Help! Motivate Me Please!

jtota · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 152 Location:

Hi everyone. It's a new year and I am trying to have a new attitude toward exercise, but I need some help. I have been using intense programs like Chalean Extreme, P90X, and Insanity for the last year, but I've never really gotten the one thing I've always wanted out of exercise - smaller thighs and a FLAT tummy. I am literally beating my body up 2 hours a day and staying the same shape. I'm stronger, but I look the same. My doctor is also telling me I need to build core strength for my back. So , , , ,
I got my reformer set back up. It's all ready to go, and I thought with the Video club and the new 30 day challenge on Face book that I'd be good to go, but I'm having trouble getting motivated. I've gotten so used to the feeling of heavy dumbbells that I feel like I'm doing nothing on the reformer. I mean it's relaxing and I'm stretching but is it going get me looking like Marjolein? I'm wondering if pilates should just be a part of my program. And, don't worry, I've got the food thing under control :)
So please, Motivate me! Tell me about your successes! I don't wanna just feel good, I want to look awesome! Does anyone out there really have a flat belly and/ or great legs just from their pilates?

houseofcharacter · Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 43 Location:

Hi jtota
Pilates is different from the other regimes that you have been following as these all focus on muscle building, stamina and overall cardiovascular fitness. Pilates is about stretching your muscles and giving you a leaner look whilst effectively working all of the muscle groups but without adding the bulk. The main focus is on building core strength which will indeed help to strengthen your back. Instead of the hign intensity of your other regimes, Pilates will help to destress and relax you instead of going for the burn and the "high" from the endorphins. You will still get that with AeroPilates but it will make you feel so much better.
I have noticed that my legs and abdomen have become more defined following dedicated use of my machine and that is only doing three sessions a week. It will not make your body look like Marjolein's although that is the great incentive and motivation that you need. AeroPilates will help your body become what you want it to be, for it to look its best but you can only sculpt your body given your individual height, weight, shape etc. I'm sure there are many people who could give you more detail and advice than I can do here but I hope that you can get into doing your routine and find that you will get the best shape that you can. I used to be a runner and like you, found that at first I was thinking right, I've bought this equipment but its not like going for a run. However, last year I worked consistently with my machine for several months in the run up to my 50th birthday and the feedback from everyone verified that the workout did indeed produce the results but I do not have the body shape of Marjolein! Wishing you all the best, do join in with the monthly threads (even though I did not manage to commit to the January one as planned!), it would be good to hear how you get on.
HOC :)

Linda A. · Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 393 Location:

houseofcharacter, great advice, I fully agree with what you have stated! I am on 5'2", and getting older is definitely a challenge. I started out with mat Pilates and got my first Pilates machine in 2007. I taught aerobics when I was in my 40's and now I will be 69 in a few months. I have to say that I have never felt better, I am smaller than I have ever been and have more definition in my abs, smaller hips, and my back side isn't falling on the floor. I truly believe if anyone wanted to get their body in the best shape ever, Pilates and a sensible healthy diet is the answer! Marjolein has stated that one need to do only 3, 20 minute sessions a week to get results. I find that I feel better when I rebound for 10-15 minutes and do 20 minutes of Pilates at least 4, maybe 5 times a week. I love the long and lean muscles, even on my small frame, there is definitely definition in my legs, arms, and abs. Not meaning to brag, but I have had people ask me what I am doing, they don't believe my age!

PILATES ROCKS!!!!!

Linda A. · Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 393 Location:

houseofcharacter, great advice, I fully agree with what you have stated! I am on 5'2", and getting older is definitely a challenge. I started out with mat Pilates and got my first Pilates machine in 2007. I taught aerobics when I was in my 40's and now I will be 69 in a few months. I have to say that I have never felt better, I am smaller than I have ever been and have more definition in my abs, smaller hips, and my back side isn't falling on the floor. I truly believe if anyone wanted to get their body in the best shape ever, Pilates and a sensible healthy diet is the answer! Marjolein has stated that one need to do only 3, 20 minute sessions a week to get results. I find that I feel better when I rebound for 10-15 minutes and do 20 minutes of Pilates at least 4, maybe 5 times a week. I love the long and lean muscles, even on my small frame, there is definitely definition in my legs, arms, and abs. Not meaning to brag, but I have had people ask me what I am doing, they don't believe my age!

PILATES ROCKS!!!!!

jtota · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 152 Location:

Thanks for the reply ladies.
I have started on my workouts and plan to join Marjoleins Face book Challenge for February. I'll give it the month and see what happens.
One thing that is very confusing to me right now is planning my nutrition to go along with the workouts. I have been really leaning towards a more vegan diet lately but it tends to be high carb. I don't really burn too many calories during pilates, since it's hard for me to get my heart rate up, so I'm concerned that the carbs would not get burned off. When I go for a long run I torch a ton of calories so I have not hard to worry about carb counting or severely limiting calories in the past. Do either of you have any insight into a "pilates diet". I have tried to find info from Marjolein but there's not much out there.

houseofcharacter - you are right about the endorphins, I am so addicted to the runners high. You say that pilates alone will not get me looking like Marjolein, do you do other forms of exercise in addition to your pilates? I know I can't look exactly like Marjolein, I just want my muscles toned and my belly flat for once in my life.

houseofcharacter · Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 43 Location:

Hi Jtota
Sorry for the delay in replying. I don't do any other exercise now other than Pilates and walking. I am a vegetarian and when I was running, I used to use a lot of carbohydrates to help provide energy which I burned off with the running. I had to stop eating as much because I just started to gain weight as I wasn't burning it off! I can only suggest that if you are vegan, that you adjust the amount of carbohydrate in your diet and enjoy a broad range of foodstuffs within your diet.
I had a look at Marjolein's store here on the website because I thought you could buy the guide which she used to add to the American QVC sales (I'm in Britain) but a lot of the products have been removed including the dietary guide.
I don't get the runners high but I do feel really good after a full session of Pilates and rebounding so maybe you get used to the change gradually.
Not sure if this will help but hopefully you will soon start to see some of the benefits occurring with your Pilates.
HOC

jtota · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 152 Location:

Thank you for the response. I have been using my pilates regularly and I feel tighter in some areas, however the tape measure says I've actually gained about a 1/2 inch almost everywhere and my closer are fitting tighter :(
I have stopped the vegan diet for now to focus on less carbs and more protein and I'll see if that makes a difference.
My arms are definetly more toned in just three weeks. My belly and hips are the problem though. They just keep getting bigger no matter what I do. I am doing various forms of cardio since it's too cold to run here. And, I have used the rebounder a few times, but I it takes a lot of motivation for me to get through 20-30 minutes. I am finally able to get my heart rate up on at least 2 cords but I just find a bit boring.
I have a copy of the lighter living weight loss guide some where. . . I do feel like I get more variety adding lean meat and eggs back into my diet; but I keep getting the urge to binge on carbs. And, every few days I get extremely tired in the later part of the day. The sleepiness zaps my motivation for cardio but I do still manage a quick pilates session which is nice.
Perhaps running and pilates will be a good combo in the spring :)

Pam · Joined: 07 Oct 2006 Posts: 112 Location:

I have been on a roll for promoting aeropilates for my fiends since Jan.1st. I have helped seven friends get either a new or used machine. I am so convienced this is the best way to exercise...all are thrilled and have inches lost to celebrate....great way to start the new year!!!!