Upper body/lower body ?

**pluckyduck** · #1 08-06-2001, 09:04 AM

Okay, group who brought me stepping.....

What are you all going to do to help with this?

Problem: Upper body of 5' 10" woman is unusually small boned for someone of that height. Narrow shoulders, tiny wrists, skinny arms. The shoulder pad trend of the '80s, which everyone else hated, was made for this narrow shouldered woman. I'm the only person who misses shoulder pads Arms never gain weight....except slight middle aged lack of tone to upper arms. Mostly everything is just skinny.

Solution sought: Is there anything that can be done to build tone, any tone, just a little tiny bit of tone, to upper body while stepping? Weights on arms? Has to be easy, and can't require coordination or have the possibility of injury. Actually working out with weights is out of the question. This chick will only hurt herself.

Problem: Serious butt problem. Has always been a problem. There is no butt when thin, and something that doesn't really look like a butt when heavier.

And this was before gravity struck.

After 40 years of gravity, it is something to not behold.

Solution sought: Going upstairs? Would stepping up and down stairs help? How much would have to be done that way to have any kind of effect?

Miracles not expected.

Andrea

cyndilouwhoo · #2 08-06-2001, 10:45 AM

Wellllllllll...

For the skinny arms, I would suggest wrist weights.

You can wear them all day (just tell people at work you are on the cutting edge of a new, chic fashion trend) or just when you are out stepping (Be sure to move your arms in a pendulum-like fashion. You should get in hundreds of reps before someone stops and escorts you to the funny farm.

In other words, you will look foolish but it works.

As for your butt, if I had any secret formulas I would not be sitting here with a flabby butt--I would be sitting here on my fabulously firmed and toned butt (along with my skyscraper bosom)...counting my money

Inline skating helps tone southbound fannies a bit--but gravity is a tough thing to fight

Cyndi

**mrisch**[$] · #3 08-06-2001, 11:41 AM

Wrist weights or dumbells work well for the arms. I have no idea about the butt.

**pluckyduck** · #4 08-06-2001, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrisch
Wrist weights or dumbells work well for the arms. I have no idea about the butt.

ROFL!

Good thing I'm not trying to flirt with anyone here, eh?

Andrea

hypotenuse · #5 08-06-2001, 03:15 PM

Grab the Buns of Steel workout video.

Only you have to work out with your eyes closed if perky girl children with perky butts seriously irritate you when working out.

Also all children under the age of 17 should leave the room before starting the video as it should be rated R for indecent exposure. Bare Butts everywhere.

Lynne

**pluckyduck** · #6 08-06-2001, 05:57 PM

Lynne -

What do I look like -- Jane Freakin' Fonda or Billy Blank????

I don't do exercise videos.

Andrea
Buns of Mercury

hypotenuse · #7 08-06-2001, 06:05 PM

Oh Andrea, just close your eyes and think of England.

Else run up and down about 50 flights of stairs per day.

:snicker:

Lynne

jenninca · #8 08-06-2001, 06:53 PM

I actually use wrist weights when I do my exercise videos (NOT all that often, trust me) and will attest that they DO help with arms! And I just use the wimpy one-pound ones.

Cindy

**pluckyduck** · #9 08-06-2001, 10:35 PM

I'm so confused!

I'm coming up with a lot stuff that recommends against arm weights while walking. They worry about injury....(if anyone will injure themselves, it will be me).

The advice is typical to what's here on
Strong Women

I do have lower back problems; I don't want to do something that's going to throw my back out.

But then, there's advice like this on Walking with Weights

Of course, those people want to sell me weights.

I could walk with

Nordic poles.

That would be a sight, strolling through the neighborhood.

Does anybody here use weights? What do you think?

Andrea
Skinny Arms

hypotenuse · #10 08-06-2001, 11:37 PM

I use hand weights (1 lb - pink - cute) AFTER I've built up my legs through lots of walking and my back and stomach with lots of situps. When I get to where I'm doing about 2 miles in 30 minutes, at an almost jog instead of a walk, THEN I add on the hand weights.

Lynne

* edited because I checked, and it's the silver ones that are 3 lbs. I don't like them, too heavy. The pink ones are 1 lb. Much better.

hypotenuse · #11 08-06-2001, 11:39 PM

PS -

You're supposed to do about 5 minutes of stretching before walking. If you add the weights make sure you add a couple of extra minutes stretching your upper torso and arms as well.

Lynne

**pluckyduck** · #12 08-07-2001, 12:24 AM

Sit ups??

See, this is how these exercise scams work. First they lure you in with "Oh, wear a pedometer, that's all you have to do. Just increase your activity a little bit."

Okay, I like numbers. :thumbs:

They know full well that you are so number obsessed, you will have to keep increasing and increasing the number.

The numbers go up, and, suddenly, you think to yourself "This activity thing is kind of fun. I really like the part where I can multi-task while doing it. Wonder if I can do anything for my skinny arms or saggy butt at the same time."

Next thing you know, someone mentions sit ups.

Andrea
who recalls it was the same person who had mentioned exercise videotapes....:p

hypotenuse · #13 08-07-2001, 01:04 AM

Well, there are two ways you can handle situps:

1) Sneak up on them. Lay on your back and pretend you're checking for dust bunnies. Do a couple while you're thinking about how to get out of cleaning up the dust bunnies.

2) Count! Keep track of how many you do a day. Create a new Excel worksheet...

Ta-Da!

:p

Lynne

I LIKE workout videos. Exercise indoors, with the ceiling fan on high and the oscillating fan faced toward you. Frig with cold water available as you jog not-so-in-place.

murasaki · #14 08-07-2001, 07:10 AM

I use hand held weights when I walk, which is not often since I run frequently. My weights are each two and a half pounds. Not only do I swing my arms, but I also will do some punches and other lifts with the weights while I'm walking (fringe benefit, no one will ever attack you while you're walking around with hand held weights).

That and push-ups have done more for my arms than anything else.

Suggestion for situps: do some whenever there's a commercial break while you're watching TV, ten or so to start. You get enough rest in between commercial breaks (90% of muscle strength is restored after two minutes rest) and there are enough commercials to give you a work out during just one show.

--naomi

cyndilouwhoo · #15 08-07-2001, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hypotenuse
Well, there are two ways you can handle situps:

1) Sneak up on them. Lay on your back and pretend you're checking for dust bunnies. Do a couple while you're thinking about how to get out of cleaning up the dust bunnies.

2) Count! Keep track of how many you do a day. Create a new Excel worksheet...

Ta-Da!

:p

Lynne

I LIKE workout videos. Exercise indoors, with the ceiling fan on high and the oscillating fan faced toward you. Frig with cold water available as you jog not-so-in-place.

Oh dearie me...Thank you all for my first laugh of the day!!!

Cyndi