Ashley Tisdale, 29, covers the June issue of Health Magazine. She’s promoting her role on the new TBS sitcom Clipped, where she plays a sassy hairdresser in a family-owned barbershop set in Boston. You can see the trailer for the show on Deadline. It’s not my style of comedy but it could be funny. Clipped premieres on June 16.
Ashley got her start on Disney’s High School Musical and has made guest appearances on several shows along with her regular gig as a voice actress on Phineas and Ferb. I know Ashley from all the paparazzi photos we used to get of her years ago, but unlike her fellow HSM stars Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron she hasn’t been that visible lately. That’s probably because she got married, to musician Christopher French of the band Annie Automatic, in 2014.
In her interview with Heath, Ashley said that she dedicates an hour a day to working out. She also explained that she’s started a production company with her sister, and that she’s excited to be back on a television series. Here are some excerpts with much more on Health.com.
On her Twitter ‘oops’ moments…
“…in my past relationships, I used to passive-aggressively tweet. When I got out of one relationship, I said something like ‘Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.’ I was like, ‘I probably shouldn’t have shared that with everybody.’”On women in Hollywood…
“I feel like it’s so important to support other women and their dreams. My production company—Blondie Girl Productions—is me and my sister, and every time I meet a female producer, I’m like, ‘Yeah, let’s do this’ because usually it’s a lot of dudes! It’s a hard business to break into.’”On the biggest misconception about her…
“I think people have a perspective of me that I’m this blonde and I just like to shop. I’m deeper than what people expect. Even with my production company, people think I have somebody else running it, but then they start to see, ‘Wow, she does do it.’”On her dislike of spin…
“I’m going to be the spin hater now. I used to do SoulCycle, but a ton of trainers have told me that spinning is good but you’re not burning as much as you think you are. And it bulks you up in places you probably don’t want. My body started to change for the better when I stopped doing it.”On her health fears…
“…it also scares me to think about how much time we’re on our phones and in front of the TV. When I was younger, we didn’t have Twitter. We didn’t have Instagram. I catch myself where I’ve been on it for way too long. It’s not OK.”On what she appreciates most about life with husband Christopher French…
“… he’s the most patient man I have ever met. I’m not very patient.”On her biggest goal…
“…One of my main goals is to win an Emmy for best actress.”
[From Health Magazine, received via e-mail]
I love spinning, which is why I’m covering this. I have a spin bike in my house, I do programs on YouTube (this class is my favorite and this is a close second) and I take spin classes at the gym about once or twice a week. (I used to spin more often, but now I mix it up with kickboxing and Zumba because I get bored doing the same thing.)
If Ashley doesn’t like to spin that’s fine, but I really dislike it when women erroneously claim that we “bulk up” from doing certain exercises and that we should strive to be lean. In fact spinning does not bulk you up, that’s a misconception. It may make your thighs stronger, but that’s not the same thing. (I know it’s anecdotal, but it made my legs smaller.) Ashley is parroting what she’s heard from fraud trainer Tracy Anderson, who hates spin because it competes with her “method” for celebrity clients. Tracy regularly tells women that working with larger weights or doing basically anything she doesn’t teach will “bulk” them up (which is not true) and that they have to use her method to look thin. It’s about marketing and selling exclusivity and celebrities like Ashley Tisdale (who has been a client of Tracy’s) eat it up.
In her full Health interview, Ashley mentions that she works out with her trainer, Jason Walsh, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Walsh runs a group climbing class called Rise Nation and also trains Jessica Biel, Chrissy Tiegen, Minka Kelly and Hilary Duff. It’s interesting to me how trainers and workouts go in and out of style with celebrities. It doesn’t sound like Tracy Anderson’s method is that popular at this point.
Also, I like how Ashley says her goal is to win an Emmy for best TV actress. That sounds somewhat realistic.
Ashley Tisdale’s dog is a Maltipoo, she has two dogs, both Maltipoos, named Maui and Blondie. Photos credit: WENN.com and Health Magazine
And who cares if you do bulk up? We women have to stop apologizing for taking up space. If that’s not your aesthetic, that’s fine, but some women actively seek healthy muscles. Stay strong, ladies.
Agreed. Eric Hayden was in med school when I was in college, and I almost dropped the food I was serving him admiring his thighs. Current day look to Misty Copeland to see how amazing a strong thigh can be on a woman too.
Misty looks awesome but hers is a very specific shape which you won’t get with spinning. I knew a couple girls from ballet school and the were forbidden from certain sports (skiing, rollerblades, some more that I don’t recall atm) due to 1. possible injury and 2. the fact that it might change the way their legs looked. Ballerinas muscles have a very distinct look, after 2 weeks watching them in shorts and bikinis I was actually able to pick out a girl from the crowd whose legs looked like ballet dancer’s to me, they said the same thing 😀
Anyway. I’m all for muscle on legs! Wornking on mine right now, doing squats and stuff…
Exactly. Work towards being strong, not skinny for skinny’s sake, whatever that might look like. I’m one of the only women in my Crossfit class. It’s insane, but I find it empowering. So what if I get muscles. Awesome, maybe I can get me some Linda Hamilton arms 😀
I totally agree, @INeedANap! I am a 5’10 woman and growing up it felt like I took up too much space (plus I’m not skinny either). As a mature adult, I LOVE taking up a lot of space, height-wise! I feel as if it gives me power! More girls/women need to own their larger height/space.
Agreed. I LOVE spinning and it has not bulked up my thighs. I’d did help me get a little butt though, which is a great change from my former flat-ass situation lol
Yes!!!! Spinning has made my thighs leaner, my butt bubblier, and my ab and back muscles tighter. Also, when has Ashley Tisdale EVER been bulky? She’s crazy–spin is amazing.
Amen!
Preach! I hate this mentality wherein women aren’t supposed to have big muscles or look muscular because it doesn’t look good or whatever. It looks fucking amazing.
Thank you!!! I love my muscles. The other day I was wearing a tank top showing my amazing arms and someone told me I should take it easy on the weights……not going to happen.
I follow some fitness guru women on Instagram and they all look amazing! It’s not what I want my body to look like because I’m lazy but I certainly appreciate how strong and fit they look!
@ Hmmmm : Do what you enjoy doing! So what if it doesn’t suit someone else’s version of how women should look. If you look in the mirror and like what you see, that’s good enough. We aren’t all going to look like a Victoria’s Secret model, it’s not physically possible. Try to look healthy and be happy with that.
I’m naturally muscular (think Mary Lou Retton) and while I always wished I had the model skinny legs as a kid, as an adult realized what an asset they were as an athlete.
The only way someone can spin their way to larger muscles is to do anaerobic, slow, high-force pedaling, where the lactic acid builds up quickly. Normal spin classes focus more on aerobic, high revolution pedaling which will tone but not bulk.
I am so intimidated by spin classes! I has pneumonia twice in the past ten years and now I have basically exercise induced asthma or some such. It has a fancy name but I forget it. Anyways. I want to try but I know I will huff like crazy and it’s so embarrassing.
And even then it’s still about genetics and testosterone levels.
MoxyLady007
Do it! They can be intimidating. A group of fit people that all know eachother like a circle of friends. In truth many of these ladies don’t really speak outside of the class or that is my impression.
The room goes dark and no one can see you or has the energy to look over and judge you. And as long as you like the instructor’s style and music it’s a great workout.
To add, my respitory system isn’t great. Having a strong cardio base from cycling/running has greatly improved my health.
I can’t stress how great the workout can be. Even if it’s not cycling. Just get moving 🙂
Yep. If you don’t like it, don’t do it. But shut up about ‘bulk’. It only shows your ignorance.
I ride 10k miles a year outside…and some inside. Everything is smaller than it was before bike. I might have bulked up a bit at first, but that has gone away. And I get to eat twice as much as a pregnant lady 🙂
I love spinning as well. Took my first Zumba class today and all I have to say is: Never again. Felt so cheesy and ridiculous. I’ll
stick to my spinning and body sculpting classes.
+1. With Zumba I feel so awkward I think I need a couple tequila shots before class. Love spin but be careful people! I developed runners knee from having the seat too low. Sucks.
That sucks. I hope you found an instructor to help you find the proper settings for your bike. We go over bike setup before every class, and I’m constantly looking at everyone’s legs during class to re-adjust as need be.
Finally someone who shares my feelings about Zumba. And I’m surprised on what she says about spinning not burning as much as it seems. To me, spinning was the top burning calorie exercise.
It’s funny, I like Zumba for exactly that reason-it’s so silly, how can you take it seriously? After being buttoned up all day, it’s fun to do ridiculous moves to great music, especially if it’s a class that is welcoming and community-minded.
I’m with you Birdix. And I find that people interact more in a Zumba class and there’s more a sense of camaraderie and joking around because it is silly. Maybe it depends on what you do the rest of the day? I can often go without really interacting with anyone at work so it’s nice to have that community.
Ditto. I’m so glad others agree. Zumba just makes me mad. I can’t even describe how it makes me mad. I think you all have summed it up perfectly though.
I have been a fan of spin since I had an amazing instructor in Oregon a few years back. I still miss working with her. Do it right and it’s a serious crazy workout.
See, I would rather do Zumba than do a spin class. It is just so boring to me personally. Now, if I’m on an actual bike outside riding trails or streets, I can ride for hours. But indoors is just as bad as a treadmill to me.
I can’t stand Zumba. The music, the clothes, the crazy attitudes. All that and it really doesn’t seem like a very good workout.
I always go overboard when someone doesn’t like dance (way too earnest). I love this class–there are people of all ages, some in sweats, no crazy attitude, an amazing teacher. Check it out (you only miss the great music that is actually playing in class):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAfTP169bKE
People love this class so much (called Rhythm and Motion, not zumba, but essentially the same idea) that on its 30th anniversary there was a flash mob downtown where the cable car turns around:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baoYyns2tg4
Maybe try krav maga? It’s a lot of fun but a little scary.
Zumba is hard at first, but I like it because you’re so focused on getting the steps right that you don’t realize you’re working out. Plus like everything else it gets easier the more you do it. There are lots of Zumba classes on YouTube you can try to learn the moves. Plus like Birdix said it’s really fun! It makes me happy for some reason. -edit- @Rhiley: Zumba is highly dependent on the instructor. At the Y near me it’s rather easy, but at the Zumba studio it’s high energy and a much better workout. @Shambles It is loud that’s true so I just wear earplugs.
Add me to the list, I could never quite get into Zumba. I used to take voice lessons, and there was a Zumba class right next door and it was loud to the point of being really disruptive. That’s not a reason not to like Zumba, it just got on my nerves lol. Team Yoga fo’ life.
ETA @CB, to each her own! Everybody has to find their workout niche. I wouldn’t be against trying it again with different instructors. Like you said, it’s really dependent on the instructor, as it is with any workout class.
I would rather get stabbed in the eye with a sharp fork than take Zumba. But that’s mostly because I have no rhythm.
These days I do Body Pump and a class called “Core” for abs, a regular weight-training class, and TABATA two-three times a week and two-three days of 7 mile runs.
Kitten,
How long does your Tabata practice take? I mean, I do two or three Tabata cycles every morning, just to get me going, but I never thought of making it into a longer practice.
Ditto about Zumba. I can dance for hours, just not nicely aligned and synchronized with a bunch of other people.
@ Ann-They offer it at my gym for 45 minutes each class. It’s completely changed my body and really helped with my running as it’s great for VO2 Max.
I have taken a Tabata spin class where we do several cycles of Tabatas within a 45-minute class. I’ve also done Tabatas in a cardio/strength interval class, too. It seems like you can incorporate the practice into just about any type of class.
Kitten, I’d be curious to hear more about the format of the class you take.
@esmom-Spinning tabata sounds grueling!
It depends on who is teaching as different instructors employ different exercises but the one I took yesterday is 8 blocks, each exercise is 20 seconds with a ten second rest in between. He had us doing box jumps on the bench, burpees, jump squats, plank rows, plank jacks and then we build off of each exercise so one burpee and one jump squat, one plank row and one box jump, etc, repeated for 20 second block. He usually has us do jacks in between blocks and then finishes with 5-10 minutes of core-based tabatas like Russian twists, planks, or regular sit-ups. I think I’m so addicted to it because I’ve seen so much immediate progress. That, and the endorphins 😉
Sorry for all the detail. I can talk about working out for hours! yay
Yup, this sounds like the HIIT class I’m taking (only once a week though, otherwise I’d have to wake up at 4:30), but it’s 50 sec. on, 10 sec rest, and honestly I’d prefer the Tabata format, because on those last ten seconds my wussy butt can’t keep up the form.
Kitten, thanks, I love the detail. Sounds exactly like the cardio/strength interval class I used to take before the instructor opened her own studio not long ago, which I sadly can’t justify paying for. Plus I’m more of a “no frills” gym type person than a fancy boutique studio person. The instructor graciously invited me to join, saying other “older but fit moms” like me had signed up. I guess I know now how 20-somethings see the 40-something me. Lol.
I also saw so much progress with Tabatas like that, so quickly. My waist has never been so whittled and overall I’m much stronger. I also loved the variety, never a chance to get bored, which sometimes happens with spinning. The instructor’s playlist can make or break a spin class.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
@kitten: all tabatas should be 8 blocks of 20 seconds on and 10 seconds off. It’s incredibly versatile, you can do cardio, strength, abs – I love making my clients (and myself) do them!
And I agree on the Zumba. But then again I also have no rhythm.
@Ann-I’ve heard great things about HIIT. I had it at my old gym but not my new one 🙁
@esmom-Being a fit mom is awesome sauce! I always wonder how anyone finds the time when you have kids, but I’ve always hoped that if I ever have kids, I would somehow make the time to workout. Women like you inspire me.
And yes! That’s another reason why I love TABATA–I never get bored 🙂
Kitten, thank you for the kind words. No matter how crazy busy life gets, with kids or no kids, I think it’s important to fit exercise in. Even if it means waking up when it’s still dark and cold. I would be too stressed if I didn’t work out, I think (I hope, at least). Being fit keeps me fairly sane and therefore makes me a better mom.
You know when you go to an outdoor festival, and there’s always that one little kid in front of the stage, dancing, doesn’t have an ounce of rhythm, looks drunk? That’s me at Zumba, only I wasn’t having fun. Should have been drunk, wouldn’t have cared then!
F*ck Zumba, spinning rules! 😉
I totally suck at Zumba, I just can’t coordinate my arms and legs (while I don’t have a problem to dance without looking stupid) And I didn’t like it enough to really try….. Apart from that, I don’t consider it a good workout.
I stick to spinning, weights and barbell training. And for “bulking up” – as far as I know, you have to take special proteins to bulk up and to build up big muscles. Training alone doesn’t do it.
Awww I love zumba! It can definitely depend on the instructor as to how much of a workout it is but I do it at home and get a pretty good workout. I never got into spin purely because bike seats are torture.
Spinning isn’t great for some people not because of bulking up per say but because certain muscles become overdeveloped and affect the opposing muscle in the body which can get overstretched and cause pain. It’s the same reason some people develop pain typing at a desk, or doing any repetitive motion.
That can be true of doing any excersice. You shouldn’t work the same muscle group over and over or else your body will be out of balance.
All that means is taking a Spin class is fine but take 2 or 3 week not 7 and mix up your workout.
Yep. I dislocated my knee cap and the doctor told me bikers can overdevelop the outer quad muscles and cause an imbalance with the inner quads. In my case when I twisted my upper body the strong outer quads pulled the knee cap out of its groove. Of course everyone’s anatomy is different but I am definitely aiming for balance in all future exercise programs.
Exactly this. My sister is petite and thin but has always been a runner so she is strong and toned. She got very into cycling, doing it most days over other exercise, and she had to stop because she couldn’t fit into her pants anymore! Any exercise exclusively won’t be great, and yes lalala strong is begged than thin. But no one wants to pay for an entirely different wardrobe, and she’s allowed to say hey I don’t want my thighs to look so much bigger! I’ll admit it’s great cross training if done occasionally, but it shouldn’t be done every day
@Nk868
This is me. I’m very petite (short) and a runner with muscles that don’t bulk easily at all (very lean/thin). Even with weight lifting, it’ll barely show. I’m the definition of an ecto-morph. But with cycling, my thighs became so big that I couldn’t fit into my pants anymore. I know have to balance it because it’s the only thing that will create any sign of definition in my calves (which I like), but it does a horrible number on my thighs and makes me look really weird. So yeah, it does bulk the thighs, in a disproportionate way, on certain body types. I think this is especially true for short/petite women.
I’ve started cycling to work and I have had to go up a pant size. I’m sticking with it though because of the long term health benefits. Besides, the Kardashians pay good money for that sort of thing, so having a larger butt can’t be all that bad. 😛
Yup, this applies to me. One of my best friends absolutely loves Spin and made me start going. I guess my muscles build really easily and my quads started to get huge- disproportionate to my hips & calves. My brother was like, “Holy Cr@p, you’re getting buff!”
On a shallow level, 50% of the reason I work out is to feel like I look good. So, it was back to Yoga for me because even though it’s boring, overpriced, and seems like it’s doing nothing- it does amazing things for my body.
Okay, I thought I was losing my mind when all the women above were saying that cycling does NOT bulk you up. I started with thunder thighs and now have the lightning to go with it! And not in a good way. My thighs are HUGE. Trying something else.
At least the High School musical cast didn’t completely fall off the map like those Twilight stars. If her show is any good I’ll watch. FYI I think Vanessa is stealing some of Swift’s thunder in New York. She is papped daily.
Didn’t Kristen Stewart just win like a French Oscar? That’s not exactly falling off the map, though I admit I have no idea what happened to the two dudes except that Edward is getting married.
I don’t know, if there was a contest about who is hotter right now, career-wise, the Twilight cast or the HSM cast, I’d give the edge to the Twilight people. Anna Kendrick, for example, seems to be doing pretty well.
I feel like Ashley WAS keeping a low profile for a while there. Wasn’t she dealing with a stalker at one point? I think it got bad? My gossip memory needs more caffeine.
“Also, I like how Ashley says her goal is to win an Emmy for best TV actress. That sounds somewhat realistic. ”
THIS!!!! I thought the same thing when I read this. Jen Aniston PLEASE LISTEN!
also, I’m signing up for my first soulcycle class tomorrow.
I know it will be hard, but will I die? lol
But Jennifer already won an Emmy for Best TV Actress. Not that I’m defending her, but what’s wrong with aiming higher?
Spinning is not for everyone. If for her body she was bulking up and that’s not what she wanted then good for her for moving on.
My friend in NY does endless SoulCycle to the tune of $5k a year she loves it but for me I know my body and I will have bigger thighs and that’s a no for me. I long for my old school aerobics classes with house music at Equinox. (: It just depends on what works for you and what you enjoy.
Me too. I still have my Buns of Steel Step 2000. Unfortunately it’s a VHS tape. Its entertaining looking at their hair styles. OMG.
Google says she’s around 5’3″ & that’s a problem us short women have -a little bit of extra bulk, even if muscle, can look a lot more drastic
You consider 5’3 short? I wish I was that tall. I am slightly under 5’1. From what I understand, the average American woman is 5’4.
Yeah I consider anyone below about 5’5 to be short! Shorty short short.
I have never thought about her enough to consider her a “blonde that shops”. Is that a common opinion of her?
Can’t say I’ve heard that one, but if that kind of perception bothers her, she might want to reconsider naming her company Blondie Girl Productions.
Yes! Both the Blondie and the Girls would have to go.
Yes, weird to keep pointing out her ‘blondness’ when it isn’t her natural hair color anyway.
I guess if you are only doing spin and nothing else sure (if you see professional cyclists their thighs are built and awesome) -but otherwise she’s wrong.
Plus the cardio is good for your heart health. Excercise isn’t just about staying thin Hollywood-it’s about long term health gains
Yes. Although the really serious/professional cyclists may have powerful thighs but I’d hardly call them bulky — most of them are very long and lean.
I’ve been doing spinning about once a week for a while to give my knees a break from running and it’s really helped my endurance and leg strength and I’m actually thinner/more toned than I was before spinning.
This anti-spin propaganda, which I have heard/read elsewhere, is so bizarre to me. It’s primarily cardio so it’s just so ridiculous to insist that it will bulk you up more than any other exercise.
One of my best friends lost 20 pounds spinning and her legs look great. Not bulky at all.
I’m not a spin person myself, but it doesn’t “bulk you up”. Women need to really stop saying that and understand that it is VERY difficult to “bulk up” if you’re a woman. It requires working out, lifting, AND mostly eating. Eating A LOT.
But she’s right that spin burns nowhere NEAR as many calories as people think it does. I think that could be why she was “bulking up”, because her calorie intake was higher than it should have been based on a misconception about her calorie burn.
Thank you, ladies. I’d also add that that all the spin instructors at my gym, who arguably do way more classes than the average student, aren’t bulky at all either.
I do think that the “bulking up” people talk about has to have more to do with overeating than anything else. Cardio is cardio, whether running, biking, or swimming or dancing. It just can’t make muscles bulkier on its own.
I think people have different definitions of “bulky” I find pretty much any muscle bulky. Maybe it’s just my body type, but I don’t like it. I prefer the ballet dancer physique. Or Posh. However, I see women who have defined arms and shoulders and while most people wouldn’t call them bulky like a body builder, I would. I just don’t like it. I don’t even want Angela Basset arms. Different strokes, but that doesn’t make them wrong.
It *does* bulk up certain body types, especially on short women. And disproportionally at that. I think on smaller bodies, it’s just way more noticeable, as mentioned above. I speak from experience.
And yes, on certain body types, certain types of exercise will bulk muscles. This is not a myth. It’s only a myth to make a blanket statement about an exercise for all women.
I’m not personally a big spin person, but that’s because nothing beats going for a run out my front door for convenience. I don’t understand why there’s a big thing about women being “bulky” if they have any muscle tone, or why there’s such a rush to say why certain exercises are ‘bad’.
And @anotherrandom: do you realize that most ballet dancers are also that lean because they tend to be on extremely restricted diets?
Guys this isn’t a personal opinion here, it’s science: cardio training breaks down muscle, it does NOT build muscle. Again, if you a “bulking up” from a spin class it means you’re eating too much and it’s a calorie intake/outtake issue. It is physically impossible to get bulky from cardio alone–weight-training is what builds muscle mass.
Now if you are suddenly seeing more muscle because of cardio, that means that you’re losing fat but that is not “building bulk” in any way, shape, or form. If that were the case, your legs would appear smaller, not larger.
@Bridget-agreed. I work hard to be fit and I love being strong. I like having muscles.
*shrugs*
I guarantee you I’m not eating too much. I’m an athlete with very low percent body fat and I’m telling you, it does bulk me up. And it looks disproportionate when you have a 22.5 in waist, 34 in hips, 11 in calves, and then 21 inch thighs.
And cycling is actually both strength training and cardio–not pure cardio–especially if you’re doing a TON of up hills (which spinning is supposed to emulate–I don’t know, I’m talking about cycling here). This is from someone who works with trainers and nutritionists and competes. Some types of exercise bulk some types of bodies. I’m a very short, very lean ecto-morph. It’s near impossible for me to bulk up, but cycling does that.
Remy, I’m with you and I’m also a former athlete (ten years my life were in professional sports before injuries made me quit). I don’t care about current “science”. I know that it has to do a lot with natural disposition and body structure which is highly individual! I have always had a tendency to build heavy thighs very easily. At the same time, colleagues doing the same exercises, being on the same diet, remained lean with lengthy muscles. No two bodies are the same and it doesn’t work like that.
By the way, I’m very fit and like having muscles too. But having disproportionately large thighs affects my stride when running and can cause injury during training. It’s a no-go. Plus, they aren’t stronger from that bulk. My thighs are already very strong. I can do weighted squats and lunges all day long and nothing will bulk my thighs like cycling.
ETA: Thank you Mary-Alice. You know. When you’re an athlete, you know that everything is so variable to each person and that’s why a professional trainer is going to personalize your work so you can remain competitive. And sorry to hear about your injury! I know injuries really suck and getting off track to heal (if you can heal) is so horrible.
Ok but then wouldn’t you build muscle in your thighs from doing stair climbing, running, and basically every exercise that utilizes your lower-body?
Cycling uses the quads and glutes while running uses the hamstrings, glutes somewhat and the calves on toe-off. Stairclimbing uses glutes, hamstrings, quads.
I’m not trying to sound like a d*ck but it doesn’t seem like there’s much left except swimming or hitting a baseball.
What if you lowered the resistance on the bike?
FTR, this is the first I’ve ever heard of people saying that any form of cardio bulks someone up, yet I’d bet money that if I googled it there would be info out there saying as much. One frustrating thing about fitness information is that for every prevailing opinion, you can find several contradicting ones. It seems like there’s a whole lot of misinformation or maybe just a lot of variables out there.
Anyway, I didn’t mean to come across as a condescending know-it-all because I’m sure you guys know your bodies far better than some internet stranger like myself does—it’s just something I’ve never heard before.
It happens. I pushed too hard, was aware of the risk, so… it was my choice. And yes, it is very very individual. Bodies build mass in different ways and every trainer I’ve known acknowledges that and knows their athletes personally with their individual tendencies. In certain sports (like mine was) it’s not desired to have bulky limbs. It was a problem for me with my natural tendency to bulk up easily, so my routine had to be adjusted.
Kitten, it’s just different bodies work in different ways. It’s not contradicting information, it’s nature. Human bodies are very different, their functioning is different. After all, muscles are the last. visual representation of many internal processes which are highly individual. If you think about it this way, it doesn’t make sense for one diet or one type of exercise to work the same way for millions of people. It doesn’t. There is no absolute truth in this but she is correct to say it does bulk HER up. Like me. And yes, any climbing, stepping, etc. bulks me up and has always done it in weeks. I get huge thighs and big butt because I have this tendency and my body adds mass there very quickly while losing it takes months. Other people do not react the same way.
Kitten
Just to clarify indoor cycling does use your hamstrongs and calves. True running and cycling are different beasts. When done properly though you work out the quad, hamstring equally in an indoor cycling class. Too often though people will only push down on the pedals instead of pulling up as well.
I’m a long distance runner and my thighs get pretty big when I am in training season (thank you hill sprints). I call it the “pants problem”; as my thighs get bigger, the pants get tighter! Lol.
littlestar
Lol! Distance runner myself and while I love how my quad will pop in skinny jeans it does at times create and issue. Luckily ladies jeans are mostly spandex these days. Butt will always look good when in training mode though!
Yeah, running and cycling work your muscles absolutely differently. Ask any long term runner who never cycles to cycle a bit and see how hard they find it. Completely different mechanisms. Like I mentioned before, cycling (hard uphill especially) is not just cardio, it’s a mix of strength and cardio (because a proper pedaling mechanism take equal strength to both push down and pull up on the pedal, for a smooth cycle). Again, this isn’t a nice cycle on the boardwalk afternoon kind of cycling, but competitive cycling. Spinning is supposed to emulate that, but again, I don’t spin so I don’t know. I can only speak about cycling.
Unlike Mary-Alice, my thighs actually don’t bulk from anything else. Not even stair climbing (but that makes my butt take on a nice shape!). But cycling? Yeah. 🙂
@littlestar
How do you avoid straining your tendons on uphill sprints?
Pure cardio, like an elliptical, wouldn’t really build muscle. But something like spin where you’re using different resistance settings, or cycling or running where you have natural variations of the terrain, or running specifically whet the body has to work in the push-off phase, essentially add a strength component in.
And @Remy: cycling isn’t as great of a cross training for runners as you’d expect, for that reason. It’s fine, but its not great.
Remy, uphill sprints themselves shouldn’t strain your tendons. If you already have something like Plantar Fasciitis hills could be hard on the body, but more likely the downhill are the culprit for most folks. Make sure your form is correct for both the uphill and the downhill phase, and that you’re properly firing your glutes.
Florc – thank gahd for the spandex in jeans nowadays! It really is a saving grace because then I don’t have to go out and buy new pants.
Remy – I’ve never had a problem with my tendons while doing hill sprints, so I can’t offer any advice unfortunately! Maybe ask your doctor or a physical therapist for some info on it?
littlestar
Hahaha! I both love and hate spandex in my jeans. Not too strong over time, but better fit.
Remy
+1 to what Bridget said. And even a bigger agreement with downhills. They’re sneaky. It’s tougher on your joints and muscles. You think downhill is easy, but requires more control to keep yourself from having gravity and exhaustion take you out. Form is important in all things, but very much here because it’s so easy to slip out and have your feet pound pavement.
A lot of folks also lose form when running downhill – they’ll worry about the impact on their joints and then lean back and overstuffed, which then is worse for the body (and makes you go slower).
Serious question, Is producing a hard business to break into? It seems like it is a rich person’s business, and therefore it is equally easy for rich men and women to own a production company. I pay a little more attention to producing now because Brad Pitt has obviously found a lot of success with producing, but there is also Drew Barrymore, Reese Witherspoon, to some extent Jennifer Aniston. I kind of wondered if it was a way for rich people to have some sort of rich person tax break- obviously, I am not rich and don’t know whole a lot about rich people tax breaks.
I’ve never understood this. Muscles are a sign of your awesomeness.
YES
It’s a personal preference. I prefer to have a bit belly fat than abs, but that’s just me.
It’s not just about aesthetics though. I just like feeling strong. It’s f*cking empowering.
*shrugs*
I love spinning, but only structured classes that mimic road cycling. I can go crazy for them. I had this amazing instructor in the Basque Country who used make classes based on the Giro d’Italia but with electronic dance music…anyway, all the bouncing and bobbing and weird exercises on bikes that you can see at some gym spin classes can be really frustrating, like when even the instructor’s bike is not adjusted to fit them correctly. Yay spinning though!
I agree that it has to be done correctly to be effective. My first spin instructor was a pro cyclist so I felt like I learned a ton about correct form and getting the most out of the workout, which really does torch the calories if you work hard and don’t just coast through it. So now when I see people bobbing on their bikes strangely and incorrectly and the instructor doesn’t bother to correct them I have to force myself to keep my head down and just keep quiet.
Yeah I can’t make eye contact with anyone in bad bouncy classes like that, especially the instructor…
Proper bike set up is paramount!
And I hate looking out onto a group and seeing bouncing. That’s when I tell them to pull up on their leg as evenly as they push down. It reduces the bounce and that push down/piston action. It should be a fluid motion and makes for a better workout.
And who doesn’t love a total isolation on a hill with 1 arm behind your back 😀
That’s the kind of spin classes I like too. I go to one instructor’s classes who does this and they are a challenging workout. I’ve tried classes where the instructors are like “stand up! sit down! stand up! sit down!” and I personally just can’t handle that. I like stationary classes that help improve my actual on-road biking.
You can always sit and just pedal if you like. Some instructors aren’t great with that and single you out to follow the group. (Never single out unless to praise!)
At 1 studio we have a leaderboard. I have 3 in there that just get low and crank away to be the top placer. They follow nothing i’m saying and that’s ok. It’s not about what I want as long as they’re safe.
I wish there was a goth version of zumba.
Lol, why not start a trend! If we can have Piloga or Yogalates, why not Gothzumba? Or Zum-goth?
I can see it now (although admittedly I’ve never taken a zumba class)…It’s Friday I’m in love, cha cha cha…what have I become, 1, 2, 3, my sweetest friend, 4, 5, 6, everyone I know goes away in the end?
Hahahaha!
Zumbauhaus. I’m in.
Siouxsie and Pilates. I need to find a way to make this so
This is a Happy House, we’re happy here in this happy house. This is fun.
I’m a road cycling fan (actually, now I sit I watch Giro d’Italia 2015 🙂 and whatever, cyclists are the skinniest (I hope that is a proper english word) sportsmen ever.
I don’t go to spinning, but I go almost everywhere with my bike – to work, to grocery store, to cinema etc and my legs are fine.
I used to do hot yoga and crazy cardio work outs trying to be “thin.” Then I started doing something different, more weights, more squats/muscle building exercises. I “bulked” up in places that maybe aren’t considered ‘feminine’ (my thighs, shoulders etc.), but I also feel a lot stronger. I can run long distances with ease, and it’s empowering. I would never discourage anyone from certain exercises because they make you bigger. It’s OK to be a strong woman, I get that hollywood doesn’t embrace this aesthetic, but it’s wrong for a public figure to actively disparage it, particularly since it’s sign of good health, and it’s a health magazine! Geesh.
Yeah, I’m with you – you bulk up, so what? I actually prefer this esthetic, on me and others, but I also find plump and elvish ladies pretty beautiful.
As a spinning instructor, I absolutely DETEST this attitude. If she doesn’t like spinning and it makes HER thighs bulky, fine. She can find a routine that works better for HER. But don’t make generic statements. Also, ummm, why are you listening to your trainer about how many calories you’re burning in a spinning class. If you want to know exactly how many calories you’re burning, there’s an app for that. And it depends entirely on you and the type of track the instructor has planned for the day. I’ve had people burn over 1,000 in a 60 minute class and others burn less than 600 in that same class. Everyone’s fitness level is different. If she’s not burning as many calories as she’d like, maybe she needs to up her game.
Also, with regard to trainers dissing spinning, I have had exhaustive conversations with management at the gym where I work about the trainers telling their clients they won’t take spin because it’s too hard. That’s why trainers don’t endorse spinning as part of someone’s balanced exercise routine. Because they can’t hang!
Rachel it’s nice to hear from you thank you for commenting! Which app and heart rate monitor do you recommend for calorie counting? I have been wanting to get into that.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007S088F4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3IQ5T2HSQ1DIF&coliid=I13QCPMDEFK2L0&psc=1
CB, I use Polar (because it was purple… plus one of the members in my class recommended it). I use it with my iPhone 5. I always workout with my phone because I use it as my ipod. The polar beat app is good for heart rate and calorie count. It also works with several of the tracking apps like mapmyrun, runkeeper (which I use when I’m outside), etc. I’m a big believer in not spending a ton of money on something until you know it’s worth the investment for you. The polar monitor is a good buy for a reasonable amount. Although there are lots of different options.
I have been trying to figure out which heart rate monitor to get and it’s confusing because there are so many options. This really helps I will check out Polar thanks! I was considering a smart watch (not necessarily Apple watch) for continuous heart rate monitoring but they are expensive, I know what you mean, and I want to wait until the kinks are worked out. I used to have a Jawbone up 24 to count steps and sleep (it stopped charging, but they sent me a cheaper replacement) and I use MyFitnessPal to count calories. I would really like it if I could get a count of calories burned, but I will try not to let it affect the amount of calories I’m eating.
CB
(My 2 cents)
Those fitbits and jawbones offer a lot of bells and whistles. Like you can average your heartbeat during certain times of day. Or it will wake you slowly when your heart rate tells it you’ve hit your rem sleep cycle for cat-naps and not groggy waking naps.
Some with gps are still buggy. Especially in open water.
I have a Polar 7 I think. Simple and gives me accurate count with up to a 2 week record of workouts.
And just remember to always unclip your monitor from your chest strap. Leaving it clipped in drains the battery as long as it’s clipped in.
If you go bigger my classes all swear by the misfit for running and indoor cycling.
As a trainer myself, I could not imagine telling clients something like that. People getting moving is a good thing. People finding a workout that they enjoy is a good thing, because they’re going to be more likely to stick with it if they’re having fun.
I completely agree. I urge everyone to explore classes and vary their workouts. Different strokes for different folks – as evidenced by the zumba/spinning/bodypump threads upstream. I’ve suggested several times that the trainers at our gym take some of the classes so they can better recommend them as part of a plan. Especially for people who are new to a gym and may not be familiar enough with equipment to workout on their own or may need the motivation of a class to keep them going. Alas, in more than 10 years at this gym, I’ve only seen two trainers taking a class.
Wow. Didn’t know I was in good company 😉
It really is about feeling comfortable and finding an instructor that works for you. We’re all so different and our studios/gyms might want us to follow a certain layout for a class.
And ofcourse! Just get there and get moving! I’ve nevver seen a 1st timer go a whole class or even the first 10 minutes without slowing down or needing to sit. That you keep returning and improving huge! The message should always be having fun while getting in a workout.
Rachel
As an instructor we should never stop taking other classes. What we like and dislike we can use to improve ourselves.
Side Note..
Below I ranted, but really should have read your thoughtful posts.
The thread caption just set me off.
I am just not a fan of this whole mentality of “you need to do this workout to look like this” and “you shouldn’t do this workout because (fill in the blank)”. Because for one thing, those assertions are usually based off of incorrect information to start with (as we can see here). The truth is that there’s no one single perfect workout that’ll work for everyone and give everyone a ‘perfect’ body, and I’m continually amazed at how often we see articles and trends that are all about how terrible certain activities are.
And I’d like to point out, that way beyond any question of how muscles look, women need to lift at least some weights because it increases bone density and helps keep you healthy. It doesn’t mean that you have to become a bodybuilder, but skipping out on strength work because you don’t want to look bulky will eventually come back to haunt you.
Bridget
Preach It!
There’s really nothing wrong with anything you’ve said here. Women need some weights or some resistence. You can be toned and not look bulky. Maybe just right after workouts though.
Tisdale had a bad experience it sounds like. And I bet she was doing another workout during this time and not just cycling. Though this gets the blame.
It’s a shame because so many out of shape women join these classes and it fits their needs. Dark room, can sit if need. It shouldn’t be avoided because of fear of muscle.
In my experience, some people in the fitness industry see everything as a zero-sum game. I’ve worked with trainers on a few separate occasions and every time I told them I was doing some else outside of training sessions with them, they would discourage me from continuing other forms of exercise or lecture me about the inefficiencies or dangers of that particular form of exercise. Mind you, I only trained 1-3x/week with a trainer, depending on what package I paid for, so I wasn’t sure what they expected me to do outside of those sessions. One trainer–who I didn’t use for very long–would get belligerent about me doing anything other than the weight routine he assigned me on a weekly basis. The fact that I could do an entire Insanity workout or a spin class without dying should have been a testament to his training; however, he saw it as competition and/or as an insult to his ability to get results.
That’s been my observation online when I googled something and got mired in comments sections just blasting one form of exercise vs another. People were just as worked up as in political threads, I couldn’t believe it, the nastiness was awful. I wanted to say “we’re all working towards the same goal here: health and fitness, there’s room for everyone.” Sigh.
Beth
There are some issues that are valid.
The biomechanics, how your body moves, the impact all are things to be aware of. Also a big debate with a workout like Crossfit. Great you’re doing it, but if done wrong in the slightest way you can very much hurt yourself.
In regards to cycling 2 ways of thought come in. Never go above 120 rpms and no speed pushups. Over 120 is damaging on your joints and you’re not getting a better workout. You think you are because you’re going fast, but the science of it says no. And pushups on the bike. An argument is unless it’s a deliberate muscle group being isolated it is engaging other muscles that are straining in that position while your legs feel abandon.
Ultimately we all favor a certain work out. As long as your form is correct, it’s not hurting/damaging you, and you enjoy it the rest shouldn’t matter.
My job as a trainer is to complement a client’s goals. They are not a piece of meat. And they are also not beholden to me.
Rachel, as a spinning instructor, may I ask you a question? I used to go to classes and REALLY enjoyed them (and wouldn’t have minded the extra bulk, but personally never saw it), but I developed chondromallacia patella. I’ve heard different takes on spinning/cycling with chondromallacia; one doctor said it was worse than running, another one told me it was a good way to build up the strength my quads needed and was easier on the knee. What do you tell your clients? Does it ultimately depend on the way you sit on your bike/exercises you do on it, or is it just best to forget all about spinning and cycling altogether? I really miss it. I enjoy running, but I miss strength training so, so much (I used to do weight lifting, personally I love it).
Because god forbid women have muscles.
lord, I’d take spinning over Zumba any day.
While my thighs can bulk up quick, I need the spinning for strength, so I do it once a week w/kickboxing and running.
I hate zumba
Sorry, she is right. This is especially true for people that gain muscle easily, like myself. Maybe some people don’t want disportionate things that make it difficult to fit into jeans.
Yes, she is right – for certain types of body it does bulk up. A lot.
As an instructor I’ve not seen a single lady enter in a class and after only doing cycling gains mass in her legs. It’s an outside factor that does it, but cycling gets the blame.
Often people eat more after a 45 to 55 minute class of intense cardio and resistance. And many eat more than they should. A few protein bars and shakes on top of larger meals. The logic of course it the old “I’ll just burn it off in spin.” You don’t. That is how the bulking happens.
Though it can happen. It’s just very uncommon.
“Ashley got her start on Disney’s High School Musical … ” Arguably she was indoctrinated on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody first. I’m an adult and I love that show (no shame!) — Cody’s idea of a party was “drinking soda after 8 pm!!!” This is a running joke for us when we’re deciding what to do on Friday night.
Yes, she was definitely excellent on the Suite Life and the show (and its sequel) suffered when her character wasn’t on it. So her professional success definitely didn’t start with High School Musical. More likely she was chosen for HSM because she did so well on Suite Life. She really is a good comic actor.
I just love her voice work on Phineas & Ferb – it’s all I know her from, I have a 6 year old who loves that show. It’s fun to watch and Ashley as Candace is awesome. I like her Emmy goal too – she’s not too full of herself and has reasonable ambitions (cough cough..Lohan, Aniston)
It broke my heart when I read they are wrapping up the series. I know shows cannot last forever but I feel that Phineas and Ferb could.
Yes, she is a wonderful voice actor and really uses her voice like an instrument in her role on Phineas and Ferb! So many live action actors have no idea how to do it and just bumble along with their normal uninteresting voice, but she really brings the full range into it. That should mean a long and successful career for her even if the right live action TV shows and movies don’t pick her up. It’s a rare talent and doesn’t depend on looking 21 forever.
I only clicked on this because of the faulty spin comment! She is out of her mind and I really HATE when celebs give “fitness advice” because they are just parroting what some yes-man trainer is telling them, to keep them shilling for those high-priced sessions.
For the record, spinning is great for your legs and doesn’t bulk you up unless you’re on a 4000 calorie a day donut diet.
Rant Coming…
Instructing indoor cycling is my 2nd job. And I am MD so I can teach a “Spinning” class. And Soul Cycle is not that. It’s Indoor Cycling. But that is a technical discussion.
#1 message all new to the classes are told. “It’s Your Ride.” You want lots of hills to “bulk up”? Go for it! You want an easier ride for more cardio? Sure! You are the one controlling the bike’s resistance. Not the instructor or fellow class members.
And everyone has a different body. Some get muscle more easily than others.
More to a point. I had 2 great mentors. 1 who only taught as her job and did 5 classes a day 6 days a week. She never lost her curvy post 4 kid figure. The other tall, lean, with barely any body fat and not at all bulking. She always gets people who say they heard cycling bulks you up and points to her legs and laughs.
Lastly, I just left SoulCycle. Their workouts imo and many other instructors promotes injury more than health. The environment is very aggressive.
Thank you for weighing in on the issue as an instructor. It’s hard to discount the experiences of so many people who feel like some of these classes bulked them up.
It’s been said a lot. What bulks you up is mostly food. You work out hard and then you eat more. As Kitten said above a class doesn’t burn as many calories as you would think. It does make you stronger and more efficient with calorie burning while adding functional muscle.
As a side point…
Have you seen Carrie Underwood’s quads? Lots of people think that is “bulky”.
HIIT people – high intensity interval training is a great way to lose calories with any program or fitness machine
All these stars sooooooo confident with their new noses and faces.
No thanks. You lost all cred. Bye.
She did have a deviated septum.
And the 2 things have nothing in common. Those who have nose jobs don’t lose all cred as a result.
I also hate spin class bc it makes my thighs go BOOM. From reading the thread it looks like it may be a short woman thing, I’m 5’3.
You can take an indoor cycling class and have it just burn in cardio. Just ease off the resistence. No super heavy climbs.