treadmills = success?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-1999
treadmills = success?
18
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 10:03am

Hi - I have a question regarding the dustiest piece of furniture in my house.....the treadmill:

I don't know the best routine to do when using the treadmill - therefore - I don't do it - and when I do - it's for 20 minutes so sporadically that to say I don't use it is more accurate than saying I do

I think I weigh between 110 and 115 - however - that means nothing when I feel lumpy in spots and I'm in need of major toning - especially on my butt - upper thighs. I feel like they're my Mom's legs/butt. I can wear a 2 snugly - and a 4 loosely so I'd like to tone up and be lean and mean before summer. If I'm in a 2 - it's muffin top and tight upper legs - if I'm in a 4 - it's more like a nicer fitting butt area - but then the waist is too big.....I want to move into a straight 2 and have it fit correctly w/out thinking that I have those areas that are magnified when walking.

So I guess my question is - does the treadmill alone take off pounds and tone the legs/butt? I want to lose about 5 pounds and tone up in the meantime. I have the Arms and Abs of Steel tape that I love - but I have to lose some weight first before seeing the results. I've heard of women walking off the pounds - so how much treadmilling should I do - or can anyone suggest how to take off 5 pounds or so and tone up w/out starving or losing momentum?

I've started eating better - drinking more water....I can't say that I'm on South Beach or Atkins - but I've started paying attention to what I'm eating - and I've cut back on alcohol.....another question....if I cut back on wine to a couple of glasses a week - and no weeknight beer - do you think I'll see any results? I will say that I like to end my workweek very 'socially' on Friday nights but if I cut out more drinking - will that help?

Thanks,

Kim

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2003
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 10:48am

Welcome, Kim. Or welcome back, if I haven't seen you before.

My first answer is to if you cut back on alcohol, will you see results? YES YES YES!! I'm certain of that, because I've seen it happen easily in the reverse. I got into a relationship, where I hardly ever drank (but boy did I need to..lol) and weight dropped easily. Since that relationship ended (thank goodness), I have drank some socially. OK, a lot...I'm a really social person. Drinking a couple to 3 times a week, has PACKED on nearly 30 pounds in a year. That's going to be hard to take off...but I will.

So, a good workout on the treadmill, and ya know...20 to 30 minutes on it, IS a good workout. Just keep at a good pace, and add some incline if you have that option. Check shape.com or self.com for some true 'workouts', as in speed by minutes, etc.

Hope you see you in a 2 soon!!

~~ Steffy ~~
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 11:00am

Welcome to the board Kim! I know what you mean about being one size all over (although I'm not quite in the 2-4 range, LOL).


I think you have a good approach using the treadmill to burn calories as well as fitting in some toning. It's no good toning up muscle if you have a layer of fat over top. Using the treadmill will definitely burn calories as well as work those leg muscles.


I have heard that interval training is very effective, so you would do a 20 minute routine which involves high speed intervals interspersed with lower speed walking, and adjustments in the incline as well. The incline can really affect which muscles get the most workouts.


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-1999
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 11:03am

Thanks for the response.....I knew that I'd get the alcohol response that I got from you. I know that every diet says to cut it out....but I was praying for that one person to say - nah - that's a myth :)

Anyway - I'm trying to eat better - drink less - exercise more - and shape up before summer. I don't have far to go in regards to slimming down - it's the toning up I need to concentrate on and I don't want the efforts to be futile if I'm doing everything wrong.

Thanks Again,

Kim

Avatar for mrslove2000
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 11:49am

Welcome Kim!

Your post could have been written by ME! Same areas of concern, same weight and same clothes situation. I've been reading YOU on a Diet, Live your Best Life and I bought a Women's Strength training book. What I have found, your intake of food and drink, along with the frequency of it, affects your body in certain areas. However no exercise alone will rid yourself of those 'spots'. Total fat burning exercises like cardio and increasing your muscle will burn the excess fat your body is storing. Consistency is key-3-5 times a week minimum at your targeted heart rate (I'm still working on figuring that out without purchasing a $89 watch). Movement will equal results.

Susan

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2006
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 7:10pm
Welcome Kim! I'm Kathy.I would say that cardio should do the trick. The treadmill will work. 20 minutes at a time is what I used to do. But I did 20 minutes a couple times per day. Cutting back on the drinking will help too. How tall are you? Because I am currently 105 pounds, and I cannot wear a size 2 yet. I'm in 4s and 5s. I get a 2 on easily, but cannot zip them up at all. But I am only 5 foot 1 and a half. My problem area is my stomache. It will be nice to get fit with you!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 7:46pm

Hi Kim, and welcome to the board!


I read your post at lunch, but had to get back to the classroom (I'm a teacher)- so hadn't time to post then. The ladies before me have given you great advice (everyone here is soooo terrific)- but did want to chime in with agreement- you will see results, but consistency is key! Also a number of years ago I stopped indulging in beers and the pounds dropped. I did it for a wedding; I'm back to enjoying beers again; but of course, everything in moderation ;-)


Walking itself is great activity; it burns calories and tones your derriere and legs!!


Looking forward to seeing you around. Oh, by the way, you should check out our 6 week CL (community leader- Miranda and myself, IG) Challenge in the folder below. It began on Monday.....

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2003
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 6:45pm

Oh, I totally do wish that was a myth....

oh how I wish...cause oh how I love to drink!

~~ Steffy ~~
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-1999
Fri, 02-02-2007 - 5:45am

Thanks for all the support and advice, ladies!

To answer some questions - I am (I think) 5 ft 5 and will be 37 on the 12th (gulp)....I drink more than the average person - but by that I mean - it's a glass of wine or two at the end of the day - or beer on the weekends. That - and the treadmill are going to be my biggest changes - less alchohol - more exercise. I'm now very conscience of how much I'm drinking on a regular basis b/c of seeing the condition of my body. I don't eat a lot and rarely indulge in the chips and chocolate. I have 3 boys and the snacks are plentiful - but I don't usually snack on much of anything. I think the culprit is the alcohol......

I did the treadmill last night when my youngest two were in the tub. For the first time - they didn't need me for 20 entire minutes where I've had to stop and start again so it was 20 good minutes on the treadmill - then I did 20 squats after that and no wine....so it's a start!!!

I'm looking forward to getting fit with everyone - I just hope my intentions to motivation ratio remains positive.

Hopefully the size 4's will be dropping off me soon b/c they're "just too d@mn big"

:)

Thanks Again,

Kim

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 02-02-2007 - 7:17am

Well done on hopping onto the treadmill, and great news about getting a good 20min stretch on it! (How old are your boys?)


Good luck, and looking foward to having you with us.....party planned for the 12th :-)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2005
Fri, 02-02-2007 - 10:13am

I've posted a couple great treadmill workouts that are only 20 minute workouts but you get a great workout in those twenty minutes because they incorporate hills and such. I just bumped up one of them for you and I'll search for the other one in the archives if I can find it I'll bump up that one as well.

Okay I found the other one too it took a while because it was soo deep in the archives because I posted it back in 2005 but I bumped them both up. I alternate between the two of them but they are really good workouts that I got from Fitness magazine. Truth be told i like one better then the other but you get a GREAT workout in a quick 20 mins out of both of them. You sweat like crazy and you tone up really fast, in your legs and stomach from it.




Edited 2/2/2007 10:54 am ET by lovinhockey17

Smile,

Deirdre

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