What do you do to stay in shape?
Do you "work out" or do something less structured (and maybe more fun)?

179 responses total.

A few years ago, a friend introduced me to a video series called "The Firm".
They are kick-your-butt workouts using fairly heavy weights at aerobic 
intensity. The CV and endurance benefits are great, and the muscle-shaping
results are seen quickly.
My husband says that Army basic training has nothing on these people.

I was taught weight training in high school, on Universal and continue
today on Nautilus.  Though I know you can lift more using free weights,
I'd rather lift less and stay safe than lift more and end up
injuring myself.

The patient's home I'm currently working in has a fairly steep staircase into
the basement. I go up/down them several times a day. Lately, I've taken to
*running* on the way up. At the end of the first day doing it, my backside
felt as if I had done about 400 sets of lunges! I guess exercise is where you
find it! 8^b

My work location is on the 4th floor (5th if you take into consideration the
huge mezzanine) and my goal is to NEVER take the elevator.  Just moved in 2
weeks ago, but I think I'll make it.

Sounds great... less filling!

otter is right about the firm.  We started doing it about the same time.  It
will knock your but in the dirt!  I don't hve any opportunity to get excersize
at work, I sit on my butt at a desk all day.  

Our friend Marie joined Wieght Watchers about 4-5 months ago and has lost 31
pounds. I mention her because I love her work-out strategy. She spends time
(I think it's an hour) every day on a treadmill. She walks while wearing a
backpack containing all the weight she's lost. (Lose a pound from the bod,
add it to the pack.) So while she walks around during the day 31 pounds
lighter, she works out at her original weight. Pretty smart, eh?
<eeep> Weight Watchers...otter needs sleep.

Yeah Marie!!!  I'm so happy for her!

I discovered a new technique.  I've had unbearable insomnia lately, so on the
day's I don't Firm (tm), (basically every other night), I put on warm clothes,
a walkman, and walk around campus until I get sleepy.  Some nights it's only
a mile...others it's been around five miles or more.  Circle Drive, right in
the heart of campus, is exactly one mile around, so I use that as my guide.
My jeans are already sliding over my hips and butt a lot easier!  (Plus, the
fresh air helps me get sleepy).  =)

Eep!  "Days" not "day's".  Like otter, I need sleep.  =)

This item now linked to the health conference.

Thanks, Kae!

I've been doing aerobics at the U of M this fall, but I'm probably going back
to Rec&Ed for the winter.  I like to mix the aerobics with weights, and there
is an instructor with Rec&Ed that does a great job at that.  I went to the
UM this fall to try a step class, which Rec&Ed doesn't have.

"The Firm", which is a series of VHS and audio tapes, combines weights with
aerobics.  It's been scientifically proven to be the most effective workout,
and it's fairly tolerable after a couple of "sessions".  The audio tapes are
for people who have the workout memorized and don't need to keep their eyes
on the TV screen.  (Highly effective for people at college who can't bring
the VCR with them.)  ;-)

where might a person find these tapes?

i used to go walking a few miles a day,, but in the past few months, haven't
had time to really do it...and have gained alot of weight...

Eeyore, the Firm advertises in most fitness/health magazines, or you can call
1-800-THE-FIRM for a catalog. Full-length (about 1 hour) workouts are $25-30;
"Firm Parts" target trainers are $15.

I joined a local health club [local to me is Durham, NC] to help me lose
weight,tone up, and overall, get to feeling better again.  After
checking out several places, the club I joined is the closest one to
me!!  One of the things I really enjoy doing is swimming, so one of the
criteria is that the club would have to have a pool... Swimming is one
thing I *will* do even after working all day [I'm a nurse who works 
12 1/2 hour shifts, thus, lots of standing and walking!!].  I may not
swim as much after working, maybe only 15-20 minutes, but its better
than nothing AND it relaxes me, too.  On my off days, I swim at least
30 minutes, sometimes more [I'm also currently taking a swimming for
fitness class].After being at the club for a couple months now, getting
used to the activity, I'm trying to do more of the cardiovascular stuff,
too...  Wed. I went in and had someone show me some of the equipment 
and got an hour's worth of working out before I hit the pool and the
hot tub.

So far, I'm getting stronger and am feeling much better.  I'm just
a little disappointed, though, that the weight isn't coming off yet.
I do know that muscle weighs more than fat does and thus, it will
take time, yet, my clothes aren't fitting much differently yet either!
So I'm focusing right now on how good the workouts make me feel
rather than the fact I'm not losing the weight [yet], I'm sure it'll
eventually come off!  :-)

i go to a friends house...He is in the process of opening a gym...right now
He has all the equipment in his basement...with an addition to  his existing
home to eventually house all the equipment...I am a firm believer in weight
training...

Happy news: K-mart now carries the Firm tapes!! Same prices as the catalog.
Sending in the little survey card found in the box will put you on their
mailing list.
Want good steady-state aerobic training with weight? Help your friends move!
(bit of an inside joke; that's how we spent our weekend)

Well I have a net friend helping me train so to speak..but i have poor
equipment..I am tring to lift weights..but I need to do more to tone...my
biceps ae beginning to bulge6,,33
.and get hard..my legs are firm but I am fat..so that worries me i don't want
to be muscular..i am a feminine type woman..but I need to lose this weight.
last night at TOPS I gained 3/4 lb my friend says it may be muscle but hey
i want this fat off...:)
I wonder if i could do that  firm..  don't know how strong I really am...
my friend has set a goal for  15 of Sept 96 then he will meet me and see what
I/we have accomplished...good goal..and he is very helpful

Odakim, if you don't want to look "muscular" in the sense I think you mean,
you need to do more reps with lighter weight. You'll be pleased with the
results. As far as burning off the fat is concerned, get into your aerobic
zone for 10-25 minutes daily. Brisk walking is usually safest, especially for
beginners.
"It's hard, eh? Keep movin'!"  --Mistress Susan, Firm vol. 1

I started seriously working out about 2 years ago (at the time I moved to my
apt complex where they have several work out centers). I started out doing
30 minutes and now I'm up to 55 minutes about every other day. I start on a
stair stepper for 20 min, then walk on a treadmill for about 10 min, bike for
20 and then do some nautilus weights for a bit. 
I love the feeling I achieve after working out--atheletic high.
Someone once told me that weight comes off the way it went on. So you'll lose
the weight you just put on first, and the old, stubborn, had-it-for-years
weight will be that last part to come off. Keep this in mind and keep at it!

BTW, The Firm is now running commericals and their spacial right now is Vol.
I for onlky 4.99 ( and to think I paid $50.00 for it!)  you can order by
calkling 1-800-THE FIRM.

$4.99????? At that rate, I could have gotten the $200.00 worth of Firm tapes
I have now for twenty bucks! I think they owe me a Firminator (tm) bar and
a set of plate weights. <grrrrrr!> But then again, can one really put a price
on these lats? <otter turns her back to the monitor and flexes>

signet..I love it!!!! that is where I want to be too..I have to use what
Ihave..there are no fitness centers here what so ever...and with the kind of
support I have here it should be no problem keeping at it.....thanks everyone
you are wonderful!!!!!!

What ARE these Firm tapes?

The Firm (tm) is a fitness club in one of the Carolinas. For over 20 years,
their system of exercise has been steady state aerobics combined with weight
training. In the late 70's (79?) they released their first workout video,
which developed a cult-like following. They're up to about 15 videos now, and
sell accessories and clothing as well.
You really have to do the workout to understand why we love it so much. It
is simple to follow, but challenging to exercisers at all levels of fitness.
And it's *fun*! Best of all, you get visible results in about 10 sessions.
Call 1-800-THE-FIRM.

to follow up on what otter said, The Firm never becomes boring and when you
feel like it's getting too easy, you can add more weight.  The videos are
hard, but the results are worth it!

I have started exercising - on a Nordic Track. We've had it for years
and my wife has been a regular user, but I thought I was immune from
degeneration. HA! The problem I'm having pseudo-skiing, though is
occupying my mind. My wife uses music tapes, but that does not help
me (it and my rhythms work at cross purposes). What do others use for
allaying the bordom of aerobic exercising?

I try to construct a large Sieve of Eratosthenes in my head.

I used to ride my bike indoors on a wind trainer, but I gave up on that
because I found it too boring.  I used to listen to music most of the time,
but that was only marginally effective.  I also at one point, while
vacationing in Southern France, took a camcorder on a drive along a bunch of
narrow mountain roads and kept it pointed out the window the whole time. 
Watching that tape always worked really well, because it took away some of
the feeling of not going anywhere.

If I follow an Eratosthenes procedure, it is more likely to be to
determine the circumference of the earth - by pseudo skiing.

i used to watch a good movie as i did so....

unfortunately i can no longer fake-ski...due to knee pain.  does anybody know
how to reduce that?

I don't know much about Nordic Track and thigns like that, but with cycling
a lot of knee pain is caused by bad positioning or by doing other things
wrong.  Nordic Track looks like it should be fairly low impact, like cycling,
and the positioning should be far more able to take care of itself, at least
as far as the knees are concerned.  You might try using less resistance, to
reduce the strain on the knees.  You can still probably get as good a workout,
maybe even better, by just doing it faster.

mine had no resistance lever.......

Yes, the Nordic Track is considered low-impact - mostly an aerobic
exercise. Speaking of that, I dug out the literature that came with
it to see what pulse rate I should be striving for, for best exercise
level. They provide a plot of maximum possible pulse rate, and a band
for the desirable range (70-85% of maximum) of pulse rates, versus age.
The plots are straight lines with negative slopes - starting at age 20!
Presumable one is "over the hill" somewhat younger than that 8^P. 
My current 85% rate is about 130, which I kept up for a while today.

From what I've read, which probably has been very oversimplistic, max heart
rate goes down with age pretty much from birth, while people don't hit
physical peak until their late 20s.

I wasn't talking about low impact in terms of heart rate, actually.  I was
talking about low impact in terms of how hard the Nordic Track would pound
the knees.  I would imagine that it probably would be possible to go anaerobic
on the Nordic Track, and that if done right it probably wouldn't be any harder
on the knees than less hard use of it.

I didn't mean to relate heart rate and low impact - separate thoughts. No,
the Nordic Track is not "pounding". But it (you) can sure work up a sweat.
I had a faint hint of light-headedness after some minutes at 2.1 Hz, but
I'm not sure whether that was oxygen depletion or the endorphins kicking in.

It could also have been dehydration.  Were you drinking enough?

I'd suspect that if the lightheadedness had anything to do with
breathing it would probably be due to hypocapnia (low C02)
not oxygen depletion.  Nitpicky, but true.

<eeeep!> sorry, wrong key.

This response has been erased.

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