February 2009 Callanetics Challenge

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Originally Posted by amarbach

I completed my 5th session of 10/10 yesterday. I feel some soreness in my legs and backside but not too bad. This makes me wonder if that is normal and if I am doing this right?
Also, what should I do after I complete 10 sessions? Should I continue or is it time to go on to another Callanetics dvd?
Thanks! I really enjoy reading everyone's posts and the collective wisdom here is so great for us newbies!

For added intensity and to maximize progress, you might want to purchase Callanetics Evolution. Sandra teaches wonderful concepts to enhance our form, which is not explained in the 10 in 10 DVD. These concepts greatly improve our form, thus intensifying the workout. I'd try that first, and then once those become mastered, you can decide if you want to advance to Super Callanetics.

[BARGAINHUNTER!]

7/15 completed!!! off to an aerobics class tonight to get some cardio in!

[enjoy]

Did super callanetics, my second time ever. It was not a struggle, which was exciting. I must be getting stronger!!!

11/15 for feb.

[mommy_gates]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

I did 2 miles on the treadmill today, but I am doing my Lotte Burke tomorrow. Still waiting on my 10/10 to arrive, but I think I will try to line up Evolution or Super to go right into.. This LBMethod is a killer, too. They have to be similiar...?? Anyone know? I did the 4 DVD set on Monday and boy am I hurting everywhere! I have a torn left meniscus, also, that I am waiting on an ortho referral for so I am one big ball of pain right now!

I have trouble with the saddle bag area, too, as someone mentioned. Which DVD would be best for that in the long run? (I am doing the 10/10 first, of course!) I am so excited in what I am seeing from the Lotte Burke Method, already! One session and my abs are flatter and my rear end is firmer! Of course I can barely walk.......

Yes i do have Lotte Burke dvd...that's how everything started..that's how i started to love the results...but from there i went with Callanetics..but they are basically the same but with more intensity(Callan) i find and the dvd last for an hour which when you start you don't want to be changing dvd's ...but you make me think i should do that one(LBM) too once in awhile to give me some variety...when i lack time..very good idea

Good Luck with your torn meniscus..my husband had the surgery a long time ago...and today he's into all kind of sports...so you're going to be back in the game in no time at all....

[mina_h]

7/12

[Steadfast]

Originally Posted by mommy_gates

Yes i do have Lotte Burke dvd...that's how everything started..that's how i started to love the results...but from there i went with Callanetics..but they are basically the same but with more intensity(Callan) i find and the dvd last for an hour which when you start you don't want to be changing dvd's ...but you make me think i should do that one(LBM) too once in awhile to give me some variety...when i lack time..very good idea

Good Luck with your torn meniscus..my husband had the surgery a long time ago...and today he's into all kind of sports...so you're going to be back in the game in no time at all....

Funny you should say that! I put in the 'beginners LB" then skip the warm up and do "High Assests" then skip the warm up and do "Hip Hugger Abs"... drives me crazy changing DVDs & skipping intros when I should be getting it done! I will be so glad when my 10/10 gets here! It was mailed yesterday! Today was day 2 (treadmill in between).

[SpaceCowgirl]

Just finished my 9th hour for February.

I've done 11 hours total so I decided to take an inventory today. I haven't lost a single pound or inch, so I took some pictures to compare to my 'before' pictures and I look identical.

[laurakitty]

1 hr of SuperCallanetics

So so so behind where I should be for the month, but its been fashion week which is the busiest time of the year for me. It's been so insane I haven't had a minute for myself till tonight (and that's only because I'm skipping some shows and parties that I am supposed to be at for work- oh well). Hopefully the rest of the month will be better- I can feel my ass falling already!

[Danipower714]

One hour of 10/10 done.

[kelley17]

I'm so upset my Evolution DVD won't work. It starts and then goes blank -

[ollamo]

I have a question. I want to start doing callanetics again. I didnt last very long last time i attempted it. It would kill my lower back...big time. I was wondering if i am doing something wrong or if this is normal for beginners. I could barely stand up straight for 3 days last time Any advice!

[planetbenjamin]

Originally Posted by ollamo

I have a question. I want to start doing callanetics again. I didnt last very long last time i attempted it. It would kill my lower back...big time. I was wondering if i am doing something wrong or if this is normal for beginners. I could barely stand up straight for 3 days last time Any advice!

Callanetics was designed to protect your lower back and you should never feel any pain there. Were you doing the original tape (10 Years Younger In 10 hours)? It's really important to listen to all the advice as you do the exercises. In the original Callanetics, Callan tells us to tighten our behind and curl our pelvis up. This action takes all the pressure away from the lower back so it's important that you understand it. If you can get hold of the Beginning Callanetics DVD then this has some great explanations about the exercises and also some adjustments you can make if you have a bad back. At the end of the DVD there are some extra stretches just for the lower back too. Just because it's for beginners doesn't mean you won't get a good workout. It's still challenging and gives great results.

If you want to try the latest version of Callanetics then you can get the CallaneticsEvoution DVD. This uses all the latest knowledge and developments in fitness science. There is a whole chapter called the Callanetics Concepts which give you advice to get the most out of your workout and how to further protect your body.

Hope that helps a bit. Were there any particular exercises that annoyed your back?

[LoriMarie]

Another 10 in 10 done...4/10 for the month done...

[ollamo]

Thanks! The beginners ones are the ones that i have. Actually...it seems quite of them were hurting my back. The floor ones... leg out to the side.Those killed me. I'm going to give it another go, trying squeezing and curling more

[CarlynB]

8th hour of 10/10 for Feb. - Done.

Since I restarted Callanetics on Dec. 29, I've done 24 hours!

[Steadfast]

Did my Lotte Burke set yesterday again..still waiting on 10/10 to arrive (maybe today?). I am noticing a definite change (esp. in my abs which always shape up first) already. This after two sessions about an hour or a little longer each. I ordered Evolution and Super so I can be ready to move on up. Summer is coming! I forgot to say that I will be 54 in June and post menopausal, so it is SO much harder to get things tight & firm at this age with no hormones to help out!! One negative (a big one for me) is that I am actually GAINING weight. I log food into ****** and watch like a hawk so I am thinking either I am NOT eating enough or just too high fat to protein ratio? Any suggestions? I eat low carb and almost induction level most days (hard to tell sometimes since ****** does not subtract fiber but usually right around 20 carbs. I do, also, have thyroid problems on & off but just had that checked and TSH was 4.156 so not too bad... Any suggestions will be appreciated..?!?

To whomever said they had back pain. I ONLY get back pain when I get tired and slip into a sloppy form (like during the end of abs) then I have to stop and realign! Hope that helps! NEVER do anything that hurts your back even for a second! (RN here!!) The injury can last a lifetime!

[planetbenjamin]

Originally Posted by ollamo

Thanks! The beginners ones are the ones that i have. Actually...it seems quite of them were hurting my back. The floor ones... leg out to the side.Those killed me. I'm going to give it another go, trying squeezing and curling more

There's a really important concept in the new CallaneticsEvolution DVD called "Counter Pulls". I have found that this is one of the most important concepts when trying to relieve back pain. Basically you have to think of each ends of the body pulling away from each other. So, for example, when you are doing the hip and behind exercise with your leg straight out to the side you need to feel your foot and hip pulling away from each other. Does that make sense? Picture your leg as a rubber band. Your hip is one end of the rubber band and your foot is the other. Now imagine that someone is stretching the rubber band by pulling on each end. This creates the tension needed for the counter pull. But it doesn't stop there. You also need to feel a counter pull between the crown of your head and the pelvic floor (or base of the spine). Feel them also pulling away from each other. This will stop you slumping and putting pressure on the lower back. Also pay special attention to the lower back. When you curl up your pelvis you are aiming to have the lower back in a neutral (flat) position. So it shouldn't be arched and shouldn't be curled under too much.

Sandra, the teacher in the new CallaneticsEvolution DVD, will give you loads more advice when she pops back later.

[Glamour P!]

Sandra - Would it be possible to have your dvd's formatted for region 2 too? Currently they are only available on Amazon. com on region 1(you lucky buggers you!! )
G x

[mommy_gates]

Originally Posted by planetbenjamin

There's a really important concept in the new CallaneticsEvolution DVD called "Counter Pulls". I have found that this is one of the most important concepts when trying to relieve back pain. Basically you have to think of each ends of the body pulling away from each other. So, for example, when you are doing the hip and behind exercise with your leg straight out to the side you need to feel your foot and hip pulling away from each other. Does that make sense? Picture your leg as a rubber band. Your hip is one end of the rubber band and your foot is the other. Now imagine that someone is stretching the rubber band by pulling on each end. This creates the tension needed for the counter pull. But it doesn't stop there. You also need to feel a counter pull between the crown of your head and the pelvic floor (or base of the spine). Feel them also pulling away from each other. This will stop you slumping and putting pressure on the lower back. Also pay special attention to the lower back. When you curl up your pelvis you are aiming to have the lower back in a neutral (flat) position. So it shouldn't be arched and shouldn't be curled under too much.

Sandra, the teacher in the new CallaneticsEvolution DVD, will give you loads more advice when she pops back later.

Very well explained Planetbenjamin...i was having problems with that one too not sure if i was doing it right ...but now with your explaination...i know exactly how to go about it...boy there's a lot to think of...
Thank you

[mommy_gates]

5/12 for this month...



-------------------------------------
[COLOR="Magenta"]10 hours in January + 5 hours this month...getting there[/COLOR]

[Steadfast]

Originally Posted by planetbenjamin

There's a really important concept in the new CallaneticsEvolution DVD called "Counter Pulls". I have found that this is one of the most important concepts when trying to relieve back pain. Basically you have to think of each ends of the body pulling away from each other. So, for example, when you are doing the hip and behind exercise with your leg straight out to the side you need to feel your foot and hip pulling away from each other. Does that make sense? Picture your leg as a rubber band. Your hip is one end of the rubber band and your foot is the other. Now imagine that someone is stretching the rubber band by pulling on each end. This creates the tension needed for the counter pull. But it doesn't stop there. You also need to feel a counter pull between the crown of your head and the pelvic floor (or base of the spine). Feel them also pulling away from each other. This will stop you slumping and putting pressure on the lower back. Also pay special attention to the lower back. When you curl up your pelvis you are aiming to have the lower back in a neutral (flat) position. So it shouldn't be arched and shouldn't be curled under too much.

Sandra, the teacher in the new CallaneticsEvolution DVD, will give you loads more advice when she pops back later.

I do hope my copy arrives today! This advice sounds great and like they really are pretty difficult! I may be sorry I was in such a hurry to start after I do them!

[tryinitout]

I've been super lazy and only have 8/12 hours this month. hopfully i can get the last 4 in before the end of the month. But i have a buddy now, my roommate has started doing it oo. she has no flexiblity though and has been struggling witht hte exercise.

[planetbenjamin]

Originally Posted by Glamour P!

Sandra - Would it be possible to have your dvd's formatted for region 2 too? Currently they are only available on Amazon. com on region 1(you lucky buggers you!! )
G x

The DVDs are not region coded even though it says that on Amazon. So they will play on any machine around the world. However, that are recorded in the American NTSC system. In the UK, Australia etc we use the PAL system. So there is a small chance that the DVDs won't play on some DVD players outside the USA. Most modern DVD players and Televisions have no problem playing both NTSC and PAL stuff but there are the odd exceptions. On ebay.co.uk there is an authorized seller who has the DVDs in the UK. Their name is more-gr8-stuff. Just do a search for "Callanetics" on ebay.co.uk and the Evolution DVD comes up. Hope that helps!

[Glamour P!]

Thanks Planet Benjamin! You are a star!!!!
YAY!

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

I forgot to say that I will be 54 in June and post menopausal, so it is SO much harder to get things tight & firm at this age with no hormones to help out!! One negative (a big one for me) is that I am actually GAINING weight. I log food into ****** and watch like a hawk so I am thinking either I am NOT eating enough or just too high fat to protein ratio? Any suggestions? I eat low carb and almost induction level most days (hard to tell sometimes since ****** does not subtract fiber but usually right around 20 carbs. I do, also, have thyroid problems on & off but just had that checked and TSH was 4.156 so not too bad... Any suggestions will be appreciated..?!?

SF, I sympathize with trying to keep the edge as we age. I'll be 49 soon, and with every year that passes, I am challenged more. I'm on thyroid meds (hypo here), and so that's another strike against me. So to counter this, we have to be in charge of keeping our sluggish metabolisms working at their peak, and we do that with proper nutrition and exercise.

As for your LC WOE, have you tried climbing the carb ladder? Sometimes adding more carbs (particularly if you're hypothyroid) will help you to lose weight easier than keeping them very low. I would encourage you to raise your carbs to 40-50 net and try that for a week. Eat the carbs earlier in the day, or closer to your workout times.

Also, try zig-zagging your calories. Add 200 calories in increments each day for 3-4 days then resume to your average 300-500 below BMR, then repeat. Or try adding one day of eating maintenance level (or slightly above) calories per week. This will keep your body guessing and prevent it from adapting to a setpoint.

Mix up your workouts as often as you can, i.e., Callan, various forms and intervals of cardio, UB weight training.

These are just a few things to get you thinking and progressing.

[Steadfast]

I know you are right! I was having better luck when I zig zagged calories right before I left for Vacation last month. I think I am eating way too few calories and probably not enough carbs. I am hypothroid, too. (Hashimoto's thyroditis) but my last few tests are showing me as "normal" although the levels are pretty high (4.156) which falls in the "normal" level of most labs & Drs offices now, but Endocrinologists say keep it below 3 and most people feel better about 1-2! You don't know which is right... I feel great of the med and know it can cause bone weakness, eye trouble, etc so unless I have to I am trying to not take any!

Problem #2 is the cardio! I usually run but as I said have a torn meniscus and really can't. I am briskly walking on cardio days but it hurts with every step. I am working with the Ortho dr. to get a referral now (Insurance Companies!) I am not giving up! I will rotate the exercise and try zig zagging a while. I also lose fast on Atkins at first (water weight like everyone else) but then my body "grabs" on for several weeks before I start a gradual decline in weight. But, I always do... eventually! (2-3 weeks). My husband does the same thing. I think this is when a lot of people give up, now knowing it is just our bodies way (thinks we are starving!)

I ordered the other Callanetics DVDs and will keep at it! Thanks for all your help! It is encouraging to just hear it, sometimes. Oh, BTW, I looked better about age 50 than I ever had before! (Coming up for you!) I was doing Atkins & BFL! I will post photos someday. The best advice is to KEEP it off not TAKE it off! Wish I would have taken my own advice and kept up and not let up!

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

SF, you're very knowledgeable (age rewards us with knowledge, no?), and it's only a matter of implementing our experience and knowledge. And yes, reminders are a wealth of encouragement. They are for me, at least.

I had forgotten about your injury and cardio dilemma. That's a bummer. I wish you a speedy recovery.

As for the calories, if you're tracking, you should know (based on your past) that going below 1450 more than a few times a week is not helping your metab. Throw in a high day now and then. That approach has worked for me in the past very well.

Anxious for you to share your pics with us.

[COLOR="DarkOrange"]And as for 50-----------BRING IT ON![/COLOR]

[Steadfast]

Can we say WAY below!:blush: Tomorrow is a high cal day!!

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

Can we say WAY below!:blush:

[COLOR="Red"]SHAME, SHAME, SHAME.


Eat, woman! Outsmart your metab![/COLOR]

[Steadfast]

I lost better over Valentine's Day weekend eating steak, asparagus, & a Chocolate Torte I make (without sugar, flour, etc)!! I think I HAVE dipped way too low this week. That is a GOOD discovery: Eating is always nice!