Kelli
I'm sitting at home sick w/ a cold watching a Winsor Pilates infommercial. I keep seeing them referencing women going from size 12 down to small sizes. Do you think a curvier woman could really get in shape with this? I'd consider it if I knew it would really be effective.
Thanks!!
Answer
Make sure you read the fine print on the infomercial. The women who dropped down multiple sizes watched what they ate and added cardio activity. I've talked to a few people who were part of groups for infomercials, and it's quite common for them to be on regimented diets and to supplement the exercise video or equipment sold with additional exercise. That said, someone who is diligent about nutrition, cardio, and the exercise in question could have similar results, but remember that consistency is key.
Winsor Pilates is not significantly different from the other Pilates programs out there. All derive from the exercise system devised by Joseph Pilates. The benefits of Winsor Pilates are its availability and accessibility. Mari Winsor has her own sequence of exercises, tweaks the form, and uses a different form of breathing in comparison to more traditional Pilates, but that's not that big of a deal for most people. I've read about a few people who do find her manner of presenting the exercises helpful to them. (Personally I prefer other instructors and find that I tighten up during the handful of Winsor workouts I have, since I don't think she includes enough of the more flexibility-oriented exercises, but I've tried a ton of Pilates videos.)
Pilates is a great system of exercises that can work for any body type or size. (Good instructors will provide modifications for people with limits in flexibility, range of motion, or strength, by the way, so don't feel intimidated or discouraged.) Most people find that they don't get "bulk" while doing these strength- and flexibility-oriented exercises, but you can't completely change the body type that has been genetically pre-determined for you. Since Pilates focuses primarily on strength / toning and flexibility, you will need to supplement with cardiovascular activity (walking, running, aerobics, bike rides or spinning, kickboxing, etc.) in order to get into shape. Pilates primarily works your core, or abs and back, so make sure you get enough work in for your upper and lower body. There are Pilates videos out there, including a couple good ones offered by Winsor, that will help you there. Or you can supplement Pilates with other exercises. (I use traditional weights, too, in addition to Pilates, but that's my choice.)
I see no reason not to give Winsor Pilates a try. It may work for you. If it doesn't, know that there are so many other varieties of Pilates out there. I personally like to use a mix of Classical Pilates, Stott Pilates, other personal takes on Pilates, and even some fusion workouts.
If you're looking for more information on Winsor Pilates and other Pilates workouts, I highly recommend CollageVideo.com, where you can see previews of the videos they have in stock and read customer reviews; VideoFitness.com, where you can read consumer reviews of a ton of videos and ask questions on their forum; and YourExerciseDVDs.com, where you can read professional reviews of a number of videos.
P.S. Hope you feel better soon!
Workouts for my butt?
jade
I have a full round butt and have been doing squats. What else can i do to make it more firm and lifted? Also i have "fat" under my buttcheeks like in the photos in this link http://www.realself.com/review/lapex-lipolaser-small-results-lot-money how can i get rid of them?
Just to be more clear. That is not me in the photos, its a photo i found similar to my situation, like i said "like in the photos in this link" i would never go under the knife for something minor like that. Which is why i would like to simply improve my butt with simple exercises.
Answer
The right cardio exercise and weight training activities (like squats
and deadlifts) can make a difference in your backside and help you get
those buns of steel. Find out the best cardio and strength training
exercises for strengthening and firming up your rear.
1. Squats.
Squats are one of the best exercises you can do for your hips, butt
and thighs. Stand with feet hip-width apart and squat, keeping back
straight, abs in and knees behind your toes. Let your butt lightly
touch chair and squeeze butt to stand up. Repeat for 2-3 sets of 8-12
reps and add weights for more intensity.
2. Lunges. Stand in a split
stance, with feet about 3 feet apart. You want both knees to be at
about 90-degree angles at the bottom of the movement, so adjust
accordingly. Hold weights in each hand (or place a barbell behind the
neck) for added intensity. Bend the knees and lower the back knee
toward the floor, keeping the front heel down and the knee directly
over the centre of the foot. Keep the torso straight and abs in as you
push through the front heel and back to starting position. Don't lock
the knees at the top of the movement. Perform 1 to 3 sets of 10 to 16
reps according to your fitness level and goals.
3. Step Ups. For step
ups, you simply place one foot on a step or platform and push through
the heel onto the step. This is an excellent exercise for the glutes.
4. Hip Extensions. Lie on the floor with feet propped on the ball,
legs straight. Keeping abs tight, slowly lift your hips off the floor
(squeezing the buttocks) until body is in a straight line. Hold for a
few seconds and lower, repeating 10 to 15 times.
5. One-Legged Deadlifts. You should skip this exercise if you
have any back problems. To do this move, take the left leg back just a bit, lightly
resting on the toe. With the weights in front of the thighs, tip from
the hips and lower the weights as low as your flexibility allows. Keep
your back flat or with a natural arch and make sure you keep the abs
contracted to protect the back. Squeeze the glutes of the working leg
to raise back up. Do 2-3 sets of 8-12 reps.
6. Hiking. Now the
exercises listed above aren't the only strength moves for the glutes,
but we often forget that there are cardio activities that will also
engage the backside. Hiking is one of those activities and it also
burns tons of calories. Also, walking up an incline automatically gets
your glutes more involved and, if you're wearing a backpack, you're
really getting a workout. A 140-lb person burns about 390 calories in
about an hour!
7. Biking. Riding a bike is great for your heart and it
also targets almost every muscle in your hips, thighs and butt. On a
stationary bike, alternate 3 minutes at 70-80 RPM with 2 minutes at
100-110 RPM for a calorie-blasting 30 minute workout. You can also try
Spinning at the gym or riding outside. Gear up to really work your
glutes! A 140-lb person burns 335 calories in 45 minutes.
8. Running. Running, like walking, is accessible, easy to learn, reduces stress,
helps in weight loss, and it makes you feel good. Plus, it really
works your butt, especially when you add a few hills to your regular
running route. A 140-lb person burns 475 calories during a 45 minute
jog.
9. Kickboxing. Kickboxing was a hot item back in the day, but it's
still a great workout. Controlled kicks work your hips, thighs and
butt while complex combinations that include punches will target your
abs to make them stronger. A 140-lb woman will burn up to 500 calories
with 45 minutes of kickboxing.
10. Walking. Walking is easy: you can do
it anywhere, anytime with no special equipment. There's no learning
curve and it's something you can incorporate all day long. If you walk
up hills, you can really target your glutes and, if you pick up the
intensity, you'll burn some of that extra flab off your buns! A 140-lb
person burns about 300 calories an hour during a brisk walk.
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