4 those not crazy about PLB...

jillybean

jillybean

Cathlete
I did this by accident, but it was great. While doing this tape, I got mixed up and kept my weight at 40 lbs. the whole way up and down the pyramid for squats. Don't ask how - I have 2 barbells and kept grabbing the wrong one. I guess I can mess up simple addition quite easily). Anyway, this segment pretty much resembled PS SLA because you are doing lots of squats at different counts and no low-ends. I WILL do the pyramid style next time for all segments and I know that Cathe didn't intend for the tape to be done with one weight load throughout, I just thought I'd suggest it. I read a post from someone that has star collars and my heart went out to her. I thought this might help.

P.S. I just want to state for the record that I really love this pyramid method of training and can't wait to see what these new workouts will do for my body. Woo Hoo!
 
Hey Jillybean...thanks for the info. I love the pyramid workouts too but I have to admit that I didn't feel the least bit fatigued during the barbell work in lower body at the weight levels used in the video. Next time I'm going to up the weights and see how that goes. It does get a little frustrating with all the weight changes so I'm going to play around with this workout and maybe try dumbells. The stability ball section was tougher and I did feel a good burn in my legs.

JJ
 
That was my impression also. The barbell work was not the least bit challenging, but the ball was a good workout. For the first and only time I found a Cathe weight tape to be useless when using the weights she was using. The next day, no soreness. I am going to try it again and add 10-15 lbs per barbell all the way up and down the pyramid. I think it'll be a great workout, I just have to find the right weight.

On the other hand PUB was challenging as is.
 
I combined the barbell with dumbells and found this to be an awesome workout. My legs were trembling with that ball work. I also have star collars and the combining with the dumbells was very helpful. Cathe also mentions that we can use dumbells if we didn't want to keep changing the plates on the barbell.

Danielle :+
 
Do you mind telling me the weights Cathe used for PLB?? I don't have my DVDs yet (WAAHHH) but I want to do this workout first. I usually use about he same weight that Cathe uses on legs, so what weights would you recommend that I use?? Thanks!!
 
For leg presses and lunges she starts out with 25 then goes to 30 then 35. Then you work your way back down (35, 30 then back to 25)

For squats and bent over dead lifts she'll start with 30, 35 then 40.
(then 40, 35, 30)

This is what I can remember...please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I did this one last night and my glutes and hamstrings are sore!!


Danielle :D

(P.S. Much easier using dumbells on the shoulders combined with the barbell---(I used the barbell for the heaviest weight) like people mentioned earlier and Cathe mentions to use the dumbells too if you don't want to keep changing the plates)
 
Hi Jillybean! I'm the poor soul that has the star collars!! Yes feel for me. Needless to say I would have to purchase the barbell that Cathe uses to see if I feel anything in my legs. I did try it w/my barbell at 58#s but still didn't feel anything. I REALLY felt it when I used PS SLA & stopped the tape at the bodybar section & went into the stability ball section of PLB. WOWSA!! My legs felt like jelly after. If you can interchange the plates like Cathe does & the speed that Cathe goes then you've got yourself a good leg workout. Thanks for feeling sorry for me though, Kathy:7
 
I didn't think the weight work in PLB was hard enough either but upping the weights def. helps. I use dumbells. The ball work is very tough, imho! Not as hard as in PUB (does this tape ever get any easier?!!!) though!
:)
 
ladies:

I hear you all and agree with most.

I up the weights for the pyramid section beyond what Cathe uses in order to make this work for me. The leg preses at 25-30-35 weren't doing it and neither was it for squats. I have also done what jillybean did: not because I forgot, but because I get so tired at lifting the bar over my head the whole time, I'll often go up through the pyramid to 45 and just leave it there and finish out all the sets with that weight so that I don't kill my upper body with all that lifting over the head, and it challenges my lower body more, so the working my way up through the pyramid section from 35-40-45 serves as a warm up!

Sure, it isn't what Cathe intended, but, we all have to do what we can and need to do to make it work for us!

Clare
 
Ouch! It's funny how some some workouts work for people and some don't. I wasn't too sore from Power Hour, but from PLB, my glutes, hamstrings, quads and especially my calves are soooo sore!!! I only used about 5 more pounds on the barbell than Cathe also.

Danielle

;)
 
Isn't that the truth? Power Hour is exhausting, but I am rarely sore afterwards. With ME, PUB, and PLB I FELT it the next day. My glutes really hurt after PLB. And that is definitely one spot I need to work on so Woo Hoo!
 
Hello,

I did PLB last night for the first time. :)

I was so PROUD & EXCITED because this was the first time I have every changed weight like Cathe did. I would always use the same weight for everything. My lower body is SCREAMING for MERCY!! :eek: :eek:

I TRULY enjoyed the PAIN :eek:
 
weights in PLB

I haven't done this one yet, but wouldn't the weights go 25,30,35,30, 25... NOT 25,30,35,35,30,25? Does she repeat the highest weight in the middle, or pyramid back down to medium weight after one set of highest weight?
Thanks,
:)
 
RE: weights in PLB

You're right, she does not repeat the highest weight in the middle. Sorry about that. :7
 
I have star collars, so after reading this message I was a little scared that PLB was going to get on my nerves. But I read these suggestions and used my 15 pound dumbells for the first set and loaded my barbell to 35 and used my 2 1/2 pounds ankle weights to add quickly to the barbell for the heaviest set. It worked out fine. As a matter of fact it was very easy and took me LESS time than it took Cathe and the crew, so that was nice. I do think though that even at 40 for the heaviest that I need to go a little heavier next time. Next time I'll probably start with my 20 pound dumbells on the shoulders, then go to a 45 pound barbell, then add the ankle weights to it for 50 pounds. I was surprised that I might need to go heavier because I usually use the same weight as Cathe and that is about as far as I can go. But it is no problem, I can work it out. And I loved the ball work.

So overall, I think the key to the barbell work in this tape is to go heavy if you can, maybe even a little heavier than usual if you can get the weight over your head safely of course.

Good luck and enjoy the workouts!!! :)
 
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