What's your story!

krokador

Hey all!

So I started this group because I noticed there wasn't one yet on MFP!

My name's Melyssa, I'm 25 from QC, Canada.

I found out about YAYOG around december last year. Went through the first 6 weeks after new year but then dropped out for no good reason (that's right, making excuses is not why I'm here!) and then decided to start the basic program all over again about 2 months ago. I've been gaining strength and feeling so much better since I started! Basically ruled out lower back/sciatic nerve issues thanks to the program!

So let us know who you are, and how the program's doing for you! I know on fitocracy it's been a real motivation to see other people struggling through the same workouts as I've been, so don't be afraid to share your experiences!

Heck, adding in a little more fun: what is the exercise that you love to hate the most? For me that would be Let me Ins. Ugh. Doorknobs were NOT meant to be grabbed this way, lol!

Lina4Lina

I bought this book a while ago but decided to incorporate some of the workouts into my own program. I'm bastardizing it by doing it at the gym. I did close grips rows on a cable machine instead of let me ins. Shh... Don't tell anyone.

chivalryder

I actually am not using this book, but using the similar book "Convict Conditioning." I am, however, using YAYOG for the nutritional information and other information that is missing from CC. I started my first workout yesterday, and it gave me a huge boost in confidence and how I felt about myself (though I never felt fatter! lol).

I'll post more later.

jumatwins

Hi,

I just bought the book and read the first chapters and now am ready to start the training. but I am not sure how or where to start? With which exerises? for how long? I know he explains some different types of training-routine, but it's just not clear to me...I think I need to re-read this section again. I will also look at the app for my Ipad...maybe there are clear suggestions on what to include in your workout?
I am 40, Female, and also from QC, Canada.

Lina4Lina

Look at the basic program. It will give you week by week instructions.

jumatwins

Oh my...I feel blond right now...:-)
I just hadn't looked at the entire book...I had stopped at the exercises secton...lol:-)
In any case, thank you!!
I also bought the app, just 1.99$ so it's ok :-)

krokador

Yep, the YAYOG app is the only one I ever bought for my phone! It clearly was a great investment, if only for the timers! Has anyone figured out how to review saved workouts yet, though? haha.

I'm on the last week of the basic program. Stappers will kick the fat right out of ya. Hoping to manage 11 cycles the next time around!

semillama

I don't even remember how I heard of YAYOG, but I downloaded the book to my Kindle five months ago about the same time I joined Fitocracy, and it's been great! I moved right to first class after finishing basic, and just finished first class. I was going to do the program over again, but then I've heard to just repeat the undulating blocks until you can do the minimum requirements for the next level. Seems like there is a bigger difference between First Class and Chief than between Basic and First class. I joined up on MFP after seeing it recommended in the Healthy eating group on Fitocracy and so far, it's great!

violet976

Any others still doing this routine? I just bought the book and am eager to have a go at it.

krokador

I'll be giving it another go more than likely when I'll finish Tapout XT (so probably right after the holidays )

I'll basically be redoing begginer, but with real push-ups all the way and some of the 1st class exercises subbed in for the ones that are too easy, as well as replace/enhance Core days with some of the Tapout XT workouts, possibly. And add in some muay thai or cardio XT for some added heart pumpin'

Unless XT 2 comes out before christmas in which case I might very well just jump to that, haha!

krommama

I picked up a copy of the book last week at the library and read it cover to cover. I bought the app over the weekend, and did week 1 day 1 of the basic workout yesterday and day 2 today. whew! I'm a 40 year old, stay at home homeschooling mom, who hasn't worked out seriously since college. It's going to be a tough road ahead, but thankfully, my husband just started working out too, so we can encourage each other. I like the idea of saving time and money by working out at home. Plus I feel like I'm working my whole body including my balance. I have a feeling I will be repeating the first two weeks until I get a better grasp of the exercises, and I'm curious to see his new book for women coming out in January.

krokador

I would actually advise against repeating the first 2 weeks. The 3rd and 4th have a different way of working your muscles that will 1) be welcome (because ladders = HEAVY DOMS as per my experience), and 2) make you progress more at that point.

You don't have to be perfect to move forward in phases, really. The only part Mark Lauren advises to repeat is the undulating block at the end if you don't feel you're ready to move forward to the next level. (it's on the website's forum if you look around a bit)

krommama

Thanks for the advice. I guess I'm just concerned that I'm pretty much useless after a workout for about an hour. Hopefully that will get better. Plus I wasn't able to do a single let me up yesterday.

violet976

I just gave the first day of the beginner workout a go yesterday, and it really put me in my place. I just gave it my best shot, and didn't do the "let me in's" because I have to figure out where to do them (probably the post of our deck). I began pushups on the floor, but quickly had to move my way up to counter top level, and looked pretty pathetic through the dips & "let me ups" as well.

Question on the ladders though... from what I read on the Mark Lauren Forums, you are supposed to set the timer for 7.5 minutes, then begin with 1 rep, rest for as long as 1 rep took, then do 2 reps, then rest for as long as 2 reps took, working until you couldn't do the next reps without muscle failure and then working back down again. Then, they said you were supposed to rest between that set for about a minute or so. If that's the case, when you work back down to 1 and then rest for a minute or so, is that included in the 7.5 minutes of the workout, or are you supposed to stop the clock until you begin the next rep?

NEVERMIND: I'm pretty sure they meant that you can rest for a few minutes between the actual exercises... not the bottom of the ladders to the next count up. Bugger.

I've read that part of the book quite a few times, but I'm still a bit confused by what a correct routine of ladders is.

krokador

A whole set of ladders last 7.5 minutes, where the ONLY rest you get is after completing the number of reps of your current step. You go as high as you CAN without going to failure (if it's only 1, then keep doing 1s, try to keep rest to a mimimum). You complete the 7.5 mins and then take a minute break to catch your breath and shake out the muscles some.

I couldn't do more than 2 let me ups with knees bent when I started, either. I still don,t have much strength on those, to be honest xD My setup isn't the best though. The only advice I can give you is to tighten your core before lifting yourself up. It's not just your arms that you should use; your entire back has a role to play. At first you can assist with your feet too (sorta like doing a hip bridge, but with your arms pulling your upper body up also).

The Android/iOS app helps a lot with keeping track for ladders, i have to admit. Never regretted spending that 2$ =D

But yes, once you progress to the supersets, you'll feel a lot stronger (and a different kind of exertion when you're done). Just keep at it and somewhere down the line you'll also start feelnig great!

krommama

Thanks for the encouragement. I did the second day workout yesterday, and my body is screaming at me today. I'm glad I am taking today off from working out : ) I will press on tomorrow! I keep telling myself "it has to get better" : )

violet976

You're supposed to take days off on this program, aren't you? I thought it was just 4 days per week, so something like Mon, Wed, Fri, Sunday, correct?

krommama

That's how I understood it. I worked out Monday and Tuesday, took Wednesday off, and will workout Thursday and Friday.

krokador

How you split it up is up to you. Since workout 1 and 2 work two completely different sets of muscles, I did a 2 day on, 1 off, 2 on, 2 off split. Doesn't really matter how you do it, go with what feels right for you!

caligulala

My husband and I are finishing up our second week of the basic program this weekend. Seeing some results already which is encouraging! Have also noticed increased range of motion during some of my stretches, which is an unexpected benefit.

After reading the book, my husband thought the workouts were going to be a piece of cake. He had been smirking at my soreness after day 1. That first workout wiped the smirk right off his face.

Love the app; not sure how I'd manage without the built in timer!

krokador

I just started the 1st class program. I had to modify the let me ups though, I really don't have that much pulling strength (bt it was the only thing holding me back, so I figured I'd modify and keep getting stronger)

Man, those ladders really build you up to intense soreness xD It's good to be back at it again! Today was leg day, and I can barely walk haha.

just4u_cara

I started with YAYOG a couple months ago. Didn't stick with it thru the holiday season. I had the book from the library and have the app on my phone. It's so easy to fit it in anywhere, so not sure why I haven't stuck with it.

I now have his new book, Body By You. Tonight was my first workout, after doing the evals earlier today.

I'm letting my gym membership lapse this weekend. I don't have the time to commit to it any longer. The drive into town, the cost, the workout itself, that's a LOT of wasted time & money. If I can achieve the results that Mark claims are possible, then the price of e book is well worth it. I can get into a routine and continue my workouts when out of towns or at the lake during the summer. I also homeschool my 3 boys, so while fitness and health are important, they can't take up too much of my time during the day.

Also hope Mark puts out a BBY app, for those of us following that book. For now, I printed off workout logs, and carry a kitchen timer (or use the phone's timer).

TheStephil

Hello!

I joined the group today. I downloaded the app and will be starting the beginners program on Thursday. A friend on MFP suggested taking a look at YAYOG since the only access I have to strenght training equipment are the 5 machines at my apartment gym and they don't seem to do the trick.

I haven't looked into much info about it but I didn't see any information on how many times you are to do the program each week. Any idea?

krokador

The first 6 weeks are 4 workouts a week, the last 4 are 5 workouts a week but some are a little shorter. Overall, you get about 2.5 hours' worth of exercise a week if you warmup and cooldown some. If you have the app, it's already divided in weeks and days so just follow along with that and you should be fine! (Although if the DOMs get you during the first 2 weeks, don't be afraid to slow it down a bit).

Hope that helps you! And welcome to the YAYOG group!

lithezebra

I'm doing the basic program, although I think my lower body needs something more challenging. I do both upper and lower body on the same day, because I'm trying to work this in with my yoga practice, and still get enough rest to progress.

EPICSRT

Hello all!

Not too new to YAYOG. Been doing it off and on. I started a blog last June (2012). Pretty much my story after losing almost 60 pounds.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/EPICSRT

I love YAYOG and even though I've taken the last 6 months off from it (for no good reason), I'm am picking back up with the Master level tomorrow (blog has more info on that).

There was a group for YAYOG that was started last year, but it looks like that group has desolved. Glad that someone created another! Thank you!

I hope to be able to share some things I've learned along the way! Might be useful info in the blog too! WARNING: I'm a bit long winded at time (okay, okay.........most of the time).

John

SolanumSunrise

Hi, I'm Dawn and I'm a 40 yo single mom in Texas.

I realized as I've been getting closer to my goal weight that I needed to incorporate more resistance training in my workouts. I don't have access to a gym so I got the Body By You book and started using it at the beginning of April. I also got some resistance bands so I've been doing 2 bodyweight workouts per week from the book and one resistance band workout per week. So it takes me three weeks to do two weeks worth of exercises from the book.

Until I joined MFP I had never done any regular exercise other than walking, and I started almost at the beginning with all the exercises. I'm finding that my biggest limitation are my joints. My joints fail me before I reach muscle failure. I have been incorporating squats into my workouts since January and after four months am finally able to do full squats with my thighs parallel to the ground without my knees hurting. It seems like slow progress, but it is progress nonetheless so I am happy. I'm sure I just need to be patient with my wrists and shoulders as well now that I'm asking them to do more work than they're used to!

So far, the let-me-ins are what I dislike most. It's just really uncomfortable for my hands to be hanging on to a door handle like that!

krokador

Hi, I'm Dawn and I'm a 40 yo single mom in Texas.

I realized as I've been getting closer to my goal weight that I needed to incorporate more resistance training in my workouts. I don't have access to a gym so I got the Body By You book and started using it at the beginning of April. I also got some resistance bands so I've been doing 2 bodyweight workouts per week from the book and one resistance band workout per week. So it takes me three weeks to do two weeks worth of exercises from the book.

Until I joined MFP I had never done any regular exercise other than walking, and I started almost at the beginning with all the exercises. I'm finding that my biggest limitation are my joints. My joints fail me before I reach muscle failure. I have been incorporating squats into my workouts since January and after four months am finally able to do full squats with my thighs parallel to the ground without my knees hurting. It seems like slow progress, but it is progress nonetheless so I am happy. I'm sure I just need to be patient with my wrists and shoulders as well now that I'm asking them to do more work than they're used to!

So far, the let-me-ins are what I dislike most. It's just really uncomfortable for my hands to be hanging on to a door handle like that!

Hi Dawn

My wrists were something I struggled with in the beginning too, so I can relate (and my grip strength with YAYOG, as well.) It does get better! With push-ups, try modifying the directions your fingers point in a big. My hands for some reason are much more comfortable on the ground when they're a little on the inside so that I can push into my thumb more than the outside of my hand, I guess.

As for the let me ins, if you have resistance bands with a fabric handle (so not fully rigid, I'm not sure that would work) there might be something you could try. Mine are removable handles so it's even easier but it would probably work -- try hooking the handles into your doorknob and hanging off of that. Make sure you're stable, and it should give you a bit of a better range of motion. I tried doing them with a towel and it just ended up hurting the inside of my hands.

Above all, don't give up! Rome wasn't built in a day!

EPICSRT

Another good way to do let me ins is to wrap a towel so that it hooks around both sides of the door around the handles and hold the towel instead of the handles.

This is how I perform let me ins. It also allows you to position your upper body at, or further away from, the door which can change the difficulty level of the exercise. Using a towel will also allow you to add a twisting motion (twisting your hands - start in up position grasping towel with palms up and as you lower down rotate hands so that palms are down at the bottom of the move, then rotate them back to palms up as you pull yourself closer to the door) as you pull foward or go back which also works the arms a lot more than doing the exercise by grabbing the door handle.

HeatherMN

Hello, everyone!

I was reading a thread this morning about heavy lifting and someone mentioned "You are Your Own Gym" as a good alternative for those who don't/won't go to a gym. I instantly started researching it on MFP, reading reviews and learning about the program. Everything I read was so positive that I reserved the book at Barnes & Noble and picked it up on my lunch hour. I'm excited to get started!

YAYOG sounds like a great fit for me because I HATE the gym. It's intimidating, time-consuming and inconvenient. Honestly, I just love working out at home. I'm looking forward to reading the book tonight and hopefully getting started tomorrow. The app is downloaded on my phone and ready to go!

I previously lost 43 lbs on MFP doing cardio (lots of running) and Jillian Michaels videos, but got lazy/content and have gained back 22 lbs of what I previously lost. I'm feeling the motivation coming back and am hoping this program helps me stick to it because it eliminates most of the excuses I come up with for not exercising (no gym, no time, very little equipment, etc).

KansasRider

Hi everybody! I'm Snow. I'm starting another round of YAYOG today. Redoing 1st class. Hope you all are having a great day. looking forward to getting to know you