Hey, hey, hey!!!

Finished 4A today!

Here's my workout numbers:

FSPP: 30 lb -> 35 lb
Step-ups: 30 lb (15 each hand) -> 40 lb
DB 1-pt row: 30 lb (15 each hand) -> 50 lb (25 each hand)
Static lunge: 40 lb (20 each hand) -> 40 lb (couldn't make the big jump to 50)
Push ups: 30 degree angle -> from toes (but I do not go as low as I need to yet)
Plank: 60 seconds for one set; 30+30 for second set
Instead of cable woodchop I use the kettle bell suggestion: 10 reps with 10 lb kettlebell -> 12 reps with 12 lb

4B will be Wednesday!

I finished 4A as well today. My numbers are similar to yours. Go us!

Rock on, ladies! I finished 4A today as well and feel pretty good. I've finally figured out why Stage 2 bugs me-it's the fact that I haven't increased my weights like I did in Stage 1. I'm working hard and struggling with the last couple of reps so I know I'm on track, but it's hard not seeing that growth. Here are my final A workout numbers:

FSPP: 60 lbs. to 60 lbs. No increase, but my form is getting better. I was able to do 55 lb. shoulder presses so this has been good for me.

Step Ups: Instead of doing them with a barbell in the squat rack like Stage 1, I focused on increasing the step height this time around-what a challenge! Held two 35 lb. dumbbells and went from 5 risers to 7 risers. Kept the weight the same.

DB 1 pt. row. -these were such a challenge. started at 60 lbs., dropped down to 50 lbs. and worked on form. My right leg is so off, but I was able to do 7 on each side today.

Static Lunges: 70 lbs to 70 lbs. Went from 5 risers to 7 risers.

Pushups: 10 incline pushups to 20 incline pushups with my leg up. Still working on doing the T from the leg up position.

Plank: started at 60 sec., today I held my last one for 2 min.!!!!! Huge victory for me!

Wood Chop: 25 lbs. to 35 lbs.

mstawnya - 60 lb. FSPP? 70 lb. step-ups & high rise static lunges? 50 lb. 1-pt. rows? 2 minute planks? You're like a superhero!

Wait-no-I was holding 50 lbs. total (two 25 lb. DBs) for those rows. I suppose I shouldn't count them as 50, right? The static lunges were supposed to have the rear foot elevated, right? Please tell me I didn't do this whole stage wrong. Yikes!

Wait-no-I was holding 50 lbs. total (two 25 lb. DBs) for those rows. I suppose I shouldn't count them as 50, right? The static lunges were supposed to have the rear foot elevated, right? Please tell me I didn't do this whole stage wrong. Yikes!

No, I think you counted the weight for the rows right. That's how I count it too (the total weight, not just the weight of each DB if I'm holding two of them).

You're right that the static lunges have the rear foot elevated too. I just only used an aerobic step with NO risers, so if you were using 5 or 7 risers, I'm in awe of your strength.

Me too! You're a beast MsT! I'm doing 45lbs on the fspp and those last 2 reps kill me like whoa. Plus, turns out my balance is crap.

And planking? Worst thing I've ever voluntarily done in my life.

Wait-no-I was holding 50 lbs. total (two 25 lb. DBs) for those rows. I suppose I shouldn't count them as 50, right? The static lunges were supposed to have the rear foot elevated, right? Please tell me I didn't do this whole stage wrong. Yikes!

No, I think you counted the weight for the rows right. That's how I count it too (the total weight, not just the weight of each DB if I'm holding two of them).

You're right that the static lunges have the rear foot elevated too. I just only used an aerobic step with NO risers, so if you were using 5 or 7 risers, I'm in awe of your strength.

Me too! You're a beast MsT! I'm doing 45lbs on the fspp and those last 2 reps kill me like whoa. Plus, turns out my balance is crap.

And planking? Worst thing I've ever voluntarily done in my life.

You know what are the worst things for me? Those stupid prone cobras. Hate those things! I swear people walk by me and just laugh.

What was i doing before stage 2 - yoga?! Bloody heck stage 2 is hard compared to stage 1. And that Dumbell Prone Cuban Snatch; OUCH!!! I'm literally using two 1.5kg plates right now instead of dumbells because I'm so weak! Hopefully i see results!

Hi ladies, I was getting excited to be almost done with Stage 2, so I looked in the book to see what's coming in Stage 3, and couldn't help but notice that Stage 4 has the EXACT same workouts as Stage 2. Yikes! I think the # of sets/reps are different, and prob. the rest period, but it's the same moves, in the same order.

Is this how everyone is doing the reverse lunge (of course adding the step which is missing from the video)? This is the only video I can really find of the lift. In the picture, it shows the foward reach the the dumbbells out towards the ankles -- but that just doesn't seem very hard. In the video, she's reaching out perpendicular from her body...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjPQgIQMhlE

Nope, that's not how I do them. I hold the weights down by my sides to start, and to start, I'm standing on an aerobic step. Then as I pull one leg backward to lunge, I hold the weights down towards my front ankle, like it shows in the book. I also lunge lower than the woman in the video, sometimes even tapping my rear knee to the floor.

Is this how everyone is doing the reverse lunge (of course adding the step which is missing from the video)? This is the only video I can really find of the lift. In the picture, it shows the foward reach the the dumbbells out towards the ankles -- but that just doesn't seem very hard. In the video, she's reaching out perpendicular from her body...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjPQgIQMhlE

Still wondering if I'm doing these right? The forward reach is still awkward for me? The video link about is NOT how I do them...

Same here. I have a book at home that has a bunch of exercises pictured and it show this reverse lunge the same way as the NROL book, reaching towards the feet, not up. It lists the exercise as a quad/glute(?) exercise. I just don't get what the reach is for. It feels awkward and since I don't know what it's working, I don't know if I'm using enough weight or too much.

Is this how everyone is doing the reverse lunge (of course adding the step which is missing from the video)? This is the only video I can really find of the lift. In the picture, it shows the foward reach the the dumbbells out towards the ankles -- but that just doesn't seem very hard. In the video, she's reaching out perpendicular from her body...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjPQgIQMhlE

Still wondering if I'm doing these right? The forward reach is still awkward for me? The video link about is NOT how I do them...

This looks more like mine, except this guy keeps his arms straight down, and I reach more towards my front foot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Sos6efTaY

Ok, this one look like what I THINK we are supposed to be doing. A much more fluid movement than the way I interpreted the book description. And we use a step, of course.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjPQgIQMhlE

I thought your hands were suppose to come down on the lunge part by your foot on the bench? In that video her arms are going straight out...

Ok, this one look like what I THINK we are supposed to be doing. A much more fluid movement than the way I interpreted the book description. And we use a step, of course.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjPQgIQMhlE

I just noticed watching again that the people in both videos are alternating legs on every rep. I thought we were supposed to do all the reps on 1 leg, then switch and do all the reps on the 2nd leg???

And you're right, they do all switch legs. The book does say to do all reps then switch. I wonder if it really matters. Although, I tend to lose count when I alternate. :laugh:

finishing stage 2 tomorrow. I feel like this stage just flew by and by the time I finally got the hang of the work out it is finished and I am moving on. Looking forward to stage 3 though

finishing stage 2 tomorrow. I feel like this stage just flew by and by the time I finally got the hang of the work out it is finished and I am moving on. Looking forward to stage 3 though

It really does fly doesn't it?! I can't believe i'm on my last week!

Is this how everyone is doing the reverse lunge (of course adding the step which is missing from the video)? This is the only video I can really find of the lift. In the picture, it shows the foward reach the the dumbbells out towards the ankles -- but that just doesn't seem very hard. In the video, she's reaching out perpendicular from her body...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjPQgIQMhlE

Still wondering if I'm doing these right? The forward reach is still awkward for me? The video link about is NOT how I do them...

This looks more like mine, except this guy keeps his arms straight down, and I reach more towards my front foot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Sos6efTaY

Ok, this one look like what I THINK we are supposed to be doing. A much more fluid movement than the way I interpreted the book description. And we use a step, of course.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjPQgIQMhlE

Gah!!! Totally the wrong link! :grumble:

Try this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWe8wi_8yTM

That's similar to what I'm doing...except see how he's basically bending his upper body? I don't do that.Mine stays fairly perpendicular to the floor the whole time (maybe that's why my foward reach seems awkward)?