This is an awesome message board. I purchased the Mat DVD about one week ago, and love doing it. I’ve been doing the gym thing for years, am bored stopped seeing results in my early 20s. Now I’m in my late 20’s and my body is changing! Not in a good way. I HATE my arms and my thighs.

I love this workout. Trying to do 6 days a week. Tomorrow heading to her studio in LA for a live mat class. Not sure what to expect but I have high hopes! I hope to see results in a few months, just like so many of you.

Did anyone also catch the Tracey Anderson video workout that Gwyneth Paltrow posted on her website, Goop? It’s great, it’s a butt exercise that Tracy created just for her. You can download it to your iTunes & iPod.

Anyways, fantastic message board! Keep up the good work, beautiful ladies!

Hi, All -

Welcome all new posters.  I’ve been lurking and pretty much not exercising at all except for any walking required by my job.  Just wanted to add that I love the chattiness of this board - hearing how others fit the workouts into their day is a lot of motivation for me to get back on track.  While I’m single with no kids, I have been living with my recently widowed sister and 4 year old nephew.  It has been a huge life change for me going from my own place and schedule to kind of an “instant” family - maintaining the house, pre-k, playdates, etc.  Sharing a bathroom!!!  Not that I was so discplined when I was on my own - Ha!  So I appreciate hearing from both the moms,  the singletons, married/SO with no kids, etc. 

I too have trouble doing both the Mat and the suggested amount of cardio, so what I was doing when I was in the groove was using the 10,000 steps target as a way to get in activity.  While I know it’s not as intense as TA’s cardio or using the treadmill/elliptical, I was able to squeeze in the steps during the workday, and then I’d finish out the remainder on the treadmill.  10,000 steps is about 5 miles give or take.  

I’ve planned the PP for tonight.  As TA says “it’s a good sore”.  I don’t know what it is about Mat and PP, I find it easy to get into the zone with these and while I do feel sore, it’s more like my muscles are alive sore, if that makes sense.  I think that’s what makes it addictive once you start, the feeling is addictive - I never had that feeling with other workouts. 

And that is my chatty post for today.  Everyone have a good one!!
videochick

No, nope, no way - Dance Cardio is sooo hard!  I still haven’t figured out all of the combos, and I definitely have to stop to catch my breath between combos.  I love what I’ve learned, but it is tough and intense.

The Dance Aerobics DVD from 2007 has been a lot easier to learn.  I’m still having to pause to catch my breath a little bit, but I can see being able to get all of the way through it in the near future.  My only issue is that I keep getting really bad shin splints.  What does this mean?  Am I not warming up enough?  Am I doing the workout to intensely?  I just don’t know what to do.  Anyone have advice?  I did it on Saturday and have been off of any impact cardio since then just because my shins are still killing me.  

Thanks momof4, you rock! Your progress is totally motivating.

The class was fantastic, but so intense that I think I nearly threw up. Twice. ha. The ladies in there were all very nice, but it was a bit intimidating. I got to see those wonderful machines that Tracy created and am thinking about doing one of those too…eventually, when I, you know, stop throwing up from the regular classes. The trainers had dancer’s bodies. One looked like a ballerina.

I have a question: Did all of you do both mat and aerobic DVDs? Here I thought I was going to just do one live class a week, the mat DVD 5 times a week, and then jog 30 minutes a day, but then today during class I was told regular jogging gets in the way of success; that we have to stick to her type of aerobic workouts. Anybody have any feedback about this, in terms of what worked for you or what didn’t? I’m lost.

Shin splints are almost always too little or shot cushioning in shoes or impacting on too hard of a surface.

Hello all,

I just stumbled across this board after reading some good things about the TA DVDs.  Reviewer, thank you for your thorough reviews, they helped cinch the deal for me as far as deciding on this being the way to go. 

I’m 28, a mom to a 3 and 4 year old, and have kind of hit a plateau on losing the baby weight.  I was 160 lbs and a size 14, and am currently 135 lbs and a size 4.  Problem is, I still look pregnant.  And we won’t talk about my thighs LOL..  So I need to TONE!!   I’ve always had broad, thick shoulders and arms no matter what I’ve done, so I’m hoping this will take care of those.  I read through all of your comments last night and am so encouraged and excited to get started!  I look forward to getting to know everyone better over the coming months. 

Reviewer, who is interviewing her???  I sent Heather (from her studios) a link to this website and told her to tell TA to stop by with tips!  That’s so cool!!!!!!!  I hope it gets posted sooner than later. 

Topanga-thanks for posting your experience at her studio.  How long was the mat?  similar to the dvd?  On her 1st dance dvd she says if you want a dancers body-you dance.  The treadmill creates bulk.  But, I change it every 5 min (walk high incline/jog/sprints/etc.).  I wonder if I am hurting my results.  I can’t see how jogging creates bulk though b/c my butt and thighs kill while I am doing it.  Runners have toned legs, right??  After doing some of her dance today, I am sore, good sore.  I am going to try and get that going more.  But she has to have an alternative for those who just can’t manage that DVD.  Did you see a dance class there?
I am so with you on the puking…..many many times I’ve felt like puking!!!  I think it’s a good sign !(I hope anyway)  LOL
Doerflinger-I just bought saucony from Dick’s ($50)  They’re good…totally helped my jogging (which I need to maybe stop) and during the dance DVD.  Good support.  I looked into the Nike Shox (which look like TA’s in her DVD) and was told they’re not good for your knees and since I have a bad knee I chose the saucony. 
I love this board-you guys all keep me motivated!  Bring on TA!

It will be exciting to see what she says. I am still waiting on my DVD’s to come in so that I can get started on that body that I want to have by the time summer comes. I think their is still enough time for me. And this time,I will not give up. I am very determine. And reading everyones input does help me because at least I know that I am not alone in this Battle of the Bulge War, so everyone..THANK YOU!!!! I wish we could all meet some day.

Congrats on the looking-like-a-17 year old Reviewer!  That’s awesome!  And I am so excited about the interview!  Can hardly wait!

And don’t worry, aayanka, I’m sure you’ll be able to get into the groove of again quickly.  We all have off-days, off-weeks, even off-months.  That’s life.  What’s important is that you have such a positive attitude about sticking with it!  Enjoy your workouts everyone! 

Yea Reviewer!!!  You ROCK!  Can’t wait to see it.  When I tell people about TA’s theory on running, so many people say she’s wrong.  You can’t create bulk by running….what’d you guys think now that you’ve been doing her WO?  Reviewer, what’s your cardio?  How AWESOME to be mistaken for a 17 year old!!!!  I would LOVE that!!!  :)   I agree with doerflinger, aanyanka-just stick to it like GP says.  These last 2 days I’ve struggled with it…not a good WO week for me at all which is a bummer but I’ve still done it.  I’m struggling with ya!  But I know I’d feel worse if I didn’t do it.  Just like she said…we have off days and on days. 
I’m just wondering what’s everyone doing for cardio? 

Thanks!  Okay as most of you know I’m always working behind the scenes for products/things/ideas to make us look more fab.  I am currently testing a few but some take a couple of months for me to make sure they do something worth your time.
As ya all know, I couldn’t cut it with the quickness of TA’s dance cardio but for those who can handle it, I say go for it!  I do have a review for a product and new cardio that I’ve been doing that I am very excited about.  I haven’t released it because I thought it would be super cool to make a video of the movement to go along with it however that would significantly delay the release of the review.  Also currently VP is having a hard time adding the “photo upload” ability to this board. 
So let’s take a vote.  To get my next review up VP has to stop working on finding the glitch for the photo upload feature in order to upload my review (and then they can go back to the photo thing). Also I’d be releasing it without the movement video (which isn’t hard at all, it’d just be nice to have it be seen).
Review first or photo upload capability first?

Review please.

Welcome balance….glad to hear you think the Mat has gotten harder.  I’ve always thought once i’ve done a workout long enough it should get easier.  It’s good this one doesn’t…it’s still hard for me too.  
Reviewer, anxious to hear about your cardio!  Whichever is easiest I’d say do (meaning review or photo).
Found a new article on TA I thought was good to share.

http://www.cookiemag.com/brain/2009/01/tracy-anderson

helps keep me motivated. 

Mof4:  what’s a “runner’s butt”?? …no butt?

A lot of my friends are runners and they all have amazing bodies! They have that long, lean look that I love. They run outside and also on the treadmill.  Running is not something that I enjoy but I wish I did.  I know I have asked this before so please don’t gang up on me, but does anyone know TA’s credentials.  I know she was a dancer but what else?  I’ve read she did a lot of “research” but I wish I knew exactly what that entails.  I think it’s a shame to make people feel bad or afraid to use the treadmill or else they will bulk up.  She is a marketer and is selling her dvds and now gym memberships (hello, at 5k for 3 months in NYC) .  Of course she is going to recommend only using her products.  

I’ve been taking classes at The Bar Method (they also have dvds).  I feel it’s similar to TA.  In class, we use 2 or 3 pound weights.  I was just looking at their site and someone asked about running while doing The Bar.  She doesn’t mention anything about bulking. This was her response:

Should I do cardio exercises along with the Bar Method?
Three or four Bar Method classes a week is all you need to be fit and healthy, because the workout includes all the key elements of fitness: strength, flexibility and stamina. If you’re athletically oriented, you’ll probably want to add a movement-oriented activity such as hiking, a martial art, biking or dance to your fitness routine.
Avoid running, however, unless you absolutely can’t live without it. Running strengthens your heart and lungs, but over the long term it beats up your knees, hips, back and face.

Hi All!  I have enjoyed reading this board and have become a TA addict since reading the review (thanks Reviewer!) and subsequent posts.  I am a 33 yr old mom of two (4.5 and 2) and am 5′, 115lbs.  The 10-15 extra lbs are currently distributed as about 2 inches of flab around the middle and thighs.  
It is day 6 of TA workouts for me, alternating PP and Mat and doing 1 song of cardio dance.  That dance is SOOO fast, admittedly, I am sadly out of shape and not a cardio fan in general.  I am determined to workout everyday doing at least cardio if not mat/pp as well.  I too have downloaded the “goop butt” and also ordered the 1st cardio dvd to see if it is any easier.  Then I could work my way back to the latest.
I have in fact noticed a big difference in my body.  My posture is improved and after the initial 3 days of mind numbing soreness (even my neck!) I feel really good!
I workout in the early morning before everyone is up, so hopefully I can keep this up…thanks for the great support

Reviewer-I have no clue what a runner’s butt is.  I assume from what she talks about building bulk that a runner’s butt is bulkier than a dancers?  Jennifer Aniston is a runner/yoga and her butt does not look bulky.  I’m such a fan (more addict) of TA that when she says something I go by it.  But this no jogging thing has me confused.  She has to know her dance dvd is a killer and most won’t be able to do it.  So if that’s the case, isn’t it better to jog than do nothing? 
I just did the dance and stopped at 30 min (lots of breathers too) and I’m sweating and dying.   I’m going to be SORE later!!!
Anyone see that link to cookie magazine of her and her son?  I posted the link.  She says she gained 60lbs with Sam but was back in size 0 6 weeks later.  Seriously?

I think marathon runners have no butt.  Sprinters have JLo butt (which isn’t bad–depends on your personal preference).  Ballet/Jazz dancers have butt but it’s compacted (hollowed out on the side and higher in the glute (medius, minimus).  Sort of smaller sprinter butt, but I’ve never stood next to a sprinter.  On TV they look like they are huge but in real life they could well be a size 2 or 4.  TV does make things bigger.  Modern dancers have big butt.

Now since I started the GOOP butt, bam! my butt is turning into a sprinter’s butt (after 6 workouts) but that’s okay by me.  Gwyneth said we’d have a new butt in 10 workouts.

Hello Everyone! While this is my first post here I feel as though I know you all as I just spent like 2 hours (atwork…shhh!!!) reading through all the reviews and comments you have writen over the last couple months…and let me say I am soo excited to be here! Please know you have all inspired me greatly. I have been going back and forth for a couple months about wether to buy the dvd’s or not feeling really unconfidant in my ability to stick with it for more then a month and depressed at how much money I have watsed over the years. But you and your success and support of each other has made me determined and I hope to get results and get to know you as well!

General info about me- I am 28, from Chicago, I am a former ballet dancer. I am a recovering bulimic. I have put on about 30 lbs over the past couple years from depression and struggling to get over my ED. I am about 155lbs right now, 5′4″ and would like to lose about 15lbs (in a healthy, lasting, sane way)  to feel confident, beautiful and fit into my clothes. I ordered the Mat DVD and cant wait for it, as for cardio, since I am in Chicago it is FREEEEEZING so that means no walking about outside but I made a dance mix on my itunes and will be dancing it up in my apartment until I can afford an indoor machine or decide to get her dance dvd. With that said…a couple questions…

1. Can I start with the Butt moves from GOOP and arm moves from Self? Or since I am not a seasoned TA exerciser should I hold off for mat dvd?
2. Regaurding the dance dvd- I have a teany apt and am concerned about space, it sounds and looks from that oprah video that she is jumping around alot and you need lots of space?

Again- I am so happy to be here. Thankyou for inspiring me. *hug*

Re: Cardio, I would think that anything is better than nothing, and like momof4 says, TA’s cardio DVDs may not be a possibility for some due to the high-impact moves.  

Re: post-baby weight loss, I lost all of my baby weight within about a month (30 pounds with my daughter, 35 with my son). Crazy, I know, but it was gone.  But (there had to be a but!) my post-baby lifestyle caused weight to start creeping back on slowly over the course of time.  So I say I want to lose my baby-weight, but really what I am toting around is weight I put on through snacking, eating too much kid-friendly food, and not getting enough exercise.  Guess I can’t blame the kiddos!

Hey Everyday Ballerina!  I’ll talk fast in dance lingo…Go ahead and do the arms and butt but only after a thorough warm-up…2nd position grand plies (25), T stance/lean down, pike position rock back and forth, squat one leg other back straight, general dance stuff.  Also a great warm up to get you prepped…8 tendus en croix from 1st, and stand 1st pos and port de bras (50x).  You’ll probably love this workout as it’s very freeing in movement and dancelike.  Get your mat and arm weights too.

Doer- Thanks for such a quick reply! And thanks for the info regarding the space needed, I couldnt find any info on Amazon or her website.  And from the looks of all the videos I saw, it appeared she was leaping about such large areas! But It think I’ll be able to make due in my apartment.

Reviewer- let me first say how much I adored your review of the Mat dvd, it had me laughing out loud (which almost got me caught not working!!!) haha. AND THANKYOU for your reply, it has been a few years since my last serious ballet class and it was so refreshing to read those terms. I am so anxious to get out from behind this desk and throw on some legwarmers (for memories sake) and get to it!

Thanks for making my day.

welcome new ladies. I am new as well. =)

momof4:  At the studio, I did see a cardio class going on. It was being conducted with one instructor and two ladies-in-training. They didn’t take up much space at all with their dancing, but were very coordinated. It looked like the ladies had done the session before, so they kind of knew the routine. It looked fun! I might go for that next.

My mat session took about an hour; it was an extended and harder version of the DVD. The same core moves but also many additional moves added in. The trainer corrected a few things I had been doing wrong that I noticed; things like making sure my legs were bent during certain moves and my foot faced the floor during the floor leg routines. It’s hard to explain, I wish we had video capatibilities here so I could show you guys.

I’m still sore from yesterday’s workout at the studio, but I’m totally pumping myself up for doing the DVD today as well (trying!). The muscles that hurt from that workout are muscles I have literally never worked before, so I was hurting in the most random places (like parts of my shoulders & neck, parts of my thighs that never get worked out, etc.).

I think you guys inadvertently talked me into buying the cardio DVD too; i am also concerned about the space needed, but from what I saw at the studio, not much space is needed.

It’s great that the board is getting popular. I’m glad I joined. We should try to organize some type of iChat video group workout! How awesome would that be. I also almost wish we had some type of way to note our results, our strategies, our goals, pics, etc. on here, kind of like how Gymnee.com does.

I’ll send you guys more info about the studio the more I go in for sessions and stuff.

ecomezgarcia-my husband noticed a difference in my butt after just six mat workouts.  I have also noticed a difference in my arms and legs.  I definitely have miles to go to get where I want with my body but things seems to be changing already.
Topanga - I agree it would be nice to have a place where we could compare workout strategies and progress and maybe also post our nutritional plans and what we actually are eating from day to day.  I track all of my food on fitday software but it would be nice to see what everyone else is eating (I for one could use some culinary inspiration!)

Good Morning everyone!

OK! SO LAST NIGHT I DID THE GOOP workout for the booty and then the youtube video’s…let me just say my butt has never been so exhausted! haha…ouch!!! Cant wait for the full hour to add to it.

Momof4- do you have a link to that blog? I would love to read it.
Also where can I buy the first dance dvd? Would you recommend it over the 2nd one? Any major differances?

Hey, GOOD FOR YOU!  It is a great soreness tho?  I would get the first dance dvd.  It is easier for me to learn and it’s variety.  The music is not as good as her newer one but I like watching the back-up dancers perform it.  It’s good.  Just contact Heater at her studios at heather@tracyandersonmethod.com (got it off her website).  She’s the one I dealt with in getting her first dvd b/c they had some at her studio, only place to get it.  If I had to pick one over the other, I would go with her new one b/c the music is good.  I’ve only done 2 combos on the 1st one (I will do more this week) and it just seems a little less on speed as her new one.  I also think it’s great to have both. The blog I read (it’s from last year) is http://tracyandersonstudios.blogspot.com/ It’s funny she compares brushing your teeth every day to training your muscles every day.  That totally hit home to me that it’s just as important and this needs to be for the rest of our lives. 

Hi Everyone! Thanks for the welcome and sharing your progress.
After just one week I have noticed that I am stronger and my abs have made themselves noticed under the sad, saggy skin that is now my stomach.  I am wondering though if anyone has noticed that their skin is “going back to the muscle”?  I am really hoping that it happens for me.  I don’t have a lot of weight to lose but after 2 kids and the 50lb gain and loss rapidly, I fear that maybe my skin will never go back to where it was-that the flabby muffin top is here to stay…I am going to stick to the workouts  days a week.  I agree with you momof4 that the muscle training needs to be maintained daily and believe me, it is soooo hard to get out of bed early ( I love love love 2 sleep) but it is so worth it and my kids get a kick out of it when they catch me doing these workouts.  It’s also a great for me to have them see me exercising and to introduce them to the idea of taking care of yourself and your body.

workinprogress, I agree, some of these workouts/trainers make claims that intuitively do not make sense.  At The Bar Method classes, I have spoken to quite a number of women (and let me tell you, these classes are filled with gorgeous, fit, lean & toned women).  Some say they love to jog or go to the gym while others say they only take Bar classes.  I have been so focused on the classes and while I love my results, I do miss the feeling after I get a great cardio workout.  Tomorrow I plan on going to the gym and either taking a spinning class or using the treadmill.  I think you have to listen to your body and most of all, enjoy what you are doing.  

I can’t wait until TA’s NYC studio opens up.  I was told it would open in Feb or March.  I plan on checking it out, getting a tour, etc, just out of curiosity.  I don’t like close enough to the city for to join and there is no way I will pay 5k for a 3 month membership. But who knows, maybe I will spot GP or TA there!!

modmama- I remember seeing an interview with GP where she says that she never thought the skin around her middle would go back the way it was before she had the two kids…but with a lot of hard work it did go back.  I haven’t been doing the TA method long enough to see this result myself…but I have hope that it will happen!

On the old cardio vs. new cardio DVDs, I definitely think the old one is easier to learn and easier to get through without constantly having to stop to catch your breath.  It has nine short dance combos, and a quick version of the standing ab work and the arm work w/out weights.  I really like it, although it is definitely as hard on your joints as the new cardio DVD is.  The old one is called Tracy Anderson’s Dance Aerobics, and is available from her studio in L.A. - Contact Heather (her email and phone number are on the TA website) and she should be able to get it sent to you. 

thank you aanyanka and reviewer for your feedback.  I did see gp’s interview and was encouraged but I started thinking that maybe i’ve waited too long to start working it out…my youngest will be 2 in a couple of weeks.
Even if it never went back I am so glad that I started on these workouts and found this board for inspiration.  I am also going to up the cardio.  Momof4, I checked out the blog link (thanks 4 that) and while I am learning the combos I’ll just load my ipod with 30mins of music and move my body for at least a 1/2 hour.  I’m currently only doing about 15mins because I am wiped out mentally and physically trying to get just combo 1 and 2 down.  Hopefully the 1st cardio dvd will come today and I will give that a shot too.

Modmama let me encourage you….you will see the SAME results as the others!  Doesn’t matter if you were sedentary (sp??), just put forth as much as you can and each week you’ll see you can handle more b/c your energy is up and your stamina is up and you are stronger.  It can’t be too late to start b/c I”m in the same boat.  This is not easy for me….this week has been a struggle and my sticktoitvness is being tested   But I am sticking to it.  For every workout you want to die over, you will have a workout that is awesome!!!  We’re rootin’ for everyone on here as we all do this.  I don’t think this is easy for any of us but just think how strong/lean/sexy we’ll be in a few months?  Summer is coming! 
Thanks Topanga for the post…I will check it out after I tackle the dance dvd. 
I so agree with doerflinger on the dance dvds.  I also like that if I just can’t do it, I’ll throw my ipod on and dance around the combos I can handle. 
Good luck!

momof4, thanks for posting that link, I wish she would have written a bit more.

ShariMac- congrats on the weight loss, dont worry about the small set back, it happens to me all the time and I know how discouraging it can be. The hardest part (as you probably know) is just starting up again and then it is easy to keep going…

I did the booty workout again. OUCH! Where are my dvds?!?!?!? haha

Reviewer, your results ARE SO encouraging to me.  I have that post pregnancy “pouch” below all the other tummy rolls lol, and I so want to lose all that.  I’ve wondered if it will go back at all, but thanks to you I now have hope!!  :)  TY!

I’m right there with you doerflinger!  It is FRUSTRATING!  I’m actually up 3 lbs which makes me want to scream.  But I can still fit into that size 6 pants so I’m going with it’s muscle.  I took a nutrition class in college in 96 and she said whatever your inches are, times it by 5 and that number is the middle of your weight scale.  For example, I’m 5′8″ so my number is 40.  She says that I should weigh 140.  Ic an go down 12lbs or up and still be a healthy weight (pending on bone structure).  Well I am currently an upsetting 150 when last week I was 148.  I’m not overeating but i’m also not depriving myself b/c I couldn’t keep doing this workout 2 hours/6days a week.  I would think with all this exercise and the times I turn those sweets away (daily b/c I have kids) I should be 138.  That’s the weight I want to be.  but I do see the lines, I see muscles so I assume it’s muscle!  Still doesn’t help though.  I still want these 10lbs off.  I’ve read many success stories on shapefit.com and most all of them said it took a year to 14 months and talked about how it took months to see the numbers come off the scale. 
So I appreciate everyone’s honesty on here b/c this just seems like an impossible task to get that number down.

Hey thanks spanishcurls for the link! I am supposed to be 141 lbs. That means 10 lbs to go. I kind of keep track of my weight, but I am more concerned about fitting into a good pair of jeans. I wear a 12 now and would love to get into an 8. I never thought it was possible (I have a JLO butt and thighs). With me I don’t look like I am 150-ish which is frustrating. It’s a good thing don’t get me wrong, but when I complain about my weight to others, they all think I am crazy. I was blessed to carry my weight pretty evenly (even though I do have a butt!). But I know I weigh 150 and I am not toned and I am a size 12. So I am going to lose the last 10 lbs and get toned all over and fit into those size 8 jeans and a good bathing suit for summer!! Thanks for all the motivation. I have been doing the mat DVD for the past week and do feel stronger. I need to start the GOOP butt workout and add cardio, but hey 1 thing at a time! And I am still thinking about the Post-Pregnancy DVD. I had 3 c-sections and I always thought that it would take surgery to get my belly looking better ( I have the flap of skin due to all the weight gain (50lb) and surgery) I will get it! Good luck to all you ladies too and thanks for the inspiration.

Momof4…what was that math?  One more time please.  I did that Self link weight calculation and my happy weight would be 14 lbs. more than now and I WOULD NOT BE HAPPY. 

HI guys.  Thanks for all of your updates.  It’s getting busy here, ey? That’s so cool.  Just wanted to check in.  I started TA, cardio and Weight Watcher’s two weeks ago after an alarming weight in and no excercise in years.  I did TA 3 days the first week and 4 days last week (I weight in on Wednesdays).  I surprislingly am really enjoying Weight Watchers.  I feel like I am eating so much more now.  I am because I’m adding leafy green nonfat salads 3 times a day as snacks.  I also have cut out Alcohol for the most part which I think is mainly responsible for my weight gain.  I love me a glass or two of red wine!  The wine not only adds calories 90 calories for 4oz, ouch!  But it also makes me lazy the next day.  So I’m saving it for special occasions only.  Going to bed early and waking up early has been huge for me too.TA is kicking my ass.  I can make it *almost* all the way through, but stop quickly here and there.  I haven’t noticed a difference looking at my body.  But I have lost 6lbs and feel it hurting in all the right places.  Hopefully when I drop some more fat, I will be seeing the differences soon.Cardio.  Cardio sucks.  I hate it.  But I have been walking on the treadmill everyday for 20-30 minutes.  I did just find a few days ago a podcast that has really helped my cardio.  It’s free on iTunes and you can find it by searching “Podrunner Intervals-workout music for tempo-based excercise.  It is a 9 week running playlist designed to get you to a 5k in 9 weeks.  I just did the first couple of them, but it did push me in a really good way.  I finished 30 minutes on the treadmill and jogged for about half of it at intervals.  I didn’t feel that hard.  I’m excited to continue with it.  Reviewer, I read how you are going to up your cardio.  You might like this one.  I wish it wasn’t so techno, but it does keep you energized.I’d like to follow Ta’s advice on shaking up the cardio.  But right now, I just need to get my heart rate up for at least a half hour.  Hopefully I don’t bulk up on the tredder.I guess if this site is going to allow us to post photos, I’ll rip that old flick’r site down.  Although I really would love for someone to post a before and after…..Talk to ya’ll in a week.

EverydayB: take a short 3 second break and try to get back in. Overtime you’ll find it a tiny bit easier.  If you have to rest, rest. On good days you’ll kill it.

Mof4: okay I’m 5′ 5.5″ so does that mean I should weigh 127?

Any long timers:  do you have strong vertical indentation lines in the outside of your thighs?

Mof4:  Yes I use the Velform’s every single time. a) I posted a ? for you just as you posted (see 5:17PM) and did you see Renaissance’s at 11:28AM today about the Velform’s?
Asking again, anybody have a vertical indent bigtime on the outsides of thighs?

No true vertical indent for me . . . kind of a shadow of one, but not a well defined one . . .

So just so I am sure I understand, if I am 5′7″, according to momof4’s cool calculator I should weigh 135 plus or minus 12 pounds?  Hmmm . . . I am not even close to the top (147)  end of that!  Yikes!  

I just wanted to say hi!
I just got my Mat DVD a few days ago and last night was my 4th consecutive workout with it. Is it crazy that I think I’m already seeing a difference in my abs and arms?  I used to have a indent line on my legs before we moved and I put on 15lbs, I did a lot of running [about 12 miles a week], bikram and some weights. Last night after my workout I swear I saw a slight shadow of it coming back
I was totally going to put off ordering the DVD until after we moved back across country [my husband has to deploy], then I read this review and was like “I have to get this NOW”..I am waiting to get the cardio DVD until after the move since its in about a month and thats a tank of gas for the trip but I am getting it…maybe as a bday gift.

Question…anyone notice any lifting in the boobs? I’m about to be 30 this April and had a pregnancy..I in no way have large boobs but they are sitting lower I have noticed since having my son.

I think I have bulky legs and butt. I did notice that when I was doing the Bikram [hot yoga] with it that it helped my legs be more slim. When we moved to where we are they didn’t have a Bikram studio near me so I just ran and my legs got huge. I have stopped running pretty much and on occasion I will do 2 miles but mostly use the treadmill to skip, sidestep and speed walk.

Has anyone noticed a almost faint pulsing of the muscles after the Mat workout? I do it at night and usually head to bed after that and a shower and I swear I feel a faint all over pulsing in my arms and legs

For those who have the original dance dvd, do you do it barefoot? When work out at home, I don’t use sneakers but I wonder if her dvd is too bouncy and harmful on the joints to do it barefoot.  Any advice?

Thanks!

So it’s been about two weeks since I’ve been doing the Mat DVD’s every day (minus one day, when I was sick), and the live Mat sessions once a week and I am now seeing results. Tiny results, but my arms are toner and I just noticed a (tiny!) line in the upper part of my stomach, where there was nothing before. Fantastic. I really am a convert to this method. Now I just have to tackle the 30 minutes of cardio along with the mat session and hopefully the results will be even bigger. I don’t wanna weigh myself just yet, but I might start to measure myself instead.

What are everyone’s thoughts on this? Do you weigh yourself or measure yourself and if so, how often?

Congrats to everyone else, and keep up the good work!

Thank you Topanga!  

Anytime, Spanishcurls! =)

Anybody have an update as to when this site will allow us to have a chat room, post goals, have more advanced profiles, etc?

btw, there’s a way to do your profile here. Just click on MY VENTS at the top and then MY PROFILE.

I’m only doing the PP workout about once a week, but I am fairly certain it is helping a LOT with my whole abdominal area, muffin top too.  

I agree that the scale is not a friend . . . and momof4 is so right that going by pant size is so much healthier . . . I can see a huge difference in my appearance since I’ve become a little more serious about things this January, and while those scale numbers haven’t changed much,  my skinny (well, skinnier) jeans are fitting great, and my arms and abs are much more taut and defined already, after a month of being dedicated to TA workouts and slightly more careful eating (and drinking . . .I still seem to need that glass of red wine after I get the kids to bed at night!)

For mrshoneyclover, definitely no lifting of the boobs for me, but I am still nursing baby number two (he’s 18 months, and we’re slowly weaning) and my boobs are a ridiculous cup size right now, like an F.  That being said, I have noticed toning and more definition in my chest, so I would think that a smaller breasted girl would see some lifting . . .I just think my monstrous boobies are beyond help right now . . .

Doerflinger–

I totally hear ya about the glass of wine after the kiddos are down for the count. 

~Ren

Re:  drinking wine and children.  A good way of looking at it is, if you have 2 kids, you should have at least 2 glasses of wine a night.  If you have 3 kids, then you should have 3.  Momof4, I think that means you deserve a bottle a night  

At least, that is what my friends tell me..LOL!