Pilates vs Yoga: Pilates is better

Pilates is fantastic! I have read about Pilates many years ago, and I cannot believe it took me so long to join my first class. There was a lot of muscle toning without vigorous exercises, and just after one session, I felt my muscles were toned, and my arms were no longer flabby.

In fact, I think Pilates is even better than yoga. My body does not ache that much after classes, and yet I feel great. Actually, Pilates comes from yoga, but it is more into body sculpting compared to yoga, which is more into holistic spiritual development. This includes more callisthenic-style exercises and stretches compared to the Pilates that use machines.

We used our legs to draw circles in the air, and we also raised our legs. A member in the class mentioned that the instructor had lost all her pregnant fats within a short period of time. Pilates must really work then. My legs threatened to shake uncontrollably, but it was not as bad as yoga.

I just found an audio that teaches Pilates. So far, I found the instructions clear, and easy to follow. I seriously think I can do this at home. I think my tummy will definitely flatten in time for my wedding photos.

I think I will be on task to reach my goal if I keep up with cardio exercises and toning exercises.

Goal: Lose 3 kg in 3 months and look fab for wedding shots

I’m taking my wedding shots in 3 months time, and I have 3 months to lose 3 kg. That’s my target. 1 kg a month should not be a problem right? But why is it after exercising for so long, I’ve not lost weight, and I still look heavy? I decided to do more cardio-exercises.

So today, I went to the gym in the morning, and burnt 117 calories on the treadmill before heading to the Body Jam class. This is my first time at a Body Jam class, but I’ve attended the instructor’s class before. It was quite fun, and compared to hip hop, I think I like this more because I don’t need to worry about my dance moves. I really perspired a lot after the workout.

The only sickening thing was when I weighed myself on the weighing scale, my weight increased again. I hope it is due to muscle mass and not fats. I will continue to strive to look good for my wedding photos.

No Time to Go to the Gym

I’ve no time to go to the gym! Usually I’ll go to the gym around 4 or 5, and sometimes even earlier. I had been going 3 times a week, but I had not stepped into the gym for the past 10 days. It’s all because of the tough job of balancing work and studies. Now that I can take a breather during this National Day Holidays, I have come down with flu and I can’t exercise.

I’ve been overwhelmed by work lately, and instead of being able to get off work early, I have courses to attend and they end around 6.30pm. On top of that, I have other courses to attend until 9 or 10.30pm at times. These are happening 3 times a week, so I am really tired out. Work itself is taking a lot of my time.

Exercising helps to keep me happy, so I’ve been cranky for some time. I think my face has become bloated and my muscular thighs are becoming flabby again. I need to get well soon!

Tummy Flab: 1 and half hour gym today

I just want to get rid of my tummy. This auntie I usually buy economical rice from congratulated me and asked me how many months I was pregnant! I was so flabbergasted. She immediately apologized profusely, but I decided I would not buy from her anymore, and then promptly went back to buy from her again after one day of silent protest.

I worked out for more than one hour today, and I promptly went to drink Coke after that. I think I might have burnt about 150 calories today, but Coke consisted of about 40 calories. I found a way to get around this problem by mixing Coke with Coke Light, so that Coke Light won’t taste that awful, and the calories count would be lower overall.

I couldn’t run much today, though I hit 10 on the speed. I think ever since I went for my holiday, my fitness level had decreased. I did exercise in Redang by snorkeling half a day and getting my thighs burnt because I was sitting down and applied sun block all over except where I was sitting on.

I tried the floater, this funny machine that allows you to float by moving your knees, but it can get quite strenuous. I managed to hit a speed of 133, but my legs soon got numb. One woman was on a stepper for one hour and I could see huge beads of perspiration on her body.

I'm not sure what machines to use exactly to get rid of my tummy.

The last time I wanted to sign up for a personal trainer package, the trainer told me that my back muscles were weak, hence I hunched a little. I’ve been working out my shoulders, and back muscles. He also told me that I should put on more weight! Ridiculous. But he qualified by saying that I should be putting on muscles, which are tighter, and would make my legs look toner. Well, after exercising so much, I ended up buying one size bigger than my usual size, and I decided I had to work harder.

Pimple Outbreak from Exercising

I’ve been getting pimple outbreak this week, and I thought I had already got rid of this teenage problem. The pimples are huge and painful. I wondered whether it was due to stress, but it couldn’t be because I had always been very stressed at work. While at the gym a few days ago, I overheard some aunties talking and I realized the cause of my problem – makeup.

This auntie told her friend that she must definitely remove her makeup before exercising. If not, the pores would be clogged and this is bad for the skin. She went on and on while I tried to work out my calve and thigh muscles and I continued to eavesdrop.

I know I have to remove my makeup daily before I sleep, because the pores need to breathe. But what about exercising? Exercising increases our temperature and this will make harmful agents sink into our pores. Oh man, usually I go to the gym after work, and I have makeup on. I don’t bring my makeup remover out. It’s so troublesome.

However, with a sudden pimple outbreak, especially since I’ve only started putting makeup regularly again, I think it’s because of the exercise. I think maybe I can go and buy some makeup remover wet tissue. Exercising is supposed to be good for the skin! Sigh! Beauty comes first.

Total Fitness Body Makeover

If you you want to get a total fitness body makeover, you can get this product.

It teaches you how to work out in the comfort of your home and get a great body. At the same time, if you already go to a gym, and do not have a personal trainer, it also teaches you to do cardio exercises and other resistance training.

So far, I have been working out at the gym on my own and it is a little tough as I do not know exactly what steps to do. It is great to have something like to follow. Some of the programmes are 4 weeks long, while another is 8 weeks long. Find the one that works for you.

I think to get this to work, you must put in the effort.

Treadmill synchronisation dance at Gym

Treadmill synchronisation dance by OKGo: Here it goes again
It is really funny.

Gym Can be a Scary Place

The Gym Can Be A Scary Place by: Paul Hegarty
If you go to the gym a lot you get to see all sorts of people. You get to see those you are fitness enthusiasts; you see those who are confident and motivated. The gym at first sight can be intimidating and more so if you are out of shape. If you go to the gym frequently enough, you get used to seeing certain types: and what’s important to remember is that the majority are there for the same reason and that is to improve there physical well being.

Then as you start to work out and look around you see those who can’t look you in the eye. Their demeanor suggests they’re embarrassed. They look down move awkwardly, and are intimidated by the machines. This is a tough environment for these folks. I myself have been in situations where I could not use a machine and was too shy to ask anybody.

Like anything else nobody wants to admit that they do not know. I am sure you were there once. I am a male of the species so you could imagine what happens when I get lost out driving in a new city. Yes I fit the male stereotype.

Don’t delay about giving them encouragement. A simple, sincere smile would go a long way. Don’t give advice; don’t offer to show them how a particular machine can be adjusted. If you smile at them everyday, chances are by next week, they shall have mustered enough courage to ask you to help them figure out their fitness routine. It works.

About The Author
Paul Hegarty is the owner of http://www.learningfromdvds.com. Price compare Yoga DVDs, read reviews, download free E-books. Read this month’s e-book on "How To Spot A fraudulent Email". Grab your free copy today.
Learn about living a healthy life in the comfort of your own home with educational Health DVDs. Learn about Yoga Positions For Beginners at http://www.worst-yoga-positions.com/.

Anlene Orchard Mile - My First Race!

I ran my first race yesterday and I am glad I beat my own timing and myself. I managed to run nonstop, something that had been really tough for me, but I started slow and refused to stop, and finally sprinted in the last 80m. I had also visualised myself running down Orchard Road during training. Quan Yifeng was there and she was quite funny.

I had a timing chip with me so I was somewhere in front, but not right at the front. We had warm up earlier and the cameras kept filming me, but they took this part out totally during News. I managed to finish this under 11 minutes (I think, since I need to wait for the results to be out). Usually in the gym, I take fastest, 14 minutes. I did this Roger Banister article in Secondary School, about how this man ran the mile under four minutes! I took like three times the time he took, but according to the papers, the faster women participating in the race ran in four minutes plus. One mile is about 1.6km.

I got a flower and a medal for finishing the race! After that, I took the train back to Dhoby Ghaut to collect my goody bag before going off for my course. More on that another time.

Hip Hop

One of my favourite classes at the gym is the Hip Hop class. Hip Hop is a form of dance that is very popular with many teenagers, but anyone can learn the steps in a class at the gym. I have a little dance background, but this type of dancing is very different from what I am exposed to.

Usually, the instructor will start the class with warm ups. I like this part because I get to stretch and dance and they are usually quite easy to follow. Isolating body parts is quite important as you must know how to move your body without moving your bottom or something like that.

It’s usually quite fun and I get a good workout after that.

New Gym Membership

Hi, I've just got a gym membership less than two months ago. It's located rather near my home, compared to other gyms in the town. Hence, I've been going to the gym very frequently.