Hi Cathe!
The 6 pack is great! Unfortunately I haven't been able to do as much of the cardio sections as I'd like because I'm in training to run my first 5K in two weeks and I'm trying to watch the amount of impact my knees are subjected to (I still can't believe I'm running!). Of course, I blew off all caution last night and just had to do All Step even though I had run for 30 minutes in the morning! So far, I really love the one body part per day format. It's so easy to fit it in and very hard to come up with reasons not to do it since it's at most ½ hour (I have to stop myself from doing too much cardio - strength, well, as Daphne says, strength is my veggies).
But now to my questions: I did the abs section of CSX Kickbox and while my abs/core were fine during the plank work, my wrists were not. (I've printed out the wrist strengthening exercises you posted) Eventually, I had to come down to the plank position where my forearms were on the floor, palms down although I was still on my toes. I think I prefer to do the plank work this way but how can I make it harder? If I'm on my arms, I don't have "clearance" to bring my knee towards my face like you do. Could I lift one leg up and hold it straight out to increase the work in my core? Based on a suggestion at VF, I was also thinking of trying to do the plank in the same position as you but using dumbbells as a substitute for push-up handlebars - same as I use for push-ups. Do you think that might work?
The second question I have is with the shoulder shrug work in All Step when you are bent at a 45 degree angle. You use heavy weights - are you trying to bulk up the trapezius (I think that's the muscle that's being worked) or is the pace fast enough that you won't? The reason I ask is that it seemed to be different to what you said in PS CS&T (my fave PS tape - I do like tricep work) - about not creating a bulky appearance there and therefore suggesting that we use light weights. I guess that's my way of saying I'm a little confused. I don't want a bulky trapezius development so what weights should I use in CSX?
Looking forward to seeing you in October (at this point I'll be behind the camera),
Judy
The 6 pack is great! Unfortunately I haven't been able to do as much of the cardio sections as I'd like because I'm in training to run my first 5K in two weeks and I'm trying to watch the amount of impact my knees are subjected to (I still can't believe I'm running!). Of course, I blew off all caution last night and just had to do All Step even though I had run for 30 minutes in the morning! So far, I really love the one body part per day format. It's so easy to fit it in and very hard to come up with reasons not to do it since it's at most ½ hour (I have to stop myself from doing too much cardio - strength, well, as Daphne says, strength is my veggies).
But now to my questions: I did the abs section of CSX Kickbox and while my abs/core were fine during the plank work, my wrists were not. (I've printed out the wrist strengthening exercises you posted) Eventually, I had to come down to the plank position where my forearms were on the floor, palms down although I was still on my toes. I think I prefer to do the plank work this way but how can I make it harder? If I'm on my arms, I don't have "clearance" to bring my knee towards my face like you do. Could I lift one leg up and hold it straight out to increase the work in my core? Based on a suggestion at VF, I was also thinking of trying to do the plank in the same position as you but using dumbbells as a substitute for push-up handlebars - same as I use for push-ups. Do you think that might work?
The second question I have is with the shoulder shrug work in All Step when you are bent at a 45 degree angle. You use heavy weights - are you trying to bulk up the trapezius (I think that's the muscle that's being worked) or is the pace fast enough that you won't? The reason I ask is that it seemed to be different to what you said in PS CS&T (my fave PS tape - I do like tricep work) - about not creating a bulky appearance there and therefore suggesting that we use light weights. I guess that's my way of saying I'm a little confused. I don't want a bulky trapezius development so what weights should I use in CSX?
Looking forward to seeing you in October (at this point I'll be behind the camera),
Judy
