STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

CarrieS · Marc Jacobs

Alright, I'm getting desperate...

sage · Dooney & Bourke

There was a move in pilates, where you lay on your side and do crunches, and it really seemed to work that area. Please dont be obsessed CarrieS. You look great, you look fab in all your threadstyle posts. I wish I could describe the excercise better. Okay, lay on your side with your arms behind your head, a la the crunch, now, do crunch type things with your upper body slightly turned. Is this making sense? I really felt in in my back and sides.

ps cute tattoos!!

small fry · Chanel

i know where you are coming from, pilates is good i have the dvds and do those with cardo it should help. but i also found that is one of the hardeset places to tone up even with me- thanks for being brave and dont let this keep you from posting your outfits-- you look great

carmenb513 · Coach

Ummmmm.My back looks very much like that and I'm sick of it. I'm hoping to use some of teh advice of you ladies.

Alikat · Kate Spade

First off, yeah my back is like that right now too!

Don't let it get you depressed... it can take a long time to get into great shape.

Keep shaking up your cardio routine, definitely add some yoga and pilates. I would also definitely consider doing some weight training 2 to 3x a week - it will really help with fat loss.

http://www.stumptuous.com/weights.html is an awesome website to learn about strength training and get some basic workouts to start with. Go to "workouts" and then "krista's kompleat kompendium of workout routines", scroll down and there is a routine called "all dumbbells! all the time!"

You can also learn a lot about weight training, nutrition, etc from this website. If you have more questions the Shape forum "Workout Zone" is awesome, I've found a lot of helpful information in it.

-- Edited by Alikat at 01:11, 2005-08-23

ILoveChoo · Hermes

I know this is not what you want to hear but that is one of the first places I gain weight and the last to lose it- I lost 35 pounds last year and that area got better in literally the last 5 pounds. And then I gained 5 back and guess what shoed up again? So NOT that I am saying you are fat by any means or that you need to lose weight (you really do look great), but maybe 5 pounds would do the trick?

Also, weight training definately- lunges with weights, the ones where you hold weights in each hand and kind of bend sideways. twisting crunches and the "swim" from pilates- lay on you tummy and lift your arms and legs, then brind one leg and one arm up and keep switching like you are swimming. I always feel that strengthening my lower back.

ico · Dooney & Bourke

First of all, I love your tattoos!!! I assume the one on the shoulder is a snake?

I'd say, keep going with the diet and cardio, and concentrate on how well you feel by doing this, rather than obsessing on your back. The fat WILL come off if you keep doing it, only it's not going to be fast. But focusing on how better you feel overall, you'll be able to stay motivated.

As for the exercises, my sis, who has an enviable back (the b**ch) swears for push-ups. She does the real ones (the whole body ones), but even if you have to do them on the knees (as I do) they'll be useful anyway. I just whish I was more consistent!
Also, swimming gives a good workout to the whole upper body, so it might improuve the situation.

Pleasepleaseplease, don't get discouraged! As I told you, the fat WILL disappear if you keep working at it. I know by experience! Post on the site any time you need encouragement or feel unmotivated, the girls here are great (you can PM me if you need a kick in the butt

!)

hth

ETA: I agree with sage: your pics look very good!

-- Edited by ico at 11:38, 2005-08-23

CarrieS · Marc Jacobs

Ico: It's actually the squiggle from the Millenium Force logo (the coaster at Cedar Point).

And thank you guys for the re-assurement! I'm going to keep working out and hopefully something will change in that area in the future

CarrieS · Marc Jacobs

ILoveChoo wrote:

I know this is not what you want to hear but that is one of the first places I gain weight and the last to lose it- I lost 35 pounds last year and that area got better in literally the last 5 pounds. And then I gained 5 back and guess what shoed up again? So NOT that I am saying you are fat by any means or that you need to lose weight (you really do look great), but maybe 5 pounds would do the trick? Also, weight training definately- lunges with weights, the ones where you hold weights in each hand and kind of bend sideways. twisting crunches and the "swim" from pilates- lay on you tummy and lift your arms and legs, then brind one leg and one arm up and keep switching like you are swimming. I always feel that strengthening my lower back.

I am actually *hoping* to lose closer to 10 pounds, but I'll just have to keep doing the cardio, good diet, and some weight training and will hopefully see some improvement back there!

-- Edited by CarrieS at 18:17, 2005-08-23