AboutKaren Sullivan Expertise Karen can help with lifting technique, muscle recovery, weight loss, body building and powerlifting. She has been certified by AFPA for the last 10 years as a Personal Trainer and has recently acquired a certification from the same agency as a Post Rehabilitative Exercise Specialist. Any recommendations or advice rendered are based on fitness information as specified by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Fitness Professionals and Associates.
Experience
Past/Present clients Clients include athletes training for marathons, mountain climbing and general weight loss. In addition I have clients troubled with COPD, Fibromyalgia, and Parkinsons as well as stroke rehab. She was the Strength and Conditioning coach for Williamsburg Aquatic Club, a USA Swim Team, in Williamsburg, Virginia for 3 years.
Karen is presently working at Main Street Gym in Historic St. Charles, Missouri where she teaches Pilates and continues her work with clients. Her training reaches across the country with her long distance Body Restoration eTraining. Her dedication to fitness reaches into the nutritional supplementation with Shaklee products. She only works with clients who add nutritional supplementation to their training. Read more of her story on www.shaklee.net/BodyRestoration
Question I'm 5'5/f/small-ish frame/128 pounds...my measurements are 34b-27.5-37...I was weighing around 210 pounds at 15, and over the next three years I managed to lose around 75 pounds through cutting calories and daily walking/jogging, I'm now 22, and its been 4 years since I lost all that weight, I've lost another 10 pounds since last year and wear a size 6 now. I have flabbiness on my inner thighs, upper arms and lower abdomen...they're not really that obvious even when I wear tight clothing, but when I wear sleeveless tops or shorts, the flabbiness is clearly seen, along with the massive cellulite on my butt and upper thighs, although i have to admit they have improved over time since i first lost all that weight 4 years ago (I have found that the more weight I lose, the less flabby I get). I also got my body fat percentage checked, and my gp says its fine although it isn't within the fitness range. I'm in the process of losing another 15 pounds and hope to reduce the flabbiness, I'd also like to know your suggestions for improving the look of flabbiness and loose skin while I'm at it through exercise or weight training etc. The only kind of exercises I've been doing and am still doing are walking and jogging. I really don't want to end up looking muscular or anything (I've always the gym for fear of this), just more toned and firm but still curvy. kinda like britney spears or jennifer aniston instead of cindy crawford or madonna. what kind of exercises would suit me best and how often should I do them. A friend of mine suggested bellydancing or yoga but I don't know if they'll help in shaping my flabby thighs (my thighs bug me the most)....please advice. Thank u very much for your time.
Answer Carrie,
The skin and flab are different issues and since you weren't really heavy (300-400 lbs) you won't have serious issues with skin. The flab is because your muscle isn't developed. You sound like you have no muscle tone and hence no strength, so to speak.
Begin doing weight lifting for your whole body. Start with 1-2 sets of 15 reps at a low weight where you feel the muscle working but not where you struggle hard. You will not be muscle bound unless you are lifting hard heavy weight and probabaly getting a little supplemental testosterone. Start doing ab work too. Crunches with a twist that works the obliques are best! When you do a crunch be sure you pull your tummy in at the belly button and blow the air out of your abdominal cavity, then crunch and twist. Works the whole matrix of the abdomen!
Keep eating right but don't cut your calories too much. With the lifting running and life you probably need somewhere around 1500+ calories a day. If you cut the calories too much you will stop losing the weight. Be safe!
Keep in touch,
Karen
