CALLANETICS CHALLENGE MAY 2008

[lowcarblulu]

One more hour of Evolution complete. Did first 25 minutes before dinner, finished up before bedtime w/ the rest.

I think my form is getting better - I wasn't sure I was getting the bent knee hip and behind (with both legs bent in front, knee lifted, heel heavy) right as I wasn't feeling anything. But boy can I feel it now!

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by ConnieB

Just popping in so I don't get too behind and also I have a quick question.

Does anyone know how many calories Callanetics burns, the 10 in 10?

Good luck Ben! If you stay in London maybe the next time DH and I go to England to visit his family I can pop in on a class.

Connie (still gimping around) (only 13 days til the cast comes off, but whos counting)

I can't tell you the number of calories burned, it's similar to weight lifting. I'm not sure if a study has ever been carried out.

However, lean muscle mass, which is what Callanetics creates, burns fat and calories 24 hours a day as opposed to aerobic programs that burns lots of calories during the exercise only.

Ideally, for total fitness, we need to create lean muscle mass through regular toning exercises and also incorporate an aerobic program for cardiovascular health.

Hope this answers your question - I'll investigate further to see if any studies have been carried.

Sandrax

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by lowcarblulu

One more hour of Evolution complete. Did first 25 minutes before dinner, finished up before bedtime w/ the rest.

I think my form is getting better - I wasn't sure I was getting the bent knee hip and behind (with both legs bent in front, knee lifted, heel heavy) right as I wasn't feeling anything. But boy can I feel it now!

While you are pulsing keep trying to improve your form.

Check that you aren't resting heavily on the supporting side - shoulder blades back to hips and wide - neck long, open and soft

Check that your waist hasn't collapsed - it's sooooo important to keep the stretch out through the spine/crown (1st counterpull).

Check that your hips are aligned

And - absolutely vital - check that you aren't curling

When you do this exercise and the following one with the leg stretched out to the front:

DO NOT CURL WHATSOEVER

Keep the 2nd counterpull between the sitbone and the knee for the bent leg and the sit bone and heel for the straight leg.

So, the sit bone lengthens to the back and the knee or leg to the front.

These two exercises are fantastic for smoothing the skin at the back of the leg. Especially the straight leg - it's sooooo powerful. Create that wonderful taut/ stretched sensation between the counterpull and you'll feel your legs tighten, tone and lengthen with each pulse.

Bent leg position is great to eliminate saddlebags. Focus on the base of the behind as you work - even place your fingers on the sit bones and feel the muscles surrounding them work.

I absolutely adore this exercise for what it does.

Boy, I get carried away don't I

Sandrax

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by sunrise lady

Great, I'm a singer so it's good to know the best have used it too! I'm sure it would help open/relax the voice.

Next time you are singing notice how when you are really drawing out a high note that it will come from you pelvic floor.

Ahhhh, the wonders of the pelvic floor - what would we do without it?

Sandrax

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by planetbenjamin

I would think about 300 calories. There have been lots of studies done on Pilates and I imagine Calanetics burns a similar amount of calories.

"The researchers found that, on average, a person weighing 75 kilograms (or 165 pounds) burns 480 calories per hour from an advanced workout, 390 calories per hour from an intermediate routine, and 276 calories for every hour of a basic Pilates workout."

Thanks for this Ben -this is great to know. Callanetics would be the same.

Sandrax

[Sandrahanna]

ashlee.jpg

I teach a group of girls at the local college and this is how one of them rocked up to class

Straight out of 10/10 don't you reckon?

Sandrax

[planetbenjamin]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

Attachment 13407

I teach a group of girls at the local college and this is how one of them rocked up to class

Straight out of 10/10 don't you reckon?

Sandrax

Arrhhhh love it!!

[Lucky Stardust]

I just tried to do Cardio callanetics for the first time... I can´t belive how uncoordinated I am! Just glad nobody was watching... it´s gonna take a while to get the hang of this one!

[Lucky Stardust]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

Thank you I appreciate your compliment. If you have any queries please just ask away. You can send a PV if you like - the next thing to a private. Every body is different and Callanetics can be modified to so many different ways to suit the individual.

Sandrax

Thanks Sandra!
You are so kind and helpful...! I really appreciate it!!
I´ll get back to you with questions
Lucky

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

While you are pulsing keep trying to improve your form.

Check that you aren't resting heavily on the supporting side - shoulder blades back to hips and wide - neck long, open and soft

Check that your waist hasn't collapsed - it's sooooo important to keep the stretch out through the spine/crown (1st counterpull).

Check that your hips are aligned

And - absolutely vital - check that you aren't curling

When you do this exercise and the following one with the leg stretched out to the front:

DO NOT CURL WHATSOEVER

Keep the 2nd counterpull between the sitbone and the knee for the bent leg and the sit bone and heel for the straight leg.

So, the sit bone lengthens to the back and the knee or leg to the front.

These two exercises are fantastic for smoothing the skin at the back of the leg. Especially the straight leg - it's sooooo powerful. Create that wonderful taut/ stretched sensation between the counterpull and you'll feel your legs tighten, tone and lengthen with each pulse.

Bent leg position is great to eliminate saddlebags. Focus on the base of the behind as you work - even place your fingers on the sit bones and feel the muscles surrounding them work.

I absolutely adore this exercise for what it does.

Boy, I get carried away don't I

Sandrax

NEVER.

.

[elainek]

Hi, I am an avid reader of this thread and I appreciate all the info. I am gathering. I have been doing the Callanetics Evolution DVD every 2 days (on average) and incorporating the counter pulls as often as I remember during my normal day, I enjoy it. But I am still in pain.

I would like to know (although everyone is different) but in general, how long does it take for someone to correct there alignment problems.
1. Slightly inward pointing knees.
2. Soar top back between shoulder blades.
3. Painful lower back as I stick my bum out a tad.

Bad posture has brought on my aches and pains at 53, 5’2ins, 51kg bodyframe.

If a thread is open for uploading photos I would try and do that, any help gratefully accepted.

Thanks.
Elaine.

[planetbenjamin]

Originally Posted by elainek

Hi, I am an avid reader of this thread and I appreciate all the info. I am gathering. I have been doing the Callanetics Evolution DVD every 2 days (on average) and incorporating the counter pulls as often as I remember during my normal day, I enjoy it. But I am still in pain.

I would like to know (although everyone is different) but in general, how long does it take for someone to correct there alignment problems.
1. Slightly inward pointing knees.
2. Soar top back between shoulder blades.
3. Painful lower back as I stick my bum out a tad.

Bad posture has brought on my aches and pains at 53, 5’2ins, 51kg bodyframe.

If a thread is open for uploading photos I would try and do that, any help gratefully accepted.

Thanks.
Elaine.

I've always had similar alignment problems to you.

I have inward pointing knees (knock knee). From my personal experience I've never been able to actually correct it. I may be wrong about this as I'm not a doctor but I think it's just how your body is made. If I totally relax my legs you can see how my knees are wrongly aligned. However, with Callanetics my legs have become so strong that whenever I am doing any sort of activity my knees are pulled into the correct position. I couldn't give a time frame on how long this took to achieve as I've been doing Callanetics for years. But I know that if I stop doing Callanetics for a few months then I start getting knee pain again. The great thing about Callanetics is that it works the muscles intelligently and strengthens the ones that are important for correct alignment.

I don't get a sore upper back anymore but i used to get it a lot especially after doing CallaneticsEvolution. But I realised that this was from my back actually loosening up. My back had become so stiff from just sitting at a computer all day. The beautiful rotations in CallaneticsEvolution are miracle workers. I guess I was aching for 2 or 3 weeks at least. But now it feels great and I'm starting to stand up straighter.

I've always had a sticky-out bum too! But as my stomach got stronger this was corrected and my lower back ache went away. The key to relieving lower back pain is a strong stomach and pelvic floor. Unfortunately the stomach is always the hardest and last area to get in shape. So it does take a bit of time. Just don't give up. Don't forget there is nearly 30 years of research and experience behind Callanetics so you know that these exercises are looking after your body and will work better than anything else.

Hope that helps a little.

[planetbenjamin]

I wanted to share a couple of pics of my stomach. The first pic was taken on 16th April and the second pic was taken today (sorry they're not crystal clear as they were taken on my cell phone!). During that time I did a little bit of swimming and some running/walkin-up-hill on the treadmill but mostly I only did Callanetics. So that has taken me six weeks and i'm really happy. My stomach is almost back to what is was. My chest has also seriously lifted (no more man-boobs!) and my shoulders have leveled out. I can't wait to see the results in another six weeks. I feel so much lighter! I'm never gonna let myself get fat again. I need to do a bit of weight work on my upper body now.

[ConnieB]

Thanks Ben and Sandra, that helps me a lot.

Connie

[ThyckeCutie]

Ben you look great!

[hummingbird11]

^^^^^
Ditto to what she said!! Wow!!

Ben, did you change anything about the way you ate for those 6 weeks?
Or is this purely the result of Callanetics + the other exercise you mention?

[Snuckles]

Wow Ben, that's what I call improving those abs! The pull-in in your obliques are amazing. Thanks soooo much for sharing your pictures. I have a really bad belly and your photos help convince me to stay with Callan's ab exercises. I had planned to ditch her ab exercises for pilates abs. Maybe, I'll do both.

Did/do you diet?

[lildragonfly]

Originally Posted by planetbenjamin

I wanted to share a couple of pics of my stomach. The first pic was taken on 16th April and the second pic was taken today (sorry they're not crystal clear as they were taken on my cell phone!). During that time I did a little bit of swimming and some running/walkin-up-hill on the treadmill but mostly I only did Callanetics. So that has taken me six weeks and i'm really happy. My stomach is almost back to what is was. My chest has also seriously lifted (no more man-boobs!) and my shoulders have leveled out. I can't wait to see the results in another six weeks. I feel so much lighter! I'm never gonna let myself get fat again. I need to do a bit of weight work on my upper body now.

Woot!! Great job Ben!

[planetbenjamin]

Originally Posted by Snuckles

Wow Ben, that's what I call improving those abs! The pull-in in your obliques are amazing. Thanks soooo much for sharing your pictures. I have a really bad belly and your photos help convince me to stay with Callan's ab exercises. I had planned to ditch her ab exercises for pilates abs. Maybe, I'll do both.

Did/do you diet?

No I don't diet. I actually eat a lot of rubbish ( ) but I am starting to eat a bit more healthily now. Me and my partner are actually starting to cook vegetables and fish rather than eating out all the time. I don't eat meat (only fish) but I haven't eaten meat since 1989. Now I'm on my way to getting my figure back I actually don't want to put so much junk into my body. Once Callanetics kicks in and starts working it changes your whole attitude. Oh I love it!

[planetbenjamin]

Originally Posted by hummingbird11

^^^^^
Ditto to what she said!! Wow!!

Ben, did you change anything about the way you ate for those 6 weeks?
Or is this purely the result of Callanetics + the other exercise you mention?

No I didn't change the way I ate during the last 6 weeks. I don't really think the small amount of other exercise I did actually helped much either. In fact it was when I stopped running that I started getting big results. I don't really understand why. I thought running would have burnt the fat but I just stayed the same. I thank Callanetics 100% for toning me up. Now I can see proper visible results I'm going to work even harder! And also, as I started to understand the pelvic floor and counterpulls in CallaneticsEvolution I started seeing superfast results.

[bcitrish]

Well I've been canoe camping for a week but I'm back. Although I got some good exercise on my arms, the rest of my body is crying for 10/10. I feel like I'm starting all over again but then again it also feels like coming home. I'll get my first hour in tonite.

Ben, Wow you hottie! Amazing results congrats!

[Alley]

1hr 10/10 done last night

Wow Ben you look great! I am going to show my son(Ben) these. Maybe it will motivate him to stick with it. I have tried to get him to do the exercises with me but he is a 21 year old and thinks his way is best. He wants to lose some but tries to cut back on his eating but I can tell it is not working.

[siamesegirl]

Originally Posted by planetbenjamin

I wanted to share a couple of pics of my stomach. The first pic was taken on 16th April and the second pic was taken today (sorry they're not crystal clear as they were taken on my cell phone!). During that time I did a little bit of swimming and some running/walkin-up-hill on the treadmill but mostly I only did Callanetics. So that has taken me six weeks and i'm really happy. My stomach is almost back to what is was. My chest has also seriously lifted (no more man-boobs!) and my shoulders have leveled out. I can't wait to see the results in another six weeks. I feel so much lighter! I'm never gonna let myself get fat again. I need to do a bit of weight work on my upper body now.

WOW!! Lookin good Ben!

[lowcarblulu]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

While you are pulsing keep trying to improve your form.

Check that you aren't resting heavily on the supporting side - shoulder blades back to hips and wide - neck long, open and soft

Check that your waist hasn't collapsed - it's sooooo important to keep the stretch out through the spine/crown (1st counterpull).

Check that your hips are aligned

And - absolutely vital - check that you aren't curling

When you do this exercise and the following one with the leg stretched out to the front:

DO NOT CURL WHATSOEVER

Keep the 2nd counterpull between the sitbone and the knee for the bent leg and the sit bone and heel for the straight leg.

So, the sit bone lengthens to the back and the knee or leg to the front.

These two exercises are fantastic for smoothing the skin at the back of the leg. Especially the straight leg - it's sooooo powerful. Create that wonderful taut/ stretched sensation between the counterpull and you'll feel your legs tighten, tone and lengthen with each pulse.

Bent leg position is great to eliminate saddlebags. Focus on the base of the behind as you work - even place your fingers on the sit bones and feel the muscles surrounding them work.

I absolutely adore this exercise for what it does.

Boy, I get carried away don't I

Sandrax

Thanks so much Sandra - this will help a lot!

Lulu