Your 2009 workouts

Stacey, if you are really interested in getting in to yoga, I think the Wii fit isn't the place to start.

I agree. I used mine more for hula-hooping!

I agree. I used mine more for hula-hooping!

Now that's a reason to get a Wii fit! 

But I like to shop and I like new toys

I'm going to wait on the Fit.  I like the idea of it a lot, but I need to get into shape first.

I'll try some yoga, now I have two DVD's coming.  And I need to get out and walk more with the kid.  I just wish it was not so freaking cold. Brrrr

I personally love my wii fit for the yoga and balance, it is a good starting point.  I also love the balance ball to do additional fun exercises on that tone.  Now if I only made time for it all when back at work, that would be superb.

I pretty much feel exactly the same about it. There might be questionable usefulness in other things, but I found it very good for Yoga stuff. If there's ever a dedicated Yoga game for the Fit, I'm all over that. The technology just really suits it.

ETA 1: Also a big fat ditto on the balance ball.

ETA 2: I found the hula hooping to be a pretty bad-ass aerobic excercise.

I pretty much feel exactly the same about it. There might be questionable usefulness in other things, but I found it very good for Yoga stuff. If there's ever a dedicated Yoga game for the Fit, I'm all over that. The technology just really suits it.

I think we could create one! Now there's a marketing idea, who needs work.

Any recommendations for a beginner?

Are you an absolute beginner?  My best recommendation is to take a class if you're able.  You don't have to stick with it long-term, but 6-8 weeks of a group yoga class can do so much for your form.  Having the instructor there in the room and giving you personal corrections, not to mention being able to slyly watch the other students who are better than you, is a tremendous help.

Try callanetics, it has yoga elements, but really works. It's tiny movements that work the muscles. It's gentle yet as effective as an exercise routine, it is appropriate for any age or fitness level.

I'm going to start it up again!! It works really well, and although the dvd I have is old and from the 80's (10 years younger in 10 hours) it isn't so old as to put me off. I actually feel relaxed while exercising.

Don't get me wrong, some of the exercises can be tough, but if you keep up with it you are able to do them all in a short time! Besides I can feel a difference straight away and some of the first things I notice when I first used the dvd is the neck, arm, and leg definition even after the first couple of sessions.


http://www.callanetics.com/faq.php

Has anyone used it? Anyone be willing to do this with me?

If you are really looking to use yoga to get into shape, consider trying Power Yoga.  It is more focused on fitness, rather than on spirituality/meditation and involves a lot of strengthening exercises (supporting your own body weight.)

See if you can find a beginner's class; you can also get some beginner videos.

I need to get out and walk more with the kid.  I just wish it was not so freaking cold. Brrrr

I love walking outside.  When it's cold, it just makes me walk faster and sometimes I even run just to get warm!    

At a fitness board where I post, loads of people who used to do hardcore cardio swear by these indoor walking DVDs and have lost weight doing them.  You can see clips here for each DVD:

http://www.collagevideo.com/exercise-videos/leslie-sansone-exercise-videos-10

I've always been a weights girl.  I love using weights because I get quicker results that I can actually see -- and feel as I grow stronger.  My goal is to get shapely, pretty muscles.  I don't get bulky, which is a mixed blessing since it's so darned hard to gain muscle.  I gotta eat more protein, but I luvs me carbs!   

I tried yoga DVDs a couple of times and it's not for me.  Part of my issue is that I had to keep my eyes on the TV at all times because they moved so fast and that it takes a lot of work and conditioning to be able to do those things.  Also I often have breathing issues (allergies) so it really makes that part a chore. 

I got an aerobic step - tried the routine a few times to get an idea of what I needed to do and then just made up my own routine.  Again, they moved to fast.  I was too worried about keeping up to pay attention to the movement so I just modified it.  Set a time goal that would increase daily by 5 min until I reached 45 min - added my own moves and incorporated weights for certain intervals (min 10-15, 25-30) to work my arms.

My mother introduced me to Callanetics and I agree with Steph that it does ALOT for a considerably little amount of impact on your knees and back. 

When I actually do get around to working out, I alternate the step for aerobic and the callanetics for toning.

I remember finding Callanetics at a charity shop and bringing it back to the flat.  My boyfriend at the time was an avid tennis and badminton player, very slim and fit.  He couldn't do the tape!  Callan's 75 year old mother was doing it just fine, thank you.  It gave my BF more respect for home workouts, I think.  I personally found it boring.  Same with yoga.  I need variety to hold my interest. 

I next want to get Tracey Anderson's Mat Workout.  She got Madonna and Gwyneth back into shape. 

I love my callies lol, two days into it and already feel like I have worked out seriously hard! lol

I find it relaxing rather than boring. I never have done yoga, but a lot of people say it's similar in some ways.

I just looked up Tracy Anderson's work outs, they look good, I might check it out further.

I am looking into getting cardiocallanetics and alternating days at the moment.

Just ordered some DVDs - The Davina total body workout (I read it has a boxing segment in it, which I like - I used to take lessons, along with some strength training and regular aerobics type stuff), an aerobics/kickboxing DVD, and an aerobic bellydancing DVD.  It was freezing cold outside, so it was hard to walk for very long, so I just scrolled the fitness channel on Sky and found the bellydancing workout and tried it.  It was actually pretty fun, and I felt a little sore the next day even though I only did parts of the workout, so I thought I would give it a try for something different. I shall give a review of them once I try them out!
I also ordered a set of hand weights, a stability ball, and an exercise mat.  WOOOHOOO!!!  I will be all set when they get here... whenever that may be!     I also do a bit of yoga before and after any workout to help me stretch.  I'm really out of shape, but hopefully not for long!

Thats too funny Lissy    cause my trainer says that if you do your stretches properly after working out you shouldn't have any trouble working out the very next day. but you should have a day of rest in there somewhere if you work out out 5 -7 times a week to let your muscles relax.

I'm going back to the gym on Monday I haven't been in a while I know I will be so tired afterwards & my muscles will be really sore on Monday night & Tuesday morning. 

taking a day off between weight training workout is a must if you are exercising the same body part again. otherwise you can exercise the next day on another part of your body.

regarding cardiovascular workouts (running ,biking , step classes , dance etc) you could do them everyday and stretch at the the end of the workout.  give yourself 1 or 2 days off to give your body a break everyweek.

sore muscles will go away in 2- 3 days. but if you stop for few days  and /orincrease the intensity of the workout  and / or exercise a diff muslce group you will feel sore even if you have been training for years.

the hardest bit is when u start a workout , u get sore for few days and it feels really hard workwith , so ppl start dropping out...  once you get over the hardest bit which is the first 2-3  month , you are in the zone.... you just want more!

I just did a workout on DVD by The Firm that came with my stability ball.  It was pretty good, but of course, a bit hard to stay on the ball when it came to push-ups, I don't know how you are supposed to keep the ball under your shins (balance maybe? HA!)  I did have fun rolling off of it, though!     I liked about half of the exercises, but thought a few were a bit unnecessary, like they were just looking for ways to use the ball the whole time when you might get a better workout without using it for some things.  I could combine some of the more efficient exercises with a different workout, though.  I definitely feel it in my legs, so I guess there must be some good parts.  I'm looking forward to working out with Davina when she finally arrives...