| Author | Message | ||
     Tammy R New member Username: Tammy Post Number: 1 Registered: 01-2008 |
Hello. I started doing facial exercises recently, but I always like to do research first to find out how beneficial it is, so I have stopped for the time being. I have read several conflicting ideas on whether doing exercises for your face is good or harmful. Lord knows I don't want to end up ruining my skin, or making it worse in any way. I have viewed the pics of Thomas and his face looks great! From what he has said, he has not had any surgery or cosmetic procedures done, and if that is the case, that is amazing. Does anyone have any input on this subject? I appreciate any response. Thank you, Tammy | ||
| C M New member Username: Ceeme Post Number: 29 Registered: 06-2007 |
Tammy, I think Tom's program is the simplest and least frightening one for someone just discovering face exercises. If you read through his instructions, you'll notice that he stresses on applying something (oil or water) before you do the exercises. I don't think anyone has had a bad experience from this program and since it's only 5 exercises, it's very convenient to do. So why not give it a shot for a few months and see how you like it. And if it works for you, then stick with it. And yes, Tom's face is a testament as to how good his program is. <wink> | ||
| Tammy R New member Username: Tammy Post Number: 2 Registered: 01-2008 |
Thank you for the response C.M. Can I ask you about your experience with facial exercising? I'm assuming you follow either Tom's plan or another? How long have you been doing the exercises and what kind of results have you seen in your experience? How do you and others feel about the facial exercising devices that are available for sale on the internet (ie. flexaway)? Thanks! Tammy | ||
| C M New member Username: Ceeme Post Number: 30 Registered: 06-2007 |
I have done face exercises for about 18 years (Yikes! Am I THAT old? LOL) and I've had very good success with them. I do Tom's every now and then but I also do Carolyn's Facial Fitness. I am very pleased with the tone and firmness in my face muscles and absence of lines. Even when I smile, I don't get crows' feet like a lot of my peers, and Tom's scalp exercise in particular has helped prevent horizontal lines from forming on my forehead. In fact, the success I've had with that is so good that even when I deliberately raise my eyebrows, I don't wrinkle much. (I'm almost 40 BTW.) I have never used facial exercising devices so cannot give a personal review but I read a lot of positive testimonials about Flex Away. I am not tempted to get it though because I'm happy with what I can achieve with face exercises that don't use devices. As I've grown older, I've learned to stick with what is working and not try out everything just because it looks good. It breaks my heart when I see people resorting to Botox because I know from experience just how much better the results are with face exercises and how well they last if you make exercising a part of your life. I hope you will stick with the program. Remember if you have never exercised your face, it will take time for the muscles to strengthen enough to respond to the exercises in ways that are evident to others. But stick to it. You will not be sorry. And none of Tom's exercises are scary, so I think this is a very good program to start with. And who knows, you may find it's all you ever need. <smile> | ||
| Tammy R New member Username: Tammy Post Number: 3 Registered: 01-2008 |
Hello Again. Okay, my next concern in doing the facial exercises is, is it okay for the skin? I mean, the squinting of the eyes clearly makes the lines around the eyes show up while doing the exercise itself. So...isn't this going to be a problem in possibly developing worsening of these lines. I know we are to use water or oil, and that will soften things, but how will that stop from new lines forming? Any input on this is appreciated. Also, anyone try face yoga? Any input on that? I'm really struggling with doing these exercises or not doing them. I actually started doing them again yesterday in the morning and evening, and of course I swear the crows feet are looking more prevalent. I find myself trying to hold them in place when I am doing the eye excercises so they don't get any worse. I don't even know if that would help. However, I should mention that I am one to really focus in on things (obsess?) and maybe the lines are no worse than they were before? I am 37 and have stayed out of the sun or wore sunscreen regularly since I was 18. Before that I was a sun worshipper. I have a few fine lines around the eyes, and one on one side of my mouth. Lord knows I don't want to be making these worse. Any thoughts? Thanks  Tammy | ||
| C M New member Username: Ceeme Post Number: 31 Registered: 06-2007 |
Tammy, when I do Tom's eye exercise, I hardly squint. I make every effort to keep my face very relaxed and then I let my upper eyelid come down the way a doll's eyes close. I have to confess that the other eye is not as wide opened as Tom's but he assured me that that comes with time. If you re-read Tom's instructions, he does say that you do not need to wrinkle up your face when you do this. So I try very hard not to. In fact, the only place where I see some "wrinkling" is the inner corner of my eye when I contract as Tom advises. Really the exercise looks very simple but technique is very important so go slowly and do it in front of a mirror making sure you follow Tom's direction to a T. Notice he says no scrunching around the crows feet area...and I don't. And I haven't developed any lines in that area. As for the concern in making lines worse, that has not been my experience, rather as the muscles of the face have developed more tone and firmness, they have pushed out on the top layer so that lines form less. As the muscles get more tone, they push out on the skin and the skin folds might appear worse initially but that's just because the "wrinkle" is opening up. In time, the muscles underneath completely iron out the wrinkle so that even if you repeat the action that caused the wrinkle in the first place, the skin seems to have become more elastic and just "bounces" back to its smooth relaxed state with no permanent lines. Or in some cases, (take my forehead for instance) the muscles are so toned that it's almost impossible to create the lines when you do the motions that normally causes them in the first place. Wrinkles/lines are formed by a repeated motion. But with face exercises, the movement is usually done in a controlled and slightly different way deliberately...so that the muscles get worked in a way that is not common and thus get strengthened in a way they would not have been if you were just being yourself. Back to the eye exercise, the reason I aim to keep my face relaxed is that most times when we squint, we naturally scrunch up our entire face teaching the muscles to do that every time we move any of the related muscles. It almost becomes a rule that your whole face responds that way if you smirk, smile, or make any grimace because we have taught our faces muscles to always work in unison in that manner. No wonder we get lines. Now slightly change that habit by controlling what muscles you work. Takes a lot of concentration and effort and even strength. But in time, your face gets stronger and one day you wake up to find you find you can have a hearty laugh that shows in your eyes without crows feet showing/forming. I haven't done a program called Face Yoga, but I think that when Carolyn was developing her program, she was thinking along the lines of "Yoga for the Face". She had done Yoga for the body for years and knew what good it did to her body so wanted the same for her face - if I remember correctly what's posted on her site. So her program does feel like a mix of yoga (isometrics) and resistance training. | ||
| Tammy R New member Username: Tammy Post Number: 5 Registered: 01-2008 |
C.M., How long have you been doing Carolyns facial fitness program? You are not referring to Carole Maggio's program are you? What do you like about her program? Thanks, Tammy | ||
| Tammy R New member Username: Tammy Post Number: 6 Registered: 01-2008 |
I also wanted to know if anyone one on this site has tried the facemaster or any other electrical face toning systems? And what were your results please. Thanks again Tammy | ||
| C M New member Username: Ceeme Post Number: 32 Registered: 06-2007 |
Hi Tammy: No, I'm not referring to Carole Maggio. I'm referring to Carolyn Cleaves (www.carolynsfacialfitness.com). I have been doing her program for just over a year. I like everything about her program. I love the results I've gotten from it, and that while it's only got 27 exercises, it really works every muscle of the face and with the massage incorporated into the program your face just feels awesome when you're done. I also love how you don't have to second guess what exercises are necessary. Like Tom, all you're asked is to do the entire program and everything just seems to improve without a hitch. No negative experiences or disappointments. I also like that even though Carolyn doesn't have a forum where you can get support like this, she is always available to answer questions you might have through email or a phone call. I just looked up her FAQ page (http://www.carolynsfacialfitness.com/FAQ%20face%20ex.html) and she does address some of the concerns you have about face exercises there. I really hope you'll at least give Tom's five exercises a shot. They are so few so won't take that long even if in the beginning you may be slow to do them trying to master proper form. I bet you'll feel very differently about face exercises in a few weeks. | ||
| Roberto Cantu New member Username: Roberto Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2006 |
I enjoy reading your messages CM. You should have you own website about facial exercise and related issues because you have a clear clean writing style and you obviously know what you are writing about. I like your enthusiasm. | ||
| C M New member Username: Ceeme Post Number: 34 Registered: 06-2007 |
Aww, Roberto, what a nice thing to say! Thank you kindly. I don't think I'd be very good at running a website of my own. I so love not have having the responsibility (LOL), plus I still have so much to learn. I do love that we have a place where we can share what we know with each other. I'm grateful for the support I've received, all I've learned from the posting of others, and the friendly atmosphere on this forum. I'm glad you're a part of this crowd, Roberto. | ||
| Paul W New member Username: Foogjunk Post Number: 1 Registered: 01-2008 |
I ran into this facial exercises site and thought I'd give it a try. I'm curious... could this at all help undereye bags? I have had bags under my eyes since I was a teenager (though no one else in my family seems to have this problem), though they've become really pronounced in the last 3 years or so (I'm 31). I wonder if it might be some lymphatic buildup, but haven't found any really good definitive information about it or how to improve it. | ||
| C M New member Username: Ceeme Post Number: 35 Registered: 06-2007 |
Paul, I believe face exercises can help you. I have seen progress photos of someone who had hereditary bags that got better from doing face exercises. You can take a look for yourself: http://www.carolynsfacialfitness.com/3Before&After.html I also developed puffy eyes (long story) but managed to improve that with face exercises. So I really do recommend you do Tom's program, but do it in front of a mirror. Don't rush but take your time to learn the proper way of doing the exercises. Aim to relax the rest of your face when doing the exercise and to isolate the muscles you're working at that time without scrunching up the rest of your face. In time, you'll master the exercise and as your muscles get stronger, you'll start to see and feel their effect on your face muscles. I don't know if you use eye creams but I am not a fan: I honestly think they make the situation worse - but that's just my opinion. I know your biggest issue is the eyes, but don't just focus on working the eyes alone; do the whole program. All the muscles of the face are somewhat connected so to get good results, you need to work them all so that they tone up evenly and give a natural lift. | ||
| Thomas Hagerty Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 48 Registered: 05-2006 |
Paul W: CM gave you some sound advice. Look at the before-and-after photos in the link she provided. The improvement appears believable. "I wonder if it might be some lymphatic buildup..." Inadequate lymphatic drainage could very well contribute to bags and circles under the eyes. The skin under the eyes is extremely thin. Any buildup of lymphatic fluid in this area could cause edema - mild swelling or bag formation. Exercise One - Muscles Around the Eyes - that I describe on my website can dramatically reverse lymphatic buildup. The contraction of muscles during the exercise quickens lymphatic drainage and tones up the muscles that surround the eyes. But as CM says, "don't just focus on working the eyes alone; do the whole program." | ||
| Paul W New member Username: Foogjunk Post Number: 2 Registered: 01-2008 |
Thanks so much, you two. I'll give things a whirl for a good while and plan to check back in with a results update (if I don't check back in much sooner and more frequently, as I very likely may). |
