My stage 2 ladies..I was itching..literally itching to workout last night so I jumped into stage 3. I really love it so far.
Last night was supposed to be a light practice run but i kinda went all in. the Body weight Matrix at the end left me panting! I love it cant wait for you all to join me.

Nthnbut Im praying for a speedy recovery on the surgery for your daughter!!! Do keep us posted

Well, Stage 2 is in the books! When the kids go down for a rest Ill post my start/end weights. Too loud and crazy with them up to think numbers!

Melissa, Ill be hot on your heels next week if all goes well. I certainly would appreciate the prayers for my daughter. Thank you so much!

Hope she recovers quickly!!

Thanks, Chic! Much appreciated! We finally got our go-call. All set for 7:15 Monday morning.


So my final weights for Stage 2 are as follows... (e) = each hand so 10(e) is 20lbs total.

Workout A
Front Squat Push Press 45lbs -->55lbs +10lbs
Static Lunge/Rear Foot Elevated 10lbs(e) -->20lbs(e) +10lbs
Push Ups - No way to judge with the turtle push ups I was doing.
Plank 60sec -->60sec
Cable Horizontal Wood Chop 30lbs -->45lbs +15lbs
Step Ups 20lbs(e) -->20lbs(e)
Dumbbell One Point Row 12lbs(e) -->15lbs(e)+3lbs

Workout B
Wide Grip Deadlift from Box 95lbs -->95lbs
Bulgarian Split Squat 25lbs -->40lbs +15lbs
Underhand Grip Lat Pulldown 50lbs -->65lbs +15lbs
Reverse Lunge/Forward Reach 10lbs(e) --> 15lbs(e) +3lbs
Dumbbell Prone Cuban Snatch 8lbs(e) --> 8lbs(e)
Swiss Ball Crunch BW -->BW
Reverse Crunch BW -->BW
Lateral Flexsion (on ball) BW -->BW
Prone Cobra 60sec -->91sec +31sec

I am starting stage 2 Monday ! cant wait . the end of stage 1 seemed like it went on forever!

I did A1 today. OMG! I couldn't do the front squat push press at all. I'm in a rather compressed space but even so, it was just way awkward!

I couldn't roll the bar up onto my fingers like the book suggests, I really had a hard time coordinating the press up and drive up from the squat.

The other exercises ok, I really only did a quick run through. I'm going to do a real workout tomorrow, after I hear your suggestions.

Thanks ladies!

I am starting stage 2 Monday ! cant wait . the end of stage 1 seemed like it went on forever!

Kimmae it did last forever!! It makes stage 2 seem short . Good luck in stage 2 and be very afraid of the front squat push press. lol

Sue I didnt roll the bar onto my figertips I held in a good grip that way when I went to push up there wasnt a lot of strain on my wrist and I already had a good grip. That sucka is hard no matter what tho. Good luck and keep us posted

Tomorrow, I am going to Fitness Factory around the corner from my home. I need a trainer I think, but I also need more room than I have here at my home. My squat rack, bench and weight area is in the basement and rather cramped. It was fine for regular squats, but there's no maneuvering room now. I'm really hoping this place works out. The guy I spoke to said yes, and he also said they are expanded the power lift area is being expanded to an entire floor!

Wish me luck!

Chic, Melissa

My daughter's surgery went well. It was a crazy morning (squirrel in the transformer box had surgery completely stalled until the power company could show up and fix it!), but she is resting quietly now. Thank again for your prayers and concern.

Chic, Melissa

My daughter's surgery went well. It was a crazy morning (squirrel in the transformer box had surgery completely stalled until the power company could show up and fix it!), but she is resting quietly now. Thank again for your prayers and concern.

Thank God! SO glad that she is ok. I thought about you yesterday but didnt have access to a computer.

I finished stage 2 yesterday. My knees were kind of sore, so I didn't do the HIIT, going to do it tomorrow.

Here are my weights:

Front squat/push press - 40 lb barbell
Step ups - step + 4 levels, 2 40 lb dumbbells
Dumbbell one point row - 30 lb dumbbells
Static lunge, rear foot elevated - 30 lb dumbbells
Pushups - from bar second notch from floor on Smith machine
Planking - I'm really bad at this. It used to be part of my warmup, but at the end of a workout when I'm tired, it's brutal!!
Cable horizontal woodchop - 50 lbs

Wide grip deadlift from box - 70 lb barbell
Bulgarian split squat - 25 lb plate
Underhand grip lat pulldown 70 lbs
Reverse lunge from box - 25 lb dumbbells
Dumbbell prone Cuban snatch - 15 lb dumbbells
Prone Cobra 67 seconds

I should probably get on a scale and weigh myself, but I feel great, I can fit into pants I didn't used to be able to, looking in the mirror, I can see some changes. My husband says my arms feel a lot firmer and stronger, and that my back looks great

I just started stage 2 about a week ago and its good to know I'm not the only one that can't roll the bar to my fingers on the front squat push press. It just hurt my wrists way to much, so I also just hold it with the same grip I use on the push press.

Just curious... anyone else struggling with the deadlift from box? Maybe its my flexibility but I'm really struggling to keep my form and get low enough to wear the plates are below the box. Any Suggestions?? Should I just go back to regular deadlifts, or continue to do them with as light a weight as possible? I'm currently reading Starting Strength so I can really focus on good form and I'm struggling with keeping my hips up, I tend to squat down to get the bar low as opposed to using the back of my body and keeping my hips up. I almost kinda feel like my arms are too short, lol. Luckily I haven't gotten hurt, but I feel like my form is slightly off and I'm *missing* something in regards to understanding how to properly deadlift.

I just started stage 2 about a week ago and its good to know I'm not the only one that can't roll the bar to my fingers on the front squat push press. It just hurt my wrists way to much, so I also just hold it with the same grip I use on the push press.

Just curious... anyone else struggling with the deadlift from box? Maybe its my flexibility but I'm really struggling to keep my form and get low enough to wear the plates are below the box. Any Suggestions?? Should I just go back to regular deadlifts, or continue to do them with as light a weight as possible? I'm currently reading Starting Strength so I can really focus on good form and I'm struggling with keeping my hips up, I tend to squat down to get the bar low as opposed to using the back of my body and keeping my hips up. I almost kinda feel like my arms are too short, lol. Luckily I haven't gotten hurt, but I feel like my form is slightly off and I'm *missing* something in regards to understanding how to properly deadlift.

When I start Stage 2, I had planned on continuing to deadlift normally. I'm not sure why doing it from a box would make the exercise more difficult. I have low back/hip problems already and I think I would just injure myself if I tried it on a box!

I have one A(today) and one B(wednesday) left in Stage 2. I am trying to decide if I am going to take the week off or not....I dont think I want to but at 42, i think the recovery time would be called for. what do you guys think?

I have one workout left for Phase 2. I wasn't going to take time off, but my wrists are bothering me (thanks front squat push press!), so I think I will just so I don't injure myself even more.

so far i did one 2a and one 2b. it was interesting to say the least! The front squat push press was really hard for me. I can squat like twice the amount I can lift with my arms! I guess thats just how that excessive goes!

The cuban snatch was also really hard for me. My gym has a downstairs weight area (with rack) and upstairs has smaller version with jsut some preset long barbells and smith machine. I got a step from the step class to do pretty mcuh all the exercises and just used the weights there and never had to wait for the rack. Thank god.

For the cardio, im confused. are you supposed to be walking for the 2 min? I run, so i did a 10 min mile for 2 minutes and an 8 min mile for the one min. should i try faster tempto for the one min? any thoughts?

For the cardio it should be interval training, so you need to get your heart rate up and then bring it back down. When I run, I'll jog for the 2 minute recovery at 5.0 (treadmill), and then for the sprint I'll run at 6.2 for the first 2 intervals and then up to 7.0 for the remaining intervals. You do whatever works for you to get your heart rate up, and then bring it back it down (recovery).

thanks so much!

does it say in the book where your heart rate should be for the recovery and sprint???/ i have a heart rate monitor but it doesnt work with my new iphone! (UGH!) i can always use my old one with no service just for that.

Hi All - I'm starting stage 2 tonight!

I'm a bit scared as I still consider myself a total n00b in the gym, but looking forward to change form the stage 1 workouts, which go on a bit LOL

I've read through the workouts - Can anyone explain to me what the difference between th static lunge in work out A and the reverse lunge in workout B? they seem the same from the descriptions......

I did workout A on sunday and you will be fine with that. Doing B tonight, and I agree, except for the positioning of the weights those look like the same move.