I will definitely be getting these–thank you so much, Reviewer!!

I do have some questions about putting the diet and dvds together, mostly because I’m a vegetarian who eats some fish but not much soy. I’ll post them when I’ve thought them out a little.

Thank you again for all your hard work and thought, and for sharing your program!!!!

(And 128 was right, hee hee.)

Secondly, thank you for your review! Even more, thank you for sharing the dietary guidelines beforehand, saving us all $$$.

I am intrigued and ecstatic with your recommendation of using a Bosu Ball instead of a Step. Like you, I am addicted to my MBTs and have cranky old knees. More importantly for me, this might be the stepping stone I need to assist me with planks and push-ups while continuing to rehab my arm.

For those that are concerned and/or prone to bulking, I don’t think there would be anything terrible about using lighter weights. During the Red Hots, in fact, I just threw them down finally and continued to get a burn sans weights (hey, I’m working my way up to it).

In a few brief email exchanges with Dove, I completely fell under her spell. In all my years of exercise and dance training, I don’t think I’ve come across anybody who truly seems to care more about each individuals well being. We are all special!

InParis:  well said

Yvette69:  yes take the bikini pics and put them in a private place as you will be so impressed with your bad self if you do this program!  Your answers:  I like the videos even more now that I have sooooo much more strength. All 4 of them are fantastic gems and worth the money and then some.  I’m much, much, much more flexible. Dove is a bad ass and nice.  

All the body work is excellent including the butt.  Let’s put it this way, last night a guy just walked up to me when I was leaving a restaurant and he was with some convention attendee guys and he says, “I’m not a stalker but we saw you go to the bathroom and back and you have the most amazing world class ass. Just had to tell you.”  And then the friends said that they’d try to teach him some manners, etc.  So does that help? 

Thanks Bella!  I’m confident you’ll love Dove’s stuff and glad you’ll give it the 8 week try.  Zone too by the way at the same time puhleasssee to get the ultimate results.  They go hand in hand.

Reviewer - thank you so much! I am thrilled to know the secret of your success finally!  Dove sounds wonderful and I can’t wait to get the DVD’s and get started.  I’ll probably do something along the lines of what Bella is planning, maybe including TA dance on the weekends when I have extra time.
The review totally cracked me up and I LOVE the story of the guy at the restaurant!  I’m so glad he said something to you - you must have been floating after a comment like that.  Well deserved!!!

Bizzy - Thanks!! Yes, yes.  I was smiling bigtime after that bootie comment.

Reviewer, you are absolutely hilarious.  Thank you so much for such an informative review.  I have to admit that after I read your review, I went and previewed the four DVDs.  Was I ever psyched when I saw some of the ab work Dove does.  It look like a lot of fun.  (My favorite body part to work as you know.) But you also know that I am terrified of lunges and squats and run the other way when I even hear those words.  Yes, I read your reassurances and will trust you on this one, even though I bulk up in those areas really quickly.  Like in 5 seconds. I want to stay defined and teeny tiny.  And Dove appears to be defined and teeny tiny. (And very energetic.)

Question: Did you incorporate any extra cardio at all with these DVDs?  (Sneaking in runs, dance cardio, etc.)

Since my treadmill is not ever going to come back to life and I refuse to buy anything but a high end one because I (and other family members) give treadmills such a beating, I guess I will do dance cardio or head outside if I need extra cardio.

My two Zone cookbooks arrived yesterday.  I don’t eat meat either but do eat fish.  I sort of eat Zone-like anyway (but with more protein) so we’ll see how the Zone thing goes.  I think I’m going to try and find Barry Sears’ office, if he still maintains one.  If I do and am able to make an appointment with him, I expect you guys to submit questions!

Thank you, Reviewer!

Reviewer
Ok I will never say never…but when it comes to buying Black Forest Ham and eating it and actually liking it…that my friend is where I say sorry NO CAN DO! 

I have not eaten a morsel of meat for over 15 years. 

I get turned off by fish very easily as well…and like I mentioned earlier on VP I got a bout of food poising and realized its because shellfish is just down right dirty and hence why lobsters are known as the “cockroaches of the sea” (sorry lobster lovers).

The whole coffee addiction is where I agree with you 100% it is bad for us and that’s why like a bad drug we have a chemical dependency with it.  I can start with that!  Giving coffee up will definitely be a challenge but I know I can do it especially if it will end up benefiting me from the inside out!

I respect your decision for trying to change and doing something new and different and it worked for you. 
I have to say that I am an animal lover and that is the MAIN #1 reason why I choose to stop eating animal products…knowing where it came from before it got on my plate is the first thing that goes through my head.  I am not trying to gross any of you meat eaters out…but that’s just me, I would never tell someone to STOP eating meat and have tofu…I already tried that with my hubby…he clearly thought I was insane and would never do such a thing! haha =) he lives for burgers, pork chops and juicy bloody steaks…yuck!
I know eat fish and dairy occasionally…but it is usually due to the fact that most restaurants are not 100% “vegan” friendly…and I do go out to eat a lot.
My issues with fish are similar to meat… if I see it whole or taste a remote fishy taste I will NOT eat it…because I am thinking about it once swimming freely in the ocean and now its dead on my plate.
I don’t mean to sound like a PETA ad…and sorry to keep going on…but I just wanted to voice my thoughts on the whole ZONE diet.
I know it would help me up my protein intake and I probable should since my protein intake is sooo low.
Lately I have been subbing in more protein powder, bars,…beans, tofu a lot more often and I will def take a look at the diet as a whole but as far as eating meat again…hmmm that is a big fat NO for me!
I will stick to my greens & grains =)

I don’t eat meat for exactly the same reason as you, Bella.  Thanks for being brave enough to admit it.  For me, I’ve been a vegetarian since 1987, with just a morsel of meat here and there.  I just got a book that approaches the Zone diet from an Ayurvedic perspective, and maybe there’s hope for Zoning out that way!

I’m going to try cutting out caffeine–maybe with tea or by having a tiny espresso in the AM (less caffeine, I think?? anyone??).

I’ll be picking up my dvds tomorrow from the studio!!

MrsHC:  you don’t have to have a 12″ step.  You can have something shorter.  The Bosu ball is about 9″ high.  I think that if you buy all four you save on shipping.  If there’s a staircase near where you play your dvd you can use it.

Reviewer!

Stellar job on writing this fitness portion your review! I can wipe off the drool now. You have to know that I must have burnt off tens of calories laughing, rolling off of my chair to the floor, wiping tears, getting up, catching my breath, and commenting aloud on your vivid descriptions as if you were sitting next to me! If you don’t write a book, at least do speaking engagements or write for a stand-up comic. You are amazingly funny!

Incredible to read how your end results from TA’s workouts still left you in humble~mode when it came to Dove’s workouts.  Hmmmm, maybe something for TA’s research and development to visit and work on?

I am most intrigued and sort of timidly willing to try Dove’s series! After reviewing her previews, noting the varied sized people she is working with in her videos, and looking at your marvelous results, Dove could be my “final” fitness answer!  I am not sure that I can make it through, *pauses to take one look at her compacted “cellulited” areas  ~ correction ~ I must make sure to make it through!

I will be ordering her series shortly.

I have begun reading The Anti-Aging Zone to move on to The Anti-Inflammation Zone ~ I will check on the recipe books as well.

Being a subscribing “follower” in a sense of three other writing doctors (Mercola, Douglas, and another Sears (Al), I am making an effort to be open-minded even though I have encountered conflicting information in a few respects, especially with Dr. Douglas’ info and recommendations that I am following. My current nutritional regimen has produced results that I find most satisfactory for me.   This is why my focus is the fitness factor as I have mentioned previously. 

Reviewer, your genuine concern for all of us to ditch what is bad and stick with what is good is greatly appreciated and I thank you for bringing out in a most entertaining and gut-reaching fashion!  Ultimately, each one of us will have to see what will work for us based on steps that we can adhere to with total dedication.

How legendary to have your fit tush (and body I am sure) comp’ed in a restaurant by a perfect stranger?  I will bet that they are still talking about your beautiful a**!  And the wife/girlfriend of that guy is just about sick of hearing about you, lol!

Keep Glowing, you’re Fabulous!

Hi everyone, I’m new-ish and don’t post much, but I’ve been keeping up with the main board and eagerly checking for this review.  Thanks Reviewer for another great one!  You’re becoming like a mini-Oprah in terms of product recommendations!  I highly value your opinion, your results speak for themselves, and your comic delivery makes your writing so relatable!  I’m glad that my favorite forms of cardio are no longer taboo.  (But, I’m also glad that I have the TA dance cardio as a fun indoor option.)  I wanted to let everyone know that I was able to find Dove’s Bodies 1, 3, and 4 at overstock.com for $19 each.  I haven’t been able to find 2, but amazon will release all of them on November 3rd.  In the meantime, I ordered the other three and will post when I recieve them - I think it said 2 - 15 business days to ship?  I’ve never ordered from that site before, but the savings made it worth a try.

I was excited to give back for once!  You ladies have all done a lot for me, even though I’m mostly silent!  I figure I’m not the only one who has to watch her spending.  I’m hoping my next extra expense will be smaller pants! 

Reviewer, are you drinking whey protein shakes on the Zone? And I ordered a Bosu ball. (Going totally broke!)  Do I need to get a jump rope?  (I am the only child who did not jump rope and still cannot jump rope.  Kind of pathetic. Will need lots of practice.)

Awoke last night thinking about squats.  I am dead serious.  Spiders are my phobia.  So incredibly terrified of them.  But maybe I have two phobias:  spiders and squats/lunges.  But I made you a promise and I don’t go back on my word.  I will be giving them a terrified try.

FitnessAddict: Dove is really responsive to the needs of people who use her DVDs. I asked her about modifications due to my elbow issue. She told me to write down what moves I had difficulties with and would try to help me modify them until I gain the strength to do them properly. I mean, how great is that?

If you have serious concerns with bulking up your quads, I’d recommend contacting Dove once you’ve viewed/tried the DVD’s. I’m sure she’s had others like you and would be able to work it out. Just send her an email in response to the thank you email she sent you.

BTW, I never could skip rope to save my life either. Luckily, for the moment anyway, I have a good excuse not to. That whipping movement could cause serious damage to my arm

Thank you, Reviewer and inparis.  I will indeed be measuring my thighs and rear before I begin and then one week into the workouts.  (And Reviewer, if those smoothies are that good, I, too, will start drinking them.  Damn.) My DVDs should be arriving this week and yes, I will be emailing Dove once I’ve tried the DVDs. It’s pretty amazing that she will respond to people’s questions. Thanks for the suggestion, inparis. BTW, inparis, how are you liking the workouts?

Since I think I’m the only one who mentioned ordering from a site other than hers, I can answer that I hadn’t planned on emailing her at all.  I think it’s incredible that she would answer emails and it says a lot about her, but I’d imagine it takes a lot of time.  I didn’t mean to start any bad trends or rock the boat, I was sincerely trying to be helpful.

Reviewer: Thank you so much for your review of the Zone books.  I have read two of the books and have already started implementing the diet.  It seems I had been eating far too little protein!  In fact, I was consuming 20g less than what he stated was the minimum.  Then, I realized I wasn’t consuming enough calories either.  Perhaps this is why I haven’t lost anything in some time.  I am happy to report that I have already lost 1 1/2 pounds.  I also have a lot more energy. 
I feel a bit silly as I know how important protein and caloric intake is.  I am aware of what is and isn’t healthy, but I have allowed myself to stop looking at my actual consumption.  I eat a mostly vegetarian diet -I believe eating meats and dairy can be healthy I just don’t crave the meat.  I love dairy though.  (I think cream is the nectar of the gods.)    Anyway, when I stopped losing I freaked out and instead of looking at what I wasn’t eating I looked at what I was -I assumed I was eating too many nuts and cheese and cut back.  I got tired, cranky, seriously depressed and totally stopped seeing results.  Oh and I got dizzy during my workouts too.  My immunity must have been shot because I developed a uti which although I sought treatments escalated to a kidney infection, the meds gave me yeast infections (two -one for uti treatment then again once I was treated for the kidney) and since I was already down -I got two horrid colds to top it off.  I thought I was dying. 
So, Reveiwer -thank you soooooo much for helping me to see.  I am already very excited.  Oh and it has helped me remember some old food favorites I have added back into my diet.  I will tell in case anyone is interested:  1/2 apple with 1oz slice of cheese, no-fat ricotta with berries mixed in, and the 1905 salad (lettuce/greens, smoked ham, tomato, shredded swiss or mozzarella and green olives).  I have the dressing recipe somewhere but I usually skip this as it is sooo good without it.

I think the only trouble I have with the diet is eating so much food -balancing the protein with the carbohydrates.  What a delightful dilemma -no?  He suggests 3 meals and 2 snacks, but I think I might have to increase my snacks so that I can decrease how much I need to eat in one setting.  I also plan to go get a physical so that I can get my actual lean mass.  I used the calculations in the back so perhaps I am trying to consume too much anyway.   I don’t know, but I am thrilled.  Thanks again.

Hi honeybee79 and WELCOME!  So happy that you enjoyed the reviews.  It’s a fabulous program.  I am getting my body to the shape and condition I only dreamed about!  It truly works.  Keep us posted of your progress!

honeybee79:  Since you’re planning on ordering Dove’s DVDs, you can first send an email to her (see her website) and ask this question.  I have not had any bulking and I believe it is due in combination to the rhythm she uses, the cues for correct execution (I hadn’t been doing them correctly before) and the mix of other exercises going into and out of that have lengthening of the muscles.  It’s a clever program and one that I think that she as an artist created in the zone/ether and put together a series that gives fast results.  My results from her program caused my legs to come together (smaller) and be firmer and the cellulite is about 90% gone now!

honeybee79 - Let me know what she says. I haven’t put in a order yet…I think I’m too nervous since my thighs and butt tend to bulk and its also where I deposit extra weight first

I emailed Dove and she did e-mail me back. She said that she could not get into specifics unless I set up an appointment with her.  I’m not sure that I will pay the $250 to speak w/her for an hour. You can have an e-mail session w/her for $25 an e-mail. I’m considering what I may do. She did say that her workouts should not make anybody type bulk up which was good to hear../I will probably order her videos this weekend…The more variety the better for me…

Reviewer: How do you do the dvd’s is there a certain order? How long do you do one dvd before going to the next one?

reviewer congratulations on your continued success!! thank you for sharing your secrets with us!

i have a couple of quick questions i just wanted to run by you if you have time.. i have decided to splurge and purchase 3 of the dvds. (i am soooo broke right now)  i would like to do the workout without purchasing any further equiptment besides my mat and my free weights.. did you say there was a dvd with a treadmill section?  which 3 do you recommend that require little or no other equipment?

thanks again reviewer!

Hooray for FitnessAddict!  Oh girl I am Soooooo proud of you! Yes I dive to the floor for the abs/legs move too.  You probably won’t need 2 weeks with #4 like the rest of us mortals.  You nailed it on the head with your description…Dove has created an awesome sweat filled doable routine that works us from head to toe and YES the squats/lunges are VERY different than the normal (I call them football style) squats/lunges.  I had a picture two nights ago and I swear my arms looked like a teenagers in both shape and skin quality.  Now all of the steps on the Bosu Ball are doable and your balance will improve.  I AM SO PROUD OF YOU FOR DOING THEM!!  Yea!  I can only do 3 lbs for the RedHots whereas I use 5 lbs for everything else.   Can’t wait to hear more comments FitnessAddict.

I went ahead and ordered disc #4 its all I can afford at the moment…I’m nervous but I’m hoping to love it as much as Reviewer and FitnessAddict. I’m hoping the bench in my entry will work its lightweight enough for me to move back and forth and I think I can just put my fitness mat on top so I don’t destroy my knees. I got 3weeks till my husband comes home so I figure once I have the dvd I will have about 2 weeks to see what I can accomplish.

FitnessAddict:  Go #4, #2, #1, then #3 The Terminator.  Remember your diamond push ups? Dove does a similar one, full nose to the ground, 100x in #3.  Okay maybe “100″ was a tiny exaggeration.  But she can hooooold that position indefinitely! Oh, I keep forgetting to say this…you have a steel trap memory and I love my quotes back from the article…you forget nothing, so it makes perfect sense that you’re a lawyer!!

I purchased all of Dove’s videos today….I thought what the heck if you get them all shipping is free…Once I recieve them I will do them in the order that Reviewer said…FitnessAddict: your review was very good and straight forward…I like TA but I need something else to go along w/it!!! Where is everybody………..

Hey everybody! Hope all of you are well in health and spirit!

Loving the energy here and sad cause I had to postpone my order ~ emergency orthodontist expenses overruled and it’s for one of my kids.

Sooooo, I was thinking about “splurging” on vid 4 only just to get started.  My kettle bell training is doing it’s thing along with my intervals, I just need those cuts Reviewer talks about and has on her body.  So, I’m thinking vid #4 will only enhance and not collide with what I am doing now.

I am reading the Zones - still (re-reading some parts) - and I dunno, Reviewer…, i think that I am only good for a modified version as well. Funny thing, as a youth, I chunked down protein over everything else and yes I was willow reed thin. Now that mommy hormones have transformed me into a Venus De Milo statue, yes that flat thick-”torsoed” one, I hope protein can be my friend again.  I will investigate the recipes.  Like Fitness Addict and her mocha - the green and oolong/jasmine teas will be hard to avoid.  I’ll be saying sorry a lot like that Gilly character on SNL!

Keep working it everyone and take care!

I know FitnessAddict!

Cuts here, cuts there, cuts everywhere and still cutting!

I told some friends about Reviewer and her amazing results on another social site (not twit or face) and they went into deeper Cinderella mode, clinging to the “look for a fairy godmother plastic surgeon to “twiiiing” them into something beautiful and sexy again. This bunch is hard to motivate towards physical activity, but I may be able to pluck a few and get them over here.

And where would Reviewer be? Maybe on a model photo shoot or something….,

juz kidding, but she could very well be one modeling resort wear or something with that body of hers!

Hey everyone!!  I stopped getting my email notifications to my inbox and I thought today, wow, no posts in all these days? So I came to check and sure enough my net provider or email server or something has quit sending me notifications.  Annoying!

Honeybee79:  so happy you got the whole series–you’ll never be disappointed.  I think the biggest compliment to them is that FitnessAddict enjoys them! 

I am so so so so so happy with the continual shaping and cuts in my body from Dove.  WOW is all I can say.  In a little while I may have to do body pics and post–that’s how well it’s going!

FitnessAddict:  Thanks for your prompt response.  I am trying to figure out where to put my money.  I don’t want to spend too much and I want something I will keep with.  I like how unique TA is and thought the knee dancing sounded new and different, but I am curious about Dove’s program.  I may have to do what you and others have and just purchase #4 for now.

Honeybee79: I hope your Dove DVDs arrive soon!

Istari: I ordered all four of Dove’s DVDs! I am all in with this one! I really shouldn’t have spent the money but needed to shake things up with my workouts and believe I have done so.

I cannot wait to hear how Reviewer’s body keeps changing and hopefully, we will all be doing the pageant walk while panty prancing very soon. I hope everyone remembers to update their progress.

(Could it be that, already, my abs are popping even more?  It’s almost been one week of Dove.  I don’t think that’s possible. Is it?  Reviewer?  I looked in the mirror as I was getting in the shower yesterday and my eyes almost fell out of my head.  Now, they were really defined before but this is almost ridiculous.  Rock-A-Byes did this in less than one week?)

By the way, I still do ab isloations!

Time to go work out with my trainer, Dove. In fact, I’m running late!

Poppyblu: Thank you!  I’m not sure I can make it two weeks on DVD #4.  On Monday, I think I may have to move on to DVD #2.  It is probably substantially harder than #4 (curiosity killed the cat, right?) but I am just dying to see what else Dove does.  I saw in a You Tube clip that she has a kickboxing move where she just calmly kicks her leg out to the side.  Now, I love to kickbox, but I will be the first to admit that I don’t think that my leg goes nearly as high as hers.  Damn.

Poppy, I am sort of  Zoning with Dove.  I believe I remember Reviewer saying she was having little cheats here and there and that Zone was still working for her.  So far, it isn’t working for me but I haven’t been all that faithful to it.  But the portions are more than I am used to so I think my body may be in shock with the calories.  As of yesterday, I went back to my small portion sizes so I am expectingto see a change.  However, my family doesn’t think the scale can/will go down because my body doesn’t want me to get any leaner.  (I want to get leaner though and where there’s a will, dammit, there’s a way.)  We’ll see.  The only drawback to being lean is the veins.  I asked my bodybuilder brother when I saw him over the summer why I was getting so veiny and he said it’s because I’m so lean.  That’s not pretty.  But it’s a small price to pay.  (It’s my hands, wrists and arms, primarily, but I even have one snaking across one of my boobs/chest area. A lot of fitness competitors are veiny, too.) It will be interesting to see how we all look after one month of Dove.

Where is Reviewer?  I need to hear from her some more about her personal progress and thoughts.  (Sorry, Reviewer, you got us all into this and now I’m excited about it.)  And where is inparis?  Is she panty prancing, too? On the banks of La Seine?

Happy Friday!

Mimsy, I totally agree with you.  Reviewer and inparis are together, looking beyond fabulous.

And Happy Birthday!!!  Celebrate like you are 21!  Because you are looking like you are! (Apparently, Reviewer and inparis are both looking and acting like they are!!!  Now if that comment doesn’t get them to post, nothing will.) I hope your birthday surprise is amazing… And you are certainly allowed to backslide this weekend.  Drink some wine/champagne and eat some fabulous cake/pastries for me!

Although I won’t give up my ab isolations, I do appear to be a bit addicted to Dove, don’t I?

Wowsa!

The Reviewer has returned to us!  We are all awed in her Dovelicious greatness, still wanting more pics to see her continued transformation.  And just admit Reviewer, you were on that topless beach in one of those quiet French towns that has a beautiful waterfront where you just strutted and pranced in you Doveliciousness glory!  That’s where those girls saw her butt I bet - Juz playin wit ya!
You remain an inspiration and that’s just hotter than hot when your butt causes girl crushes!

All jokes aside, it is great to hear that you are continually transforming!  Are there testimonials or updates of the people who are working out with Dove on her videos?  As kids say the darndest things, one caught a glimpse of my viewing one of Jillian M’s dvd portions where her students do their testimonials.  Of course as my little adult person walked off I could hear “But they’re still all flabby looking. What’s to talk about? Don’t buy that dvd mom!”  So after posting here, I am checking the verification and getting my “piece” of Dove and returning that Jill vid to the library as I have quelled my curiosity about her and my Fitness Consumer watch child has deemed it a dud!

Happy Birthday mimsy and be sure to party it up until you drop! Nothing like a surprise birthday celebration done by your boyfriend! You are a very lucky lady to be spoiled like that!  And one more thing, you are definitely NOT OLD! Yes I had to cap it for emphasis only.

Fitness Addict are you going to do some competitive fitness modeling stuff after your transformation takes full effect?  We wanna see your pics too!

Maybe I can start a modeling agency with all of you and a show!  Yeah, America’s Next Top Totally Fit Model!
*Singing her theme song “Wanna Be So Fit?” na na na nah nah! Whoo!
Ashton wasn’t thinking his modeling show on the right thread - as his show got cancelled.  I may be on to something here!  I can add an exercise segment, and other how-to’s without a competition, just information to help women hmmm…, FitTV will probably steal it, pooh!

Okay I have been silly enough, time for my intervals - my workout partner child just hollered that I am making her late! Grabbing my bells….,

Loves & Hugz to all!

mrshoneyclover:  You know what?  You made it 30 minutes!  And you weren’t working out to Tinkerbell’s DVD.  You were working out with Dove!  Dove doesn’t play when she works out.  Dove doesn’t believe in resting.  Dove believes in ass-kicking in a kind way.  So do I.  Isn’t that great?  Fitness ass-kicking.  I love to work out with someone who is hardcore and I consider Dove to be pretty hardcore so you should be very proud of yourself.  And every time you do Dove’s DVD, which will be everyday, you will go a little longer and a little harder and before you know it, you will have made it the full hour and it won’t be that hard and you will be ready for “The Terminator.”  Go!  (And then we will all go to LA and do one of Dove’s marathon 4-5 hour boot camps.  And vomit together afterward.  Now that’s bonding! )

Poppyblu:  Okay, this is just bizarre.  I am small now (and was before TA) but I just got out of the shower and swear my frame is even narrower than it was one week ago.  If this keeps up, I, too, will begin to call Dove, “Dovelicious.”  (Reviewer, you kill me, and I love that name!)  By the way, in case you guys hear me call someone Bootylicious, it is Reviewer to whom I am referring.  I don’t know what the hell is going on with that girl’s rear end but apparently it is lethal.

Some of the fitness competitors are in their early 20s which is substantially younger than I am.  Then again, there are a few in their early 50s (who look much better than some 20 year olds!), which is substantially older than I am, so I never say never, but I think I missed my opportunity to compete, Poppy.  I should have done it when people in a gym setting were pushing me to do it and I was lifting with the steroid boys and I had their backing.  But you never know.  I was young and hot then.  But now I’m a little older and hot.  And by the time Dove is done with me, instead of the fitness stage, I will be walking the hallways of my children’s very prestigious private school, where I am an elegant fashionista, wearing my high-heeled boots or stilettos, panty prancing and doing the pageant wave, whooping it up with my uber hot body because I won’t be able to control myself.  Everyone there will be appalled and  my children will promptly be expelled.  But at least I’ll still be hot. (But you did say fitness modeling.  I don’t know.  Maybe. Good idea. Sounds like a lot more fun than practicing law, doesn’t it?  I have a some more work to do with Dovelicious first though.  Keep after me on that one, would you?  Thanks!)

We have to contact Beyonce’s people and tell them they have to re-shoot the video for Bootylicious.  Since it’s Beyonce’s video, she, of course, will star in it.  Bootylicious Reviewer will flank (no pun intended) her on one side, and another one of Dove’s students will be on the other. 

Reviewer, which of your body parts do you think has seen the most change thus far?  (We know what the general public likes!)  And was your rear in pretty good shape to begin with?  Be honest if it truly was.

By the way, which DVD is your favorite?

Happy Doving!  Bye, my girls!

FYI–FitnessAddict asked me to post so Reviewer & Poppy don’t think she’s disappeared mid-convo!  Her IP addy has been blocked and she’s working with VentPark to get it restored, but in the meantime she can’t view VP. 

OMG!  I am back from my exile and have so much to tell you!  But I am on my way out the door now so I will have to do it tonight.  I just wanted to see if it was really true, that I really could get back onto this website!  Unbelievable… 

128, thank you so much for letting people know I wasn’t being rude and just stopping my posts, especially since I just began Doving and had so much to say about the workouts. I’m almost done with round one of DVD #2!

Have to run but will catch-up with you guys tonight.  (Okay, Reviewer, like I would not have known what you were doing staring at the “dress” in the mirror for 30 minutes.  I’ve done the same thing. Congrats on your little cellulite-free legs, girly.  I’ve wanted to tell you that for days.)

Poppy, you better still be Doving, too. What about you, MrsHC? And did inparis get her DVDs?  Mimsy, the sexy party is over and I know it rocked but it’s time to workout baby doll.  Are you Doving?

I am going to be soooo late!  Bye for now.

Yeeeaah, I can get in!  I can get in! I was so distraught with the blockage.  I saw the notice from Vent Park and zoomed in to see my new online workout buds! Yay!

Fitness Addict, I await with pregnant anticipation (the only pregnancy I can do now, thank goodness!) for my Dove Fat-Fryer #4!!!!  I am so excited, but it’s so odd to await “torture” - kinda sicko sado-macho in a sense,,, pain then pleasure, but we are talking epic results, oooo baby I will want more! Stop that pop!

Hey Fitness Addict would link me to that YouTube vid on Dove?  I only got a testimonial vid where everyone talked about the pain, but were happy as I don’t know what about their results.  Reviewer should do one too, although we might not want to share her with everyone just yet!

Okay, I gotta run, literally and figuratively, but I just had to rush in and give Vent hugs and “hiya’s” to everyone!

Have a great day all and if it’s acting like it won’t be a great day, force it to be, cause you’re in charge!

I’m here. Its been a long week and I have no idea where the time went/ I have so far only made it through Dove entirely once. Last night I ran out of time and could only get in 30mins. I get really mad at her during push-ups lol.  Since its the weekend I shouldn’t have a problem getting the whole workout in tonight and the rest of the weekend including maybe some dance cardio and running. after next friday I maybe MIA again since my hubs flys in that night for 2 weeks…but I plan to keep working out [hopefully it will be easier since he can distract our son]
I really hope to see some results soon because this week I have felt the period body blues

Oh, Poppy, thanks for the quote at the end of your post.  I actually thought about it when I was stuck in major traffic today!

WOW MY FRIENDS ARE BACK!!!  Yipee!!  It was amazing how much I missed hearing from you all.  I still don’t get notifications but VP is helping me.  So I didn’t know everyone was blocked or at least most of us.  I was like, ‘Dang VP, don’t be blockin’ my bootie.’  !!!

MrsHC-I couldn’t do those push ups and now, no biggie at all, in fact I like them.  Keep goin’!  Keep goin’ Mimsy, PoppyBlu!!  And HoneyBee–yes Dove has tons of cuts on top of cuts.  I told ya all!

FitnessAddict!  You’re BACK!  Girl get the 5lbs weights for those RedHots…3 is cheating. :)  Hey I had some pics sent from last weekend and OMG OMG OMG FOR THE FIRST TIME MY ARMS WERE CUT IN A PICTURE!  This should be shouted from the rooftops.  I wasn’t in a pose down or anything…they had sculpting to them.  Soooo happy.   Yes FitnessAddict, you’ve got the leg move for the ER!  Nice quote again.  Love it!!  And, check to see if you are totally 90 degrees to the front!  I find myself cheating and force that leg back to 90 degrees and it kills!  Yes you will find the muscle going in and it could also be her squat sequences.  I noticed yesterday that I am actually getting hard in my thighs and that’s never been the case in my life.  I was called Thunder Thighs in my youth.   Hey and you will get more flexible with Dove’s DVDs.

Hey what about the gossip on the TA board that Madonna ditched TA due to boredom.  !  That’s got to be hard on Tracy.

Well I’m in love with Dove–hey that rhymes.  I’m keepin’ on until I look like her. 

And this was a long ass post and I too was deprived by VP.  Happy weekend everyone.  I missed you all!!!

*Fairy God-Enabler, though she is amazing.

Thank you Thank you Thank you FitnessAddict! The vids were great and I subscribed to her channel now (I’m Scratchnsnif, if you’re lookin’)!

I wasn’t cricket enough to look up “Dove’s Bodies” - for shame. Nonetheless, I am tingling with excitement as I await the vid.  Looks like I will order the second one, DVD#2 ASAP.  I will give myself a full 3 to 4 weeks to master the first one, though I may shock myself and perform better than I am guessing that i will, such a result will be better than a Blueberry Hill Thrill! 

I have decided to adopt as many recipes as I like with the Zone.  I am currently under a “regimen” that is producing results for me personally and I think the new type of exercise added on will give me satisfactory results.  I am now weaning my son so the diet issue was always the consideration.  Not that anything was wrong with Zone, I want to see if I have to go full blast with it after I am done with what I am doing now.

Size 27 jeans, eh Reviewer.  Last time I saw that size was Junior year in college and I had to eat to keep them from falling off of my formerly snake hips!  I sported a size 25 freshman and sophomore years. I was bony as heck, combined with being tall!  I salute you Reviewer as you are now “Foxilicious”. It must be thrilling almost orgasmic to dress in front of a mirror - we know that you do- and see a beautiful build! Soon we will be in your foxy tailpipe smoke Reviewer and as the smoke dissipates the rest of us will all stand in our true Dovelicious forms in our leather and/or denim skinny jeans though we might have to force FitnessAddict into her pair of jeans or maybe we’ll just get her a denim bikini so she can strike a hot fitness model pose.

I can’t wait for my transformation! Keep reporting in ladies, please!?!

Best to all of you this weekend & sending cyber hugs ~ gotta hit the mats for my “Sunday Funday flexibility” oh hurry Mr.Postman my body needs the Dove!

MrsHC:  I hope your son feels much better.  It is just terrible when one of your children is not feeling well.  I was lying in bed the night before last listening to my son cough his head off, convinced he had H1N1.  I worry incessantly about my children.  It’s terrible.  I hope everyone in your house feels better.

Mimsy, where are  you?  I do hope you are Doving like mad, woman.  No fooling around.  The holidays are fast approaching and you want that bod to be hot for all the upcoming parties!

Poppy, aren’t the Dove vids fun?  You are so welcome for the link and I’m so glad you like the DVD previews!  Dove is one work out queen.  I love to work out and really believe I have met my match in Dovelicious. Someone who works out like I like to work out.  I would love to work out with that girl. 

I did a little sleuthing around about Dove last week and found out that she does keep dark chocolate in her house.  Yes!  She eats like a human!  But she does eat a healthy diet.  And what’s old is new again and there are no new exercise trends according to Dove.  I posted on the other board that Dove has used side skipping on the treadmill for a long time.  Sound familiar?  And I love the fact that she cares not only for the human body but for the planet, too.  Dove just rocks.

With some sadness, I removed DVD #2 from my DVD player after this morning’s workout as it’s been one week and put #1 in so I’ll be ready to go tomorrow.  I’m not sure when I’ll be able to work out tomorrow and am very stressed about it.  My daughter has been high honors at the kids’ very rigorous  school since the beginning of time.  My beautiful son is a major athlete (but so is my daughter but only in one sport) and rules the social scene.  I received 4 (!) emails last week from teachers about his over-achieving in the social arena and have to go speak to his advisor in the morning re: his social behavior.  Apparently, he is very handsome, very social, very sweet, very athletic, blah, blah, blah, but is forgetting the academic portion of his education.  For the amount of $$$ we are paying for his education, this is unacceptable and I am stressed.  However, the meeting is interrupting my Dovelicious time.  This, too, is stressing me out.  Very much. Do you think the school would mind if I postponed the meeting until after I worked out?  Bad mother!!!  (I really need to see what’s on DVD #1!)

Yvette: I’m psyched you ordered the whole Dove series. Woman, are you sure you are doing the emergency room straight leg lifts in the hold position in the correct position?  How in the hell can your glutes not be on fire?  Are you made of steel?  They even hurt Dove’s ass. I am quite amazed by your no pain factor. But I, too, have Dove Love, now.  My husband watched and listened to Dove for a few moments this morning and proclaimed her an expert and said, “That woman really  knows what she is doing and what she is talking about.”  Mr. Marathon used to lift weights, too, and knows quite a bit about fitness so he gave Dove quite a compliment.  Dove just rocks.

Reviewer, I think it is awful that someone once called you “thunder thighs.”  That, my dear, is a painful but distant memory.  You are now a woman that random, hot restaurant men gape at and tell you that you have a great ass.  That is who you are now.  You are now the woman that fellow yoga women have butt envy over.  That is beyond cool. I am loving the compliments, too.  I don’t know if they are from TA or Dove but more and more, I think they are from Dove.  And I certainly anticipate they will keep coming. And I have to confess, I am spending some pre-shower time in the mirror, admiring the 24″ waist that I swear is getting smaller! Dove, how is this happening?  As I said, I love Dove. Or to quote Yvette, I have Dove Love.  And I pray Dove keeps the DVDs coming.  Because I will keep buying them. We may all have to solicit Dove for more DVDs after we have mastered these.

Can I ever write a short post re: Dove?  Apparently not.

Mimsy and inparis, where are you?  Oh, Poppy, we are going to have to find something other than a denim bikini for me to sport for my fitness modeling debut.  No demim for me, baby.

I don’t know where everyone is so I guess I’ll just type for my own amusement.  I loved DVD #1 that I started this morning.  There was some new music on there but I have to say that I missed the meditation at the end. Lots more kicking and Dove focuses on making sure you have good balance more than any instructor I’ve ever encountered.  And as always, I’m loving the ab work!  The woman rocks. (Do we have to do those damn burpees all the time?!?)

The burpees are only a set of what 8?  No biggie for me and I kind of enjoy the youthfulness of it all but Yvette what do you mean your knees hit your chest?  Are the girls that big?! :)  I know VP is trying to figure out what malfunction broadsided them and it’s not easy to undo but they’re working on it.

Yvette: These jeans sit way down on my hips and I’m not sure what the 27″ means per se but my waist is 26″ and on very very good days it’s 25.5″.  I’m trying to get it to 25″.  But I don’t know… FitnessAddict is 24″ so I may get to 25 and want to go to 24. !

Oh, everyone, how I wish I were with Inparis!  Horrendo few days, which ended up with my beloved old car exploding on my way to court.  In the rain.  I have decided to count all of the walking I did all over town with pounds of files in tow as my cardio.  Will post more in a few days when I get my head back together.
On a related note–I popped Dove in to try to work off some stress but as soon as she started in with that peaceful, centered, knowing way of hers I started crying all over again.  But I’m back now!

Mimsy and FitnessAddict:  Yes, when it rains it pours.  Pun intended.  But at least we have Dove!  When I wake up in the morning, I can feel the firmness in my legs without touching them with my hands.  THIS is delightful as I have spent years not feeling that way so to have it this way now is grand.  I’ve noticed I’ve gotten off the Zone a little and been doing too much bad Zone-attempts at restaurants.  I’m cracking down as I want to whittle that waist measurement.  I also wore a dress with wedge heels this week and trust me, I haven’t worn a dress in years (well other than one that hit the ankles).  This dress was super cute AND it came a 1/2″ from the knees which would NEVER have happened pre-Dove.  Yes, I rocked it.  Thank you Dove.  Oh, and I noticed my calf muscles had a never-before-seen line.

Here’s to a better day today Mimsy!

Oh my gosh!  I just went to her website to see her clips…She’s in incredible shape…way ahead of me.  I doubt I could do half of her DVD.  This reminds me of military boot camp.  I’m scared to try this.  One reason I enjoy TA still is b/c I can do it.  Which is why I’m not getting more results, I realize that.  But holy cow Dove is serious and scares me.  Were you all able to do it like week 1 or 2???

Momof4:  It’s just like I said in my review.  Just do it, stay with it and you will be amazed at your strength, your tone, your firmness, your lift and your vitality!!

Dammit!  I did not mean to hit send. 

Mimsy:  Congratulations on going down one size. That is major. Majeur!!!  Keep going.  Or not.  That’s pretty tiny. You are going to look pretty amazing, all tiny driving your new car.  (Well, that part wasn’t planned but you will still look amazing.)  Congrats!

You and Ms. Calf Muscles w/the Never-Seen-Before-Lines are killing it!

Honeybee:  You rock!  Congrats!  I’m proud of you and your muscles are grateful. :)  I would do DVD #2 next btw.  Let us know your progress.

MrsHoneyClover:  on no to the sickness. :( Yuck.  Yes it’s hard to get back into the swing but even if you rest in between or do 1/2 hr of a Dove workout to get you back in the groove you could.  That’s the wonderful thing, she continually works the full body so you could do 30 minutes and get all the muscles.  Then when you’re up to it, go back in for the full 60 and you’ll be feel fabulous.  Hope you’re full steam real soon!

FitnessAddict–You are such a dear checking in with everyone.  You crack me up about getting dressed to kill.  Love the stilettos but sadly, my feet can’t take it but I wish.  I’m waiting for the technology of all technology to make a pair of high heels work for my feet.

Yes, you will see amazing changes literally every week.  It is soooo verrrryyyy exciting.  I mean just look at my thigh pictures of 6 weeks.  That’s fast.

I was working all day and had to come home and do Dove.  I couldn’t go to bed unless I did. 

‘nite all.

Hi Momof4:  Oh gosh, I can’t pick one.  Maybe someone else can.  I just love them all and can’t live without them.  I know that #3 is very hard so I guess I can rule that one out.  You can get free shipping if you do all 4.  Maybe if you go to Dove’s site and look at the previews and see if you’re attracted to one.  I know you Momof4 that you have struggled and suffered just like me and honestly, this is your ticket out!  I’d return or ebay every DVD I had and eat beans to come up with the $$ to get these 4.  That’s my honest opinion.

FitnessAddict:  I’m lovin’ your abs!! What a cool compliment! Mine are getting way way firmer but still have a little softness on the top layer I’m trying to do away with.  You had a head start on me girl, but I’m catchin’ up and lovin’ the journey.  Well said on your advice to our Momof4. Yes, I have zero objectivity.  hehehe 

In your honor, I’m breakin’ out #3 today for this week.

Honeybee:  I have major respect for you doing these DVDs with mild CP.  They are tough. I have a good friend with MS who occasionally has mild flare-ups.  She has gained a lot of weight and about 7 years ago, I wrote up an entire fitness plan for her.  She ignored it.  Her health is going downhill and I feel that if she would only strengthen her body with exercise, she could really stave off her disease, possibly for decades.  Science has shown this is possible.  I’m so proud of you for exercising - hard- and making your body stronger.  And Dove will definitely make you stronger than TA’s DVDs will.  I am humbled that I can be fitness role model for anyone and whenever I hear that from people, it makes me very happy.

I do not ever  take a rest day.  I have been in the fitness game for a long time and yes, you are supposed to take a rest day or two or at least a day of active rest, where you at least just take a nice walk or do some yoga (not Ashtanga or anything).  But my mind and body just need to workout everyday or I go nuts.  Like I once told Kho, for me, working out is like breathing or blinking and is something I need and crave everyday.  So no rest day for me but I don’t necessarily think that’s healthy. Your body needs to rest so that your muscles can recover.

Reviewer, when I am doing The Terminator tomorrow, I will smile and think of you Terminating right along with me!  Hopefully, not literally.

Goodnight, everyone.

I decided to come over to this board since I have been following Dove more than TA.  I had a fun weekend in Denver and my pregnant friend doesn’t even look pregnant.  I asked if she had been exercising (this is her first baby) and she said she ran the first trimester but now just walks her dogs occasionally.  I hope I look like that when I am eight months along.  I just got married in July so I will probably wait a few years before I take the baby leap.  Luckily I will have Dove to workout with.
Mimsy… We didn’t make it to Cherry Creek but we did enjoy Risalto Cafe.  That was a GREAT recommendation.  We ate at Monroe’s the other night.  Denver is a great city with a ton to do.  I wish I had more time to explore.  Hopefully I can go back in the next few months and really enjoy it.  I am sorry about your car.  :(  It sounds like it was good to you for a long time though and getting a new car is exciting!  Congratulations on losing a size…that is even more exciting.  I pretty much stay the same size no matter what I do.  Maybe Dove will change that.
Fitness Addict:  I used to not take a rest day but all I did was cardio.  Now that I am doing Dove, I guess a rest day doesn’t hurt.  The days I don’t exercise I feel bloated and I tend to eat more - Weird, I know.  I love how you wrote ’shoot me now’ because that is how I feel while I am doing dance cardio.  I know you have probably mentioned this but what else do you do for cardio?  Did you say Turbo Jam at one time?  I have Turbo Jam but even that bores me! Your husband sounds like an all-out athlete.  I could not imagine running 26.2 miles without feeling dead afterwards.  Talk about strong endurance.
Reviewer: I was wondering what you do on the treadmill for cardio.  I know you mentioned hills but do you walk, run, side step?  How long do you do it for?  You have had such amazing results I want to know the cardio secret.

Holls:  My husband is an all-out endurance athlete, for sure.  He used to lift heavy but has no time for that anymore because running takes up all his spare time.  Besides, even if he could put on some significant size again, I doubt he could keep it on with the amount he runs (20 miles every Saturday, shorter runs every weekday, and every weekend for the next several, he has a marathon, which is 26.2).  But he has gotten too thin from all the running in my opinion.  How could you not?  TA says it gives you “ugly butt?”  How about “no butt?”  I know when I was just doing 7 miles daily, I had no body except for boobs.  He definitely misses lifting but unlike me, has to work for his muscle.

I did and loved Dove this morning and since you reminded me of TJ, I tried doing that and made it 2/3 of the way through and then, so uncharacteristically for me, I turned the damn DVD player off.  I just could not take Chalene Johnson’s voice anymore and could not get into the cardio.  I am losing it with cardio.  I guess at least with dance cardio, I can put my iPod in and listen to that and dance like a robot, so essentially today, I only got minimal cardio in which is unacceptable. I really don’t know what to do, considering all summer, I did a minimum of a 3 hour workout everyday.  This is horrible.  Cardio is so, so important. And I am so disillusioned.  I need a new treadmill badly.

Reviewer, I hope you got to Dove today.

Where are Poppy and Mimsy?

I feel like I’m always trying to catch up on here!  Let’s see…MrsHC–I had the same thing and it didn’t seem like it would end.  But it will!  Feel better soon.  You’ll be so wanting to get back into things that you’ll make up for any ‘time off’ really quickly.
Holls–Glad you had fun!  I never have had a bad meal at the Rialto.
FitnessAddict–love you!  I know it’s a little late, but go you being dressed to kill in 30 minutes or less…of course, you have the best accessory: a healthy, tiny body. 
If I had a million $ I’d buy all 4 Doves all around: I send a set off to momof4, too, since I know you are one of the hardest working ladies around.  But I concur with everyone who says do #4 1st.  I also have #2 and am totally in love with both.  4 will keep you busy and working for a good long time.
And I feel like things are turning around–my dear friend lent me a car for the next 10 days, and it’s a much nicer car than I could ever afford, so I feel fancy (and lucky that I have her and people like all of you sending good wishes).  Better news: my boyfriend’s out-of-town for 2 weeks, and it’s just so much easier to get my work-outs and good eating on when he’s away (or, actually, it’s so much easier not to do those when he’s here!)  So I’m playing “spa weeks” at my place.  Pretending I have a 2 week boot camp with Dove and TA.

oooohhhh goodness. I managed 26mins of disc #4 my balance was off [probably because I'm still stuffy] I started sweating like I was in a sauna after the first move. I gotta say I actually thought I might puke for a good bit after stopping, I still feel a bit like I’m on a amusement ride. I am pretty well hydrated so it must be because I am still a bit congested in my head.

I haven’t said anything but I finally dropped back down to a 4! yay! I haven’t been doing the Zone diet…but I have switched over to a high raw diet. Up until my icky cold I have been feeling pretty good…actually sleeping good and no more mid-day slump..I don’t know it seems to be working for me.

You guys are giving me your cold over the computer.  Or else my hay fever is worsening.  But I think I’m getting a cold.  Dammit!

Mimsy, you killed me with your Dove thigh-worshipping comment.  And you will be worshipping your own thighs very soon, too.

I had to bake this evening for a school fundraiser and I have to work this huge fundraiser tomorrow.  Really, really don’t want to and will barely have time to fit my workout in but I will!  Have no fear!  It’s Terminator Week and I will not miss one day of it.

MrsHC:  Congratulations on wearing a  Size 4!  Your rock that size and go out and buy some new sexy, tiny clothes!  We are becoming a very tiny, sexy bunch of women on this board. And that is just awesome. I didn’t know you were doing the raw diet. That sounds really difficult.  Are you going all out with the food dehydrator, too?

Have to go pack up my little, festive Halloween cookies for tomorrow.  And no, I did not and will not eat one.  I did have a few pieces of the candy corn I put in the individual baggies.  That is some really vile stuff.

MrsHC-  you go girl on the sz. 4.  Are you going for a 2??

Mimsy, bad girl of trouble, sorry for the delay in answering your Zone question but yes, what you said about Dove’s pic, you are totally right and now I know about your bad girl side!  Yes indeed.

For me the cellulite reduction was like Dove said: Zone, water, no caffeine, Dove Love (DVDs), and…I added the high quantity of pharmaceutical grade fish oil.  That seals the deal for me.  

Honeybee:  Yes, the fish oil has helped so much…big believer.  On the sugar, Dove explained it’s addictive so until you go off of it, you’ll crave it.  Now I’ll see a magazine of a brownie and my insides want it, but I go shove a date in my mouth (the food kind) and I’m good.

Hi Everyone ~ sorry for my absence! I logged in to let you know that I am still alive and DOVING!!!! I only have one thing to say ~

OOOWWW!

but it’s a good ooww!

I will check back in with you when I am done with the week of birthday celebrations that start on the 18th. I have a large brood with 5 born in October. Yes I am a “fertile Myrtle.” The October birthdays are always a big hit every year, but this year is rather bittersweet as my loveable hubbo and their dad passed away right before the summer of this year. So this is the first birthday for my little guys without the familiar baritone singing “Happy Birthday, huge arms hugging and bearded chin nuzzling at the end of blowing out the candles. Yeah, it is hard as heck, but I will make it as special as I can for them.

I will be back with reports of me transforming, and I will need to get back on track after I am done with my kids.

So, I am still here in spirit and ready to keep it Doving!

oh too bad about TA getting fired I saw it online on the MSN Wonderwall thingy.

Okay I will read through what I have missed and log off

Laters lovelies!

Poppyblu - I had no idea that your husband passed away. Did I understand correctly?  Hubbo?  Oh my.  I am so sad.  I posted my silliness right when you posted. How do you manage alone and 5 children?  Oh dear.  I want to give you a hug.

Poppyblu:  bless your heart for being the strength in your family and looking with gratefulness that you “get” to bring 5 contributors to the world. You are an inspiration.  Thank you for sharing and I imagine the sweet bitterness of celebrating your children’s birthdays with your dear hubbo gone but pain-free.  Wow.  You made my day.  A bunch of crap happened today, but your story keeps everything in perspective.  Thank you.

aww how sweet!   poppyblu you are an inspiration and a lesson for all os us in strength. wow.   im so sorry to hear about your loss, i dont know what i would do.  probably eat, for sure not dove as you do!

um - how many children do you have?  is it possible to have “many more than 5″???  i’ll never know how you super moms do it.. i have one little girl and i am exhausted all the time!!!!

poppyblu-please accept my condolences.  You sound like a strong faithful lady and I’m impressed you  even consider a workout amongst the grieving process and mothering 5 angels.  You are truly an inspiration to us but more so to your family!  I pray you continue to feel peace.  He must have been an incredible husband and was definitely blessed to have you at his side.
xoxoxoxo

Poppyblu:
Please accept my condolences.  I have no idea how I would even begin to cope if my husband passed.  We are like two halves of one person, I wouldn’t know how to go on.  You are in my prayers.

Hi sweethearts.  I hope everyone is well today.  I sat up in a family room chair crying part of last night, partly due to being stressed and partly because I was thinking of Poppy.  But I got up and did my workout anyway.  Could not miss Dove but didn’t know what to do for cardio so just rebounded for 20 minutes and danced on my own for another 15.  This is getting ludicrous. I need Reviewer’s bad-ass treadmill.

I am still worried about my thighs although I totally trust Dove and found something of interest from some trainer.  You know how I said my thighs are going through some sort of metamorphosis and will again be really tiny (but hopefully not sticks again)?  Well this trainer said, “You may notice a temporary increase in the size of your thighs if you build muscle before you lose the fat, but it is unlikely that you will build any kind of size to your leg muscles if you are doing the right things.  Try lunges…do them unweighted for higher reps.  Also squats (unweighted as well) and step-ups.”  Sounds exactly like what we are doing. And I will be measuring soon so I can stop being stupid about this whole thing. At yesterday’s fundraiser, people kept saying I was tiny and so in shape.  Someone needs to slap me.

Off to run some errands.  Have a good day, everyone.

Mimsy, thank you for my virtual slap. I needed it because now I have to share this with you guys. As you know, I had to work the school fundraiser, where moms primarily donate a lot of high-end, designer clothes that are sold to surrounding communities that are less fortunate at ridiculously low prices. It’s really a nice thing we do. We’re talking St. John, Ralph Lauren’s high-end label, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, etc.  Anyway, my uber-jock of a son is always entertaining his friends (instead of studying!).  The kids are allowed to shop one day and they all spend $20 at the bake sale table and sports section (they have a limit of $20).  He found some Talbot’s Kids shorts in pink and put them on (couldn’t button them) and went running around in front of his other jock friends, making them laugh, as well as some of the other moms.  Thank you, Lord, that I was not there.  He bought them for 50 cents so he could demonstrate, for me, what he had done, so I could be mortified in the privacy of my own home.  And mortified I was.  You know exactly what I did.  I took the shorts from him, put them on my Dove-i-fied body, pulled them effortlessly up, buttoned and zipped them.  I then proceeded to parade around the house in them, doing a little dance.  Very proudly.  My son was not sure he liked that and my daughter was utterly beyond mortified and disgusted, saying there was no way I should be able to wear a tiny pair of Talbot’s Kids shorts and have them fit and even be a little big in the waist. I am having major Dove Love right now.  And I really need to add that my thighs, while not perfect by any means, looked quite slender in those shorts.  So, I am off to do The Terminator and will smile as I do the Russian Squats and military sit-ups.  (OMG, I hate those.)

Happy Sunday, girlies.

Reviewer, I promised I would do the Dove squats/lunges and now, I am so glad that I did!  Thank you for holding me to my promise. And as a result, I have completely lost my mind. I don’t plan to stop prancing in my little Talbot’s kid’s shorts any time soon, Missy!  And things are only going to get worse, but in a good way. You know what I mean. Yes, we have all gone crazy.

Fitnessaddict-honey I’m sooo sorry you caught this!!!  I can’t believe you even felt up to consider working out let alone going into the doctor.  Is this a strong antibiotic???  Please PLEASE take care of yourself!!  How is your son this morning???  That is very scary, did you get the rest of your family checked?  Do you have the fever?  Or is it mostly the coughing? 
We all have coughs here so now I’m more nervous.  I’m bleaching my house.

FitnessAddict–that sucks bigtime.  I understand the workout.  I’ve done a 1/2 hour stretch as a warmup and often feel better. Strip and sit in a cool bath with Epsom salts to bring a temp down.  Drink water.  Keep us posted.  Hugs to you and son for a speedy recovery.

wow fitness thats awful!!! i really sincerely hope you and your little guy are ok!!

yikes i am so not a germophobe and we never get flu shots or use purell but i am considering getting the h1n1 vaccine this year, and using the sanitiser!  we cannot afford to get sick and be out of commision this year.  dont workout fitness addict!!!!  take a few days to rest and take care of the fam…
oh and p.s.  when you have a high fever like that and cant bring it down grab  some egg whites and whip them up a tiny bit and soak a rag or hand towel in them, wrap them around your little guys feet.  i know it sounds completely crazy but i would be willing to put money on it that his fever would be gone in 15 minutes.  seriously, i have done it several times with myself, my hubby an my daughter and it works… so weird.

FitnessAddict: I hope that you and your son are starting to feel better…Please STOP WORKING OUT!! At least until you get better…This is very scary I have never had a flu shot so I’m worried about having one and then catching something.. I’ve been doing my Dove dvd#2…I will start dvd#1 next week…I have been stressing out over Grad school that I just started it’s sooooooooo much work…I will get through it I’m so glad I have Dove to help relieve some stress…Reviewer: I think I’m going to be like you and they will all end up being my favorite…Well I have to go I hope everyone has a great weekend!!! 

Hello Ladies…I need you all sooo much. I posted over at the Tracy board as well and as I said before over there it seems that to me anyway that the board is not as active as it once was. I get such motivation from all of you that because of you I have been able to stick with exercise for the first time my whole life. Please do not go away.. All of you have such an amazing commaradarie (SP). I feel like I have gotten to know all of you through reading all of the posts here  and over at the TA board as well. Oh and before I forget I want to thank Reviewer for the enlightening reviews. If not for you where would we all be? Ordered The Dove set all 4 excited to start the 8 week change your bod like nothing before challenge!

reviewer did you see fitness addicts message about an inch on the thighs?   do you have any comments?  i just paid off my whole visa and was going to order dove but now i am hesitating!

 thank you reviewer..i think i will give it a try and see for myself…

half inch on each thigh = one inch?

it does sound like a good plan holls - especially for those who havent completely worn out our tracy dvds yet!  i personally am so done with the tracy content i have having done it for a solid year and a half now, most weeks 5 days, my body may as well sleep through those workouts, even with 2 lb ankle weights on.

i took a leap and ordered dove # 3!  i will take leg measurements (i will do my whole body but i am concerned about those squats!)  to see if i gain any inches.. i am looking forward to it though!! thank you reviewer again for introducing us.

FYI ladies there are a few dove dvds on ebay, they are $25 or you can put in your best offer - i put $18 for my best offer and i got it for $18 + $3 shipping. $21 including shipping comapred to the $28.99 not including shipping on doves site.  woo hoo bargains!!

FITNESSADDICT!!! Yay!  So glad you are back.  I hope you will be able to post more now.  This board has been missing your fun and informative posts.  Thanks for getting back to me.  Sounds like you and Dove are not going to be working out again in the near future. Everyone has a different body so you are lucky to know how your body responds to certain exercises so you can adjust if you need to.  I hope running 7 miles and doing TA can get you back to where you were.  It sounds like an awesome plan…I wish I had the endurance to run 7 miles!!!  I have my doctor’s appt. next week too and I hate getting on the scale.  I was thinking the same thing about how the number will be higher and how maybe I can just dodge getting on it.  I don’t think that Dove is the reason though… I think it is my eating habits lately and too many beers.

I have been alternating Dove and TA this past week and it has been pretty good.  I do Dove 4x a week and TA 3 times. I think Mimsy said she is doing the same thing on the TA Board.  Is that right, Mimsy?  Do you like it?  I also did TA Dance DVDs a few times last week for cardio but it has been killing my feet.  Ever since I twisted my ankle from Dance 07, I have been having ankle/feet issues.  I think I will go to a foot specialist to see what is wrong!  I am wearing my Nikes today with my black dress pants.  Luckily I work with my husband so he doesn’t really care or judge my hideous fashion.  I have to go for comfort over pain, even if I look like an idiot.

Torontomom: I am so happy you bought Dove, especially since you found a good deal.  That is awesome.  I am sure you will love her.  She definitely helps with strength and makes you feel refreshed when you are done.  I felt the same way as you do about TA when I ordered Dove. I wanted to try something that would challenge my body and deliver good results.  Now that I have started doing TA with Dove, it feels new again since I took a break but I definitely couldn’t do TA 6 days a week. Alternating seems to be a good solution for me right now.

Reviewer: Where are you?  How are your Dove workouts coming?  Do you still have the AMAZING results and are they getting even better?  I hope you are doing well.

Welcome Glowgirl! Let us know how you like Dove when you receive them.  I think you will really like her and her routines.

Holls, I kept my promise and refused to get on the scale at my physical!  I think my doctor was a little taken aback but he has known me for a long time.  He reassured me that muscle is good (I know that, I have some but not too much of it in my opinion!). However, like every year, I got in a little trouble because  my chest wall is protruding, my scapulas are prutruding, etc.  But because I am healthy with a decent amount of muscle, he said he would leave me alone.  I did get major props when he said that after all these years, he is amazed that I have kept my six-pack.  Did he really think that I would let it go?  I thought I had a hernia (have had pretty pain the past six weeks doing certain ab exercises) but it turns out it is scar tissue behind my ab wall from my emergency surgery.  Don’t know why it’s acting up now.  I will post more about it on the TA board.

How are you doing alternating TA with Dove?  I hope it is working out for you.  I am rather enjoying being outside doing my 7 miles again.  I won’t be saying that when It’s freezing outside but I used to go out during nor’easters but not sure I’m that dedicated to the outdoors now. My poor skin! I will probably be doing TA Dance Cardio more as it gets colder.

Take those Nikes off when you are not working out.  Suffer with the pain and do the fashionista (me) proud and hobble in your stilettos, woman!

Well I haven’t posted in a while. I am still doing Dove#3 for a week now. I don’t think it’s the hardest one, it’s not easy by any means don’t get me wrong it is hard. I like it I can’t wait toi do #4 and #2 again. It’s been so long since I’ve done them. Fitness Addict when is your birthday mine is tommorrow 11/13? Are you a Scorpio as well?  

My body is changing, My thighs are becoming more muscle than fat my arms have muscle definition. I’m getting results I haven’t gotten with anybody else. If I can give up sugar my results would be even better.I’m working on that. When I am able to I would like to have a consultation with Dove…I am going to start taking Fish oil it’s suppose to be good for your heart as well as other things….Reviewer: Are you still only doing the zone? Was it easy for you to give up sugar? 

Happy Birthday to both honeybee and FitnessAddict!  Hope it’s great!

First of all…Thank-you all for your birthday wishes….I had a really nice birthday…FitnessAddict: Happy Birthday!!! I hope you had a great one…..Holls: Thank-you for the comment…I have seen a change in my arms as well as my legs that’s comming a little slower…I’m sure if I cleaned up my diet some it would be even better results…I’m hoping in the next month or two I will be able to afford a consultation w/Dove…I would like to talk to her and pick her brain a little..Lol!! I think I’m going to start doing # 4 again…I like all of them the same really which is unbelievable…This is the first thing I’ve actually stayed w/for 8 weeks I’m in week 8, I can hardly believe it…

General Question:
Does anyone know anyone who has tried the Action Hero Babe system that was released in October?  Know anything about it?  It sounds pretty impressive.

Okay, Kho, you totally piqued my interest and I just looked up Action Hero Babe.  It is a new workout by celeb trainer Valerie Waters and it looks really fun.  (Valerie trains a lot of people, including Jen Garner for Electra and Kate Beckinsale for GI Joe, etc.) Anyway AHB is going to build strength and lean muscle but is not supposed to bulk you up.  It will utilize a small medicine ball, tubing and those sliding things she always uses on her clients’ feet, among other things.  There are 6 workouts, three will be done during the first month and three will be done during the second month and Valerie works out on the DVDs with you.  It looks like a fun workout.  I won’t try it because I think I will bulk up and I’m still trying to lose the muscle I put on my thighs from Dove; otherwise, I think I would give this workout a go while waiting for TA’s new stuff.  I don’t know where you found this but it looks like fun.  And Valerie’s got a good reputation and trains a lot of celebs who are very fit and thin.

wow i have been missing out a bit on posts!!  happy birthday to all you scorpio ladies out there….  i am curious about the action hero babe stuff… kho are you going to purchase?  let us know as soon as you try it it looks pretty interesting.  still dont have my dove dvd yet but i have been doing a lot of tracy with ankle weights, as well as p57, and my exhale dvds.. looking forward to the dove challenge though!

Hello everyone! I have not posted in a while because like KHOTRAN 33 my left knee is was not doing so great as well… I stopped doing all cardio because I feared I would be knee injured for life. Then after about 3 weeks I went to physio for my knee to see if they could give me options and to help heal it because It was just not getting any better and can you guess what the physiotherapist said?  Well to my amazement I was told that I have a muscle imbalance and asked what type of exercise  I did. I told her I was doing Ta mat and cardio dance  and she just looked at me like I was insane! She said the high impact of the dance cardio is just too much for anyone’s knees ley alone mine and that the TA mat was causing a muscle imbalance with my hamstrings and quads being that the hamstings were strong and the quads were weak. I thought I was going to cry because I have been doing both workouts for 3 months and have never been able to stick with any routine for more than a month and not get bored. Plus I have shrunk from a size 18 to a size a size 8 and now all I could think about was how can I go on and not become big again….. Well trying to make a short story long here:) I was given moves to help with the imbalance and to not do the dance cardio but I could continue with TA  mat with my physio  moves and I am feeling almost 100% better in my knee. Oh side note….I have just started  doing Dove and I DO NOT feel pain from her workouts and when I DESCRIBED Doves method to my physio gal she said I sounded well rounded and balanced and that It even had some of the moves she was giving me to balance me out. You all continue to inspire me and I will give updates on how I am doing with Dove and a bit of TA mat thrown in as I cannot seem to give her up completely. Have a great day to all of you!

XO Shelley

Wow GlowGirl!! I did not realize you had such fabulous results from TA!!! That is wonderful!! You must be so thrilled!!  I know you’re feeling nervous right now about gaining some of that weight back, but it sounds like these girls are having just as great results with Dove.  So you will be fine.  Congratulations girl!!

Kho, I’m sorry to hear about your patellar tendonitis.  About one year ago, a friend’s husband, who is a radiologist, saw me hobbling about a soccer field (watching my daughter), queried me, and thought I had it and urged me to go see an orthopedic surgeon.  You know I didn’t go because I knew precisely what I was going to hear and was not about give up my workouts.  Things have not gotten any worse but my right knee still hurts, now quite a bit, but it will correct itself as it always does, with time.  Odd.  I know I will pay for this in the future or perhaps get really lucky and will just keep existing with the pain occurring occasionally. But I feel very badly for you.  Knee pain is horrid.  And as you said, extremely frustrating. Please take good care of your knee, honey.

BTW, I finally bought some of the Carlson’s Fish Oil you recommended at Whole Foods several days ago.  It really tastes fine, not fishy at all.  Since I just started taking it, I haven’t noticed any changes with dry eyes yet. I hope to soon.

Glowgirl, you have knee problems, too?  It seems as though a lot of us are having knee problems!  Wow.  And I cannot believe what your physiotherapist said about TA’s cardio!  Wow.  I’m not surprised, though.  Although we love TA, we know she flies by the seat of her pants a lot, but is very good at making us teeny tiny. (TA has really made you teeny tiny - congrats! ) You, too, take good care of your knees.  I won’t stop doing my 7 miles outside and will mix it up with TA.  Talk about high impact.  Wow. But I’m afraid of giving up  my cardio; that is what really burns off the fat and why my body fat is so incredibly low.  (Combined with the muscle I have, but I can’t give up my cardio - I need it for stress relief, too.)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Reviewer: I know you are super busy with work but I had to tell you that Dove is GREAT.  I love what is happening to my body.  Abs are showing, arms are tight, legs are slimmer and weight is down (even during that time of the month). Do you do your cardio before or after Dove? I usually do Dove first and then run/walk, but did she say which was better?  Thanks!

Holls - that did it for me.  I just went on and ordered all 4 DVD’s.  I cannot wait for them to arrive - and I am hoping and praying they work as well for me as they did for you and Reviewer, and everyone else.

Hollis: I’m with you my body has changed so much since starting Dove’s workouts. I get extremly bored doing cardio as well now. There is some cardio in Dove’s dvds though. But, cardio or strength training, I do the later. I’ve been doing my cardio first then Dove later in the day.

BizzyLizzy: I think you will love the results you see w/doing Dove’s workouts. I am toning up quite nicely. I think my metabolism is changing due to the new muscle tone. Which I am quite thinkful for!!!!

I hope that you ladies have a great weekend…

BizzyLizzy: It’s Dove I tried to do Jillian Michaels the other day I was short on time….It didn’t happen will not be doing anything else right now but Dove and I do som P57 which is kind of similar than Dove….I can stand the instructors at least…..I hope you have great results….

Reviewer: I miss hearing about your Dove wisdom….Where are the other ladies at? I need some wisdom inspiration!!

Good Morning BizzyLizzy! WAHOOOOOOO!!  So happy you got your DVDs.  I think most of us would recommend starting with #4 (good suggestion, Reviewer) and the length of time you do it is up to you.  I started out doing each DVD for one week because I felt ready to move on to the next.  One to two weeks is probably good to get stronger and feel comfortable doing it.  Let us know how day #1 goes. 

I’ve only done #2 and was sick when I did it.  I’ll have to do it again to really see if I like it.

Just checked out Dove on youtube,  Frankly, it looks like it would be too hard on my knees, shoulders, and wrists. I’m 45 and just cannot strain those areas of my body anymore.  Can’t do push - ups — which is why I like TAs standing arm WO.  Can’t do anything that puts pressure on my wrists.  I can do fisted push  - ups a bit but that gets too hard as well.
What I saw looked pretty brutal on knees and I went years climbing stairs for exercise and did too much damage. 

IF I were to buy one of Dove’s DVDs to check out an entire workout — which one would you gals recommend.  Basically, I can do most standing workout that don’t strain the knees but I can’t do any floor work that requires weight on wrists.   Thanks, Sam

Thanks honeybee79 !  I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my question.  It looks like TA has some new video pre - orders.  I think I’ll wait for the reviews before I purchase.  Happy New Year !!

Hi Reviewer,

I haven’t posted on the Dove section here before, but followed over from the TA tread.

I am going to purchase all 4 of the Dove DVD’s and I was just wondering if you could answer a question for me?
You mention that you had been doing 20 mins of cardio per day but Dove had wanted you to aim for 45 mins 6 days per week. Then I was on her site and looking at her class schedule and it lists four days that she does the group workouts. Does she want us to workout for one hour 4 days per week doing the dvd/class resistance stuff plus 45 mins cardio 6 days per week? Or dvd/class and 45mins cardio 6 days?

Just wanted to get it clear in my head. I hope you see this.

Hi Reviewer,

Thank you so much for getting back to me. I sent an email to Dove yesterday, so hopefully she will get back to me.

I am so impressed, 60mins. on the treadmill!! Wow you looked amazing in the photo you posted months ago, I can’t imagine how you look now. Im real excited about starting the DVDs now!

Thanks again.