10-16-13, 09:08 AM | |
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Milwaukee, WI
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I've definitely experienced puffiness in the thighs with this program, and it was probably at its worst at the beginning of Phase 2.
I'm in Phase 3 Week 2 right now and feel like I'm starting to "deflate" a little bit. But, I've been doing more cardio on the off days and really focusing on drinking enough water and not eating at night (my personal downfall). I tried the diet the first week and I was hangry, so I haven't been following it. I'm going to finish it to see what happens. I like the aesthetic results I'm getting. I knew I wasn't going to drop two sizes going in, so for me it was about trying a different style of lifting, which I've really come to enjoy. |
10-16-13, 01:10 PM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Nov 2001
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I think my "massive thighs" are a combination of swelling and muscle growth. I do tend to build muscles easily in my lower body, but I think they were particularly big that day. In fact, my husband will tell me that he likes the way I look better when I focus on barre-type training since I can tend to get bulky with heavier weights. I just wanted to try this program because I was feeling like I wasn't really focused with my barre workouts and needed to try something different. I would love to add more cardio in, but with four kids and a job, I'm squeezing this in already. I do extra on the off days from D2S (like walking or barre), but not too much extra. I'm going to stick with it and then move on after I'm finished the rotation.
I really enjoy the program and want to like the results. I don't have the book to follow the diet, and honestly I have a tough time following any certain eating plan because my life is just so busy, it overwhelms me to think about having to eat a particular way. I try to make good choices, track on My Fitness Pal, and drink lots of water. I know the results would be better if I followed the diet exactly, but I'm willing to forgo the amazing results and not be stressed out because of the eating plan. I'll settle for ok results I guess! Just don't want my pants getting tighter
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Emily |
10-22-13, 03:56 PM | |
Join Date: Apr 2002
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I have two more strength workouts to finish (phase 3 strength 1 and strength 2 only 1 more time each). I still also have to do the cardio. Since I've been doing 4 sets for the last 2 weeks (i/o 3) I'm getting some major dread.
I still think I may continue this 1x a week and use it as my heavy strength. I'll either do 1x/ week (hopefully 4 sets) or do it twice a week but only do 1/2 workout (4 sets). |
10-27-13, 11:35 PM | ||
Join Date: Apr 2002
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10-28-13, 11:48 AM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Colorado Springs
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I didn't drop any sizes, but I definitely had a noticeable improvement in my core strength. I could probably have gone heavier on some of the exercises, but my heaviest dumbbell is 20 lbs.
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"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." Leo Tolstoy |
10-30-13, 02:37 PM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Nov 2001
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I'm halfway through the last week of phase 2, and I'm much happier now. I don't take measurements, but I do notice my clothes fitting better. I never expected going into this to drop two sizes as I knew I couldn't commit to the eating plan, but I have noticed my core is definitely in better shape (i.e., my muffin top has decreased), my legs feel more solid, and my butt fits my pants better. Overall, I just feel less squishy!
I have been doing minimal cardio, and I am happy that I can maintain and actually even improve my body (although just a little improvement) by doing such little cardio. I have arthritis in one of my feet which makes extended cardio such as walking, running, step, dance, etc. have a dread factor, and I get tired of the never-ending cardio with no results. This is the first time I have been so committed to a program since my early 20s when I was working out at the gym lifting heavy all the time. I always get distracted and move on to something else, but I really wanted to follow the workout plan as closely as I could so I could see if this would work for me. I know I could have gotten better results if I had followed the diet (and possibly done more of the RAMP and foam rolling), but I am much happier this week than I was two or three weeks ago. I definitely feel that the swelling has gone down. I really like Rachel and this approach to lifting weights. Now my question is what to do after this?
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Emily |
10-30-13, 03:01 PM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Colorado Springs
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If you follow a strict eating plan, almost any fitness rotation will show fat loss results. While I think D2S is a well designed program, I don't think it's a miracle plan.
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"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." Leo Tolstoy |
10-30-13, 03:54 PM | |||
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Alberta
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in any case, I'm glad that the program seems to be working better for you now. I have observed similar things in the past - going through a bit of a size increase before things turn back around. It seems fairly common. I too have been pleased to find that when I'm pressed for time, I do OK with focusing primarily on strength, followed by short metabolic workouts. It's not that I don't like steady state cardio - I do - but when I'm short on time I will shift the priority to strength work, with outcomes that I'm happy with. If you like this overall approach, then you might enjoy other programs with similar styles - the NROL series (I'm doing NROL4L right now), Strong Curves, Core Performance. They tend to have overlapping philosophies. I just got one of Nia Shanks's programs and I'm thinking of doing that one for the spring. Or...wait, did you mean paper, or DVD workouts?
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Sophie be as relaxed as you can be, as you do what you gotta do. ~erich schiffman |
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Tags |
appetite, cosgrove, d2s, drop 2 sizes, drop two sizes, full body strength, metabolic, rachel cosgrove, water retention |
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