Rotation Questions for Lower Body

[puja]

I have looooong been a lurker here have sort of sporadically checked in over the past 10 or 15 years. I've searched past posts and have gotten some great suggestions but I'm posting here as I would love to hear from everyone (again) about the importance of a strict rotation along with suggestions about what works best for them. I'm pear shaped and would love to lean out my lower half. Obviously weight loss is part of the equation but I'm not overweight really, just very jiggly
Last year after I had surgery I didn't work out at all but quickly dropped 10 pounds and my legs definitely looked thinner. But the lack of exercise and weight loss left me with more cellulite and jiggles, muscle loss I guess. So I'm looking to tighten everything up and I want to know how important a strict rotation is. Currently I try to do high intensity cardio a few times a week as well as walking. I'm doing traditional leg workouts (like the Firm's Standing Legs, which makes me cry) along with Callanetics and Pilates. Because I'm trying to include everything, and therefore not on a super strict rotation, am I not doing myself any favors? I've only gotten serious in the past two weeks so I'm not at a point where I would see results one way or the other. I would love to hear suggestions on what's worked for everyone. Thanks!

[eventmom]

Well I'll probably be flamed, but the only workouts that changed my lower body in a positive way were:
1. Joyce Vedral - particularly bottoms up gold plus
2. Tracy Anderson - Metamorphosis
3. Callanetics - but I had to do it daily.

[FirmDancer]

I definitely believe in large compound moves such as squats, lunges, deadlifts, and tall box work for building strength. But - I end up with a "bulky" appearance, which may be fine for many, but it's not what I want. To be less jiggly, I prefer Tracy Anderson. Her focus on high reps and isolating all the different muscles works for me.

[deineira]

Originally Posted by puja

. I would love to hear suggestions on what's worked for everyone. Thanks!

My legs are VERY stubborn. The only things that have made a dent in them were Cathe's Low Impact Series workouts in the rotation she prescribed at the time of release, and consistent ART workouts. I tried the heavy weights route for my legs and though they got more toned, they did not lean out or shrink, which is what I am aiming for. I've not been super consistent with TA because she bores me to death, but others seem to have really good luck with her. I do a variety of workouts, like kickboxing, weights, metabolic workouts, HDM, lots of Cathe of myriad variety,kettlebells, but those two approaches/rotations gave me the best results. I did a couple of P57 rotations and Suzanne Bowen hoping that might move the needle, but nothing exciting happened with them either.

[PrairieGem]

I've posted this before, but here goes again. I'm in my early 40s and have been working out since my late teens. In that time I've been every weight and size from over 200lbs and a size 18/20, to a size 4/6 and 17% body fat. Usually somewhere in the middle. I have a very soft and curvy figure (even when very lean) and carry my weight in my hips and thighs (and build strong legs easily, yay!) I've done every kind of workout except yoga/pilates, probably, from heavy weights to HIIT and barre, AWT/circuits, bodyweight/metabolic stuff... you name it.

In all that time, only TWO things have given me noticeable slimming results in my legs: A ski machine (in college) and running (the last couple years). Steady-state, repetitive cardio where my legs are going back and forth, swiftly, for 25-45 minutes, 3-6 times a week. Walking, alas, doesn't do it (probably b/c I can't burn enough calories walking to make a noticeable difference in my weight).

YMMV, of course, but since "steady state cardio" is no longer a trendy answer , I thought I'd throw it out because it DOES work for some of us, some of the time.

If you hate doing it, though, it won't help at all! So as always, the best bet is to find what you love and embrace it, and then love your legs for being strong and capable and being able to do the workouts you enjoy. (You could not, for instance, pay me enough money to go back to the ski machine, or any cardio machine. I lost my love for it ages ago and never got it back, alas.)

[alisoncooks]

Bar Method worked for me...and when I hit a plateau with that, Jari Love gave me visible results.

One time I did Couch to 5k, and the area just above my knees tightened up nicely. (But everything else hurt, LOL, so that's a moot point.)

[MsThistlebottom]

Originally Posted by eventmom

Well I'll probably be flamed, but the only workouts that changed my lower body in a positive way were:
1. Joyce Vedral - particularly bottoms up gold plus
2. Tracy Anderson - Metamorphosis
3. Callanetics - but I had to do it daily.

No flames from this quarter!

I'm an extreme pear and have had great results in the past with the following:

1. Joyce Vedral, particularly BUG+, as eventmom mentioned.
I lose inches (and eventually pounds) every single time I stick to this faithfully while keeping my diet in check. (Note to self: Why am I not doing this now? )
2. Jari Love - particularly the original Ripped and Ripped to the Core
I'm older now and have to be careful with Jari. My joints can feel sort of torn up the following day if I do a longer (30+ min) workout.
3. Walking and rebounding daily
Walking outside or walking with Leslie--doesn't matter, steady-state cardio has been very effective in the past in turning this extreme pear into a smaller pear.

[beyond.omega]

I think no matter what you do, whether it's a certain workout or your current potpourri, it is going to take longer than a couple weeks to see any lasting results. Try more like 3 months. Or 6. Or 12.

Personally, things that make my legs look really good:
1) Callanetics
2) T-Tapp

Finally, if you are concerned about cellulite, I would recommend at least looking into T-Tapp, but you should know that even with T-Tapp and all the excited testimonials about cellulite, they all say it takes months and months even a couple years, and more than just exercise (some of which cannot be talked about on VF.)

[Honeydew]

Ballet Body is amazing for the lower body(abs and upper body too!) I got my best results following her Ballet Body Periodization System I. I did not add any other workouts except Essentrics on the yoga/stretch days. This rotation firmed me up, gained definition(although not like Cathe and not anywhere near what Leah looks like) but was very happy with my results. As for cellulite, I would love to have a fascia blaster! Seems like those who use it are getting good results! I have to say that eating healthy and exercising has not gotten rid of mine.

[noodles]

Booty Extreme 2 - best results I've ever gotten, along with a clean d**t, otherwise I cannot shed the fat to reveal the muscle. Not sure if it's just the fact that legs are worked 3 times/week or if it's the actual sequencing/ super sets in the workouts but it's the best $$ I've ever spent and to maintain the effects I now use one of these DVD's/week along with Cathe's RWH and ICE leg DVD's each week to avoid any boredom or plateau.
Jamie