The biggest loser dvs. Do they work?

[lykewoahxjean]

So, I've made a few posts about my most recent goal. I'm trying to get a nice and lean body by the end of the summer, and up until this point, all I've been doing is cardio.

I've been asking about weight training, but to be completely honest, I'm really confused. I've never done it, and I don't know any of the names of the different exercises. I mean, I'm really lost. Ha ha.

I don't have any equipment, either. I don't have the money to join a gym, and right now it would be kind of impossible for me to buy any equipment. Things are expensive, and I don't make very much money.

So, I recently bought a few of the biggest loser workout dvds. I bought the Power Sculpt dvd, the Cardio Max dvd, and Jillian's 30 Day Shred dvd. They were pretty cheap, so I thought it could be a good investment.

I'm just curious, does anyone know if these dvds will actually give you results?

I'm looking to have a lean body, and so far, everyone has been telling me that I need to use weights and do pull ups and such.

I guess I'm just looking for a way to get toned without having to join a gym. Because, really. I just don't have the money.

In case it helps, I'll give you guys the links to what I look like now.







If these dvds really aren't going to work, does anyone have any ideas of what I could be doing in my home to be getting that toned, and tight body?

Thanks, guys.

 

[Steve]

Before responding to your post, based solely on the title of your thread, I'm inclined to say, "Anything 'works' as long as it helps put you in a caloric deficit, forces your cardiorespiratory system to work harder than it's accustomed to, and places more 'tension' or 'strain' on your muscular system than it's accustomed to."

These are the foundational factors that are common in all programs. The magic is in them... not the specific program you're doing.

Hopefully that makes some sense. It's easy to get sold on the glam and glitter of specific products... but in truth... they're no different than most anything else.

So, I've made a few posts about my most recent goal. I'm trying to get a nice and lean body by the end of the summer, and up until this point, all I've been doing is cardio.

Are you aware that getting lean is merely a function of losing body fat while preserving muscle?

Losing body fat is a function of a calorie deficit.

A calorie deficit is a function of eating a controlled amount of calories which is below your maintenance level, and cushioning this with some calorie-waisting exercise.

Maintaining muscle is a function of doing some resistance training (which can come in many forms) and eating adequate protein.

I've been asking about weight training, but to be completely honest, I'm really confused. I've never done it, and I don't know any of the names of the different exercises. I mean, I'm really lost. Ha ha.

That's understandable... there's so much conflicting information out there with regards to it.

I don't have any equipment, either. I don't have the money to join a gym, and right now it would be kind of impossible for me to buy any equipment. Things are expensive, and I don't make very much money.

The idea, when it comes to preserving muscle, is to place enough "load" on them to let your body know that, "While dieting the fat off, keeping this muscle stuff might be a pretty good idea given the fact I'm using it to lift stuff."

Said resistance can come in many forms; body weight, cheap bands, gallon jugs filled with water or sand, adjustable dumbbells, etc.

So, I recently bought a few of the biggest loser workout dvds. I bought the Power Sculpt dvd, the Cardio Max dvd, and Jillian's 30 Day Shred dvd. They were pretty cheap, so I thought it could be a good investment.

Certainly worth a shot!

 

[lykewoahxjean]

Before responding to your post, based solely on the title of your thread, I'm inclined to say, "Anything 'works' as long as it helps put you in a caloric deficit, forces your cardiorespiratory system to work harder than it's accustomed to, and places more 'tension' or 'strain' on your muscular system than it's accustomed to."

These are the foundational factors that are common in all programs. The magic is in them... not the specific program you're doing.

Hopefully that makes some sense. It's easy to get sold on the glam and glitter of specific products... but in truth... they're no different than most anything else.



Are you aware that getting lean is merely a function of losing body fat while preserving muscle?

Losing body fat is a function of a calorie deficit.

A calorie deficit is a function of eating a controlled amount of calories which is below your maintenance level, and cushioning this with some calorie-waisting exercise.

Maintaining muscle is a function of doing some resistance training (which can come in many forms) and eating adequate protein.



That's understandable... there's so much conflicting information out there with regards to it.

The idea, when it comes to preserving muscle, is to place enough "load" on them to let your body know that, "While dieting the fat off, keeping this muscle stuff might be a pretty good idea given the fact I'm using it to lift stuff."

Said resistance can come in many forms; body weight, cheap bands, gallon jugs filled with water or sand, adjustable dumbbells, etc.



Certainly worth a shot!

Thank you so much for your response. You really explained a lot, and I believe I was just making things out to be a lot more complicated than they actually are.

I suppose that since I was getting a lot of responses saying things like, "You need to be benching doing pull ups, and using heavy weights.", I assumed that was the only way to go about it.

I'm just terribly afraid of doing something the wrong way, especially since I'm not used to this kind of exercise in the slightest. I just want to make sure that I'm where I need to be.

I feel a lot more comfortable about using those dvds, now. They're supposed to arrive in the mail tomorrow, so I'm definitely going to give them a shot.

Thanks again for your post, Steve. I feel a bunch better.

 

[Steve]

Thank you so much for your response. You really explained a lot, and I believe I was just making things out to be a lot more complicated than they actually are.

Which is common... there's so much damn advise out there it's hard to navigate your way through it with confidence. And that's why I love to keep things simple and based on the foundational factors.

a) they matter most

b) everything else is merely an extension of them

I suppose that since I was getting a lot of responses saying things like, "You need to be benching doing pull ups, and using heavy weights.", I assumed that was the only way to go about it.

Certainly not. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

I will say I'm a huge advocate of lifting weights with free weights... especially with people interested in preserving muscle and getting stronger. It's what I've seen make the biggest difference in people's bodies, abilities and health.

I'm just terribly afraid of doing something the wrong way, especially since I'm not used to this kind of exercise in the slightest. I just want to make sure that I'm where I need to be.

Since you're entirely unaccustomed to resistance training, starting out with some circuit stuff that utilizes your body weight is a great starting point. I'm not entirely familiar with what's on those Biggest Loser DVDs but I'd suspect they involve circuit training using your body weight.

Is it how I'd teach a client resistance training?

Nope.

Does that mean it's automatically flawed?

Of course not.

Using low weight stuff and doing a lot of reps is a great way to learn specific movements. It provides a lot of practice without a great load. High loads without practice is a surefire way to injury.

But at first, even though it's only circuit type stuff with light weight, make it about learning proper, full range movements.

It's easy to get caught up in mimicking what you see on the screen without putting much thought in how your body is actually moving. Doing a lot of reps of a flawed movement will only reinforce improper mechanics until they're habitual.

I have an exercise video database I'm building out where instructional videos and verbiage goes into teaching various lifts. You can check that out .

I feel a lot more comfortable about using those dvds, now. They're supposed to arrive in the mail tomorrow, so I'm definitely going to give them a shot.

Good luck with them.

And remember, this is and always will be a journey of trial and error. Try new things as much as possible. Keep what you like and what works for you and ditch what doesn't.

For most, the journey begins with following prepackaged routines such as the BL DVDs or programs from a trainer.

Eventually, with enough experience, you'll have the knowledge required to piece together workouts that a) are best for your current goals and b) best for your body and mind.

Best to you.

 

[Superfox]

I just bought Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred yesterday and did it for the 1st time. OMG... I feel like an out of shape chump. It was Level 1 for 20 minutes and I huffed, puffed and sweated the whole way through. I need to work on my stamina. I’m scared to see what Level 2 is like. I also bought The Firm Total Body Transfirmation. I'm going to try that today maybe.