Workout Questions

I second the advice to either join a gym, get a few sessions with a personal trainer, or take some classes that will get you acquainted with what you need to do to reach your individual goals.

1 - yes you need to add squats and lunges for your legs. These are known as functional exercises - every time you sit down and get back up you're doing part of a squat. Every time you lunge to the left or the right to pick up something, including your child, off of the floor you're doing a lunge.

2 - arm exercises: be sure to work the biceps, triceps, and deltoids. A simple rotation would be bicep curls, tricep extensions, and t-raises for shoulders.

3 - you're missing several other major muscle groups. Your major muscle groups include pectorals (chest), latissimus dorsi (back), and your lower body (gluteus maximus, quadriceps, hamstrings). For chest, do any sort of exercise that is a 'push' exercise. For back, do any sort of exercise that is a 'pull' exercise. For the lower body do your squats and lunges. Be sure to also do core work which includes the following: abdominus rectus, obliques, transverse, erector spinae, among others. Many people make the mistake of doing crunches until the cows come home but forget to do lower back exercises. Do both to keep it in balance.

Feel free to send me a PM if you have questions or want further suggestions.

Well, I have been exercising/dieting since June and have lost 50 lbs. I started with only cardio. Like you, running, elliptical and biking. And I did lose weight. However, the real change came when I added strength training (squats, lunges, arm exercises) to my routine. Keep changing it up, so your body doesn't know what to expect. Don't get stuck doing one thing or the same exercises. Pilates will be great to help tone and for your core. Good luck!

Hi there! Good for you! Way to take over. :)

1. You don't NEED to but I would totally add the squats and lunges. They always kick my butt and I feel are one of the secrets to getting great results. Once they become easy to do you can add a weight in (like holding 10 lb dumbells while doing a lunge) and/or do walking lunges. You'll find a ton of info online for different types.

2. Again, basics are great. Bicep curls, tricep extensions, and arm raises (just hold the weights and lift arms to shoulder height).

3. Any thoughts about back exercises? I'm not sure what to do w/out a gym but I'm sure someone here will.

Don't forget about doing plank exercise and remember it's better to do 10 w/ perfect form vs 15 w/ crappy form. My trainer once told me that if I can easily do 5 more at the end of my reps then I need to up the intensity of what I'm doing. It's not easy to keep challenging yourself (it feels good to have what was once difficult become easy) but THAT is the key to success.

Best of luck to you!!
T.

Why don't you try exercising with Kettle Bells? You will have to get a trainer or an instructional video to learn the right way to do it--- but once you understand and have it down you can do it forever! Kettle bells are an amazing way to get a leg and bum workout while you are getting an upper body workout--- and it's cardio to boot (because it is quite difficult so your heart rate stays raised).
You shouldn't have any trouble finding a kettle bell trainer in LA. Just let them know that you want to take a couple of sessions to learn how to do it.
Good Luck!

Go slow. You will be sore no matter what you do, and it will serve as an excuse to quit right away. Ease into it.

I would go with what you are planning, then plan on adding later, say around Valentine's Day. ALL muscle groups need to be worked, but there are lots of ways to do that and some exercises and/or equipment work lots more than one single muscle at a time. So be careful that your exercise routine doesn't overwork the same muscles on the same days.

For arms, the single most effective things I know of are these two:
Dips (you can do on a chair or the side of a bathtub, extending one leg out and letting your heel slide across the floor)
Push-ups (you can do against the wall instead of lying on the floor). As you get stronger, more toned, you can slowly adjust the angle of your incline against the wall to a steeper position and then eventually go on the floor if you want.

Also, doing the plank (which is a yoga/pilates move) is a great core exercise (back, abs and obliques) and also uses your arms at the same time.

Good luck!

If you can, join a gym where you can take classes. It's great to have an instructor telling you what to do and to be with a bunch of other people all working out together. I just rejoined Lifetime Fitness after 5 years away from working out, and I feel so energetic and great! I take cardio kickboxing and a weight training class. Soon I will try going back to pilates and yoga again. If you can't do the gym, maybe get some dvds? Good luck!

Are you willing to work out on your own without DVD's or are you looking for motivation with the help of DVD's/videos? There are so many choices out there!

Arms (biceps/triceps), shoulders, back, abdominal muscles, squats. You can use weights and/or resistance bands and you definitely need cardio to burn fat. I get all my DVD workout programs from www.beachbody.com. There are some very nice bulletin boards/forums and newsletters as well on the site.