30-day Callanetics Challenge - Day 1

I've only done Callanetics twice in the past 10 days. I'm challenging myself to do it every day for the next 30 days. I know I'll lose inches, but I really need to make Callanetics a habit. I'm also going do the 100 pushups challenge.

Today, I completed Callanetics Evolution and Day 1 of the 100 pushups challenge.

Callanetics - Hour 14

Hour 14 of Evolution done.

I'm getting bored with Evolution. I find it more challenging than Callanetics 10/10, so I think I'm going to have to switch to Supercallanetics for a while. I don't want to stop my progress or reverse my results simply because I'm bored.

Callanetics - Hour 13

I just finished Evolution. I really want to start doing an hour of Callanetics every day like I started out doing. I feel better when I do it daily and the results come faster.

This weekend, I got a dress for my event at the end of September. I got it a size smaller. With the changes I had already had with 11 hours of Callanetics, I imagine I'll need a smaller size in another 6 weeks. I'd love to need it to be 2 sizes smaller, but we'll see...

Callanetics - Hour 12

I keep forgetting to post. Last night was the first time I've been able to get in a full workout. I was doing 20 minutes here and there every day for the week prior. Even just that little bit of time has been producing results. People are noticing a difference. My clothes are fitting much more loosely. It's really nice to see visible results so quickly. It makes it easier to stay motivated and keep working out when you can see results daily versus having to wait 6 weeks to notice a change.

Callanetics - Hour 11

Another hour of Evolution done. I had to break it up into two parts because my muscles were so tired I couldn't stand after the leg exercises. It really worked deeply today!

I'm thinking of getting Super Callanetics for something a little more advanced.

Callanetics - Hour 10

I did it really late and couldn't finish again because I was falling asleep. This time I made myself go all the way through the stomach exercises since that's my main problem.

Callanetics - Hour 9

Hour 9 of Evolution completed.

I've missed the past couple of days. I forgot how good my back feels when I do the Callanetics. During one of the stretches, I felt all of the tension just ease away. It was a wonderful feeling.

Callanetics - Hour 8

Hour 8 of Evolution completed. I had to stop when I reached the stomach exercises - I simply couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.

Callanetics - Hour 7

7 hours of Evolution done!

My flexibility is really starting to improve. I'm also notice my face, neck and shoulders are a lot slimmer. My shoulder pronation is almost gone. My stomach is pulling in a little more and my thighs are starting to slim down.


breakfast: yogurt, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries
lunch: broccoli soup with walnuts and goat cheese, brie and black pepper panini
snack: almonds
dinner: molten chocolate cake, milk (nice and healthy :) )

Callanetics - Hour 6

Today, I put on a pair of pants that were tight on me last week. Today, they're loose. I wasn't expecting that!

The saddlebag on one of my legs is completely gone. My waist is getting smaller. My abs in general are flatter. My obliques are starting to show - you know that line you can get down along the side of them? - it's there. My triceps are tightening up. My back is stronger and feels so much better. My shoulder pronation is disappering.

And I haven't changed what I eat. Yesterday, I had raspberry creme brulee!

When I first did Callanetics Evolution, I didn't like it all. I still have some issues with it - no counter so you don't know how fast you need to do the pulses, the moves don't flow together as easily as they do in 10/10, and such. But now, I love it! I'm seeing faster results with it than I ever saw with 10/10. It is more challenging and should only be done by someone after they've done 10/10 for a while because the instructions are better on 10/10. But the results I'm getting are truly amazing.

You always here about how you can't spot reduce. Or you have to lose 10 pounds to lose a clothing size. Or you have to work out for a minimum of 1 hour 5-6 days a week and do a ton of cardio. Or you can only eat 1500 calories a day, or so many carbs, or low fat, or whatever.

It's all so wrong!

I've spot reduced with Callanetics. I'm easily fitting into pants I couldn't fit in before and I haven't lost a pound. I'm not doing Cardio - gosh, I'm just starting to be able to walk again - no bouncing around or running for me! I haven't counted a single calorie, fat gram, or carb. If I see it and want it, I eat it.

Okay, I'm happy. I'm sure you can tell.

Callanetics 10/10 has so many dramatic photos on it of how people have transformed their bodies in 19 hours. I can't wait to see what 19 hours brings to me!

Still working

I keep forgetting to post.

I did Evolution 4 days in a row and took yesterday off. My posture is really improving nicely. I can tell the left side of my body is tightening up faster than my right side - it must be stronger.

My foot doesn't feel as good today. I think it's because I didn't do Callanetics yesterday. I really think it's been helping it.

Off to do Evolution now.

I'm back

I sprained my foot really badly (it's amazing what can happen when you drop a book on your foot) and have had to take time off from pretty much all physical activity. My foot isn't completely healed, but I can now put some weight on it. I have gained a few inches over the weeks. I'm starting back with Callanetics. I still can't do a lot of the exercises, especially anything that bends the toes. Callanetics Evolution has more exercises that I can do, so I'm starting back with it. I did it for the first time in ages yesterday. My back, arms, hips, and butt are soooo sore today! I'm so glad it's already working.

October 27

breakfast: brown rice cereal with cashews and apricots

lunch: baked tofu, rice, cucumber, sauteed cauliflower

dinner: brown rice tortilla pizza, napa cabbage

snack: raw milk

workout: Callanetics Evolution

I know Callanetics Evolution is supposed to produce faster results than 10/10, but I really think the instruction could be better. For example, on one of the standing leg moves, two of the demonstraters have their legs at completely different angles and the instructor never tells you which way you should be pointing your leg. Both angels work different muscle groups.

I also feel like it's really taught as if it's expected that you've attended a class. Form isn't really discussed. It really just leaves you to figure out what to do. And they don't even tell you how many reps you should do for most of the moves. I really think it could be better. Give me bad 80's clothes and production with an understanding of what I should and shouldn't do, over a pretty set and confusion any day.

Callanetics Bootcamp?

breakfast: melon

snack: almonds, raw milk

lunch: caprese salad

dinner: roma beans, potatoes, cucumber

When I hurt my back, Jessi sent me a great site filled with a ton of information on Callanetics and comments from trainers. I've learned a lot since reading through it. One of the things a trainer mentioned was that you shouldn't go three days without doing Callanetics or you'll begin to undo some of the results. If you go three days without doing it, you should do it for 3-4 days in a row to get back into shape.

This reminds me of T-Tapp. You're not supposed to go 3 days without doing at least the BWO+ or you'll start to lose muscle. Whenever you're just starting T-tapp or have missed a week, you're supposed to do a full workout for at least 4 consecutive days. I don't remember all of the scientific reasons, but it's somehow supposed to change the physiology of the body and make it start producing results.

When I hurt my back, I missed over a week of Callanetics. I started back up last week, doing it a couple of times, but I didn't do it for consecutive days. Tomorrow, I think I'll try a 4-day Callanetics bootcamp and see what happens. I'll probably do the regular Callanetics 10 years younger program I typically do, although I'm sure I could do CardioCallanetics or Callanetics Evolution with similar effectiveness.

Day 24 - No Sweets

breakfast: protein drink

lunch: carrot and cucumber salad, tofu, savoy cabbage with tomato

snack: peach, nuts, 5 baked corn chips with salsa

dinner: potato cakes, zucchini, tomatoes, and chickpeas

workout: Callanetics Evolution, 35 minutes HIIT

I had the most amazing 4 day weekend away. It was so nice just to get away from everything and visit with friends. Work seems to have become the focal point of so many of our lives, that we often forget about living and doing things that we enjoy. I believe our life is meant to be spent living, not working, slaving away for someone else day after day. With the advent of cell phones, it's like you can never get away. Vacations aren't really vacations. People don't leave you alone. They still call, even for the most trivial things. Even if you're so sick you can't get out of bed, you're still expected to be available. There's so much more to life than work, but it seems like work takes up pretty much everything.

Enough with that rant.

I've decided to try adding some high intensity interval training to my workouts. I want to speed up results, as well as increase my cardio conditioning. I've realized that I don't just want to be thin, I want to get into great shape. Talk about a shift in focus.

I know Callanetics works by using the small muscles that most workouts neglect, that's why it can produce such fast results. But I wonder how it works at truly shaping the body, the way an athlete's body can look. People in Callanetics videos are thin, but if you look at the early ones, they don't really look like they're in shape. Callan is definitely able to do a lot of moves and make them look easy, moves that require a lot of strength, but she's never really looked like she's in great shape to me. Maybe I'll have to rethink my workouts some. Add some stuff in here and there.

CardioCallanetics - not what it appears

Watching CardioCallanetics is one thing. It looks fairly easy - no impact, no real choreography, short cardio section. But to do it...wow! I think the entire cardio section is a 30-minute leg-toning section. It does have fairly low intensity cardio, but pretty much every element involves some kind of leg toner - plies, lifts, etc. And then in the toning section, there's more. I think it's the entire leg toning section from CallaneticsEvolution. I could barely walk when I was done. When I did the ab section, I thought I would have to do more in the evening because it was so short and simple, but boy did I feel it later. I think I still prefer the original 10/10, but it would definitely be something good to add in for some variety.

breakfast: strawberry-banana smoothie

snack: granola

lunch: pasta

dinner: hummus sandwich, banana

workout: cardiocallanetics, 30 minute walk