Question for moms who work out (any Firm users?)

[Susana]

Questions here, I hope this is an okay forum to put these in...

I started working out pretty much daily back in January this year with the Firm workout tapes and the deal they call the fanny lifter, which is basically a step and I do (have done) about a zillion lunges and lifts on that thing...anyway...

Anyone else ever do the Firm? I hated these tapes at first because I was so out of shape I couldn't get through them without stopping, but now...now I love them...I'm what you might call addicted to doing the tapes.

That said, I haven't lost any actual pounds, but man I have lost inches. I was flabby before and now I am getting lean and muscular. How is it that I am wearing smaller sizes and am actually smaller now, but I weigh basically the same? I refuse to starve myself, and I eat healthy. What's the deal?
I guess I shouldn't whine, but I would like to see the number on the scale get smaller.
What's the deal, anyone know??
TIA

[pugmadmama]

Re: Question for moms who work out (any Firm users?)

Originally posted by Susana
...I guess I shouldn't whine, but I would like to see the number on the scale get smaller...

Kill your scale. Seriously, get rid of it. As your story perfectly illustrates, the number on the scale means nothing.

Muscle weighs more than fat. It's that simple. Your body is changing, you can see that with your own eyes as you are getting "lean and muscular". That's what counts. You can also keep track of your blood pressure and cholestoral, as those are reliable markers of good health.

[momadance]

I use the firm. Around xmas time I was seeing great results~ tone and such. Then we conceived and the 1st tri kinda knocked me on my buns, but now i'm in my 2nd tri and firming about 3 times a week (plus a step videoo) and I feel so awesome and my tone came right back. Keep on keeping on and kill your scale!

I gained 3 lbs. when I first started doing them. Muscle weighs more than fat. when you build muscle you gain weight, but if your shrinking your also melting fat away. Which on your scale may not equal a huge loss. Keep the faith.

[Susana]

Thank you for the responses!
I am going to put the scale away. Excellent idea! I guess I am so used to thinking of good health in terms of a small number on the scale, but perhaps that isn't always true. Plus the fact that my friend is losing weight and tells me weekly how many pounds she has lost has me a little jealous and competitive feeling? I wish I didn't feel that way, but sometimes I want to say-yeh, hey, I lost 5 pounds this week too! Is that lame, or what.
Truly, I'm just ecstatic that the fat that was pooling around my knees is gone and my abs have emerged once again...I knew they were in there somewhere! Now if I could just get my backside to look like it did when I was 21...

I'm glad to find a fellow Firm user here, momadance! I swear, these workouts have changed my life. I never thought I could be so into physical fitness, but I am totally immersed. Congrats on your pregnancy also!, that's great you're Firming while pg, too !!

[kindred_spirit]

I was thinking about getting the Firm.........just started Pilates. My mom and sister both use the firm. Both lost fat and gained muscles........gosh they look terriffic. I really think I should save and go get it. I need to get my butt in gear and really work out


I would throw away the scale to. If your pants are getting looser....you are doing something right

[Susana]

hi slingsnlove
I got my Firm stuff at Target last summer when it was on sale. I think I got it for like 35.99 and that included the 3 tapes and the "fanny lifter". I know you can buy this package on Ebay too and I see it there cheap sometimes.
I can't recommend the Firm enough. For sure it is a tough workout at first but as you continue it gets easier. Of course I still yell out at the tape when the instructor says OKAY, only 16 more lunges or something like that...

Go for it, slings!

[kindred_spirit]

my sister said she paid over a 100 and I was thinking......oh vey. I don't have the money. I am definitely going to check out ebay and if not I will be going to target this week. Maybe tomorrow. LOL. I should be running there......need to get in shape

[Bex80]

I've been wanting to try the Firm! I can't believe they sell it at Target?!

Please, everyone pump me up more about the Firm!!!!

Awesome job, mamas at the great self motivation and weight loss!

[Susana]

Oh yeh, Bex, it is at Target! I got mine there, and as you can see from what I have written, I love it.
Just today I did the Cardio Sculpt tape which is 55 minutes long and it includes an ab workout. I have wondered how many ab crunches I do during this workout, so I had my son count and he told me I did 88 crunches in a row! I almost started crying. There is no way on Earth I could have done this just 3 months ago and now I do it all the time. I swear, I have such a feeling of power after doing these workouts. I feel like I am reclaiming my body, does that make sense? Man, I feel good.

Go get it! You won't be sorry!!!

[Bex80]

Good for you , Susana! Rock on with your bad self!!!

Thanks again for the heads up about Target and for the great feedback. Now to convince dh to let me spend the $$$...:LOL

Have you seen real results?

[momadance]

I think going to target to get it is the cheapest way! E-bay is NOT. When you take into account S&H it's almost more, and you have to wait. I have the Firm tapes and fanny lifter and I also have the Firm 2 with the sculpting stick. I need the variety! Both are excellent. If you don't have any dumbells you'll have to buy some of those as well. I know it seems expensive but it is so worth it! Just show your husband the women on the box. He'll be ok with it! I know one of the instructors started out at over 200 lbs. and now she has the MOST amazing body!

[Bex80]

Originally posted by momadance
Just show your husband the women on the box. He'll be ok with it!

LOL!!!:LOL

[TanyaMT]

I use the FIRM too, along with other tapes. I think they are great.

There is an EZBoard message board decided to FIRM originally and now other exercise programs. It is called Firm YaYas if anyone is interested.

I agree with the others who said toss that scale. If you are losing inches, you are doing well! I feel fitter and stronger too. Doesn't matter what the scale says. The clothes are looser and I've got better energy to chase after my todder!

[Momtwice]

Kill your scale. Seriously, get rid of it. As your story perfectly illustrates, the number on the scale means nothing.

Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes.

Muscle weighs more than fat, isn't that what they always say?

[Susana]

So today I put the scale in the basement crawl space....someone else might want to use it someday. Not me anymore.
Bex, I really really have results. I bought this Firm deal last year for my birthday and tried using it a couple of times and got discouraged because I couldn't keep up. I put it away and figured I blew it investing my money in it.
Fast forward to this past January...I noticed I was really starting to pack on the weight...I would look at my behind in the mirror as I stepped into the shower and thought that it was getting mighty large. When I would look down at my legs while I was standing up, I had fat rippling around my knees...I was just upset with myself for letting myself go. Of course, I still had the jiggly belly from 2 pregnancies that occurred 12 and 11 years ago.
I figured I would really try and workout. I mean, I needed to do something before I really went over the edge with my weight.
I've been Firming for 2 and a half months. My pants are all loose and hang around my hips...my butt is getting smaller and is seriously lifted (I am not kidding!), my arms have muscles! No flabby flags hanging underneath when I wave! And my favorite part of me now is my abdomen, baby! I have a well-defined 4 pack, no lie, and I am working on getting rid of the pregnancy pouch. I have energy! I don't get as frustrated anymore because I work off a lot of my stress.
I swear, this is the best thing I have ever done for myself personally. I feel like a strong and able woman. It's awesome

Tanya, I'm going to check into the Ya yas, sounds like my kind of group

Thanks to everyone who is posting on this thread, this is so fun to talk to ya'll like this!
Susan

[momadance]

Susana

what's your firm formula? How frequently do you do it and how do you rotate it? Coming in to my 2nd tri I've been able to muster up the strength to rotate bodysculpt and cardio 3 times and then throw in a step areobic video of hike on day 4. I'm trying to work back up to 5 workouts a week. I've never really heard how your supposed to use them. I"ve been making up my own schedule!

[ladylee]

OK, I just have to say that doing seven plios (sp) in a row is TORTURE. :LOL

[Susana]

ladylee, LOL, I know the pain!
Personally I feel like dying when I'm doing the on the floor leg exercises...where you bend the knee then shoot it up...I usually scream at the tv at this point!
Keep at it...It gets easier! Way to go!

Momadance, I make my own schedule up too, depending on how I feel on a particular day. I ususally do Cardio Sculpt on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (it's my favorite tape-the total workout, ya know?) and then I will do absculpt with either the upper body section of body sculpt or lower body portion of body sculpt Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Rarely will I do the entire body sculpt tape all in one workout. It still makes me feel like passing out. Jen is my favorite instructor though, have you ever seen her "before" pics? She is an inspiration!
Lately I have been getting different Firm tapes from the library...did one last week called Abs, Buns and Thighs...man, I thought it was boring. Yuck. I want to try Standing Legs, I have heard it is a killer for the thighs and that's a problem area for me.

I remember when I bought this system at the store last year, it came with a booklet to help with how to rotate the workouts....guess what....when I was feeling like I would never be able to use the Firm I threw the booklet away. Wish I had it now.

Hope you guys are all having fun working out and feeling good these days!

[Piglet68]

moving this to Fitness and Weight Management...

[TeaBag]

I'm *firmer* from doing The Firm too!!!

I got it for Christmas from dh, who finally listened to a hint! LOL! Of course, being a man, he didn't order it until a week before Christmas, so I didn't receive it until sometime in January. I started working out in the second week of Feb and I've lost about 10lbs. I've lost 3.5in off my waist, two inches off my thighs! My arms have definition in them, something I haven't seen since Basic Training over 10 years ago!! I feel great, and the progress is just more motivation to do things right! Most weeks, I do Maximum Cardio 4 days a week and then I alternate the Aerobics and weights and the Total Sculpt. I also bought several of the videos from earlier, before the sculpting stick and while a couple are really boring, I do enjoy the lower body sculpt. It's not a great routine, but my goodness, does it work that lower body! LOL! I'd like to get Firm Abs, but haven't yet. Some days, I'll split it up, if I'm struggling with the kids or a schedule problem, so I know I won't have my whole hour, in the morning I'll do Super Body Sculpt and in the evening, I'll do Super Cardio...which ends up being about 80 minutes of working out that day...usually the day before my rest day!

What's really cool for me is that I look better than I have in years and years and years, and my youngest is only 7 months! I can't WAIT for dh to get home from his deployment in June, he won't recognize me!!!

How exciting to find other firm people here...