July Callanetics Challenge

[AprilW]

Hour 2 done. Hopefully this week will be better than last week.

[sweettooth]

Originally Posted by rcsaros

I have been doing leslie and callanetics for the past 2-3 weeks and went to measure this weekend and have gained inches. Yuck!!! Is Callanetics not working for me. I try and do it every other day but since I measured I haven't done it. So it has been since Thursday now.

I definitely need to lose not gain.

Rhonda

Hi there!
Sorry to hear that you haven't shredded yet... But just to help you: where did you gain inches?
Sometimes it happens that before shrinking you go through a period in which your clothes feel tighter because everything is pulling up and meeting in the middle: this is what we call the "muffin top" stage.
In my experience, when my butt was lifting after 2 months of callanetics, my trousers felt tighter my saddlebags were sticking out even more and I was really disappointed, but I didn't lose faith and went on diligently: I lost my inches, but it took another 2 months of hard working before seeing good results.
Try to be more precise, someone elese more qualified than me would give you further advices to follow.
Also, double check your form before pulsing and try to add cardio to your routine if you need to lose weight.
Postin an hour of EVolution, that makes 6/12 lower body sessions for the challenge and 2/4 full workouts.

[Mulberry32]

3/8 of Cardio C

[mosuna]

Hour 7 of 18 done today! I need to add in some cardio, so I'm going to start with my running regime tomorrow. Wish me luck!!!

[HighlyFavored]

Hello All,

I just wanted to post last weeks workouts!

Mon: 30-Day Shred Level 1
Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism

Tues: 10/10 hour 2

Weds: 10/10 hour 3
30-Day Shred Level 1
Cardio Max Level 1

Thurs: Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism
I was really, really, super sore on this day!!!

Fri: 10/10 hour 4
30-Day Shred Level 2
Cardio Max Level 1

I took measurements Friday and although I didn't lose any weight/fat, I did lose .5 inches off of my waist and 1 inch off of my upper hip area. I haven't lost anything off of my waist in almost 2 months so I was excited.


I have been focusing more on my form, relaxing and pulsing during Callanetics and this is much more advantageous for me as opposed to trying to do 100 quickly and the wrong way. Thanks Sandra for reminding us of what's important and where the focus should be .

I revisted level 1 of BL's Cardio Max and it was so hard! It really got my heart rate up to where it needed to be . I also progressed to level 2 (again) with JM's 30-Day Shred and it was hard, too!

I haven't been posting as much as usual, but I am still working out. I am currently working on my thesis for graduate school and that is time consuming .

Keep up the hard work everyone...we are almost halfway through the month !

[laurakitty]

1 hr. of 10/10

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by Qzzznne

Your advice always is appreciated. I don't know why I want to jump ahead. I know that if I concentrate more and work on what you said, it will be more intense. Sometimes it is hard for me to get that through my head! I need to hear that "go deeper" advice now and then to slow my butt down a bit.

Always keep in mind that the quickest and best intensification is 'relaxing and letting go'. Take just that one and work with it; still ensuring though that you're in your perfect position. It'll feel as though you've added weights and you may find completing the full count impossible.

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by bsbarlow

I am having a problem getting into the positon for the hip exercises. the first time I did them I feel like I did them correctly and I was sore for a few days. The last two times I have tired I can't seem to roll forward and tip the pelvis up and my leg and foot want to cramp up. Help!

Try taking your foot out more so that it isn't as close to your buttocks. Let your body guide you in to your best position as much as possible..so if your body wants to move further over to the side to get the knee up do so. While still avoiding collapsing. Think more lengthening over.

I'm not sure what DVD you are working with but you don't need a barre or support if that doesn't work for you. You can rest your forearm down keeping your shoulder back and in line with your elbow.


Your goal is to keep your pelvis stable as you bring the knee up. So stretching the leg out of the hip socket before you lift helps with this. Try not to move your pelvis while lifting the knee or leg or while pulsing.

If you need more help with this please let me know.

Happy Pulsing

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by zinny

I have noticed that this is an extremely deep stretch for my right leg, while I really don't feel it at all in the left leg. (I am right-side dominant.)

Sometimes I push the left hip up higher than the right so that I can get a stretch on that side too. I'm not sure if this is a good idea or if it's more important to maintain proper form, with hips even. Which is the best way to do it?

I'm also curious if it's okay to hold this stretch a lot longer than the counter--it feels so good! Am I likely to overstretch?

This is normal - we are more flexible and stronger on one side. Rather than lifting up the hip try stretching through the heel while stretching your sitbone or pelvis back. Then while you are holding the stretch gently turn your knee out slightly but don't move your hip/pelvis.

I instruct students to relax the stretched out legs hip down so that it's even with the other side and then stretch up even higher out of the pelvis. However, if you try this, ensure that you don't collapse on the standing leg; stay pegged/lifted up of it.

It's okay to hold the stretch longer if you wish. Just don't push or force the stretch.

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by rcsaros

I have been doing leslie and callanetics for the past 2-3 weeks and went to measure this weekend and have gained inches. Yuck!!! Is Callanetics not working for me. I try and do it every other day but since I measured I haven't done it. So it has been since Thursday now.

I definitely need to lose not gain.

Rhonda

I think this has already been answered for you but I want to reassure you that this can happen more times than not.

As has already been said; your body is lifting up and it's also toning from the chest down so everything does meet in the middle. So, what's common is that the upper buttocks, hips measure more. You may feel pulled in under the ribcage and also look smaller there also.

To accelerate the pulling in for an overall leaner and slimmer body, place a lot more focus in stretching out of your pelvis through your spine and crown of heead and also through your heels. At the same time continue to tighten your pelvic floor. Also, relaaaaax more while you're pulsing. When doing the hip and behind exercises relax your waist and hips completely. As you pulse you will feel the muscles working right up through your upper behind and hips but still keep them relaxed. you don't need to contract or tighten your muscles to get the benefits.

Let the position and the pulse do the work for you so take all the effort out.

[vessel of prayer]

just a quick run thru. u all are doing great
hr 7 for July. I have been busy, too busy to get on the floor. lol. I am keeping at it tho.

(out of 15)

[enjoy]

An hr of 10/10 for 5/15.

[Qzzznne]

Rhonda -
I am not an expert by any means - just on my 7 month. Keep it up and you will be amazed at the results. In the beginning I do remember my pants getting tighter which I thought was odd till I read the boards here. I just stuck with it because it felt sooooo good to be so stretched out and relaxed. When I put on my summer shorts this season, I couldn't hold them up and had to replace every pair!!!!!!
Suzzanne

[rcsaros]

Originally Posted by Qzzznne

Rhonda -
I am not an expert by any means - just on my 7 month. Keep it up and you will be amazed at the results. In the beginning I do remember my pants getting tighter which I thought was odd till I read the boards here. I just stuck with it because it felt sooooo good to be so stretched out and relaxed. When I put on my summer shorts this season, I couldn't hold them up and had to replace every pair!!!!!!
Suzzanne

That sounds awesome. I will go home tonight and do the lower body portion of Evo. I am a bad one for not seeing results and putting the program aside.

Thanks Sandra for your insight.

I haven't done any callanetics since last Thursday. Now that hubby is out of town hopefully I can get a session in every day this week starting today.

Rhonda

[sunrise lady]

After a slow start I'm going to try and at least do evo legs every day for the next 10 days to try and at least regain where I'd gotten my legs to last September! Haven't kept it up enough regularly to get it back there, though my body's still looking okay...! I'll try and do a full session at least every second day but the legs need to be done every day!

I finally got hold of 10/10, did it for the first time the other day - wow, my legs were like jelly afterward! I've been used to mainly doing AM/PM, which has less reps, and without the standing barre ones! I really like it actually and may try Super C before too long, which has been sitting gathering dust for several months cos I hadn't felt ready to tackle it yet! Gotta get back to more evo too, and those pushups, thanks for the reminders on those Ben and Sandra, and Sandra for the succinct description of the middle of the back / shoulderblades as the 4th counterpull! I'd like to lift the breasts a bit more, when I was doing evo a lot last year, they got soooo much smaller - or at least lost some of their fullness so that they looked and felt like thin floppy beanbags when in pushup position, oh well, I guess there had to be a sacrifice made, though it's a shame cos my breasts were never that big to start with, I think I lost a lot off the sides from doing the underarm exs and pushups. If only there was a way to make them look not as small! Oh well, if they lift and firm up a bit I guess it's a reasonable compromise.

[bsbarlow]

3 hours of 10/10. I hope to two more this week.

[gwinter]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

As has already been said; your body is lifting up and it's also toning from the chest down so everything does meet in the middle. So, what's common is that the upper buttocks, hips measure more. You may feel pulled in under the ribcage and also look smaller there also.

Thanks Sandra! This is exactly how my body is reacting after a month and a half of Callanetics. My stomach feels more pulled in under the ribcage, but everywhere else looks the same. My thighs and hip area haven't changed much. I've actually been discouraged and started Ellen Barrett's Slim Sculpt and Bar Method the last couple of days. My last time doing Callanetics was on Saturday. After reading everyone's post about their experiences with Callanetics, I'm ready to go back to it. To be quite honest, I've never felt so stretched and relaxed after doing Callanetics than any other workout. Even after doing Bar Method, I didn't have that stretched and relaxed feeling. I also didn't feel my stomach as worked as Callanetics does.

Anyways, I'm hoping to get Callanetics 10/10 done for the day. My goal is to get three Callanetics sessions in by the end of the week. I also asked this question previously, but I'm hoping someone can respond. I'm thinking about getting Evolution dvd. I have 10/10 and Super dvds. Is there a breakdown of Evolution somewhere so that I can compare the dvds.

Thanks!
Glenda

[zinny]

Did an hour of 10/10. That's 8/15 hours of Callanetics for July, right on track.

I am really not liking that I am back up to size 14--I am very motivated to get back down to 12 as soon as possible and then down to 10. I know that this has got to come partly from sticking to a cardio routine as well. I've done Cardio Max 1 a couple of times this week.
HighlyFavored, when you do 3 dvds on one day do you do them all back to back or spread them out?
Sandra, thanks for answering my stretch questions!

[jaminator]

Workout recap since last post.
Friday was 40min of cardio
Sat, I did evolution
Sun I rested
Mon I did the PM part of the AM/PM workout.
That was all that I was motivated to do - I was feeling discouraged because it seems like the weight will just not come off and I don't feel a change in my clothing. Today, I am feeling better. Last night when I was doing the PM portion of the work out, I felt that I was getting better at the technique and that made me happy - I felt so much better after my workout.

This morning I received a link to a good article and it talked about drop the fattitude and get a winning attitude. Here is the link if anyone wants to read it.

Drop the Fatitude and Get a Winning Attitude!

Take care and have a great week!

[AprilW]

Hour 3 done. I also did 15 minutes of upper body.

[HarleyGirlTX]

Hi all,

I've been away for over a year being pregnant and adjusting to motherhood. For some silly reason, I stopped doing Callanetics during that time, but did watch my carbs and only gained 24 lbs. I've lost all of that, but need to get back on track for my goal and tighten up the areas that suffered during pregnancy. I haven't set a goal for this month but have done 3 hours of 10/10, 2 sessions of Quick Legs, 1 hour of Evolution and 1 Cardio Callan session.

I'm glad to be back and can't wait to keep reading about everyone's progress!

Camille

[Mulberry32]

Did Evolution for 5/12.

[tempted_by_food]

hi sandra and everyone on this thread, i have read through all the previous posts for july trying to gain some insight into Callanetics it sounds awesome and am wanting to start it, i asked a question on the main board but i think here it might get answered quicker i was wondering if Callanetics 10 Years Younger in 10 Hours DVD is suitable for a beginner or should i get the evolution? or what would you recommend to a beginner? also can i still do cardio everyday with doing the Callanetics? Thanx in advance for your time answering my question

[ARPdrummer]

Originally Posted by tempted_by_food

hi sandra and everyone on this thread, i have read through all the previous posts for july trying to gain some insight into Callanetics it sounds awesome and am wanting to start it, i asked a question on the main board but i think here it might get answered quicker i was wondering if Callanetics 10 Years Younger in 10 Hours DVD is suitable for a beginner or should i get the evolution? or what would you recommend to a beginner? also can i still do cardio everyday with doing the Callanetics? Thanx in advance for your time answering my question

I would say that the 10/10 is suitable for beginners, you may not be able to go as fast or flex as much as the people on the video, but as stated in the video you go at your OWN pace and rest when your body needs it. Eventually you'll be able to do them all with ease. I haven't tried the others, but I'm sure the same applies, but I think I would recommend doing the 10/10 and then going for the others once you have acquainted yourself with that one.

That's my opinion anyway

[ARPdrummer]

k, so I've now done 3/20...I missed yesterday's because I wasn't motivated enough, so I'll just have to get that hour in on Sunday

I shall be at my best for renewing my vows next month as long as I keep up with these that is

[mel91173]

Hi Sandra,
Thanks for the welcome. I'm from a place called Wagga Wagga in NSW. It's one of those places that most people have heard of, been to, or know somebody who's been there. I'll bet someone on this board falls into that category!
Haven't been as disciplined as I'd hoped to be with the callanetics, but even in the couple of sessions I've done I can feel the improvement in my knees as I climb the stairs to work each day (not as many crackles!!)
Cheers,
Mel

[ellenalesa]

I started doing Callanetics last year, in August. I did it for a few months in conjunction with a low carb diet and some cardio, and my body loved me for it.

I kinda fell off the wagon, but I have dusted myself off and have started again. It's really good to be back.

I gotta tell you, tho...I did a class on Sunday, and today is Tuesday and I am STILL SORE! Yikes!

But it's a good sore. And I swear, I can feel myself pullling in. The last time I took a class was in April, so it was about a 3 month break. Hoping my body remembers and I can lose some inches fairly quickly.

Ellen

[vessel of prayer]

hour 8 of ten ten for July out of 15.. hi all, love reading what you all are doing....

oh ya, for the person who said their legs feel like jelly, lol. this is hr eight for this month, did ten in June, so thats eighteen hrs totalled, and my legs still feel like jelly when I am done.

[enjoy]

to all the newbies, this is a great place to be. Just keep pulsing, it pays off eventually!!!

[jennypage]

Really really bad weekend. I took my two days off, then two of my friends stayed over Monday night, then were here all day Tuesday, so I haven't done my callanetics in AGES!
They did notice I looked like I had lost a little weight though. Yaaay for Callaetics!