07-19-17, 10:52 PM | ||
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Join Date: Dec 2006
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I'm glad to hear you are working toward acceptance. I think you thighs will appreciate it. You certainly have gotten a lot of great ideas on this thread. I just wanted to add a few thoughts to what others have said. 1) In regards to Callanetics, I learned in taking classes that the secret to making it a slimming exercise is actually the stretches. It's not clear if you were doing them after the legs section, but also the stretches in the Callanetics 10/10 are a little...challenging. In class, we used to do classic lower body stretches - lying down hamstrings (maybe with a strap) and standing quad (holding a barre for balance if you need it.) 20-30 seconds of stretch for each one (either one stretch, or splitting it up.) Those after the Legs section. Blueskies mentioned working glutes - that is what the classic Pretzel exercises targets - the gluteus medius, which is on the "Hips" section of the 10/10 DVD. (Note, In class, we followed those exercises with the "4 stretch" and another outer thigh stretch.) When you do any/all of the stretches it is important to really gently relax into it rather than forcing it - for slimming and safety. In addition, the "Bellydance Exercise" in the cool down section also targets the hips and the legs. So, by doing just the legs section you weren't quite getting all the lower body exercises. If you still want to try Callanetics, you could get the Quick Callanetics DVD's that target the Hips and Legs and alternate. Each DVD is about 20 min. That might fit your schedule better and you can be sure you are getting your stretches in too. Maybe you can get it from the library to save money. However, you also said you don't really like it, so I agree with others that maybe this just isn't for you. 2) Looking at the photo you posted, since you posted the side view, I noticed you have a bulge on your upper front quad. That can be associated with a tight psoas, or your psoas kicking in involuntarily when doing other exercise. I'm not sure that is it since you said you have strong abs, but I wonder if for some reason your psoas is just kicking in anyway when you are targeting another muscle. If this is it, it certainly can be challenging to get your psoas to settle down. One effect of targeting the glutes (especially with the Bridging exercise which stretches the psoas while contracting the glutes) is to give relief to the psoas. An extremely tight psoas is a problem I experience and the exercises I was given was Constructive Rest Position, which is very boring but also soothing, and a gentle stretch. But you may need to pay attention to them even when you are exercising. 3) This might be a little out there for you, but I once got the best legs I ever had by doing a 10 minute sitting T-Tapp workout. I am not exaggerating. I always have had an issue with my inner thigh from knee to groin, and for the first time ever the pudge was gone replaced by a shapely shape. It is the Chair routine on the T-Tapp More workout. It is actually a total body routine, but I think the pushing into the ground with knees out targets the inner thigh in a way that you can't when doing a standing workout. I got results very quickly - a couple weeks. I didn't actually lose any weight. I really don't mean to sound like an infomercial . If this is something you might want to try, T-Tapp has a 20-minute chair routine as a digital workout for $20. I have never done it, but it probably is similar. (BTW, YMMV) But most of all, I still wonder if your legs really are a lot nicer than you think, and maybe you just need to find a different brand of pants that fits you better. |
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07-20-17, 01:54 AM | ||
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Arkansas
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Carol "You speak of what you need, but you say nothing of what you are needed for." |
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07-20-17, 06:24 AM | ||
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: NH
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What won't work as well is throwing an isolated set of Callanetics Pelvic waves or plies at your body. The warm ups, exercises and stretches work together to reshape the body. Also you mention suffering. The relaxation aspect of Callanetics can't be over stated. It's soooo important. All that said, if you hate it ditch it. Life is too short......
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07-20-17, 07:15 AM | |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Georgia
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As far as cardio and length of time spent working out, my legs look their best now with Pilates and walking. I'm doing a bit of "easy" cardio with Gin Miller on the Ramp this summer because temperatures in the 90s with near 100% humidity mean I don't enjoy walking as long outdoors. But my Pilates practice is usually 20-45 minutes daily. That's it. And I do get plenty of stretching in my week. When I worked out FAR longer, my legs didn't look as good as they do now. Go figure.
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Cheri |
07-20-17, 11:00 AM | |
Join Date: May 2011
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Wow blue.omega, thank you so much for all the information! I'll do some research on psoas stretches. I wonder if that could explain the bulk in front of my thighs.
The portions of Callanetics I am skipping are the warm up section/abs/waist/arms/lower back stretch - I keep the warm up stretch exercise after the waist stretch in which you bend over and pulse against the legs. I do all the leg and hip exercises and I do all the stretches that are leg-centric. So I am doing most of the stretches. I only start doing Callanetics in the last week, so I have been under-stretching most likely. I like that Callanetics has a lot of stretching, I just really don't look forward to the pelvic exercises and the tip-toe leg exercises. I don't mind the floor work so much. I'll look into the T-Tap exercise. Again, thanks for all the advice and feedback, I have read over it all and really appreciate. |
07-20-17, 11:10 AM | ||
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Western NY
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body acceptance, body dysmorphia, legs, pear shape, thighs |
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