CALLANETICS CHALLENGE APRIL 2008

[yellowhair11]

I am still bit confused - I have 10 in 10 and am/pm. Which exercises are you suppose to engage your pelvic muscles in. Ex. I relax on the stomach ones but I see some posts of engaging. Can anyone list the ones where you are to engage or not ? I am getting mixed up reading all the posts.

[ConnieB]

Good morning all! Just checking in after having been awol from this board. Still doing my Callan though. Have completed 9 hours of 10/10 and 1/2 hour of CardioCallan.

Your right Lisa, the Cardio is tough with the fibro, but I plan to keep trying it and eventually mastering it. I've found that the Callan seems to keep my fibro at bay for the most part. If I miss two days in a row I pay for it however.

Can really tell the difference in my working out from hour 1 to now and loving it.

And I think it is ThyckeCutie that was going to make a bar like the one for sale on ebay. DH made me one and from watching him, I probably could have done it myself, so go for it. One hint, DH added playground sand to the pieces that lay on the floor to stabalize it and give it a little extra weight.

Connie B

[SummerSue]

Did 10 in 10 this morning.

I find when I do the dvd's 3 days in a row, my third time is not as "good" as the first two. I guess I'm tired; I know my stretches aren't as good because my muscles are tight compared to the other 2 days. Is this just me or is anyone else finding this?

That makes it at least 1.5 hours done then, the extra tension probably strengthened your pulses...

Congrats on your dedication. I am exercising after mine are asleep to avoid these problems!

3Diva - My kids are old enough to entertain themselves while I exercise - I'm demanding it this time around because everytime in the past that I've gotten into a routine, it seems to go by the wayside. Last year I was in the gym and then summer vacation happened and my workouts ended. That's one reason why this is perfect - I can do it anywhere, anytime. Of course, the best reason is the results!!!

I'm still not seeing results - it's been 9 hours. I feel them, but don't see them. When did everyone see some definite results?

[ScrtGrl]

Good morning everyone!

I was planning on doing some reading for work and my Callan 10/10 tonight...but now after checking in on this thread I'm so motivated I'm going to pop in the DVD now! I mean really, what's more important, work or a peachy behind?! I think you know where my priorities lie....

Have a great day!

Secret

[SummerSue]

Just a note to my last post - I'm about 40 lbs overweight. So I imagine people who are not carrying as much extra weight will have quicker results - I'm wondering when people who are overweight saw results?

[Cali-fan]

I am so excited to be here with you - its like I just won the lotto! I've been a 10/10 fan since around 1990 and had NO idea other people were still following it too! It wasn't until this month that I actually completed 20+ hours of 10/10 in a consistent 3X/week routine and all I can say is WOW!! I always knew it was good, but now I know I'll NEVER stop again. I was so awestruck with my results that I started googling Callanetics to see if anyone else knew about it - which led me here I just have to ask a few questions that I've been dying to know.

Where is Callan now?
Does she still look phenominal?
Does she still teach?
Is there any recent pictures of her?

Can you tell I'm a HUGE fan of hers?

Anyway, I've enjoyed reading about all of your successes and feel even more inspired!

[planetbenjamin]

Just finished an hour (almost) of CallaneticsEvolution. I'm stuck in the office so I was improvising a bit. But I think I got a whole class in. I've been lazy for the last few days but I'm back on track now.

Welcome Cali-fan! I hear that Callan is now retired in Savannah, Georgia. She doesn't teach anymore but from what I hear she still looks phenominal!

[Cali-fan]

Thanks planetbenjamin for your quick reply and welcome. Savanah seems like a perfect place to retire and I can just picture her surrounded by fragrant magnolia trees and beautiful flowers sipping tea on her patio. Good for her - she deserves the best!

[ScrtGrl]

I was wondering what Callan is up to as well! I her!

[Mary_M]

Cali-fan--You will LOVE this board, there are sooo many people following Callanetics you won't be able to keep track.

3Diva--I rarely do Callanetics while my kids are awake because the older ones hog the tv and the younger one wouldn't let me alone LOL. (they are ages 2, 4 and 6) Once they are in bed I am able to focus on me and that's when I doing Callanetics.

[missmattie]

Originally Posted by nola baxter

Hi Sandrahanna

You mentioned at one point that you once had a big butt and large saddlebags.
I was wondering how long it took for you to change this with callanetics - and did it change with the 10times10; or with the evolution callanetics?

Having a saddlebag free butt has been one of my dreams ever since I developed them at 13 yrs. I am now 39! I too have tried everything - exercised till the cows come home, endermologie etc etc.

thanks for your time and answers here!
nola

Hi Nola,
I'm sure Sandra will answer later, but I can say that her changes were probably with 10 in 10 and maybe Super Callanetics, but not Evolution because Evolution just came out last Fall (2007) and Sandra is the lead instructor on it. I remember her saying that she started working out with Callanetics many years ago. She may have been using some of the principles on Evolution a lot longer than we have because I have a feeling that those were taught in classes long before the DVD came out. I remember seeing things about Callanetics on the internet several years ago that referred to the new technique of spiraling and I always wondered what that was. Now I think it was referring to the two additional pulses that are on the Evolution DVD. It will be interesting to see what specific exercises she found most helpful!
Kathy

[missmattie]

Originally Posted by yellowhair11

I am still bit confused - I have 10 in 10 and am/pm. Which exercises are you suppose to engage your pelvic muscles in. Ex. I relax on the stomach ones but I see some posts of engaging. Can anyone list the ones where you are to engage or not ? I am getting mixed up reading all the posts.

I think "engaging the pelvic floor" is what is said now and Callan used to say "tighten your behind." When I used to hear Callan say to tighten the behind I thought I was, but now I understand that it's all those muscles there. The description that helped me the most was from someone earlier in the month that said it's like trying to hold in your pee and bowel movement at the same time. When I hear Callan say to tighten my behind I now try to engage all those muscles.
Kathy

[missmattie]

Hi Cali-fan and ,
I found this board the same way you did, by researching Callanetics on the web. I feel so fortunate to have found this board too, all the motivation and inspiration on here has helped me stick with the program this time. Since you've been doing the exercises quite awhile I bet you have some great tips that have helped you. Please chime in with them anytime. Besides being inspired, I have learned so much from this board.
Kathy

[3Diva]

Originally Posted by missmattie

I think "engaging the pelvic floor" is what is said now and Callan used to say "tighten your behind." When I used to hear Callan say to tighten the behind I thought I was, but now I understand that it's all those muscles there. The description that helped me the most was from someone earlier in the month that said it's like trying to hold in your pee and bowel movement at the same time. When I hear Callan say to tighten my behind I now try to engage all those muscles.
Kathy

And here I was squeezing my butt cheeks together with all my might...

So it's like a Kegel exercise... that makes so much more sense!

[3Diva]

Originally Posted by SummerSue

<snip

I'm still not seeing results - it's been 9 hours. I feel them, but don't see them. When did everyone see some definite results?

I could see and feel muscle development clearly after the 2nd class (I was really slacking on any kind of weight training before then, however, so I was a couch potato who ran after kids and walked for exercise.

In the past 2 weeks (hours 4-8) I've lost 2 inches off my waist, 2 off my hips, .5 off my upper thigh and some other places, too, that I can't recall off the top of my head. However, I am dieting pretty strictly, too. I've also lost about 6 pounds and it could be smidge more if the scale is hiding a small muscle gain.

I stil have some weight to lose although I'm not sure if it's about 20 or about 30, because I'm more after being a certain size. It's hard for me to judge my body fat because all the scale and measurement calculators give me wildly varying results!

Anyway, hope this helps. I'm planning on posting some progress pics next week after hour 11, if I can find any decent starting ones to compare them with!

Take care,
Suzan

[Cali-fan]

Thanks missmattie and Mary M - I already love this board! This is where I plan on going to get a daily dose of inspiration.

missmattie - I'll certainly give advise where I can. Yes, I've owned and sporatically used the program for many years (still own my original VHS tape), but it wasn't until this last go-around that it really clicked for me. In the past, I sort of daisy picked what body parts I wanted to work on (pre-kids and pre weight gain) and never really focused on form. Beginning in February something clicked in my head and my motivation became "getting healthy". I started eating better and pulled out my old favorite tape (10/10). This time, I really listened to Callan's instructions and watched her form more closely. I started really focusing on each group of muscles being worked or stretched. I didn't get annoyed at the slow pace and really 'got-in' to it. I believe this is what worked for me this time. I look forward to my 10/10 hour now more than I ever did before. My 4 1/2 year old will do it with me sometimes and her favorite move is the pelvic rotations (go figure!)

I've already learned a ton from this board. Right now, I look forward to incorporating my pelvic floor next time.

[missmattie]

Originally Posted by 3Diva

And here I was squeezing my butt cheeks together with all my might...

So it's like a Kegel exercise... that makes so much more sense!

That's what I did too. In the Concepts portion of the Evolution and Cardio Callanetics DVD's she says that the pelvic floor is from "pubic to tail bone, hip to hip and sit bone to sit bone in a bowl like shape."

[Marisha]

Just finished my 10 th hour of Callanetics

[lowcarblulu]

Originally Posted by SummerSue

Just a note to my last post - I'm about 40 lbs overweight. So I imagine people who are not carrying as much extra weight will have quicker results - I'm wondering when people who are overweight saw results?

Hi SummerSue - I'm even more overweight than you and have seen results (wearing pants that were too tight a few weeks ago). I've done maybe 10 hours so far (since the end of March). Am low carbing but really haven't lost any poundage to speak of (perimeno...)

My posture has improved, I can feel tight ab muscles underneath all the flab. I think when you're quite overweight the exercises are much tougher - I especially feel it in my legs and butt... as we have to lift our legs and my legs are much heavier - so my muscles have to work that much harder. So I take breathers.

I absolutely love Callanetics and know that this is a program I can live with for many many years.

[lowcarblulu]

1 more hour of Evolution completed.

Since I modify during the ab exercises (bend knees, hands behind neck, etc.) my DH commented the other day that I look like a squashed bug!

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by nola baxter

Hi Sandrahanna

You mentioned at one point that you once had a big butt and large saddlebags.
I was wondering how long it took for you to change this with callanetics - and did it change with the 10times10; or with the evolution callanetics?

Having a saddlebag free butt has been one of my dreams ever since I developed them at 13 yrs. I am now 39! I too have tried everything - exercised till the cows come home, endermologie etc etc.

thanks for your time and answers here!
nola

HI Nola,

I had a huge butt (size 16 pant) and saddlebags in my 20's. I lost weight very quickly which left me with a flopping butt and I still had saddlebags. I started Callanetics in 1987 using the book only until the video came out. From memory I remember feeling as though my butt was more 'solid' and my outer thighs 'felt' more toned almost immediately. This was why I became hooked on the program as I'd been working out in the gym and had never had this 'tighter' feeling before.

Once the video was released I saw my butt changing even quicker. However, it really started to transform when I understood that the pelvic floor muscles were an important part of creating a youthful behind and toned outer thighs.

That's why in 10/10 and SuperC Callan keeps affirming 'tighten your behind' as she wanted to ensure that we were keeping our pelvic floor muscles tight while were were working out especially for the lower body workout.

So, my advice is to everyone who wants to sculpt their butt and thighs back in to a youthful shape is to become really familiar and comfortable with keeping the pelvic floor muscles activated.

Also, when you are in the sitting hip and behind position; keep your straight leg stretched out to its fullest length. The knee doesn't want to lock but keep the leg straight. Slow the pulses down so the leg seemingly becomes heavier.

Sandrax

[onaisland]

marking my 30th hr done!

[MountainGirl]

Sandra:
I so appreciate you explaining the pelvic floor and how important it is to engage all the muscles.

I have started trying to remember to engage those muscles while standing (Doing dishes) and walking (improving my posture) and other times. I feel stronger in my tummy as well and not as "floppy".

Does engaging the PF help with abs as well as bottom?

I can't wait to see Evolution and see and hear your explanations and teaching!

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by missmattie

Hi Nola,
I'm sure Sandra will answer later, but I can say that her changes were probably with 10 in 10 and maybe Super Callanetics, but not Evolution because Evolution just came out last Fall (2007) and Sandra is the lead instructor on it. I remember her saying that she started working out with Callanetics many years ago. She may have been using some of the principles on Evolution a lot longer than we have because I have a feeling that those were taught in classes long before the DVD came out. I remember seeing things about Callanetics on the internet several years ago that referred to the new technique of spiraling and I always wondered what that was. Now I think it was referring to the two additional pulses that are on the Evolution DVD. It will be interesting to see what specific exercises she found most helpful!
Kathy

Hi Kathy,

You're right we've been teaching these exercises for quite a while in studios and we called it Spiraling and Rotation as you read on the website. In fact I've been teaching them since I certified 7 years ago. My results did accelerate once I started incorporating the pelvic floor in to my workout. Use of the pelvic floor, especially while training butt and legs, intensifies the workout and creates beautiful lean and shapely thighs and lifts and sculpts the buttocks.

However, for those of you who are using 10/10 and SuperC; if you are following Callan's instructions and keeping your behind tight you will still get amazing results. I don't think I need to tell you this do I?

I just don't want you to worry or get too caught up with the pelvic floor muscles. When you're ready and feel you want to take your sculpting further you can then start to focus on using the pelvic floor more in your workouts.

Remember, Callan never mentioned the pelvic floor once in the videos but we all still managed to lift and tone our butts and create fabulously strong, lean legs. It's more important that you don't stress, work out with a relaxed body and enjoy feeling the deep sensation of your muscles working.

Sandrax