STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Lilykind · Hermes

2 months to get toned. what should i do?

jacks435 · Kenneth Cole

If you can spare the cash, a personal trainer will definitely push you out of your comfort zone and you'll see results. Does your gym have classes available? Maybe try a combination of yoga, Pilates (wonderful for toning, and you do see quick results), and plain old weight training.

What is your routine now? Maybe just doing more of it or doing it more days per week would make the difference you want.

valenciana · Dooney & Bourke

to the yoga and pilates rec, i'd add dance classes...whenever i've been taking ballet or tap classes, i felt like i've gotten super toned more quickly (or at least it felt that way, cause it was more fun than "working out")

Lilykind · Hermes

jacks435 wrote:

What is your routine now? Maybe just doing more of it or doing it more days per week would make the difference you want.

I, um, go to the gym maybe once a week. I've been working 12 hour days every day so I'm just too tired to go to the gym during the weekdays. So. Horrible.

If I had kept up with my usual routine that I had down pat until I started working on the show I'm currently doing, I wouldn't be worrying about this at all.

kahluamilk · Dooney & Bourke

I had one month to tone up for my trip to Jamaica and I took Spinning classes. It is such a great workout and I highly recommend it. Does yr gym offer them? I was supposed to go twice a week but half the time I only went once but I still noticed the difference. After class, I'd eat a protein bar and drink lotsa water.

BargainQueen · Marc Jacobs

Hey Lilykind, I've been super busy too and had to literally MAKE time to work out because I wasnt working out at all. What time do you usually get up in the AM?

I have to leave my house by 8AM for work until 5PM, then pick up DD from daycare and drop her off w/DH to be in class by 5:35 until 10PM. On the days I dont have school, I have to do house stuff and pick up DH and DD's mess trail, etc.

I forced myself to get up at 5:45 am instead of 6:45 am and work out for at least 30 minutes everyday. It was hard losing an hour of beauty sleep, but Im determined to get into my skinny jeans. I also noticed that when I arrive at the gym, there's already people leaving, I wonder what time they get up...4am? Argh!

I tried the whole "I'll go after work" routine, but like you, I end up working late or overwork myself and I wont go, it's so much easier to get it done 1st on your list that day, then you dont have to worry about it for the rest of the day.

poptart · Coach

I would design some sort of system for yourself where you ease into working out and make it progressively harder as your deadline gets closer. That way, I think you'd be less inclined to quit altogether in the face of a 12-hour day. I strongly recommend pilates and weight training, if you're into those sorts of things, as the two best ways to gain muscle. I'd do some high-intensity interval training per Jen's previous recommendations as well. If you eat a lot of refined carbs, I would try cutting down on them as they will not only make you flabby eventually, damn them, but will cause you to retain water, thereby obscuring muscle.

My idea:
Week 1: Work out twice. One weight/pilates day and one cardio day, even if it's just a walk. Eliminate one "bad" food from diet (i.e., one serving of soda, candy, etc.)
Week 2: Same work out, remove another "bad" food
Week 3: Up to three workouts. Two weight/pilates days and one cardio day, but do a higher-intensity cardio. Eliminate more bad foods if needed/possible. Push water.
Week 4: Same
Week 5: Up to four workouts. Two weight/pilates, two cardio. High-intensity cardio one day, sustained lower intensity on the other.
Weeks 6-8: Maintain but increase intensity of cardio, heaviness of weights, etc.

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

Have you tried an elliptical machine? I'm probably a late convert to this, but I started using it recently and I'm already noticing a difference from using it 2 or 3 times a week.

Jahni · Dooney & Bourke

If you have the extra cash i say get a trainer...having a trainer not only taught me new exercises and proper form, but also made working out an obligation that i could not avoid...I was basically forced to go to the gym or lose a lot of money... I also met a lot of people at the gym through my trainer and it made the place a lot more comfortable. Plus he measured me every week so I saw the results on paper...it was a great feeling!!!