Lift lower with STS vs Slow & Heavy

[KellyMarie65]

I was discouraged starting STS yesterday. I can lift so much heavier with the slow & heavy series, I had to drop down for STS. Also, the amount of moving equipment around is something to get used to. I had to hit pause "alot". Anyone else find they had to lift lighter when starting?

[Bobbi-B]

I don't have Slow & Heavy so I can't compare my starting weights. But remember that Meso 1 is endurance. Maybe the weights you start with in Slow & Heavy will be more comparable to the heavier weights in Meso 2 or 3.

Yes, I have to hit pause A LOT with STS to switch out plates and move equipment around. Hopefully I'll get more efficient, but truthfully sometimes I don't mind hitting pause because it gives me a chance to catch my breath.

[KellyMarie65]

Originally Posted by Bobbi-B

I don't have Slow & Heavy so I can't compare my starting weights. But remember that Meso 1 is endurance. Maybe the weights you start with in Slow & Heavy will be more comparable to the heavier weights in Meso 2 or 3.

Yes, I have to hit pause A LOT with STS to switch out plates and move equipment around. Hopefully I'll get more efficient, but truthfully sometimes I don't mind hitting pause because it gives me a chance to catch my breath.

Maybe it is because it's endurance. Hitting pause makes me feel like I'm taking too many breaks lol I don't know, I was going to go back to gym styles but I'll do legs tomorrow and see how I do.

[Peaceful Rainbow]

What helps me with being able to make the changes quicker during Meso 1 is to go through my workout card ahead of time and make notes as to what combination of weights I need for exercises that are for a weight that I can't just pick up and use. So, say I'm supposed to use 9 lbs. I note in the notes column that I need 8 + 1 lb wrist weight (ww). Then I set up all my equipment including the weights I need, the wrist weights, band, stability ball, mat, bench etc. The more easily accessible things are the smoother everything goes. I did Disk 4 today and I only had to pause briefly a couple times.

[Fit_mommy]

ITA with Cathy. As soon as I am done with an exercise I am looking at my work out card to see what weights I need for the next exercise. I am getting more and more efficient at setting up with every work out. I still pause but not nearly as much as I did when I first started! FYI: I am doing the 6.5 month rotation and about to do disc 7 for the 2nd time tmrw.

And as for S&H. I did those work outs before. FWIW, you really can't compare that to Meso 1 STS. Not at all. Totally different styles of training.

[LeahM]

I have screw-based weights (i.e. ones where you have to keep screwing and unscrewing the bolts to put the weights on). Meso 1 was a nightmare! Constant pausing... there were the occassional dvd's that were not so bad. Major issue is my barbell, which has a much longer thread to the screw.

However: Meso 2 is proving much easier. There are 1 minute breaks between exercises, so plenty of time to undo and redo. My only problem has been back off sets, where I have had to do a bit of pausing (I ended up dropping my weight by about 25-30% rather than the 40% as I had to pause for a bit, and was going a similar time to Cathe).

Essentially, stick with it, I'm getting results despite the stop starting in meso 1!

[werkout kween]

Glad I'm not the only one who has to hit the pause button even though I've prepared my weights ahead of time. I figured Meso 2 would be easier with the longer rest, so I'm looking forward to it!

[tvango7708]

Originally Posted by KellyMarie65

I was discouraged starting STS yesterday. I can lift so much heavier with the slow & heavy series, I had to drop down for STS. Also, the amount of moving equipment around is something to get used to. I had to hit pause "alot". Anyone else find they had to lift lighter when starting?

I lift pretty heavy and for the first Meso cycle dropped down as I was doing more sets/reps.
I use bowflex which makes changing weights for dumbells easier