Thread: Advice for firming up?

Hey all!
So in the past six months I've lost almost 11 kg (24 pounds) and gone down from a size 12 to size 6 dress because of changing my eating habits. As well as dancing, I do a fair amount of walking and 40 minutes of pilates and yoga 3-4 times a week. Currently I'm 160 (5'3") and around 57 kg (125 ilbs) .
My weight loss goal is only 1-2 kg away and actually I'm quite satisfied now but I still have stomach...pooch that I'm not happy with. Compared to when I was bigger I feel like my stomach and thighs while smaller are more flabby? Does anyone have advice for what I could do to tone/firm up?

I don't have advice for you, (although I will be watching this thread for some). I just wanted to say congratulations on your weight loss and excellent eating and exercise program. Struggling as I am with my own weight, I have a lot of admiration for your achievement!

You're an inspiration! :)

Hannah, that is AWESOME! Good for you! I do Gil from Hawaii Body Sculpting. Series of great workouts that are combination of cardio, some weight training to firm and tone and also stomach exercise. Great overall body workout. You can get him on FitTV early morning. It's location is Hawaii, ahhh. He is very funny and upbeat. If you have a DVR setup, your could probably record show and workout to it at a convenient time. If not, can order his workouts thru Amazon or his site. Many of his workout DVDs have 2 full workouts on there. Here's link:
Amazon.com: Gilad: Ultimate Body Sculpt Series - Core and More: Gilad Janklowicz, Gilad Janklowics: Movies & TV
Also Billy Blanks "Taebo", hard, challenging workout but Bill Blank is also very upbeat.
Amazon.com: Tae-Bo Workout: Instructional and Basic (Tae-Bo: The Ultimate Total Body Workout for Men & Women) [VHS]: Billy Blanks, Seth Ersoff: Movies & TV

I would also recommend the "New Rules of Lifting- Lift Like a Man- Look Like a Goddess" (can buy it on Amazon or in most books stores) its an easy read. You could read it the day you bought it, and put it to work the next day.
Its got a LOT of really great easy to understand info and exercises.

Originally Posted by Fencai

I would also recommend the "New Rules of Lifting- Lift Like a Man- Look Like a Goddess" (can buy it on Amazon or in most books stores) its an easy read. You could read it the day you bought it, and put it to work the next day.
Its got a LOT of really great easy to understand info and exercises.

I love this book!

I find pole dancing to be extremely helpful when it comes to firming up and it's a lot more fun than lifting weights or going to the gym! I've been an active dancer for years and I do yoga on a regular basis but I've always been flabby (thanks to my parents...my dad doesn't even have visible biceps!) but I was amazed at what pole dancing did to me body - I've been doing it for almost a year now and for the first time, I have defined arms and you can see my abs in certain lighting! It also does wonders for your back muscles and strengthens your core which will be extremely helpful for belly dancing.

Don't let the stigma attached to it turn you off! Pole dancing is an aerial art and yes, while some people do use it as an exotic dance, it shouldn't be defined by strippers - most women who pole dance are not strippers or exotic dancers - most are athletes and true artists.

No advice, but I just had to point out, this is almost word-for-word what you could say about bellydancing!

I love pole dancing BTW...those ladies are freakin' awesome & so strong!

Originally Posted by marsbar

Don't let the stigma attached to it turn you off! Pole dancing is an aerial art and yes, while some people do use it as an exotic dance, it shouldn't be defined by strippers - most women who pole dance are not strippers or exotic dancers - most are athletes and true artists.

Thanks so much for the recs you guys! I`ll be sure to check them out!

marsbar> one of my old college classmates is totally addicted to pole dancing and has even competed in competitions here in Tokyo and yeah she has a fab body! I`ll ask her about studios nearby.

flat tummy and killer gams, you will be mine!

Gilad is awsome, I second his videos.

Originally Posted by dreamkitaro

Hannah, that is AWESOME! Good for you! I do Gil from Hawaii Body Sculpting. Series of great workouts that are combination of cardio, some weight training to firm and tone and also stomach exercise. Great overall body workout. You can get him on FitTV early morning. It's location is Hawaii, ahhh. He is very funny and upbeat. If you have a DVR setup, your could probably record show and workout to it at a convenient time. If not, can order his workouts thru Amazon or his site. Many of his workout DVDs have 2 full workouts on there. Here's link:
Amazon.com: Gilad: Ultimate Body Sculpt Series - Core and More: Gilad Janklowicz, Gilad Janklowics: Movies & TV
Also Billy Blanks "Taebo", hard, challenging workout but Bill Blank is also very upbeat.
Amazon.com: Tae-Bo Workout: Instructional and Basic (Tae-Bo: The Ultimate Total Body Workout for Men & Women) [VHS]: Billy Blanks, Seth Ersoff: Movies & TV

I use his videos too! They are really great! I highly recommend them!

I've been loving the Jillian Michaels workout DVDs lately, I bought the 'shred' one about one month before the recordings of my own DVDs to tone up a bit and boy they did the trick! Currently am using the 'ripped in 30 DVD' and bought a few others from the series just to keep the momentum going.

Each workout is only about twenty minutes which makes them pretty easy to make it part of your daily routine. Each DVD has different levels to work through so it doesn't get too repetitive, which I like.

I really like both of her workouts a lot, though I'd recommend being careful with your knees when you first try the exercises (some of the moves are a bit high-impact) but she does offer modifications, so you can try those.

And I would tack on a stretching/cooldown routine of your own, as the one on the DVD is a bit short (3 minutes)

I have been doing Jazzercise consistently for a year now (3x a week) and I have really toned up. I was not trying to loose weight, but I lost some and about 1 1/2 inches off my bra band..and my hips actually got smaller as well. Unfortunately for me, all of my costumes don't fit..and I have only managed to alter one of my newer pink bellas, so that one is the one I wear most of the time, b/c I don't have the energy to put new hooks on everything else. My weight keeps fluctuating that much. Anyhow, I have 3 kids and will always have a slight pouch, but for the most part have really slimmed down. My dr, actually told me I need to gain a couple lbs now...and some of my dancer friends said I was too skinny now. LOL...Jazzercise is 40 min of dance cardio and 20 min of isolated muscle exercises utilizing weights.

I want to add, I can vouch for pole dancing being good for building core strength....a friend of mine does it competitively and she is one of the strongest people I know...she is amazing.

I'd recommend upping the intensity on your cardio for firming up... it'll uncover what's already there. If you still think you need firming up, classical strength training is probably your best bet. Congratulations on the healthy changes!

Originally Posted by marsbar

I find pole dancing to be extremely helpful when it comes to firming up and it's a lot more fun than lifting weights or going to the gym! I've been an active dancer for years and I do yoga on a regular basis but I've always been flabby (thanks to my parents...my dad doesn't even have visible biceps!) but I was amazed at what pole dancing did to me body - I've been doing it for almost a year now and for the first time, I have defined arms and you can see my abs in certain lighting! It also does wonders for your back muscles and strengthens your core which will be extremely helpful for belly dancing.

Don't let the stigma attached to it turn you off! Pole dancing is an aerial art and yes, while some people do use it as an exotic dance, it shouldn't be defined by strippers - most women who pole dance are not strippers or exotic dancers - most are athletes and true artists.

I had to chime in and agree with you here. I have been doing it just a little over a month and can already see a small difference. It is motivating, I can't wait to see what I will look like after a year!