Kim & Lori -- on your lat pulldown machine, there are no extra 2.5 or 5 lb. plates you can add? My machine weights go in 15 lb. increments (55-70-85-100-115 etc.) but there are 2 "built-in" 5-lb. plates you can lower onto the stack, and my gym always has flat rectangular 2.5 lb. add-ons laying around. Without them, I don't know how I'd ever jump in 15 lb. increments.
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@karensoxfan - Nope. No extra weights to add. I have seen the machines where you can add the extra weights but not on this machine. It makes it nearly impossible to increase in weight. 10 plds at a time is a huge increase... Guess I will just perfect my form Any suggestions?

Same here. I even asked about it, and after a quizzical look like "why would you want to do that?" was told, "well, I guess you could hook a 5 lb plate here." (on the pin for the weights) :noway: It didn't seem like a good idea, since the pin didn't seem to fit right after. So I'll just wait until I'm ready to make the jump.

I do like the idea of the drop set, so when I'm ready to increase, I may do it that way. I just moved up, so it will be a while.

So I am in the middle of Stage 3 (I've completed A3, scheduled for B3 tomorrow.) and I think I need to take a break.

My last break was the week of June 11, so just shy of 6 weeks. Thoughts or advice?

If your body is telling you to take a break, then take a break. 6 weeks is a long time to go without one, and if you're cognizant of needing some time off, it's probably well overdue. Just do it! And be sure to plan some activities to fill up the time where you would be lifting. Whether it's taking the family to the park for some impromptu soccer, or planning a monster-walk/catch-up session with a girlfriend, I find that taking time during my off weeks to make them special helps me to get through them without worrying that I'm losing fitness.

I did my Workout B HIIT today (didn't have time for it yesterday). And my fastest speed was 6.5 mph. I'm going to try to make it 7 mph for Workout B4 on Saturday, but holy Batman, the thought of running 7 mph (even for 1 minute at a time) intimidates the hell out of me.

How hard are you all pushing in your HIIT? Do you do it on the treadmill? Bike? Elliptical? How do you measure your intensity - by speed, heartrate, or something else?

I do my HIITs on the treadmill and the fastest that I've done so far has been 7.0. I was super pumped! Go for it!

I did my Workout B HIIT today (didn't have time for it yesterday). And my fastest speed was 6.5 mph. I'm going to try to make it 7 mph for Workout B4 on Saturday, but holy Batman, the thought of running 7 mph (even for 1 minute at a time) intimidates the hell out of me.

How hard are you all pushing in your HIIT? Do you do it on the treadmill? Bike? Elliptical? How do you measure your intensity - by speed, heartrate, or something else?

I usually do my HIIT workout on the stairmaster. 30 seconds level 15, 90 seconds level 7 - 8 Rounds. I am totally spent when done with this 16 minute workout. The first time I felt like I was going to throw up!

I did Workout 2B today and am leaving on Friday morning at 4 am for a mission trip with our church's youth group. So I'll be active (except for the driving days..ha ha) and will resume Stage 3 when I come back the first week of August.

I have a question about Workout B - it seems way easier than A for me. The deadlift today was hard - I was trying to deadlift the same weight I did in Stage 1 - but I think I need to go lower since it has the row with it. But the one legged partial squat - seems too easy - I even held a 10 lb weight today - no difference - would dumbbells be better? It doesn't raise my heartrate at all (I wear a HRM). And today I did all of the abs in a super set and that was way better. Last time I didn't - and I felt dumb taking a break between the abs exercises.

The HIIT was good - I know someone else asked - I do my HIIT on the treadmill. I got up to 6.3 today - I'm not sure about 7 either - but my goal is to move up when I get back on track after our trip. So we will see!

My gym didn't have a back extension - so I found a weight bench at incline and just kind of "bucked back" if that makes sense with a 5 lb weight in my hand? Again - it didn't feel like I did anything.

Advice?

Sherry

I did Workout 2B today and am leaving on Friday morning at 4 am for a mission trip with our church's youth group. So I'll be active (except for the driving days..ha ha) and will resume Stage 3 when I come back the first week of August.

I have a question about Workout B - it seems way easier than A for me. The deadlift today was hard - I was trying to deadlift the same weight I did in Stage 1 - but I think I need to go lower since it has the row with it. But the one legged partial squat - seems too easy - I even held a 10 lb weight today - no difference - would dumbbells be better? It doesn't raise my heartrate at all (I wear a HRM). And today I did all of the abs in a super set and that was way better. Last time I didn't - and I felt dumb taking a break between the abs exercises.

The HIIT was good - I know someone else asked - I do my HIIT on the treadmill. I got up to 6.3 today - I'm not sure about 7 either - but my goal is to move up when I get back on track after our trip. So we will see!

My gym didn't have a back extension - so I found a weight bench at incline and just kind of "bucked back" if that makes sense with a 5 lb weight in my hand? Again - it didn't feel like I did anything.

Advice?

Sherry

Workout B does seem to be easier for some reason.

Some modifications that some have used. For the partial squat are you on the floor or on a step? If on the floor, try a step? And for either, you can add dumbbells to add weight. I think I finally got up to 15 lb dumbbells (so 30 lbs total) before I felt like it was doing anything.

I also do the abs in a superset, including the cobras. It definitely increases the intensity.

For the back extension, you can always use a swiss ball. I think it mentions that in the book, although I'm not sure it has a picture. But I'm sure you could find some videos on you tube.

And while it does change the program a bit, because of time, I only rest 60 seconds. I think this does limit how heavy I can lift because I don't get the full recovery period, but it does help to keep the heart rate up and I'm usually sufficiently sweaty when I leave.

Hope that helps.

A Vs. B doesn't really feel all that different for me, except one is more upper body while the other feel more lower body. If you are stronger on one end than the other it may feel easier. I added serious weight to the B workout to make the tougher. I do the partial squat holding 40lbs (stage 5) and I do the back extension with one leg, though I did see someone doing them with a 45lb plate and I might give that a try next time. The one legged version is VERY effective.

I'm down this morning. I weighed in today for the end of a 90 day challenge at the gym... overall, I lost 0.8% BF, but I had lost 1.6% at the midpoint mark... to gain half of it back is just soooo disappointing.

Oh well.... water under the bridge... I have B4 tomorrow. Week of rest... then onward!

Did my first 3B today! I think i like A better, but i did love the Romanian deadlift/row


Barbell Romanian Deadlift/ row: 60 lbs
Partial Single Leg Squat: bw
Wide Grip Lat Pulldown: 105 lbs
Back Extension: - on swiss ball
YTWL: - with 8lb dumbbells
Swiss Ball Crunch - with 25lb plate
prone jackknifes - yep
Hanna 2: - did it
Prone Cobra: - pretty much 90 seconds.

Hi ladies,

Looking for advice, within about the next 90 minutes or so...

I have scheduled myself to do A2 tonight after work, but I'm thinking it might be a bad idea. I am planning on a 40 mile bike ride tomorrow and again on Sunday (in training for an event...need to do these without question). But if I have DOMS like I did after A1, I won't be able to bike. I've been trying to lift 3x per week, but could skip today and do A2 on Monday.

What do I do? How were your DOMS outside of the first time you did workout A? Do you suggest I suck it up, or not take the chance?

My DOMS wasn't bad after A2, but I wouldn't take the chance in your shoes. I'd just wait until Monday to be sure. Good luck!

Finished Stage 3 on Saturday... my shoulders are killing me still... d&*&)*(^()^&* YTWLs!!!

Sunday afternoon, the gym is pretty dead. Me and my lifting partner are enjoying the workout, but as I was putting the 3 lb weights back after doing YTWLs...

standing right next to the weight rack was a fit-looking female with 20 lb dumbells. I just kept on sauntering with my stupid 3 lb weights, put them in the rack, and walked away. But boy was I annoyed :laugh: I mean, if I'm going to be encountering anyone-- especially anyone other than the usual teenage males-- in the free-weights area, it should be while I'm doing the deadlift-bent-over-row with 60 lbs... amirite?

Anyways, I hope I can get up to using 10 lb dumbells for YTWLs!

Hey everyone!

I did a 10k on Sunday so i had a few days break from lifting.. back to Stage 3 - 2A tomorrow!

Stage 3 starts for me today

Quick question. Do you guys miss the squats and deadlifts? I just looked over the A workout and most of it is with dumbbells. Do you feel like you get a really good workout with them? I always beasted on the deadlifts and barbell squats and I'm just worried I wont get a good workout.

Karen ---
You are hard core! YTWLs with 10lbs!!! wow!!! I increased mine to 7s... I was grunting by the time I got to the Ls.... :laugh:

I forgot to bring my log to work... I will post my progress tonight or in the morning. See you in Stage 4!

Thanks cpa. I probably have better form on the YTWL's with 7.5 lb. dumbbells, but I'm definitely pushing hard with the 10's. The T's are hardest for me, but I feel like the Stage 2 cuban snatches made the L's tolerable even though they come at the end.