Posts by Susan Jackson12

Matthew Alvarez77 said:I won't say you're wrong, but you aren't...

It's true that protein triggers an insulin response.

http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=319

Joseph Mercola 😂🤣😂

Casey Gomez said:Exercise addiction is driven by an increased release of endorphins—it's essentially a chemical high similar to morphine. Personally, I follow my own advanced regimen; on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, I perform four sets of pushups, pull-ups, and squats every single day. On Thursdays and Fridays, I run three laps around my office chair. The weekend is reserved for recovery and the sauna. My diet consists strictly of eggs (consumed thirty minutes before and one hour after training) because I don't eat meat, and I find whey protein to be loaded with toxins. If anyone actually cares to learn more, feel free to DM me; I'm happy to share some advice.

Where are you getting that idea about whey?...

feralhound17 said:It’s pretty straightforward 🤣

Yeah, incredibly simple. When you can't be bothered to put in the work to get the results you want, just blame genetics. If you aren't doing what's required to see progress, it's all down to your DNA again. Genetics is the scapegoat for everything 😂

frozenbison72 said:Just keep at it. Vacuuming, laundry, ironing, walking, bending over... give it eight months of solid nutrition and you'll be looking sharp.

And if you don't see results, it just means you weren't vacuuming or ironing hard enough. In that case, I'll volunteer to help you out with some extra chores for free. I don't offer that often, though... wouldn't want to get too buff by accident. 😍

Maybe something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adDgKoYqnhA

I haven't tried it myself since I don't really need 😁, but Women's Corner usually has solid workouts... might be worth checking out...

If you're looking for a solid no-equipment cardio session from Cathe, go with the Cardio Core Circuit. For those afterburn workouts, all you really need is some dumbbells, maybe some paper plates or even dinner plates... For anything requiring a barbell, just grab your dumbbells instead; there's always a dumbbell alternative for every barbell move. You might want a Pilates ball for certain routines, but honestly, it's a worthwhile investment. Nothing fires up the core quite like adding a little instability...

I’d also suggest varying your routine as much as possible. If you stick to the exact same level for too many days, your body just adapts, and you stop seeing results. It becomes less effective the longer you stay stagnant. If you can't find Jackie Warner or Cathe, give Kelly Coffey-Meyer a shot—she has some decent strength videos. Ilaria Montagnani is also good, though I personally find her a bit dull... Men's Health Belly OFF workouts (they have one bodyweight version and one with weights) are great too.

As for diet—if you actually want a toned physique, you have to watch what you eat. It's non-negotiable. Those "slender model" looks aren't built through exercise; they're built by starving yourself while doing high-rep, low-resistance workouts that don't do much...

nimblehound55 said:you get there through cardio—like running, swimming, or cycling—and a diet that cuts out greasy foods, sweets, and most pastries
the second part is usually what trips people up😬

Not quite. It’s really about combining aerobic and anaerobic training. Honestly, you don't even need the steady-state cardio if your diet is dialed in... or you can just swap those endless, tedious cardio sessions for short HIIT workouts and actually see better results.

Rachel Torres said:Honestly, Susan is pretty toned all over. It’s not just her core; her legs are actually her strongest feature. In my experience, you can get abs like just by doing standard crunches, though you have to put in the cardio work if you aren't naturally thin

I don't see any ab definition in that photo of yours.

Also, I don't get why you'd call Susan "toned." She just has a really low body fat percentage, which makes the muscle visible. She doesn't have those skinny model legs, but she doesn't need them...

Sophia Garcia81 said:Back again. 🙂

Susan Jackson12 Does Jackie Warner follow the same logic? If you know, could you send me links for her and Cathe Friedrich to download the workouts? I can't seem to find them.

Jackie doesn't have as much cardio as Jillian, but the strength training is better. Not sure about links; I just own the DVDs.

Regarding breathing, just Google the specific exercise and you'll find answers. Yoga is great for breathwork and flexibility, though you won't really lose weight from it. Jillian isn't exactly known for detailed instructions—Cathe is much better at that...

I'd suggest varying your routine more. Sticking to one level until it feels easy is just wasting time... the body adapts and progress stalls.

For knee issues, try adding more standing poses during yoga, especially balance work like tree pose or half moon. Focus on your alignment to strengthen those stabilizers and ease the pain. Also, watch your upper body posture during squats and lunges... that can mess with your knees too.

Sophia Garcia81 said:I wasn't really thinking about bodybuilding—like, I didn't expect to get huge just from a few exercises or some light weights. I just read something about specific workouts meant to create "lean, long muscles," and it made me wonder if exercise can actually change your physical shape.
It’s not even about building bulk; I phrased that poorly. Take my leg, for example http://www.gophoto.it/view.php?i=htt...f#.UNWGm6ziujZ. It's not muscular, I just don't like how it looks...

And I just realized what body fat percentage actually means. I have no idea how I calculated mine using those measurements online. It's probably wrong. Honestly, I have no clue how anyone calculates their actual body fat accurately on their own...

Keith Davis7 try doing the same thing with Jillian Michaels.

Susan Jackson12 I can't see anything at that link.

Click the link, then click the images in the first post.

Muscles can change size, but your overall shape is mostly genetic. You could do three hours of yoga or Pilates every single day, but you won't end up with that "long, lean" look if it isn't your natural build...

For body fat %, just use calipers to measure it.

Karen Adams2 said:Honestly, I find this fascinating...🤣
I know plenty of women who think exactly like that—like they’re just going to get huge overnight.😂
And no, absolutely not, but you can't explain logic to them; they're just tripping out over nothing.
They think they'll get buff using a five-pound dumbbell.🙄

You know how it is—if you touch a weight that isn't pink and weighs more than three pounds, you'll suddenly bulk up. You go to sleep normal and wake up looking like Arnie🤣

For anyone actually worried about "bulking up," take a look at what happens when women lift actual weights and how toned they get without getting "huge":
http://www.reddit.com/r/Fitness/comm...ifting_female/

Sophia Garcia81 said:I did some digging and realized I might have bitten off more than I can chew. P90X or Insanity are totally out of the question right now because my fitness level is basically zero—I can barely make it up to the fourth floor. That’s why I was thinking about breaking things down into shorter chunks. Or maybe just starting with 5-minute sessions and slowly scaling up?

Anyway, looking at those Jillian Michaels and Susan programs... I’m really not feeling Susan’s leg look. They aren't slim at all. To my taste, they look a bit too masculine. Is that from overtraining, or does the specific workout dictate the shape? I don't want to look bulky, just toned.

Look, I'm ready to sweat, I just need someone to tell me where to start. 🙂
Total beginner here. For the last two years, my favorite positions have been sitting... and occasionally lying down. 🙈

There's no way you'll get bulky without a calorie surplus. Plus, Susan has a very low body fat percentage. Reaching that kind of look takes a massive amount of time and effort. Don't want visible muscles? Just hit a maintenance phase once you reach about 20% body fat and call it a day. And if you're soft and out of shape, you're likely classic "skinny fat"—there's no such thing as "toning" without losing fat and building muscle.

If you want to work out at home, you could try combining Jillian 30 Days with Jackie Warner's power circuit training. Honestly, it might be better to start with one of the low-impact programs from Cathe Friedrich; she has a whole series that covers both strength and pure cardio. Cathe can be intense, but you can always go lighter on the resistance. The upside to low-impact for beginners is that you're less likely to get hurt. If you're jumping around without control while being a bit softer, injuries happen easily.

You also have Catha Friedrich STS ABS from Cathe, which is great.

George Myers86 said:I find them better than P90X. Give them a shot.

Agreed. Honestly, the AB Ripper from P90X2 is even more effective. And Catha Friedrich STS ABS is solid too...

For tea, maybe try some Daisy instead of mint. Warm milk works too—you could even toss in some turkey as a PWM if you really want to go for it. I know whether tryptophan actually helps with insomnia is debatable, but hey, might as well try everything... 😉

Or, since you're already doing Madness, just swap out his stretching routine for some yoga at the end. His version is pretty useless anyway. A solid, slow session would help you sleep like a baby and give you a decent stretch while cutting down on injury risks during Madness.

cosmicviper4 said:Sorry, but I think you're way off base here.
The woman who started this thread said she isn't looking to lose weight. If you're already lean enough around the midsection and just want some definition or abs, standard sit-ups can actually get you there.

I might be. But I haven't met a woman who "just wants to tone up" while having low enough body fat for sit-ups alone to reveal abs. Most people saying they "just want to tone up" are sitting above 20% body fat... and at that level, sit-ups won't do much...

Jacob Lee11 said:Look, I’ve never been a fast sleeper anyway, but when I hit the gym late, say after 7 PM, it’s a struggle. My brain just stays wired at 300 mph...
Anyone else deal with this? Found anything that actually helps? A lot of people I talk to have the same issue.
I even tried some Daisy tea, which is supposed to be a natural sedative, but nothing works. I'm staring at the ceiling until 4 AM...🙂

And please, don't give me those "just don't work out at night" replies. That’s not what I’m looking for🙂.

You asked for solutions, so don't tell me what you don't want to hear🙂. I had the exact same thing happen, and I solved it by moving my workouts to the morning. I'm not exactly a morning person, so I thought it would be harder, but even with an earlier wake-up call, I sleep way better than I do when I train at night and can't shut down...

feralmaker12 said:Something is better than nothing, I guess. If they’re just doing standard crunches, there isn't much point, but at least they're moving. Everyone is so obsessed with six-packs lately... if they just did a quick Google search, they'd find five or six actual core exercises that work way better than basic crunches.

Exactly. Standard crunches are pretty much useless; you're better off spending your time on something actually effective. There's barely any difference between doing nothing and doing 180 crunches. After a few months of hitting those 180 crunches regularly, you'll probably just end up with lower back pain instead of visible abs...

It's more effective to just power through without breaks, though I'm not sure what you're actually aiming for with 180 crunches... seems like a waste of time.

cosmicfox48 said:Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice on how to actually get started at a gym without losing my mind from anxiety. I really want to try Zumba, especially since my job keeps me glued to a desk all day, and I’ve been dealing with my weight since I was a kid. It feels like it's finally time to do something about it. The problem is, I’m incredibly shy and pretty introverted, so just the idea of walking into a crowded room shuts me down. I've wanted to improve my health and look for ages, but my head gets in the way. I keep worrying that I'll show up somewhere where I don't know anyone, everyone else will be perfectly fit and experienced, and that people will just stare at me. I know this mindset isn't helping, but I honestly don't know how to push past it and find the courage to just sign up and go. 😢 😢

If you're feeling that much self-consciousness, why not just work out at home?