Step-ups with a footstool?

SunBunzz
SunBunzz Posts: 165 Member
edited February 24 in Fitness and Exercise
I've been doing Jillian Michaels No More Trouble Zones, among other hard circuit/cardio workouts, but haven't seen much of a change in one of my least favorite parts: my calves.

So I thought doing step-ups on my stool (it's more like a small step-ladder, with a stool on the second step, which is HIGH, btw) while watching TV for about 40 minutes a day, every other day or something.

After the first day, my calves were on FIRE. I assume that's good. The first step is about 10-11 inches high, (it's skinny, though, like a ladder step) the second step (stool) is around 22 inches, and I have SHORT legs, I'm only 5'2. I'd walk up both, but going up that high over and over would make me dizzy, and could be dangerous. I had to put a plushy pillow on the stool part, because I bruised my shins against it after many steps. lol

I'm no expert, but would this provide an efficient toning method of my calves, or even my thighs? I sometimes grab my 3 pound weights and gently move my arms about with them too, they get TIRED after awhile. I have a pedometer that seems to accurately count my steps, but can't count altitude very well, not that I care, really.

BUT, I also have a treadmill that can incline by 10%. Is it more effective to walk on a step-stool (I could look for a thicker one at Wal-Mart or something) use the treadmill or....any suggestions? I THINK I burn around maybe 150 calories in about an hour. I range to medium-fast pace most of the time doing it.

I'm only 132 pounds now, so I know I don't burn NEARLY as much as I used to. The MFP suggestion said I burned over 500, that...probably isn't right. lol

Thoughts? Anyone else tried this too?

Replies

  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    I've been doing Jillian Michaels No More Trouble Zones, among other hard circuit/cardio workouts,b][ but haven't seen much of a change in one of my least favorite parts: my calves. [/b]

    So I thought doing step-ups on my stool (it's more like a small step-ladder, with a stool on the second step, which is HIGH, btw) while watching TV for about 40 minutes a day, every other day or something.

    I'm no expert, but would this provide an efficient toning method of my calves, or even my thighs? I sometimes grab my 3 pound weights and gently move my arms about with them too, they get TIRED after awhile. I have a pedometer that seems to accurately count my steps, but can't count altitude very well, not that I care, really.


    Step ups are going to use your quads/knees more than anything perhaps glutes if stepping high enough.

    If you are eating at a deficit you will only see two things change...

    1. A lower body fat percentage.
    2. Assuming you are eating enough protein or not. How much muscle you will lose.

    Since you are on a deficit, you can build strength, but not muscle. To build strength a pretty good exercise is calf raises or calf presses. Keep in mind that "toning" is a myth, as you lose fat through dieting, your muscles will show more although you are not really gaining muscle. Exercising in your case will help prevent muscle loss though which is obviously a good thing.

    Good luck.
  • SunBunzz
    SunBunzz Posts: 165 Member
    Cool! Thanks! I assume when I said to TONE, I meant that it'll...make my muscles more obvious, and the fat will get smaller? Same thing, right? xD

    I like to STAY strong, using NMTZ, I don't ever wanna lose my ability to do standard push-ups with one leg raised up, or full sit-up crunches.

    Quads getting tighter would be great too! It seems my new body has mostly shrank the upper section, my core, finally my arms, it's just my lower half I wanna improve a little more now. NMTZs is gradually doing that.
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