..Yes..it actually Does work!!...

[Need2LoseNow]

so, has anyone actually lost a dress size in 14 days?

[bfuser]

I did!

Ruth

[bfuser]

Well, Dee, I just have to say again how great you look. It looks like you really took control of your weight, and are very successful. I don't qualify for gastric bypass, but I do need to lose 80 pounds. I see the doctor again on June 27th, and will ask if she thinks maybe my thyroid meds should go up again.

I have lost 12 pounds since November, but that is very discouraging since I eat LC and have been able to exercise again. After a short hospital stay back in February from exhaustion I was told no strenuous exercise or housework until my metabolism was working again.

I don't miss the house work part, but do miss the exercise! That is why I have gone back to BF. I can do it in 15 to 20 minutes. I am thinking of buying SS. I found it through Bizrate for one payment of $39.99. I do want to try the book that I ordered first though to see if I get results from that.

[Need2LoseNow]

Originally Posted by bfuser

I did!

Ruth

awesome!!!

[Bandy1]

I went to the website to purchase it. I thought $40 would be better than the the last price I saw on it. By the time you choose DVD over VHS, and then add shipping, its about $55. ($12.95 shipping) I went to eBay, and people are paying more there than you have to pay on the website. Unless I can get a "deal", I will have to wait till I get a job.

[bfuser]

Hi Brenda! I didn't order SS so I didn't realize that shipping was $12.50. I am supposed to get the book about spot reducing in 7 minutes a day. Basically all SS is is isometric exercises that you hold for a minimum of 25 seconds each and then increase the holding as you improve. BF is basically isometrics. I am hoping to use this book to duplicate Greer's method. If I can do it I will have saved a lot of money. If I can't do it then I will try to buy SS. I am betting that the isometrics will work.

[Bandy1]

Thanks. They posted directions on one of the pages, but I'm just not sure if I am doing it right. I quit doing it for awhile, and am going to give it a shot again. I thought it might help to motivate me if I actually had the program.

Good luck to you!

[sazzie]

Bandy

If you're not sure about the moves with SS, maybe I can help you through it.

It is such a short exercise, that it is worth learning the right way. Probably you're doing it correctly, just need some validation.

Here is a c/p of an explanation of the tape from Carolyn.

It's all about tightening your muscles and holding it for 25 seconds..release and do this 3 more times..changing positions.

1. Your arms: hold your arms out to the side at a 90 degree angle..elbows bent and hands making a fist, facing upwards..now squeeze your arms like crazy for 25 secs and hold in your tummy..Release after 25 secs..Then move your arms 2 inches up..tighten and release..move them again, repeat, and one more time moving them like you were flexing your biceps..

2. Your triceps: bring your arms in back of you, make a fist..tighten your arms and squeeze your shoulders together..25 secs..hold..release..raise your
arms 2 inches higher, squeeze and release..On this one, you can lean your torso a bit forward..Repeat raising the arms until they are as high as they will go in back of you..Squeeze those shoulders/arms..

3. Your fanny: Stand on the floor..on the balls of your feet..have a chair a foot in front of you and use the back of the chair for balance..thrust out
your pelvis and squeeze your fanny for 25 secs..release and repeat 3 more times..You will feel it all down your leg..and as you thrust your pelvis forward you will feel it more..
************************************************** *******

This is a post from me further explaining the arm movements:

Start with your elbows parallel to your waist, and move 2 in up each time, so by the time your done with the 4th set, your elbows are parallel to your shoulders.

An analogy would be holding a baby in your arms in front of you and gradually lifting the baby in the air. Just remember the last set is parallel to your shoulders.
************************************************** ********

Hope this helps you all a bit. If not, I'll try and answer any questions for you.

[linjsmit]

Hello! I'm new here and trying to figure out how to do the moves as well! Sazzie, I'm confused as to where my arms are supposed to go..? Do you put them out like you are flexing (out to the side) or kind of like a bicep curl where they are infront of you..? Thanks so much if you can answer this! How is everyone doing on SS? I've been trying it for 2 days and the back of my arms are very sore! haha

[ADLMA]

I started doing SS, based on Caroline's instructions, while waiting for my DVD to arrive. I will say, I may not be the sharpest tack, but, I was doing the SS pretty close to the DVD. The only thing was my arm position in the back. . .I held them straight out, but they are to be bent at the elbow slightly. . .that's about all I did wrong. Oh, and I use the kitchen counter for my bottom/leg sets. Get your feet about two feet from the counter top and get up on those toes, squish that bottom, hold in that tummy, and push the pelvis forward just a little. while keeping the legs tight. You'll feel it! Even doing them slightly wrong, I saw results. . .something like an inch off in my waist in a week and two total in two weeks. I think you should just take a whack at it! Save your pennies and do as she posted! I think I lost 8 lbs in the first two weeks. If you follow her instructions, you'll be close enough! Feel free to ask questions, any of us will be glad to answer them.

[ADLMA]

I'll try to verify the location to start arms. . .about just below the belt line, and increase upward a little at a time x 4 total times. If you go into advanced, you fists are sort of benind your neck/shoulder area and you squeeze like mad.

[onogirludidn]

Sazzie thank you very much for posting the directions again....I will give it a shot and see if I can't figure it out. Thanks so much

[RockyMtnAngelEyes]

Hi everyone. I haven't been by for quite a while. LOTS going on IRL..

I forgot that I promised to give you a heads up on the 7 Minute.... book, quite a while ago....

It's not what I was hoping it was going to be.. It's a program of a few movements to target each area, that you do for 7 minutes {for each area} Most of hte 'moves' were thinsg we've all done forever.. Like leg lifts, wall push ups, etc.. I don't have the book in front of me, so sorry I'm giveing such a vague review...


But it's not going to dup any SS moves...

I need to remember when I'm at the librar, to check to see if they carry any isometric books.. If I find anything, I'll be sure to let you know...

[CarolynF]

Hi gang,

I've started doing the SS again..and glad that some of you are using the instructions..Thanks for the arm clarification, Adlma. Plus, I've been using something more solid than a chair (like a counter) for the lower body exercises.

There is one for the face, but it's too hard to explain...even if you see Greer doing it..LOLOL

[heidi21062]

Originally Posted by bfuser

I did!

Ruth

Were you following Greer's eating plan?

[ADLMA]

Oh, it wasn't really a clarification! You did an outstanding job explaining the SS. . .so much so, I thought about sending mine back, as I was already doing the SS or super close to it! You did an amazing job with the details.

Now, that face thing, I don't even do it. Even watching her do it, I don't think I do it right.

[sazzie]

Carolyn Good to see you posting again. Those instructions you gave are right on the money.

After having done this for a long while, I know it by heart, and so I loaned the DVD to my daughter.

Lin Yes, like a bicep curl at a 90o angle starting at the waist, and raising them 2 inches each time for a count of 25 seconds.

[bfuser]

Hi Heidi! No, I did not use Greer's eating plan. At the time I was not following any plan. I have started doing BF again but am following the Metabolic Typing Plan. Since I am a high protein type I eat 90% protein throughout the day.

Thanks, Sazzie for the SS directions. I will try to incorporate them into my routine.

The book arrived today, and these are pretty much like what the lady with the pink writing said. I read the book in a couple of hours and I disagree with the author's assessment of what one should be eating. I know for a fact that carbs do not work well for me... I gain when I eat too many carbs, One thing that did make sense was the spot fat reducing. I am familiar with the French study he cited. While the exercises are ones we have seen before the directions for doing them are very similar to the ones in Sazzies's SS directions in that you hold them for several seconds while isometrically squeezing the muscle(is that a scientific term?). He gives three separate exercises for each place you want to spot reduce. Each body area takes 7 minutes, and you work one part at a time. For instance he gives as an example doing arms one day and abs the next. I tried them according to his directions and could not do seven minutes. I broke a sweat after 3 minutes. So while these are the same exercises they are done using a different technique than I have ever used.

The areas he gives exercises for are the arms, the hips, thighs, buttocks, and abs. I am planning on trying it for my arms and abs. So I will continue with BF for right now and add the 7 minute arms and abs alternating days.

I also found this little book with a total body isometric work out in 5 minutes per day. It is called Energizing Isometrics by Sal V. Denard. I found it in a second hand book store and the photos of the bicep and fore arm isometric exercise are exactly what Sazzie described as the one in SS.

Well now to figure out how to incorporate these all into my BF routine.

[Bandy1]

Thanks for the instructions again. I will give it another go'round. I really appreciate the clarification. (I was making my arms go out like wings on the first one instead of like raising a baby up. That was a very good analogy.)

[aloise]

boy.. these exercises feel good, don't they? and the best thing.. you can do them while you are waiting for dinner to cook

[bfuser]

Well, I will be returning the 7 Minute Miracle workout to Barnes and Nobel. The exercises might work, but after doing the ones for abs this AM it would seem that they are too difficult for a woman who is 80 pounds over weight, and out of shape. I think you almost need to be an athlete to do them properly.

However the 5 minute isometric work out from the book Energizing Isometrics is great. Not only could I do them but I could really feel the burn in every muscle group that was targeted. I got mine second hand. I felt great after doing them so this will be what I combine with BF!

Ruth

[RockyMtnAngelEyes]

Ruth, thanks for the info on the little book you found.. I'm going to see if I can find a copy of it!!

I wish I would have returned my 7 Minute book, but I waited to long.. Whne I found it, it really sounded like it was going to be what we both hoped it was... Darn it!

[DEBeachMom]

I have a question, I guess about form when doing the arm exercises...How do you keep your chest/pecs from "getting involved"? I'm having a hard time isolating just my arm muscles. Or are you naturally working out your chest too?

[sazzie]

DEBeachMom

I was about to do my routine, but came here first and read your question, and now I can answer it.

The pecs do get involved, and that is OK.....yes, you naturally involve the pecs.

For some reason today, I really felt my muscles working. Of course I walked 3 miles this morning, and a bit ago, finished another Callan session, so I'm ready to just chill for the rest of the night.

KUTGW everyone!

[DEBeachMom]

Thanks so much for answering so quickly! Now I can keep on moving!

[bfuser]

Hi Kiki! I think the reviews of the 7 Minute workout book were very misleading. Barnes and Noble will take it back, but only for a store credit. If you got yours from B&N they will take it back at anytime for store credit.
So far my 5 minute Isometric work out is giving me a terrific workout. I do that one in the morning and BF at night.

Ruth

[RockyMtnAngelEyes]

Originally Posted by bfuser

Hi Kiki! I think the reviews of the 7 Minute workout book were very misleading. Barnes and Noble will take it back, but only for a store credit. If you got yours from B&N they will take it back at anytime for store credit.
So far my 5 minute Isometric work out is giving me a terrific workout. I do that one in the morning and BF at night.

Ruth

Hi Ruth.. I got mine on the web.. I only piad $6 or $7, so it was no big lose.. But I agree, they way it was advertised was TOTALLY misleading..

I did do a search after your post on the little book.. Found it, but for what they say it is, and some reviews I read, I won't be paying what they are asking at all the sites I found it at.. If I could get it for cheap, I'd buy it tho... There were a couple other books tho, that caught my eye, and seem to actually be isometrics, like we're talking about...

I'm curious and want to ask those with the SS DVD's, if any of you have the newest BF DVD's? I was reading a lot of BF messages last night, searching for the SS boards, if there were any.. Several people posted and said the SS moves are basically the same as the 'new' BF moves... I haven't looked at my BF for quite awhile, but someone posted one of the SS, lower body moves, and it sure seemed to be the same as one on the 'new' BF... I need to get them out and look at them I guess...

Here's the one that was posted for lower body, in case any of you are interested... I have no idea how many there are for the lower body.. I'm guessing 3, maybe 4?????
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope I can explain this ok...this one is for your waist area...get seated in a chair...now while keeping your knees facing forward, twist your waist to the right holding on to the side arm of the chair (or I will actually twist and hold onto the back of the chair)...while twisted you suck in your stomach and tighten the ab area...but make sure you are not holding your breath...breathe normally while doing this...now hold the position of twisting at the waist and pulling in your tummy for 25 seconds...after 25 seconds relax for a couple seconds...now once again knees forward, twist at the waist to the right and hold onto the arm of the chair, pulling in your stomach and again hold that position for another 25 seconds...once you are done with that side, switch sides...knees forward, turn at the waist and twist to the left...suck in stomach and hold that position for 25 seconds...then relax for a couple seconds and repeat for that side, holding for another 25 seconds. Very simple exercise, but I tell ya my tummy area stays sore from this. I really give it my all when doing these exercises.