Lori - I did my first workout B today. I didn't love it. My hamstrings were still moderately sore from Tuesday's Workout A, so the deadlift/row was pretty tough @ 75 lb., even with less weight than I know I can deadlift (105 lb.), and less weight than I know I can row (85 lb. in Workout A on Monday). So it was frustrating.

I do love lat pulldowns though, so those felt good, but I thought the single-leg partial squats were weird too. They were hard, even without added weight, but I'm not sure *how* low we're supposed to go. Are we supposed to get as low as we can, THEN add weight, or add weight even if you're not getting to parallel or lower?

I think I liked back extensions OK too, but I did them just with bodyweight (arms crossed at my shoulders), and I think I'll need to add weight next time. YTWL was OK, but awkward as hell, especially the W. It was hard to remember to keep my elbows close on the starting position.

Abs & Prone Cobras just seemed to take FOREVER with 3 sets, and then HIIT put my total workout time (including a 3-min. stretch and 10-min. warmup before I lifted) to 1 hr., 45 minutes. Which is ridiculous. I think I'm going to start putting the BWM (Workout A) and HIIT (Workout on the days after I lift so I can be in & out of the gym in 90 minutes.

I do love lat pulldowns though, so those felt good, but I thought the single-leg partial squats were weird too. They were hard, even without added weight, but I'm not sure *how* low we're supposed to go. Are we supposed to get as low as we can, THEN add weight, or add weight even if you're not getting to parallel or lower?

In the book it says to go as low as you can go without hurting your back or knees... then he continues to say "remember it's a partial squat"... so from that I gather that the goal is not to go parallel.

Your hamstrings can absolutely give you lower back pain!! Most people that have lower back pain have tight hamstrings/glutes/backs of their legs. I'm a massage therapist, so I know how to avoid it thankfully (I stretch for at least 10mins after every workout) Do some hamstring and glute stretches, a lot! And if you can find a foam roller, foam roll away baby!

Would you mind giving some specific suggestions for stretches? I could really use some help in this area as well.

My first workout B today. I'm looking forward to it.

This is a GREAT hip/glute stretch, my FAV for low back pain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qZ517Rw7ME&feature=related

This one is a pretty good one too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE6mJ0VjK7Y

This is a pretty good hamstring stretch video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSbL-Z8SLoc

That's all I've got for now!

Did my first stage 3 A today and goodness me. Please tell me I'm not the only one who could not complete 24 lunge and squat jumps. Ugh

So I did my first B workout today. It does seem much easier than A. But I really pushed my self this time and really upped the weights from what I had been doing before...on most things.

On the back extensions...how heavy do you go? I deal with chronic back pain so I tend to baby my back. I started with BW which was very easy, upped it to 5 lbs...still easy. Did last set at 10 lbs...and it was still pretty easy? I just don't know how much to push this one.

Waddup ladies! Did 2A yesterday and besides the dreaded plank - I really like A! Totally hate B My body issue is my lower half, so the fact that its always sore when I'm done makes me feel like I'm making some prgress in that area And again that BWM hurts soooo good! First time for me was 2:48; 2nd 2:31. Hope I'm doin it right

Overall I still feel awkward doing that one arm up other one down squat move. My body is always twisting alll weirdly. This I don't like. Don't like planks either - I suck at them and strangely my time is getting worse? Is it a mind thing? I don't know - have a lovely day all!!!!

I do love lat pulldowns though, so those felt good, but I thought the single-leg partial squats were weird too. They were hard, even without added weight, but I'm not sure *how* low we're supposed to go. Are we supposed to get as low as we can, THEN add weight, or add weight even if you're not getting to parallel or lower?

In the book it says to go as low as you can go without hurting your back or knees... then he continues to say "remember it's a partial squat"... so from that I gather that the goal is not to go parallel.

I agree. I don't think we are supposed to go parallel, but now I have the question of how to make it harder on the floor. Or should I just up the reps? I don't really want to use a box because that means I have to run all over the gym between the squats and lat pulldowns. But 6 just didn't seem enough. I do have to hold my hands out front to maintain balance so I'm not sure I could hold weights. But I'm open to suggestions. (Even though it does sound like I'm not. )

Thanks ladies. I used to figure skate, so for sit spins, I used to be able to do what he describes as "pistol squats" with one leg straight out in front, and squatting below parallel. So I figured I'd try for parallel with body weight, and then add weight. But where he does acknowledge that it's specifically a partial squat, maybe I'll just add weight next time and see how it feels.

Lori - if you're holding your hands in front of you for balance, could you possibly hold a weight plate to your chest instead? I don't know if that would be any easier to balance than having hands down by your sides, but you'd be able to stay close to the lat pulldown machine.