Jodi Low's Workouts
Jodi Low is the President and Founder of U and Improved in Scottsdale, Arizona. As a busy executive and a full time Mom of two incredible daughters, this 40 year old dynamo has to make the most of her time in every aspect of her life. So we designed two workouts - Day 1 and Day 2 below - that would train her entire body twice a week and get her in and out of the gym in under an hour. Jodi is in great shape, so she can train hard, quickly, and safely. Her workouts are broken up into Groups of three or more exercises that are done consecutively and with very little rest between movements. As a result, she is getting both anaerobic and aerobic benefits from her weight workouts. She also does 30-60 minutes of interval cardio work on the days she is not weight training, and she is smart about her nutrition because she knows that her diet will determine up to 70% of her results. And as you can tell by this shot we took on her 40th birthday, Jodi Low (gym nickname "U Go Boss") has a plan that's working so she's working her plan.
Important: Always check with your Doctor before beginning any diet or exercise program.
Important: Always check with your Doctor before beginning any diet or exercise program.
The Mother Of All Workouts
After my daughter was born, I gained a great new compassion for what new - and not so new - Moms had to go through to reclaim their fitness, health and shape. So a few years ago, I was able to dedicate this article in the Tribune to them. Some of the faces and places have changed since then, but the program still works - providing you have your Doctor's approval. I hope you can read it (he said, still looking for a graphic design partner/mentor) and I hope it becomes the Mother Of Reinvetion for a Mom you know and love. Stay Healthy! Mr. Relent-Les Important: Always check with your Doctor before beginning any diet or exercise program.
How To Cut Your Thighs Down To Size
(And Get A "Little Behind" In Your Workouts) by Les Maness, UltimateImpact.com
I am a 30-something mother of four children. My upper body is in pretty good shape, but my legs (and glutes) need to
be smaller and firmer. My trainer says I need to work my legs hard once a week, but I’m afraid they might make them even bigger. What do you think I should do? Sign me, Please Minimize My Thighs
Dear Please Minimize,
I used to think like your trainer did until I wrote an article for Muscle and Fitness entitled She's Got Legs. As research, I
interviewed the newly crowned Ms Olympia Fitness, Mia Finnegan, who has a lean, sculpted, symmetrical body that would make a supermodel nervous enough to binge on a rice cake. But Mia told me she wasn’t always built that way. She tried everything from total lay-offs to heavy leg training in an effort to reduce the size of her thighs and glutes, but nothing worked. Then she discovered something that changed everything.
She rationalized that since men invented weight training they did it to become bigger and stronger. (She should know. Her great uncle was the legendary strongman, Sigmund Klein) Therefore, women who employed the same type of heavy training might get similar results. She also realized that male bodybuilders had discovered – much to their dismay- that if they trained a muscle too frequently and didn’t allow ample time for rest, it would actually diminish in size. So, she put two and two together and started training lighter, less exhaustive, and more frequently. The result was that her legs and glutes reduced in size but maintained an awesome shape and tone.
As soon as I heard this, I started putting the women executives I train on this type of program and the results were phenomenal.
Here’s a sample Tri-set program - three exercises done in row before starting the next group of three –I gave to the Arizona State University College Of Nursing. It’s a favorite I use for intermediate athletes. But be forewarned: These three exercises are as tough as they get, so go very easy on your first and second workouts. Otherwise your thighs and glutes will be so sore it'll take a village to raise you off the commode. But there will be absolutely no doubt in your mind about how well they work those areas.
So If your trainer has an open mind, and feels you are ready, why don’t you give it a try? If you combine it with the right diet, you’ll cut your thighs down to size quickly, and in the process get a "little behind" in your workouts.
Important: Always check with your Doctor before beginning any diet or exercise program.
How To Cut Your Thighs Down To Size (And Get A "Little Behind" In Your Workouts) Routine
Bodypart Exercise Sets Reps
Glutes/Hamstrings Dumbbell Squat 3-4 20 - 30
Glutes/hamstrings Deadlift 3-4 20 -30
Thighs/Glutes Walking Lunge 3-4 20 - 30
These exercises are illustrated above in the last six images of the Jodi Low Day 1 Workout slideshow above.
be smaller and firmer. My trainer says I need to work my legs hard once a week, but I’m afraid they might make them even bigger. What do you think I should do? Sign me, Please Minimize My Thighs
Dear Please Minimize,
I used to think like your trainer did until I wrote an article for Muscle and Fitness entitled She's Got Legs. As research, I
interviewed the newly crowned Ms Olympia Fitness, Mia Finnegan, who has a lean, sculpted, symmetrical body that would make a supermodel nervous enough to binge on a rice cake. But Mia told me she wasn’t always built that way. She tried everything from total lay-offs to heavy leg training in an effort to reduce the size of her thighs and glutes, but nothing worked. Then she discovered something that changed everything.
She rationalized that since men invented weight training they did it to become bigger and stronger. (She should know. Her great uncle was the legendary strongman, Sigmund Klein) Therefore, women who employed the same type of heavy training might get similar results. She also realized that male bodybuilders had discovered – much to their dismay- that if they trained a muscle too frequently and didn’t allow ample time for rest, it would actually diminish in size. So, she put two and two together and started training lighter, less exhaustive, and more frequently. The result was that her legs and glutes reduced in size but maintained an awesome shape and tone.
As soon as I heard this, I started putting the women executives I train on this type of program and the results were phenomenal.
Here’s a sample Tri-set program - three exercises done in row before starting the next group of three –I gave to the Arizona State University College Of Nursing. It’s a favorite I use for intermediate athletes. But be forewarned: These three exercises are as tough as they get, so go very easy on your first and second workouts. Otherwise your thighs and glutes will be so sore it'll take a village to raise you off the commode. But there will be absolutely no doubt in your mind about how well they work those areas.
So If your trainer has an open mind, and feels you are ready, why don’t you give it a try? If you combine it with the right diet, you’ll cut your thighs down to size quickly, and in the process get a "little behind" in your workouts.
Important: Always check with your Doctor before beginning any diet or exercise program.
How To Cut Your Thighs Down To Size (And Get A "Little Behind" In Your Workouts) Routine
Bodypart Exercise Sets Reps
Glutes/Hamstrings Dumbbell Squat 3-4 20 - 30
Glutes/hamstrings Deadlift 3-4 20 -30
Thighs/Glutes Walking Lunge 3-4 20 - 30
These exercises are illustrated above in the last six images of the Jodi Low Day 1 Workout slideshow above.
Road Rules For Hard Bodies (For Women)
With the holidays fast approaching, I'm receiving requests for travel workouts that can be done anywhere and at any time. So I asked Louise "Ms. Gibraltar" Reilly if she would illustrate a workout that would tighten and tone the areas that women tell me they want targeted the most - thighs, glutes, abs, chest and triceps. In the slideshow below, Louise has demonstrated the basic and advanced versions of some of the exercises, so you can tailor you workout to your current level of conditioning. We shot these photos in my gym, but you can substitute a sturdy chair for the bench if need be. Or if you are visiting family and staying in your original bedroom with giant posters of your generation's crush - Elvis, The Beatles, Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch, Michael Jackson, Backstreet Boys, etc. - you can do just about all of them on your bed. Just be sure to tell your parents that you are exercising so they don't keep yelling through your door, “No jumping on the bed, young lady." :-)
Stay Healthy! Mr. Relent-Les
Important: Always check with your Doctor before beginning any diet or exercise program.
Stay Healthy! Mr. Relent-Les
Important: Always check with your Doctor before beginning any diet or exercise program.