Newbie :o)

[BackTo120s]

Hi!
My mom just bought me the Miracle Seven book and I tried my first workout this morning. I did 7 Tiger Moves, about 3 sets of 10 reps each.

I weigh 160 but I used to be in the 120's and that was when I was working out at the gym for an hour and walking the neighborhood for an hour everyday. Now, I am a full time student, full time graphic designer and I can't find the time to do that.

I am hoping this will help me achieve my goals so that I won't be so self conscious anymore.

The thing is... I didn't feel like I was doing a whole lot. My muscles were shaking by the 2nd set so I knew they were working (or I may have ignorantly assumed so). But I don't know if I am even doing them right.

I followed the pictures in the book. But how do I know how many to start out doing? I don't want to waste my time doing something the wrong way and then have no results in the end.

Tomorrow I plan to repeat what I did today and hopefully get some aerobic/cardio in in the afternoon.


Any words of wisdom for a newbie?

[Alan_OldStudent]

Hi BackTo120s,

Welcome to the forum. You might have done a bit better by posting over in John's forum, but I hope others see this here and welcome you too.

You're describing the difficulties I had learning these seemingly simple exercises.

http://www.alanstancliff.com/images/divide4.gif

Believe it or not, the M7 takes a rather subtle level of coordination to do to best benefit. But don't worry. If you keep at them, it will come. The coordination angle comes because you have to set muscles working against each other throughout a range of motion that is not in one's ordinary experience.

Take the first one as an example, the so-called barrel squeeze. Start with your hands extended at the sides and just try to tense your arms, chest, and back without motion. Then bring them 1/3 of the way forward and tense again. Then 2/3s of the way forward, etc. In other words, stop at several places and tense everything.

Now try to do it in one motion, first bringing the arms and hands together, B R E A T H I N G, and then relax for a second. Then bring them back.

Try to make similar experiment out of the first 5.

When you have a bit of a feel for those, let me know, and I'll give you hints on number 6 and number 7.

Remember to breathe and also remember you're a beginner, and it takes a while to learn these. But boy are they addicting when you begin to get good at them.

Again, welcome.

Regards,

Alan

[Hank_Z]

Hi BackTo120s,

Your fortunate to have received guidance from Alan. He gave me some great tips when I started.

If you follow his advice, continue with the M7, and take further guidance from Alan and the others who post on John Peterson's forum, your only option will be to...succeed.

Hank

[BackTo120s]

Thanks Alan and Hank!

I slacked this weekend. Apparently, I am not as ready to make this commitment as I thought I was.

I binged all weekend and sabotaged myself in terms of workouts. I made sure I didn't have enough time for myself.

And I gained 6 lbs since Friday. Which is insane.

Obviously, I have to work out some issues.

Today I am starting with a clean slate. And I have my transformetrics book with me, so I will either do the exercises at lunch time or when I get off work.

Any suggestions for a diet to jump start my metabolism and kick my nasty sugar habit?


Thanks again for the advice and the warm welcome!

[BackTo120s]

I just did one set of 10 of each of the Miracle Seven on my lunch hour in my office.

WOO HOO!!!

I feel awesome!

And I only did one set because I think I tried doing too many to start last week, and I sacrificed my form as I got farther through them.

How long do I wait to start trying some of the other exercises in the book?

[stingray]

Alan,

I was hoping to hear your tips for #6 and #7.

Thanks

[JoeJustice]

BackTo120s,

I moved your thread to the Ask John Peterson forum. I think you'll get more answers and opinions here than in the Daily Workout section.

-Joe

[Aaron Hoot]

Hi and welcome to the forum. You are going to get plenty of help here. This is where I got most of my advice and will be amazed at the help you will receive. But I will give you a little bit about the diet. Just follow what is in John's book. Along with John's books and the forum here my life changed drastically and that of my family's. Man I was addicted to sugar big time and now I don't really have a problem with it. There was a time when I would have rather had a pop tart than fresh fruit. After John gave me some advice about it I started to push away the sugars, eat more fresh fruit and other things that are good for you. Believe it or not, recently while visiting in the United States my stateside family got us some pop tarts because they knew how much I used to like them. I really didn't care for them and didn't even finish them. The sugar habit is hard to break but once you start the better diet it becomes a lot easier. My kids like an occasional coke but I always see them drinking water even when the cokes are around (and that is very seldom). You are going to be amazed once you get going how your body will come along. I recently had a virus that lasted about a month. My family and I went downstairs tonight and you would be amazed at how much a body was able to do. I did parts of the M7, pushups (which are my favorites), squats, burpees and superman wheels which is kind of a pushup. Again, welcome and any way that we can help please let us know.

Aaron