Hi, I started oxycise about 3weeks ago after purchasing the book. I have been waking up early just so I can do the exercises but so far I have not seen any change. Infact I seem to have put on some weight and about 1/2 an inch around the waist.

I feel disheartened. This week I am focusing on eating better (have cut out wheat and sugar).

When I do the exercises (and this is where I think I may be doing them wrong) I find that after I take in my breath and the extra inhalations i have no room in my belly to tighten my muscles.
so Q1...Am I supposed tighten my muscles at this point (after inhale)or after I exhale?
Q2.....When exhaling is it supposed to be a big exhale or a slow steady one?

I guess not having the video makes it harder to understand but if anyone can enlighten me I'd appreciate it

Thanks


ps i accidently posted this on a different topic so if you read it there please ignore

We're glad to have you here with us, and hope you soon see wonderful results. I only use Jill's book and the commuter tape, but I've gotten a lot of help on this forum. If you go up to the top, under the "Announcements" heading, and then click on "breathing tips", Julie has explained the technique there. If you still have questions, she's always happy to answer them. I wasn't doing the breathing right for a long time, but once I got it figured out, I could feel a lot of difference. Good luck!
Susanna

Thanks Susanna for your reply.

I have read the post by Jill and I still struggle with the lift. After inhaling I am so full of air that it hurts to suck in (lift). I also feel my neck muscles hurting when tensing my muscles in my body.

I was also wondering about my second question which is the exhale. Should this be a real big release or slow and steady?

Thanks to all for your answers

Hi Miffy...If your neck is hurting...you might want to make sure you're not breathing with your chest (which causes your shoulders to go up and down)...your stomach should be the only thing that moves...not your shoulders. I belive it's okay to be so full of air that you can't take the 3 extra sniffs..just do the best you can and use those stomach muscles!

You might try writing to July julie@oxycise.com for her breathing tips. They're very helpful!

Laura

I didn't understand about the lift when I first started, but now I know that you just take a big breath, tighten your tummy muscles like you're going to cough, (or zipping up a tight pair of jeans) along with tightening your buns and doing the kegal, and then try to take 3 more little sniffs. Like Laura said, if you can't take any more air in, just do your best to tighten the muscles for now. It all gets easier as you practice!!!
The exhale is not really slow, but just with force, like you're blowing through a trumpet. Try to keep your lips as flat as you can so they don't "pucker", because that makes pucker lines.
Does this make sense to you? Just keep practicing, and I promise it will get easier!
Susanna

thanks to all who answered


what's the deal with the pucker lines? i don't remember reading about that. anyway i think i get the idea.

cheers

:-)

Way back when, when I started doing O, I did notice an initial gain in the circumference of my waist. It really pur me off, but it turned out to be mucles building, and muscle burnes more calories than fat, so it soon started going down.

In fact, I *was* going to restart O before I got married, but I was afraid I would start getting muscle and not lose it in time for the dress to still fit. Wasn't *that* lousy reasoning?

Maybe you're just building some muscle, too?

Yea I started gaining muscles too and i suddenly felt discouraged because I didn't loose body fat either. I felt like I was bulking up. I even convinced myself that oxycise only work if you have more then 5 inches to loose. I'm motivated to try again and I also have a question to add.
Has anybody went down to a size 1 or 2 on oxycise? I'm very petite so my pant size should be small. I only need to loose 2 pant sizes so will It take longer for me on oxycise? If so about how long? Can i replace ther exercises as long as i follow the breathing? Am I doing the breathing right if I cant take those last three sniffs in?

Linda,

No one can say for sure how long it will take for you to reach your goal, but as long as you eat healthy and are consistent with Oxycise, you should be able to lose those 2 pant sizes in a reasonable length of time. I lost 68 pounds in one year, and went down 4 sizes! I'm still trying to firm up the thigh and hip area, and stregthen my legs, but I feel so much better!
You must continue to try to get those three sniffs in. Read Julie's breathing tips at the top of the board to help get the technique down pat. I do several different positions from magazine articles and websites with the Oxybreath, just for variety. However, I've found that if I stay close to the positions Jill gives I don't tend to hurt myself as often.
Feel free to join us on the daily thread!
Susanna