Q & A Part 2 - EXERCISE

QVC!!!

I'm going to be on QVC again TOMORROW (Friday) for 8 minutes between 5 and 6 pm Eastern!!! Check your local listings. I will post the link once I'm done.

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Question: Did you gradually add a few more each workout? I have been trying to do just one after 6 months, and I still can't go all the way up. How did you do it? Assisted chin-machine or just pulling up for dear life?

Answer: When your body weight gets low enough chins come easy. Until then do half chins or assisted chins every day until you are all the way up!

Question: Do you think you'll compete again and how would i find out about competing in canada in the maritimes,what would be the names of these competions so i could search for them? What times of the year is competion time? And i was wondering about the contest your husband had going on at oxygen ,the ab contest? was a winner chosen?Thanks so much i love your blog and all your pictures no matter what your wearing.

Answer: I won’t be competing anytime soon. These last 2 were pretty tough on me. But I can never say never. To find competitions in your area I recommend an internet search. Since I don’t live in the maritimes I am not sure about comps in your area. They run all year round.

Question: I have a Q. Should I out work out a few days if i worked out to hard to the point were my legs and butt have been sore for 4 days. I ha d just switched my routine and was lifting very heavy. i did the step machine the next day,and then jogged and walked on a steep incline the next two days. What is better. light work out after or no workout on the sore muscles?

Answer: Sometimes light exercise after an hard day can be good, or a hard workout focusing on a different group of muscles. It’s best to give 24-48 hours rest between sessions focusing on the same muscle group. Listen to your body.

Question: Who came up with the different rep sets....6-8, 10-12 etc. What are the advantages of each?

Answer: I don’t know who came up with these classifications. I’m sure my husband knows! The advantage of each is to work the muscle in different ways. 6-8 reps with heavy weights challenges the strength of a muscle, while 10-12 challenges the endurance of the muscle.

Question: Can you elaborate on Giant Sets? and how often they can be performed?

Answer: Giant sets are as follows; choose 5 exercises for 1 body part and do them in succession. Repeat as often as you like.

Question: With regards to ab exercises...is it a myth that you shouldn't exercise them after 6pm or you won't sleep? It this IS true why wouldn't one sleep? thx.

Answer: That’s a myth. Exercise whenever you can and eat clean.

Question: Do you know of anywhere in the Toronto area where fitness competition shoes can be purchased?

Answer: Yes but you won’t like the answer – stripper stores! That is where you buy your princess shoes.

Question: How do you firm up the lower part of your glutes. I do very well with the upper part but have a hard time isolating the part that flows into the hamstrings. Thank you.

Answer: Well, the glute muscles span the glute from top to bottom so isolating the lower part is difficult. I like prone hip raises with weight.

Question: Can you work your calves everyday? I think the answer is yes but I'm not sure. Would you be damaging unrepaired fibers if you did?

Answer: Don’t train calves every day. Train them 2 or 3 times per week. The greatest growth comes from stretching calves too. So lift and stretch.

Question: Tosca would you suggest that if your work out lasts longer than an hour (wts only) that it is too long. I like the idea of feeling energized when leaving the gym. i do, but sometimes i feel exhausted. i do like to listen to my body. i am trying to figure out a good routine for me to get in 3 cardios at least a week but i will not give up wts to do so. i get in the 3 plus cardios but leave feeling wooped at times after pushing myself to extreme. i usually do interval training. I almost think i should concentrate on walking at a incline at intervals at 35%. It really makes me sweat and can get my heart rate without exhausting my legs. I should mention i would consider myself in excellent cardio shape and have been lifting wts for 25 plus years. What do you think?

Answer: Interval training is especially exhausting. Interval training + weights = no wonder you are whooped! Feeling completely beat after a workout isn’t a good sign. Try doing your cardio at a different time of day so you are not exhausting your body in one session. If you are doing a heavy leg session with weights leave your cardio to the next day to allow time for your muscles to recover slightly. Tone it down, girl! Otherwise you might injure yourself.