Don't Make A Lunge For It

I don't recommend lunges for firming the lower body speaking of which I tried The Firm years ago and just did not like all the lunges - even though I had no trouble doing them.

And they claimed they really firmed up the lower body so well.

Not true at all - there are other lower body exercises that do not give a load to the knee joint.

And cringe to think overweight women do lunges - flat out dumb. Go over just a micro inch on that position of knee not over toes - do that repeatedly and hello knee problems.

I once saw an overweight middle aged woman given weights and told to do walking lunges - by a young trainer I might add. Absolutely incredulous. But she sure felt like she was working out and no doubt felt pretty uncomfortable doing this.

What about BOOT CAMP?

I am also not a big fan of the now not quite as popular "Boot Camp". Keep boot camp for our armed forces. I have known of one lady who would get up and be at her Boot Camp Booty workout (they always have such cute names) by 6:30 a.m. before work for an hour long hard workout.

That sure sounded great as we all gathered around the water cooler.

I was impressed - what discipline she had.

Here is how that ended up:

She was like all of us: a busy woman. She had a family, a home, a pet and a yard.

She would be sore all day from the workout when she started the program - she associated this with strain and hard work even after the soreness wore off.

When she worked out so hard she felt entitled to an extra treat that day - she was getting firmer but not losing any weight.

She started to slowly miss one scheduled workout a week - but she still ate her 'entitlement' treat the day she did not work out.

Then she got super busy with other things happening and all it took was to make it to a 6:30 a.m. hard, gut wrenching workout when she was stressed out to really associate the exercise with unpleasantness.

She quite easily skipped a week meaning to get back to it but never did.

She quit boot camp (with a bigger 'booty').

Ladies, boot camp originated in an environment where the soldiers have only a bed and their locker of belongings to take care of - even meals are prepared.

Of course if you are doing this and love it and eagerly get up early and sweat it out with handsomely fit drill instructor sergeant types - go for it! Admittedly there is an allure to it all or they would not have so many ladies signing up for it.

I would caution about the sit ups as those can push on the pelvic floor.

AND

I would never do a push up as an overweight woman. I never liked these exercises - the straining of a full sit up, a push up putting your weight on your elbows and wrists, the monotony of lunges.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY PROGRAMS WITH SIT UPS, PUSH UPS, AND LUNGES?

Young trainers; men; and/or thin/normal weight people originated these exercises.

Just ask a middle aged woman who is overweight how straining these exercises are.

And while you are at it ask any Physical Therapist about the above mentioned exercises.