What cardio is everyone doing?

[Mum4life]

Just wondering what cardio everyone is doing? I plan on starting cardio soon, once i work out what i want to do.. i was thinking a cardio step workout? Anyone do these? if so, which one would you recommend?

[LacePrincess]

I love cardio step!!! I feel dorky about it, but meh, LOL. I'm also a ballet dancer and take classes twice a week at my son's ballet school.

I don't know how dancy or advanced you like your choreography, I like mine pretty advanced but not too high impact (I have recurring tendonitis that can flare if it's too plyo filled). My FAVORITE OF ALL TIME instructor is Christi Taylor for step videos, especially Fantastic Four has awesome music. I own almost every step workout she's ever done but unfortunately only about 3-4 seem to still be on the market.

Another one of my faves is Cathe Friedrich. She's a fitness guru and has libraries of dvd's. She recently put out a brand new set of step workouts called Party Rockin' Step #1 and #2, I've been doing them this week and they're awesome fun. Pretty advanced choreo so it might not be great if you don't like a challenge. Rhythmic Step is another of hers that's on my rotation a lot, but again pretty complicated choreo.

I've heard great things about Amy Bento but I haven't tried any of her advanced step yet. She puts together great workouts but her breakdown and instruction aren't nearly as good as Christi or Cathe, so I wouldn't start with her.

I get my dvd's from Exercise, Workout and Fitness DVDs (http://www.collagevideo.com). They have a great catalog and all they sell are workout dvd's. Read the reviews too before you buy, I also read reviews here: Videofitness Workout Reviews: Home (http://www.videofitness.com/reviewsdb/)

Oh and if you do want to do Christi or Cathe's routines you'll need the full size gym step, those mini Reebok ones definitely won't be enough.

[Frilly Lady]

Hi, I do mainly running on treadmill or cycling on an excercise bike for 60 minutes. When I'm fed up with those I do dance revolution on the wii!

[keepthefaith]

I did daily walking for 60 minutes on treadmill!

[atomic sagebrush]

I am not the biggest fan of step workouts, prefer just straight dancy-stuff or walking. The stepping can sometimes build butt muscles.

[atomic sagebrush]

BTW just wanted to mention I also LOVE cardio step for workouts - just that I got 2 of 4 boys that way LOL :)

[hanseer]

I do zumba once a week (been doing that pre-swaying), and try to go for 4 mile hikes on the weekends. The rest of the days I split my time between the stairmaster and treadmill, while watching the "Mindy Project" and "Jane the Virgin" on my iPhone. Addicting!

[LacePrincess]

I am not the biggest fan of step workouts, prefer just straight dancy-stuff or walking. The stepping can sometimes build butt muscles.

Depends on your build I suppose? For me it gives me a nicely toned tush, very bikini ready. ;) I think the thing with step is choosing the right riser height.....a 4" height would be a lot less muscle intense than 8". Also dancier workouts are less muscle-y than more athletic ones.

Oh and just fyi, I wasn't working out at all when conceiving any of my boys, so step cardio played no part in my boy conceptions.

I'm a dancer so I choose dancy stuff. Again I wasn't dancing in my twenties at all so it didn't play a part in my boys. I love zumba, also love the Dance Central games on the Xbox kinect but the kinect is usually not intense enough for me to get my heartrate up anymore.

[Kitty0911]

I do spinning or do a workout on my trampoline.

[Mum4life]

I've gotten boys doing cycling and walking everyday and also doing nothing, so i don't know how much of a difference it makes lol

[kpchips]

I'm using my rebounder, get a great workout but also really good fun! If your someone who doesn't love working out it's a good one to go for!

[tarasue]

I'm a Shaun T insanity junkie but I love cathe fredrich and amy bento workouts too. For sway purposes I am sticking to 70-80 min on the elliptical. I hope to start up t25 after Bfp:)

[Sarah4girl]

I did 30 mins on the bike and 30 mins on the x trainer or walking on the treadmill during my pink sway. It's the time spent with increased heat rate that's important I think. So going for an hours brisk walk everyday would be just at good.


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[XXforhubby]

I'm a Shaun T insanity junkie but I love cathe fredrich and amy bento workouts too. For sway purposes I am sticking to 70-80 min on the elliptical. I hope to start up t25 after Bfp:)

Me too! I LOVE my Shaun T! I want to get Insanity Max 30 to do after I get back in shape with T25 if I EVER get a BFP!!!!


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[atomic sagebrush]

Depends on your build I suppose? For me it gives me a nicely toned tush, very bikini ready. ;) I think the thing with step is choosing the right riser height.....a 4" height would be a lot less muscle intense than 8". Also dancier workouts are less muscle-y than more athletic ones.

Oh and just fyi, I wasn't working out at all when conceiving any of my boys, so step cardio played no part in my boy conceptions.

I'm a dancer so I choose dancy stuff. Again I wasn't dancing in my twenties at all so it didn't play a part in my boys. I love zumba, also love the Dance Central games on the Xbox kinect but the kinect is usually not intense enough for me to get my heartrate up anymore.

Well, you know me, I'm always trying to do the "optimal" thing - I absolutely do think you can get girls doing step, don't get me wrong, but I think not doing step stuff may be more "optimal" :)

[maidentomother]

Mum4life, my best friend is anorexic, vegetarian (but does eat fish especially salmon, which sways blue) and runs long distance daily. She has 3 boys. But she eats very healthy food including lots of nuts, dairy, salmon, takes vitamins, and I think she snacks, too. So I assume something (multiple things, really) in her body sways very strongly blue and she'd need to sway pretty strictly as well as relax her personality. She has a total Martha boy mom personality. I wish I could get her to sway pink for a 4th, just to see what works for her!

[LacePrincess]

Well, you know me, I'm always trying to do the "optimal" thing - I absolutely do think you can get girls doing step, don't get me wrong, but I think not doing step stuff may be more "optimal" :)

I hear ya! And see, my old Martha-self would've resigned myself to only doing the 'optimal' thing quite obsessively. I really do think in recent years I've gotten more laid back, because what I'm thinking now is more that I like to do what I like to do and it's 'close enough' and doesn't have to be obsessively 'the best option in every category', yk? I think obsessing about only doing THE BEST thing for the sway all the time will be swaycessing.

[tarasue]

Me too! I LOVE my Shaun T! I want to get Insanity Max 30 to do after I get back in shape with T25 if I EVER get a BFP!!!!


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I am wanting insanity max30, but not sure how good it would be to do while pregnant. If they are anything like the asylum programs I will wait until I'm not swaying or pregnant & probably not while breastfeeding either:/. Looks like there is no rush for me.....

[atomic sagebrush]

Mum4life, my best friend is anorexic, vegetarian (but does eat fish especially salmon, which sways blue) and runs long distance daily. She has 3 boys. But she eats very healthy food including lots of nuts, dairy, salmon, takes vitamins, and I think she snacks, too. So I assume something (multiple things, really) in her body sways very strongly blue and she'd need to sway pretty strictly as well as relax her personality. She has a total Martha boy mom personality. I wish I could get her to sway pink for a 4th, just to see what works for her!

I have seen TONS of women with eating disorders with all boys. I think this is a huge connection with the Mary-Martha thing.

[atomic sagebrush]

love your new avatar Tara!

[Mum4life]

So how hard does moderate exercise sway?? I have been building upto an hour everyday and a little worried if i miss exercise t times this will be more moderate exercise and sway blue

[tarasue]

I have seen TONS of women with eating disorders with all boys. I think this is a huge connection with the Mary-Martha thing.

I hope to de-bunk this!

[maidentomother]

So how hard does moderate exercise sway?? I have been building upto an hour everyday and a little worried if i miss exercise t times this will be more moderate exercise and sway blue

Moderate exercise does sway blue, quite strongly. Thus why it's better to be completely sedentary if you can't do the full, uninterrupted 60+min/6-7 days a week.

[Mum4life]

Ooh i better deal with this then lol.. i need to lose weight too, so the exercise is probably a good idea.. will definitely try and make the hr everyday and if i can't over the next week i will go sedentary

[tarasue]

Moderate exercise does sway blue, quite strongly. Thus why it's better to be completely sedentary if you can't do the full, uninterrupted 60+min/6-7 days a week.

It's hard to go uninterrupted with two little ones!!! I swear I get stopped twice a workout to change a diaper or wipe poopy buns!!! I always ask before I start if anyone needs anything, but they wait.... Punks, that's why my workouts go from 60 min to 90 min sometimes, depending how often I get interrupted!


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[atomic sagebrush]

So how hard does moderate exercise sway?? I have been building upto an hour everyday and a little worried if i miss exercise t times this will be more moderate exercise and sway blue

THe answer is...it depends. You can get a boy or a girl doing any amount of exercise, it's the interplay between diet, exercise, and fertility that matters and not some set number on a clock.

For anyone with a lot of weight to lose or who has more than the mildest PCOS, I think they need to do SOME exercise even if they can only get to mod. levels. THe reason is because the benefits to blood sugar control vastly outweigh any potential risks to building muscle. It is TOUGH for women to build muscle under ideal circumstances and when you're also dieting and losing weight, it's impossible.

Eveyrone else, I prefer either 60 6-7 (but we ahve seen success with 60 4-5 as well) or else couch potato. So if you're aiming at 60 6-7 and can't quite get there, that is still working for people. I would not drop to 2-3 days a week and I believe the 60 min to be much more important than the number of days

[atomic sagebrush]

It's hard to go uninterrupted with two little ones!!! I swear I get stopped twice a workout to change a diaper or wipe poopy buns!!! I always ask before I start if anyone needs anything, but they wait.... Punks, that's why my workouts go from 60 min to 90 min sometimes, depending how often I get interrupted!


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Those types of interruptions do not count. Don't even worry about them. What I don't want is for peopl to stop in the middle to get a drink, chat on the phone, etc.

[atomic sagebrush]

Ooh i better deal with this then lol.. i need to lose weight too, so the exercise is probably a good idea.. will definitely try and make the hr everyday and if i can't over the next week i will go sedentary

If you need to lose more than like 10-20 lbs you need to do the exercise no matter what. The benefits outweigh any potential risks from building muscle (you can't be building muscle while losing weight!)

[Mum4life]

Ok, exercise it is... i have been doing 45mins of walking lately

[atomic sagebrush]

if you can get that up to 60, that's even better, but with your medical history you need to keep up even mod.