goes well, I'll make it to 125. I think this is my body telling me that I'm about at the lowest weight it wants to go to! If I can hit that, I'll be ecstatic! The trick will be staying there!

For reference, I'm 5'4", medium boned, and 47! I have found that it has taken a lot more work and time to get my weight down in my 40s! Have to stay here and not get lax this time! I would hate to have to do this all over again in my 50s!

Again, I know you're going to get there! Keep it up and don't let yourself get frustrated!

 

[chefkate]

Congratulations! Those results are awesome!

 

[ldy_solana]

congrats. i am thinking of keeping my upper body heavy weights b/c that is where my natural weakness is. even without heavy weight work my legs stay pretty strong. but for the rest of me its high rep/lower weight,kettlebells and barre workouts mixed with cardio. of course i will plan something for after i come back from NJ

kassia

 

[tsagona]

All I can say is, why didn't I go back to this before??? The thing that peeled the weight off me years ago was doing the FIRM every day, and just being mindful of what I ate.

Hi Govtirl,

I have done the EXACT same thing. I posted a couple of weeks ago about working out at a lower level, ie not pushing quite as hard during cardio and lifting lighter so my HR didn't stay on the high end. I am still doing STS and on the cardio days I have returned to the FIRM C+S workouts using light weights (10# for squats, leg press and lunges and biceps as well) and also watching my food intake and I've dropped 4 lbs. I've been doing it for 2 weeks only. So like you, I do my light leg work everyday and then I'm doing my STS routine also. Seems to be the formula that's right for my body.

Tracy

 

[looking good]

Govt Girl

Awesome job....I'm 41 and weight 130 -132 depending on the day and about 1 1/2 years ago I was 120 .... the wieght creep back on and its like HELL to get back off....been dedicated with my eating making sure I have lots of greens with each meal (except breakfast) usually on the run here and hope by the end of Aug to be at around 125 - 127.....your post is inspiring me on.... so thanks....keep up the good work!!

Therese

 

[kariev]

All I can say is, why didn't I go back to this before??? The thing that peeled the weight off me years ago was doing the FIRM every day, and just being mindful of what I ate.

Hi Govtirl,

I have done the EXACT same thing. I posted a couple of weeks ago about working out at a lower level, ie not pushing quite as hard during cardio and lifting lighter so my HR didn't stay on the high end. I am still doing STS and on the cardio days I have returned to the FIRM C+S workouts using light weights (10# for squats, leg press and lunges and biceps as well) and also watching my food intake and I've dropped 4 lbs. I've been doing it for 2 weeks only. So like you, I do my light leg work everyday and then I'm doing my STS routine also. Seems to be the formula that's right for my body.

Tracy

Tracy: when using STS are you just doing meso 1 to keep the weights light or are you just using light weights for all meso cycles?

 

[cakebaker]

I guess I do "some" legs everyday (5X a wk)

I tried Lower Body Solution years ago, and all it did was wear me out! Now I do pilates/yoga legs 3X a week along with spinning on the sames days, and 2X a week of some limited basic squats/lunges type stuff. I use NO weights, other than holding a med ball for the "limited basic" stuff. My legs are smaller and more defined that they ever were when I used weights, and I mean I tried heavy, light, you name it! My favorite workout tools are Mindy Mylrea's Gliding Discs.

Bottom line - you have to try everything to see what will work for you. If you had told me 5 years ago that what I was doing now would work so well, I'd have told you that you were nuts!

 

[cakebaker]

Don't give up hope - it's never too late!

" I would hate to have to do this all over again in my 50s!"

It DID take me until I was WAY into my 50's to find the magic formula for me after 12 years if trying! I guess I got a late start!

 

[mj476]

Govtgirl - Congratulations and thanks for posting your results! I've also been stuck at around 130 since April. I'm 44. I lost about 20# when I started wtih Cathe a few years ago. I was down to about 120 but gained back around 10. I used to do lots of heavy lifting but I've just started to do more circuits and this week started Slim Series which I really think is doing the trick. I'm down 2# since Monday and my bodyfat is going down. Legs are pretty much worked every day - some days more than others.

I was doing kettlebells for about four months. Wasn't getting enough cardio in and my bodyfat was over 30%. I'm really enjoying circuits again and have been doing more interval type workouts which seem to help. Can't wait to get Shock Cardio.

Marcy

 

[serene_46]

I'm also going to start INSANITY tomorrow. I have a feeling that's gonna make the last 4-5 pounds fall off! I'm a bit scared, that is one tough workout, but I'm giving it a shot!![/QUOTE]

Join us on checkins and challenges "let's get Insane" we love to compare notes!!
Congratulations on your achievements... way to go!!!!

Brenda in Indiana

 

[tsagona]

kariev,

I'm doing STS with the recommended % of weight. I'm using light weights on my cardio days when I'm doing cardio sculpt type FIRM workouts. Where I would normally use 15-20# dumbells, I'm using only 10# to keep it light and still be able to do STS with heavy weights. Hope that makes sense.

Tracy

 

[Govtgirl]

Ok, here is a typical week of what I did. I do plan on going heavy upper body at the gym later, but my main goal this month was to lean out my core and lower body. I figure with that, and my kickin' rack nobody's gonna pay attention to my arms! Bwah hah hah!!

I never went over 20 lbs total on leg work.

Sunday: FIRM Strength + uphill walking on treadmill = 60 minutes
Monday: Interval running using Cardio Coach (love him!), plus 3 set squats, 14-20 reps depending on how I felt (20 lb total max) = 60 minutes
Tuesday: Cathe Body Max, skipping through some parts at whim but making sure I got low weight leg work in = 60 minutes
Wednesday: FIRM Maximum Body Sculpting + uphill treadmill = 60 minutes
Thursday: Cathe Low Max = 60 minutes or so
Friday: Interval running using Cardio Coach plus 3 set squats (20 lb total max) = 60 minutes
Saturday: Easy walk on treadmill, maybe 30 minutes, or mow the lawn!

That's really it. I kept my calories at 1500-1800 a day eating, burning around 2500 (used GWF) and tried to be mindful if I did a light workout not to eat too much. I have to be careful that I don't over-analyze food or else I get paranoid and that's bad for me

I just made sure that I got in 60 minutes a day of work that included leg work, 6 days a week. Two days ago I worked out 2 hours I did FIRM strength in the AM then interval running for an hour in the PM. The next day I couldn't wake up on time! So today I am taking a whole day off, and starting INSANITY tomorrow. Kinda nervous 'bout that

But I think that to maintain my goal of 122-125, I can probably stick with eating what I do now, as long as I do a tough workout for 45 minutes a day 5-6 times a week focusing on total body, not being scared to work legs every day. I'm kind of going like a commando now, but figure I can back off a bit once I get where I want!