Final touches

housewifehobbiest

I'm four months out from my wedding, and I would still like to lose a few inches from my butt/thighs and tighten up my lunch lady arms.  I've been on a healthy low calorie diet and adding moderate exercise to my routine since August and managed to drop 20 lbs, which included 5 inches from my waist and an inch from each thigh but not a centimeter from my butt! 

I want to do one of those intensive 30 min workout videos, but I know I probably won't be able to keep up with it daily for four months.  I would love suggestions on which video to try (especially those focused on butt and arms) and when to start the super-intensive workout regime so I don't have time to get flabby again before the wedding.  Right now I'm thinking starting the first week of May for my last week of June wedding.

dogsandfrogs

Congrats on your progress so far!  That's awesome!

I can't recommend a video for you, but I will say that bumping up the intensity is a lot like starting working out, in that it will take a while for the changes that you're waiting for to show up.  It doesn't take as long, but there is still a bit of a delay, so I don't know if waiting until May would be the best idea.  I'd almost say beginning of April, because that gives you enough time to get over the initial "nothing is happening" phase, then have plenty of time to adjust your workout schedule accordingly to get the shape you're after (if it's going slow you have enough time to ramp it up, and if it's going great you can ramp it down a little).

Good luck!

lbarr088

1. Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred - Not intense but many have gotten good results from it.  I used to do some of the free vids that were on Exercise TV on Demand before that went away.  I loved them.  

2. Insanity -  Intense.  J&K would be better telling you about this because she is currently doing it.  From what I've heard the main thing about doing it is DOING it.  You might not be able to keep up, etc. but try and complete each thing at your own pace.  Again, J&K knows WAY more about this.

3. Jillian Michaels 90 Day Body Revolution - This just came out, so I think it's still early to tell.  It is definitely a step up from her 30 Day Shred routines.  If you like her style this might be good for you.  I personally haven't tried it, but I've seen a few reviews of it and people seem to like it.

Good luck!

Tandra&Devin

I don't know if you can wait until 2 months out to try and shave off several inches and tone up.  It usually takes a several weeks at least to see real results. 

You don't have to follow a regimen every single day, of course.  Usually, 3-5 times a week of cardio and/or strength training works well.  It's hard, but if you want results, you'll have to start early and keep at it.

I've been doing 40 minutes of Pilates 4-5 times a week with some of Ellen Barrett's videos on Netflix.  It's really great and I'm definitely starting to notice a difference.  No rippling musculature yet, but I do feel stronger,and my waist and batwings are shrinking.  I definitely recommend it for toning in between good cardio sessions.

lls31

Insanity has toned my butt and thighs very well, however it is very intense.  I also just bought Brazil Butt Lift recently to try to shape my butt a bit more.  I haven't tried it yet, but a friend of mine has been doing it and highly recommended it.

housewifehobbiest

Thanks girls!  I think I might try the insanity workout (I wonder if its on Netflix?) and the Brazilian Butt Lift sounds right up my ally! 

To give you and idea of what I'm working with, I'm 5'8" with a stockier build, I was 160 lbs and now I flit between 135 and 140.  I'm somewhat hourglass/pear shaped (36-26-39) and while my dress fits, it tugs a little across the hips and I'd like to lose an inch or two there.  My arms aren't fat, but definitely not toned.  I've been doing 45 min on the elliptical 3x a week, and I walk a mile to and from the train to work.  I use light 3-5 lb weights 2-3 times a week.  We also have a rowing machine that should get more use than it does (but its really hard! 10 minutes on it and I'm wiped out!)

I've used the videos on demand before, and I like that I'm pushed to finish the workout and not quit because I'm tired or half ass my workout.  I just got so overwhelmed over the holiday season (I have two restaurants and a nightclub and its our busiest season) that I stopped doing them.  Maybe I will move my start date up to April and try the 30 Day Shred first, it seems like a good way to "ease" back in.

I like my body now, but if I spent all that money on a professional photographer, I want to look good in the photos! 

shaunaceyh

I'm a big fan of Jillian Michael's videos and just got Killer buns and thighs particularly because I like that it focuses on those areas... tried the first level tonight, it's not crazy difficult (yet) but you can feel the burn I also LOVE that it's only 40 min (with warm up and cool down) so I throw in a power yoga video after for a nice stretch