Venus Index Webinar + Questions
This webinar is long (1.5ish)… you may want to open it in a separate window so you can pause and play it at will.
==> Click here to see if the Venus Index Workout is right for you
Ask your questions below…
NOTE: We’re still answering questions in this thread even though VI has been out a while, this is why the comments and questions may seem to be a little weird as far as timeline is concerned. Just be aware. Also, we’ve also attached more detailed answers in the form of podcasts we’ve done on the topic for a few questions.
Finally, please read all of the questions and answers before you post your question. We don’t want to get redundant 
Facebook comments:
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Are there any age restrictions? I have a little trouble moving around, can this work for me?
I’m tired of seeing the anorexia girls glorified. I hope this is different.
Which ‘anorexia girl’ exactly is glorified today?
Hey Guys,
Really excited that Venus is finally here. The AI focusses on Shoulder/Waist ratios for the perfect male look. What is the perfect or desired female look? Also, the AI workouts seem to be more upper body dominated is this the vocal point for Venus as well? Can you share some examples of the actual workouts?
Thanks so much!
[EDIT: GP is one of our VI contest winners (and shows you a more "ripped" VI look in contrast to the normal, softer VI look). You can check out her pics and podcast interview here]
VI goes for the balanced “hourglass” look.
VI ratios are:
- Height to waist
- Shoulders to waist
- Waist to hips
… whereas AI ratios are just the first 2
I’ve been waiting for this ever since my husband started Adonis! I can’t wait!
What if I’m a beginner or have never really exercised before? Is this going to be really hard?
Also, how can I drop 50 lbs! I’ve tried everything it seems but nothing seems to work.
It’ll be uncomfortable. But it’s supposed to be.
Dropping 5o lbs is all about finding a way of eating in a deficit over a sustained time period. It’s more of a dance, where fluidity is key.
Rigid diets fail 95% of all people.
how can build up to doing lunges? how can build up to doing push ups? how can build up to doing pull ups? (in other words what excercises can I or should I be doing to build up towards and ectually finally perform these 3 named excercises?)
ps I do not only need to loose 25 kg(!) but I really actually want to become that strong that I can actually pull these 3 excercises of without feeling afraid of injury.
thank you.
Since these are all bodyweight exercises, losing that 25 lbs is going to help the most
Have you taken female hormonal changes into account in the program, as well as the different fat storage areas on women ie thighs, bum, legs, under arms etc. Do you have to belong to a gym or what equipment is needed. Is this a muscle building AND fat loss program or just purely muscle building.
Thanks in advance for the teleseminar & any answers
VI is about proportions… so depending on where you start, that’s what type of program it will be.
We use diet to control waist and resistance training to influence shoulders and hips. If your waist is already in check, then it’s only muscle building… make sense.
As a general rule, “hormones” in women really only kick up when you’re trying to be really lean (ie stage contest ready). None of our winners have focused on hormones and look great.
Glad VI is ready to go…I have been waiting a year for this…very excited
I seem to have a REALLY hard time losing weight. I need a lot of help with cravings and how to LIVE and LOVE what I’m doing! I’ve begun working out, and I’m not losing weight or fat–depressing! I long to be the best me I can be, and to get there quickly and efficiently. I’m tired of trying methods and being repeatedly disappointed. Thanks!
Weight loss is all about sustaining an energy deficit over time… although that’s easier said than done.
Working out alone won’t cause you to lose weight, and in fact, may even trigger you to EAT MORE! (We have a free podcast on this topic)
It takes time to find a groove that works best for you, and what works best for you may not be what works best for someone else due to lifestyle constraints.
When you’re a member of the VI community, we can help you get this handled (we have a great track record)
You get community access complementary when you pick up the VI systems
I’m in my 50′s, is the Venus Index appropriate for (and attainable by) women my age? I’ve been working out with Turbulence Training about 10 months. I’ve lost 27 lbs and I look better, but sometimes I’m afraid of looking too much better than other women my age, so I hold back. How easy is it to maintain once you reach the VI?
Blowback is common as you start to look better. You’ll get that no matter what you do. Some people are just haters.
We can help you manage this process inside, no problem. We’ve done it for others, and can do it for you.
Maintenance is always a bit of a different beast, is individualistic, and requires a little trial and error. Again, we can help you find this “sweet spot”.
Could the ancient Greek sculptures be wrong on this one? As we live in a society where the media conditions us to believe that “thin is in,”by today’s standards, the old statues of women are … for lack of a better adjective, “chubby.” However I see trends are shifting to a more athletic look that I concur is more aesthetic. What’s the right balance between muscle tone and conditioning? Most guys I know don’t find women with rippling six packs attractive. The fitness competitors look good during the offseason but over do it when it’s time for a show. They start looking more like amature bodybuilders. I think Cory Everson had the right look. So what would be the ideal female proportions that are pleasing to the eyes of both genders?
Sycho,
I think Rachel McLish looked really good too (she was ms olympia before Corey Everson and before drugs took over the sport). I think McLish was a great example of how a woman can look feminine and sexy with some muscle. I’m not so much speaking of her competition shape but rather what she looks like in the offseason, there are a few really good pics of her online if you just google search her name.
JB
I think Cory and Rachel have the look most of us have worked towards…they are both awesome!
It seems to be common for women who are pear shaped to struggle with getting their lower body looking lean and toned without sacrificing their upper body. In other words, the upper body can start to look very scrawny and a lot of breast tissue can be lost in order to have smooth slim legs (I don’t mean skinny!). Is there any way around this? I imagine not, aside from doing the best one can to tone up, but I’m curious if you have anything to say about it.
I just want to second this question, I’m pear-shaped and have the exact same problem. When I got down to a good weight for my legs, I was very bony in my chest area, right above the breasts, and I hated it. It looked awful. I don’t even mind losing some breast tissue, but I don’t want to get *too* skinny overall.
I would also really like to see workouts that don’t require a gym or anything too expensive–I’m a grad student and money is at a premium.
Tovah,
The imbalance you’re talking about can be evened out with resistance training that targets the upper body (which this workout does). Too many women focus on lower body exercises without thinking of the upper body. In your case (as with many women) the imbalance between fat storage patterns of the upper and lower body produce an odd look if you’re losing weight without doing some sort of resistance training (as you said happened to you).
Weight loss, and specifically FAT loss is half of the equation, developing muscle is the other half.
Having well developed muscles is going to allow you to drop your bodyfat levels so your legs look slimmer without having that scrawny/bony upper body look. This is essentially the whole point of the Venus Index workout.
John
Lillea,
Great question. We’ll definitely cover this in the webinar. I was a judge for a fitness/figure model competition a couple years ago and this is something we looked for. Even though it’s not really possible for women to have ‘ripped’ legs there is still a balance that can be achieved, even fitness competitors (using whatever they use to get in shape) cannot really get their legs as lean as their upper bodies…but that’s perfectly fine, it actually looks a bit odd to see women with really ‘ripped’ legs.
John
My frustration is that my face seems to get too lean in the process of losing fat on my stomach and lower back. My husband even commented that I am looking too thin in my face – he misses the rounder softer look, yet I have not been able to lower my body fat enough to get rid of the “apron” so to speak that happens on lower stomach/back fat that is still hanging around from having 7 children. I am 5’2″ and fairly fit with lots of definition in my arms and legs especially, doing alot of Turbulence Training the past year, and weigh 118. I am afraid if I keep pounding it hard I’m going to get that muscle “man” type body and my face will be way too drawn and thin. I guess my question is, how to maintain that normal balance?
From our experience, its common to get flack as you go down. This causes a lot of people (men and women) to stall in their progress.
The best answer we can give is to continue to go down (following the Venus guidelines) and then evaluate how you look at that point.
Remember, you can ALWAYS go back up
One more thing to consider is the fact that when you raise your calories a bit back to your maintenance levels, your “look” will stabilize.
We can cover this further in the webinar or a podcast.
Hi there,
I was hoping that Brad could answer a question for me first about Eat Stop Eat. I have been trying to do it, but I find that, while I don’t seem to be hungry while fasting, I seem to eat a lot after the fast is over. So what should I do to try to make my eating a bit more normal, post fast.
As for Adonis Index, I have really bad knees, and while I know that losing weight will reduce the knee problem, the trouble is trying to exercise to lose the weight without totally wrecking my knees in the process. So my question is, can I still work out effectively if I have to limit the stress on my knees. Especially recently I have found that when doing any kind of squat movement I get a terrible pain on the side of my left knee that lasts for a good 20 minutes and makes walking almost impossible, so now I am afraid of doing squats, which as we all know is one of the most effective exercises for women. So, any suggestions in this regard would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Hi Heather!
I’m not a professional or anything, but if you have knee problems try to work out in the swimming pool! It doesn’t have to be swimming but maybe aqua jogging or aqua fitness. I guess that there is some exercise in water that mimics the squat and has similar results. I’ve never done it myself though.
Anyways, have fun working out! =)
I am actually 100lbs overweight after having lost about 50lbs. Is Venus Index for me, or should I wait until I get within like 50lbs of my goal weight?
Short answer: Yes
Long answer: Yes
We have a guy over on the Adonis side that is 8 lbs away from losing 100 lbs total.
The freeing philosophy of Venus will help you more than anything.
I’m one of those women who bulks up really easily, and I am sick of people telling me that it’s just not possible for women to bulk up because we lack the male hormones, or they tell me to do light weight with high reps. Honestly, it doesn’t matter…any activity adds bulk to my frame, even cardio. I do have more fast twitch muscle fibers, which I think is more of the issue for me. I’ve been looking for a program that will help me get toned and defined without the bulk so I can get the lean look. Am I in the right place?
Mandy,
It’s definitely possible for you to get toned and defined without added bulk. One of my clients was like you and had very ‘bulky’ legs and upper body and we managed to reduce the size of her legs by two inches! So its definitely possible to avoid ‘bulking’ if you happen to be the type who tends to gain size more than you would like (in your case if you really bulk up that easily we might need to tweak the program for you specifically).
John
I am 5’4″ tall and have a small frame. I have slim hips, legs and lower arms but seem to carry fat on my belly, back, mid section (under my bust down to my lower belly, and also on the top of my arms.
I would like to lose the excess fat from my mid section and upper arms, and reduce my waist measurement. I would also like to tone my bum to give it a more firm, toned and lifted look and have more definition in my arms and legs as well as having a toned belly and back. I would like to do this without losing too much from my bust.
Could you give me some tips on diet ( I’m a vegetarian), supplements and the best exercises to help me achieve my goal please? I like to exercise at home, and in the past have used bodyweight exercises, pilates, dumbells and kettlebells.
Thanks guys! x
It’s the “non sexy” answers that get the “sexy” look
If you’re not losing (no matter the eating style), you just need to reduce your food volume. And also, many VI clients your size have found that they need to go lower than they thought.
Unfortunately, when you’re dropping body fat, the bust is usually one of the first things to drop.
As far as exercises, just do VI work
That’s the easiest answer.
Hi,
Could you please just outline the exact specifics of how the Venus Index works to lose weight/body fat ie. how to work out how many calories to take in, what workouts to do etc because I’m so confused from all the different diet advice out there.
I want to live a normal life and eat out at times etc but don’t mind missing out other times or putting in the hard work working out if I know as a whole the Venus Index will work. This sounds like a system that can fit into ‘normal’ life if you have the discipline so I would just love to know the specifics.
Thanx
It’s all in there.
And yes, our specialty is working all of this AROUND your life, not your LIFE around all of this.
Can someone with mild cerebral palsy use this program? Especially one who is essentially starting over, since I wasn’t allowed to exercise at all during my recent pregnancy?
You’ll have to ask your doc. Unfortunately, we can’t give medical advice.
My doctor says it fine, what I was wondering if the exercises recommended involve a high level of motor skills to perform? That’s where I have my difficulties.
We can tweak anything in the program if need be. Just start up a thread in the community and we’ll help you out.
In terms of equipment, what are we going to need… Or is this more of a bodyweight driven routine?
I would also like to know how the diet it structured. If it is focused on calorie counting, good vs. bad food lists, structured meals/meal times etc?
Is there a maintenance phase in this program, once we’ve completed the 12 weeks? or do they recommend rotating between different programs to maintain the desired results, or to use their program continuously until our desired body shape is acquired?
You’ll need dumbbells, a step, and a stability ball.
As far as diet, it’s pretty flexible and based on your lifestyle constraints. It’s more about calorie “guessing”.
There are no good or bad foods, unless certain foods are “trigger foods” that cause you to overeat. Basically, whatever style you like eating in (paleo, vegan, atkins, etc) works as long as food volume is accounted for.
We’ve got different programs after this first one, a whole curriculum in fact. Maintenance is more “diet” based. As far as resistance training is concerned, you should take weeks off throughout the year, but you should always strive to improve. If you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backwards.
Hi,
Wondering if can do the exercises with and without weights since travel sometimes would be nice to know can accomplish the VI in an adaptive way.
Also, would the nutrition guidelines be able to meet the needs of a traveling business person?
Looking forward to the unveiling of VI,
EH
As long as you can account for food volume while you travel, or work around it the rest of the time, you’ll be fine.
VI can be tweaked for travel. Just ask in the community.
Hi there,
9 PM Eastern Time is like 2 at night where I’m living (The Netherlands), so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make the webinar. But I’m definitely going to try, so here’s my question: I just did some tests at my cardiologist and he scolded me for being terribly unfit. I wasn’t surprised, because I’m a number one couch potato, but by now, I’m really starting to suffer the consequences. Would Venus Index work for me?
Looking forward to the webinar!
Short answer: YES!
I’m really close but I’m not sure anything is shifting now. I can’t wait to see the program to see how it’s going to get me the rest of the way there. I’m 46 and have two kids. My waist was 5″ smaller in my teens. Even an inch would help immensely!
[EDIT: Naomi is one of our VI contest winners. You can check out her photos and podcast interview here]
Will VI be able to help me get rid of my stubborn low body fat without getting that overly lean upper body?
See John’s answer to a similar question above.
Okay, I’m a guy, but I do have a question.
My wife has asked me about a workout program in the past and I mentioned this one was coming out. She hasn’t asked recently, nor does she really excercise much. I don’t push her to diet or excercise at all, as preaching to a spouse is just a sure way to unnecessary stress and hard feelings, but when she does ask again… I need to be prepared. I won’t be buying the program unless she wants it.
You’ll probably go through a lot of what types of excercises and gear are involved, but my wife is a bit old-school and views weights as something that guys do. Are these types of objections or stereo-types addressed?
Does the program aim for a6-pack abs for the ladies?
Does the program address concerns about appearing too muscular?
VI is ultimately a “convergence point”
The ratios are guides and she can take it as far as she wants. Some women like the more toned, feminine look, others like to be 6 pack ripped.
I hope this makes sense.
For some reason I am still unclear about the theory behind the venus index.
Why would I want to do this program?
My goals are to
1. Burn the last bit of body fat I have (bum and thighs, guessing it’s 4 pounds or so), but isn’t that through diet and fasting?
2. Continue a balanced and well conditioned fit life that is fun and flexible.
I am interested in learning more.
Thanks!
Amber,
The VI is a resistance training workout that is designed to help you shape your figure by developing your muscles. So once you drop a few more pounds of fat you may or may not like the shape you have…if you want to change that shape we can help you do that with our workout. The basis and theory behind the workout is that there happens to be a target shape that will likely be your ‘best’ shape…so I designed the workout to accentuate this shape. We’re going for a look that makes your waist look small while accentuating the curve from your shoulders-to-waist-to-hips. In other words a lean/fit ‘hourglass’ look.
John
John,
That does help. Thanks!
I am interested to see how the exercises compare to what I enjoy now and ofcourse, how I look when reach my lean goal!
Thanks for keeping it real in the fitness world,
Amber
I am an intermediate exerciser and am in a normal weight range for my height yet I still have an “apron” of fat on my stomach. I have had 3 c-sections. I have tried many programs and diets but can’t seem to get rid of it. Do you have any success stories about women with a similar problem?
No such success stories yet (new program), but over time we should have some new insights into this issue for you.
I just looked at pictures of the greek goddess venus on google – is this the look that you guys are going for? Some may find that attractive, I don’t really… Personally, on myself, I like to have some muscle definition and I like to be strong. Maybe I’m the minority here. This probably isn’t the right program for someone like me, right?
Emily,
No the sculptures of venus are not the goal of this program. This is a whole body resistance training program for women who want to get a lean/toned/firm look. You’ll have to excuse my vernacular here I just don’t know what words women typically use to describe the look of being ‘in shape’. But I think this program will be right up your alley.
John
Thanks for the reply John! I think those are typical words women use when talking about being in shape.
Been waiting for a while now, eagerly anticipating this launch.
I know that calories need to be lower than what we “think” in order to lose BF…how low can one keep calories lowered while incorporating strength training before a high calorie day is needed? Or is it even needed? Asking this because of hormonal fluctuations with decreased cals….is it even a real issue? Also, I would love the best response for the starvation mode myth…how to address this with people?
We’ll cover this for sure.
But in short, if you’re building your diet around your life and not the other way around, a lot of these concerns are naturally taken care of.
All good questions and we’ll try to get them all answered during the webinar…as some of you know Brad Howard and I do a weekly podcast at adonisindex.com on exercise and nutrition…it seems that we might also need to do a weekly podcast here because there are just so many questions…this is already almost a years worth of podcast topics!
Let me know if you’re interested in a podcast and we’ll set one up.
John
Podcast starts Monday November 16th
While training for a competition I realized I overdid it. After the comp was over, I wasn’t liking how I looked, especially my legs.
At the same time I loved being able to pull offone arm pushups and pullups. I want to still keep my strength while at the same time looking more feminine.
I am hoping I can keep my upper arm workout, I didn’t have problems bulking up at all with my upper arms..actually I had a hard time but i eventually did it. It’s the lower body of mine that bulks up really quickly and just throws my whole body off.
Am hoping this isn’t a watered down workout or anything. I want to look like Venus but not at the expense of strength.
Don’t worry, you’ll be strong
Is this program appropriate for those of us who don’t really have fat to lose but want to change our shape to a more curvy look? Also, will those of us who cannot fast for more that 12 hours overnight (due to hypoglycemia) still be able to benefit from this program?
Also I hate the fact that when I lose fat and tone up everywhere else, my obliques straighten out, giving my torso a more rectangular look. When I’m not really working out, I don’t have this problem.
The weight training is designed to offset the rectangular look you’re speaking of.
If you’ve got your body fat in order already, you’re just one step ahead of the game.
I love Rachel McLish! If Rachel is the ideal, I’m even more excited. Can’t wait to get the program. I love being strong and I can’t imagine y’all making a program that wouldn’t do that by default.
Looking forward to this program, my biggest problem is motivation and staying motivated i cant seem so stick to anything so i hope this program includes some tips etc.
How about we include a community forum and an accountability blog for you?
Would that help?
Oh, yes, please do that!
Can training for strength and functional fitness play a role in this? I am really interested in getting a nice shape, but I care just as much about being fit… gaining strength, endurance, that kind of thing. Brad Pilon always talks about training for one specific goal – is it possible to use this program to train for functional fitness, and improve my physique in the process?
We’ll cover “functional fitness” in the webinar. The definition is pretty skewed for most.
But the answer is “yes”
One more thing – for those of us who may not be able to hear the webinar live, will you post a summary or recording of it later?
Depends on how bad we get yelled at after it’s over.
Hi!
Usually I get really depressed when people talk about waist-to-hip ratios and attractiveness / health and I have the feeling that the ‘perfect’ measures are just not attainable for everyone. For example, my waist is not small enough for a nice waist-to-hip ratio, and that’s just a fact, I guess. So, I’m wondering whether these ‘perfect’ measurements can be achieved by workout or whether there is some kind of natural limitation due to individual configurations of bodies. Or to put it differently: How much variance is there in body measures, such as hip or waist circumference that does not depend on body fat and workout?
(E.g. if all women were bulimic with exactly the same amount of muscle mass and body fat, would they all have exactly the same measurements? Not really, right? So what might the variability be?)
Thanks for considering my question!
Don’t get depressed about any of it.
It’s a “convergence”, we’ll talk about this in the webinar
Is this going to be suitable for a 71yr old woman about 30lbs overweight with knees and shoulder issues??
Maybe. Maybe not.
We have women of all ages. The weight we can definitely help you get handled, no problem.
As far as being able to do all of the VI exercises, it’s something we’ll have to test. But don’t worry, if it doesn’t work out, we’ll cheerfully refund you and we can still be friends
You say it’s a well rounded program, so it will also focus on the derriere, right?
At the risk of punning… yes, “well rounded” means we do a bit of booty work.
I have one more question and sorry guys I know some guys are still squeamish about this sort of stuff but I guess since you have been training women you should have an answer or a tip. During that TOTM (time of the month), for me it’s about 7 days of migraine, backaches, and cramps. I still workout but I tone it down a bit and I use body-weight only exercises. I handle the migraines when I work out because I usually stick an ice bag under my heat to keep that part cold and in control so I am fine with that but I think the hardest part is actually gathering the energy. I feel so lethargic and no energy. Am I doing my body more harm than good by pushing through around this time (losing muscle and not make much of a difference) or is it better I do something than nothing rule???? Your opinion of course and any tips on energy levels for that time would be greatly appreciated from anyone – lol. I’ve been using willpower so far and no supplements for energy and would like to keep it that way if possible. Thanks.
Good topic for a podcast, probably won’t have time to skew this far in the webinar…
Great question!
What is you are 6′ …how close can you get to exact?
Like any height, that depends on you. We have a few women 5’10″ and higher with perfect VI ratios now
What if you are 6′ …how close can you get to exact?
Is the VI a weightloss plan, a “get lean/toned” plan or both?
I really don’t think someone carrying a 30 pound excess can become lean without losing the extra weight first…
Also, as many people here, I have knee problems (is really painful for me to do a sumo/plie squat, but regular squats are ok) so I’m interested in knowing how to get firmer or thinner inner tighs while dealing with that specific obstacle.
It’s a “specific look” plan.
So if you need to lose, you’ll lose. Sculpt, you’ll sculpt.
Everyone starts in a different spot, but the end “look” is the same.
How important/useful is creatine for women?
and How/When should it be consumed?
Many thanks
Olga
Useful.
Go half the dose (2.5 grams per day) per Pilon
I like the one on the left, she looks like I would like to look, the one on the right looks like a man in a woman’s body, Ugh! I have lost 47 lbs and still need to loose some more, but have come to a platue and would like to get back on the way to go!! I am 63 years old! Help!
The one of the right is using “copious” amounts of steroids.
The one on the left is a “natural bodybuilder” (yes, I said bodybuilder).
We’ve got you covered.
Will there be a recording of the webinar available for participants from Europe? 9 pm EST means 3 AM in Germany – and while I am rather a night person, this is even too late for me.
Video is above.
hi Brad, I really would love to hear u answer my earlier questions. Because -allthough I have said this over a gazillion times in my life(!!!!)- I know I’m ready this time to really do whatever it takes and really go all out to achieve my fitness goals!!!
I like a bunch of u guys here on the net and I think you are belong the ones that really gives good qualities and no BS advice!
(u noticed I’m a bit excited? LOL) Anyways bring the goodstuff ASAP!!!!
See above
I am starting to get hormonal…ha ha! and have the most uncontrolled cravings for sweets. Is there anything that can help control that for me so I can actually lose the weight???
Don’t have sweets in the house
Just wondering if there is a way to estimate overall fat/lean tissue without using one of those body fat scales (which aren’t accurate anyway!) or calipers (which are ridiculously expensive for a decent pair)? I’m not a gym bunny so have no access to either of those anyway.
Waist measurement is the best estimate.
I, too, have a problem with a knee that keeps giving me pain, so I’m leary of a workout that might include a lot that I can’t do. I’ve also had a lot of food issues and am finally getting some peace in that department so I know I am not willing to follow a plan that’s too much different from how I eat already. I’m willing to lower my expectations because of that, but I would like to know the best way to work out. I also cannot understand how two women of the same height with very different bodyfat amounts could weigh pretty much the same if they have the same VI. Can’t two women with the same waist size have different bodyfat amounts? Wouldn’t the one with lower bodyfat weigh more?
Two women of the same height with different body fat amounts won’t have the same VI
If the way you eat now is getting you results, you won’t have to change it.
“How the muscles connect and hang will be different from one
woman to the next. Yet, 2 women with the same heights and VI’s will
weigh the exact same. (plus or minus a lb or 2)” -Brad Pilon
I got this info in an email from Brad Pilon. I probably didn’t phrase my question correctly, but this is what I was wondering about. So, does this mean the VI reflects bodyfat amounts, to some degree? If the height and VI’s are the same, and the weight is the same, then the bodyfat of these two women will be the same, too. So this must mean that women of the same height MIGHT have different VI”s, depending on their level of bodyfat…? Anyway, I hope this is explained tonight.
BTW, how long is the webinar? One hour?
CELLULITE!!!! Would love to touch on ways to diminish the appearance once you have it. I only see information on prevention. Needs ways to diminish extreme cases of cellulite on the thighs only.
We covered this in a podcast:
http://www.venusindex.com/how-to-get-rid-of-cellulite/
I don’t think I’m that different with my concerns than a lot of the others who have already spoken. I injured my knees in my early 20′s, and nearly 20 years later they don’t handle squats or torquing at all. I’m 70 lbs overweight and working 10 hour days with my commute. I’m exhausted, hypoglycemic, and stressed to the max. Will this program help me manage my stress and fit in my psycho-busy life? Or is it more rules and measurements to keep track of, when I can’t find my keys in the morning? (As you may be able to tell, I’m hopeful but I’ve been burnt before!)
The measurements are easy.
Waist, Shoulders, Hips.
And the program is meant to wrap around your lifestyle, not control it.
I’ve heard a lot of people say that women cannot get bulky, that it’s impossible because of their genes. but I have seen before and after pictures of women on different weight loss programs and in my opinion, many of them DO look bulky. I just want to have a very slim, toned look. and i’m always troubled when it comes to finding strategies to help me acheive that… I guess i’m just wondering what needs to be done to get that look. because even though people say that following a certain workout programs would get me there, a lot of the results i see in other sucess stories tell me differently.
I guess it depends on the perception of “bulky”, which varies from person to person.
Overall, most of it is related to bodyfat levels.
How Can I get cut without getting bulky? I tend to have a very muscular body and sometimes look bulky after a tough workout. any suggestions? What should I be eating to keep tone , have energy, and not have to measure and weigh everything? I am 5’5″ and weigh 135. again very muscular.
Thanks
Getting cut is all about eating less.
What’s your waist measurement?
Hi there,
I hope that you can help me. I’m 5’6, 120lbs and my measurements are 34-27-40, as you can see very obviously pear shaped. I’ve been working out – cardio & strength training & keeping to a low carb diet. I know you can’t spot reduce but do you have any suggestions on what kind of exercise I should be doing eg will running 6x a week help ?
Also, are squats & lunges a bad idea?
I’ve also heard that swimming & kickboxing make your hips bigger, so should I avoid doing them?
Thank you.
Hi VI fans!
I’ve looked at these comments and I hate to sound mean but if you listen to the the archived Adonis Index podcasts you’ll have most of your answers and see also that some of the questions don’t have to do with getting to your VI and have more to do with athletic goals or undesirable genetics.
I’m a personal trainer, yoga instructor and military member that does a lot of various exercise programs but I’ve learned a TON from listening to all of the AI podcasts in regards to the truth behind supplements, before&after pics and steroids/clenbutrol, dieting and being REALISTIC about caloric intake.
I know it’s hard to admit when you realize you’ve been “drinking the koolaid” of the popular exercise programs and diet gurus that promote such things as HIIT and Ketogenic diets to lose weight but I credit the AI guys and Leigh Peele for jacking me out of the ” matrix” and getting me to understand that I let myself be the victim of GREAT marketing because all of it sounds sexy and different and doesn’t just say “eat fewer calories” which is boring and harder for some – but the proven way to get there.
I’m looking forward to the webinar Brad!
Here are the archives for the podcasts:
http://www.adonisindex.com/audio-training/
1. I only eat chicken, fish, fruit, veggies, tofu and the like. My weakness is bread. Is my nutrition okay? How do I know that I’m getting the right amount of protein, carb, etc? I dont get hungry easily and get full right away. Does that mean anything? I usually also feel cold easily and it is hard for me to break a sweat.
2. My hourglass shape is evident, except I am not proportioned at the bottom. My hips are like 41-42 inches and I’d like them to be 37 or better. I also need to lose on my inner thighs, and my hips. HOW???
3. I’m recovering from ACL surgery so running/sprinting is out of the question! I can do static lunges, wall squats, calf raises. No jump lunges or anything like that. I’m afraid I might not be able to do HIIT
What workout is appropriate for me? I have gym access but not all the time.
HEEELP! I am about 147 now and I want to be at 120 again. I am 5’7″. I need to be at that weight for work (I model) and because of my surgery I am having a hard time getting down to that level.
Thank you!
Use diet to control your bodyfat levels. You simply need to eat less calories than you burn.
If your weakness is bread, don’t have it in the house. And I wouldn’t worry about the macronutrients of your diet, they are likely fine.
Is it possible to accomplish this program without purchasing a lot of equipment or expensive food ingredients?
What is the overall investment this program requires?
Yes, this has been answered above.
Is there some human evolution science underneath Venus looks and is this optimal look across all the different cultures? I know that the studies are solid regarding Adonis look, but optimal women look has always been uncertain thing even for anthropologists.
The hip measurement varies, but the shoulder-to-waist and height-to-waist are spot on.
It is a few minutes to showtime and I have not received a link to enter the webinar. Is that still coming, or is there a glitch?
Is Venus Index applicable for fitness competitors? Perhaps to take you to the next level and try something different with your workouts?
Yep, definitely.
[EDIT: Marli has successfully used VI in competition]
I want to hear about the adonis program.
http://www.adonisindex.com/adonis-index-workout.html
hello i m alissa .. i am an athletic.. i am very much muscular only in leg parts that is why its creating a problem for me to wear shotr dresses.. i jus want to knaow any ideas to get rid of this muscles i jus wanna burn mu muscles and get skinny legs.. its mostly muscular in the part just below the knee.. is it due to very hard training?? if it is so than i can leave my athletic too but its just i need skinny legs.. i want to feel comfortable in short dresses..
hello i m alissa .. i am an athletic.. i am very much muscular only in leg parts that is why its creating a problem for me to wear short dresses.. i jus want to knaow any ideas to get rid of this muscles i jus wanna burn mu muscles and get skinny legs.. its mostly muscular in the part just below the knee.. is it due to very hard training?? if it is so than i can leave my athletic too but its just i need skinny legs.. i want to feel comfortable in short dresses..
Can I do this as a teenager? I don’t want to mess up something with my body. Can this make me look like a VS model?
That’s the best answer by far! Thanks for contirutbing.
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Hi Guys,
I appreciate all the time and hard work that obviously went into the development of your program. I have spent a lot of time reading through your post, the Brad Pilon website, Fitness Blackbook as well as Lyle McDonald’s stubborn fat loss site. With all of the information available, I’ve actually come to a stumbling block: which program to try. I hope it’s not rude to ask your opinion of other products (which I believe you support) on your site, but I don’t want to get into a program that isn’t the best path for me to take.
I feel like I am fairly fit – here are my statistics:
34 yrs old
5’7″
133 #
I have visible abs all year long – top 4 easily visible with flexing, the attachment of my rectus abdominus to my pubic bone is visible but the lower “abs” aren’t separated
My upper body is much leaner than my lower body – typical pear shape. I have very localized stubborn fat in the hip/butt area. I am a white girl but have a big booty – it’s definitley round and that’s where I keep my fat.
My typical work out routine is running 3-5 times a week and body weight intervals 2-3 times per week. I love running and would do it every day if it didn’t result in overtraining. My diet is extremely clean with my typical caloric intake being around 1200 kCal/day. This is not a difficult diet for me to maintain, I love healthy eating/cooking/etc.
My goal is to decrease the body fat in my lower body area and maintain overall strength. I would like to insure strong abs because I plan on having several more children (I have one 15 month old) and want to protect my abs/back during pregnancy.
So, should I go for the venus index or the stubborn fat solution?
Oh, I am also a nurse practitioner so the complexity of the research is appealing to me and doesn’t deter me from either program.
Thank you!
Mary
Hey Mary, they are able to be worked together, if you want.
Venus is primarily a workout system that focuses on your ratios.
Stubborn Fat Loss is a protocol that you do to get to lower body fat %’s. 2 of the protocols are interval based. You can easily use those along side VI work if you want, but depending on calorie load, you’ll need to adjust volume.
We can handle all of these integration questions for you in the community when you pick up VI.
Bottom line though, VI is about ratios and strength. If you’re not interested in lean, hourglass proportions, this isn’t the program for you. (that’s not saying that we wouldn’t love to have you… because we would)
Make sense?
Is this a plan that I can take to the gym or can it be done at home? How long is each workout? How much cardio can be done?
Hey DeAnna,
You can do either. You’ll need dumbbells, so if you have some at home, that’ll work… although most find the gym to be a better place eventually.
Workouts are 45-60 mins. All resistance training.
Cardio is up to you, although most women drop the amount of cardio they were doing by quite a bit unless they’re training for marathons, etc (actually, some women have increased times by dropping the cardio conditioning and doing VI, sounds weird, but thats what a few have reported.)
I have a few questions about the VI. I have horrible Internet connection and am unable to see the webinar or listen to podcasts so i figured I’d just ask. Well I’m 5’5, dont have a scale so I don’t know how much I weigh presently, and my measurements are 41-27-36, I naturally have broader shoulders due to bone structure and genes, but I don’t really understand how to get the ratios… Im not much of a math person.. Anyway, I would like to re-tone some areas such as my thighs and under my arms, and get rid of a little pouch of extra fat that’s starting to accumulate around my lower mid section (it is the most difficult part for me to loose) but I’ve still got an outline of a 6pac so I know it’s not that bad but I don’t want it to get worse. I don’t have the money to go to a gym or buy barbells etc, but I do my best to be active by playing with my dogs or going for a walk. So can the workouts (I don’t even know what they are unfortunately) be modified to be done at home w/out the equipment, or are there some other workouts I can do instead, and can you give me a list of what they are? Your answers and insight are greatly appreciated
-Bri
I have a few questions about the VI. I have horrible Internet connection and am unable to see the webinar or listen to podcasts so i figured I’d just ask. Well I’m 5’5, dont have a scale so I don’t know how much I weigh presently, and my measurements are 41-27-36, I naturally have broader shoulders due to bone structure and genes, but I don’t really understand how to get the ratios… Im not much of a math person.. Anyway, I would like to re-tone some areas such as my thighs and under my arms, and get rid of a little pouch of extra fat that’s starting to accumulate around my lower mid section (it is the most difficult part for me to loose) but I’ve still got an outline of a 6pac so I know it’s not that bad but I don’t want it to get worse. I know people have asked about the workouts before but I don’t have the money to go to a gym or buy barbells etc, but I do my best to be active by playing with my dogs or going for a walk. So can the workouts (I don’t even know what they are unfortunately) be modified to be done at home w/out the equipment or are there some other workouts I can do instead, and can you give me a list of what they are? Your answers and insight are greatly appreciated
-Bri
I’m kind of confused about our ratio formula. You say that “VI goes for the balanced “hourglass” look.” but when I plugged in my numbers 5’4″ and 28 ” waist and here’s what your calculator came up with:
Your Ideal Shoulders: 39.56
Your Ideal Waist: 24.45
Your Ideal Hips: 34.72
I’m 42 and have always had the classic rectangle shape (not cone not hourglass not pyramid). My current weight is 118 lb at 20% bodyfat my hips are 36″ and my waist is 28″. If I lost that many inches on my waist and hips I would basically look rectangular maybe even cone shaped not hourglass.
I’ve been rectangular most of my life and it took having a kid and tons of butt work to become more curvy. My only issue at this point is I’m stuck at 28″ waist with 36″ hips (happy about the hips but not the waist). I would rather be 25″ waist with 36″ hips. Is that even possible? I lift weights every day, do minimal amounts of cardio and train core maybe once a week. I DO NOT want to look like looking like a figure competitor or those bikini competitors either. Those girls are still too muscular. Huge manly shoulders, visible six pack, and gigantic legs. That is what women mean when they say they don’t want to bulk up. It’s not that women think they can look like men (come on give us some credit) it’s that we dont’ want to look like bodybuilder chics (even the smaller ones).
90% of women want to have that sexy tight toned look without a bunch of bulky muscle so does your program do that? Based on this webinar it just sounds like another plan to get you to look like a Jamie Eason or those bikini chics at the Arnold Classic (Ingrid Romero, Sara Moylan, Lindsey Nicole). Most women don’t want that look. I personally think it’s too ripped plus notice how they all have boob jobs bcz they’re body fat levels are so low. That is just gross. Natural, curvy, toned, fit. What plan does that. So far I’ve never found one and I’ve been working out since I was 15, dancing since I was 3. If your plan actually works to create an hourglass shape without giving you that figure look then I’ll buy it.
That is what women actually mean when they see they are afraid of bulking up. It’s not that women are thinking they can look like men it’s that they see a Cory or a Rachel or a Jamie Eason and think hell to the no!
You should probably take a look at the blog, look at some of the transformations, listen in on their interviews, and then decide if this look is right for you. I think that alone will answer all of your questions and give you a little assurance that you’re in the right place
Would the workouts be a good fit for someone who does not want smaller hips? I am all for reducing my waist size but I’d actually like to gain leg mass or at least not lose lower body mass.
Can this program be done with free weights & resistance bands?
I have just found your “Venus index program” and I am intrigued. I just do not know which product is appropriate for me. I am pretty advanced in my workouts. I have run competetively for many years (1500m-21km) and have started to lift heavy weights 2,5 years ago. I just feel that it doesn´t give me the results I am looking for: Initially I was very inspired by the crossfit community and had the unrealistic goal (as I already was lean to begin with) to achive the “fitness model look” of some of the crossfit ladies and become super strong. After two years of trying very hard I am still far from squatting my bodyweight (which is considered “strong” among crossfitters) and have eventually abandoned the heavy back squats and switched to front squats as I was constantly tight and sore from backsquats. I am still at around 18% of body fat (which is pretty awesome, I know) with a very defined upper body and very little muscle in my butt. I think my routine is not ideal for me (although I can finely master some chin-ups which is so great). I just feel I am working against my genetics, I am more an ectomorph than a mesomorph and I will most definitely never look like a 12% body fat crosfitter.
I do have a slim waist and I have broad shoulders but I do not have a lot of muscle in m shoulders, it is my bone structure which is unusual for a woman. I would like ti add some serious muscle to my butt (still have a pancake butt, relatively broad but not “lifted”)and shoulders without targeting my quads too much. Also, I would like to maintain some aspects of my current routine (the running as I still compete and some kettlebell exercises). Is the Venus index right for me and what book among the many diferenty you sell(as I am already very conditioned) would be the best for me?
Thank you very much!
In addition to my question above: I have come to the conclusion that I really would like to try the system. My question is, as I am more interested in adding new aspects to my workout routine than in the “science” behind it or in diet information – is it okay to only buy the circuits and NOT the original system? At the moment I cannot afford both…