Ab Circuits reviews, anyone?

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Kathy

I was wondering when someone was going to point out how deceivingly hard the Mermaides were...and so true about being stronger on one side. I almost got stuck in "mid-mermaid" one the one side during filming

I did the Pilates-inspired segment this morning and loved it, and I previewed the yoga and no-equipment segments and they look great too! It's going to be fun to add these onto our STS weeks. And wow, those "mermaids" were deceptively hard work -- and much harder on one side than the other. I never knew I was THAT unbalanced!

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Some Insight on Ab Circuits

Hi Chrissy! I enjoyed our Starbucks too. I could go for one now but it's too late.

Anyway, you are right, of all the ab/core routines the individual Med Ball workout (NOT THE PARTNER MED BALL WORKOUT) is the easier one in the batch, not only because it is the shortest but because its focus is on functional movement. I do think, however, that you will benefit from using a heavier ball (between 6 to 10 pounds) ...and even feel a bit of a cardio challenge creeping up on those chopping motions. That being said, you still most likely won't feel the same typical intensity you are used to because most of these med ball exercises focus on rotation, coordination, and dynamic range of movement in various planes. A very good thing even if not making you sweat and grunt

Also, while on the topic of the medicine ball....if you have an opportunity to do the Partner Abs, please do so. It may take a bit to get the coordination down with your partner but it's so worth it. These exercises will fire your core/obliques in very unique and effective ways.

Side Note: Once you have mastered the exercises I have shown you in this partner section, add on two more sets per side of each exercise (do all sets to one side before switching sides). THEN switch partners. Hello Core!

I did the med ball abs this morning. I picked that because it was the shortest. I just did disc 1 of STS. I am ususally tortured by Cathe's ab routines, but this one was (i hate to say it ) kinda easy. It was alot of oblique work, twisting, wood chops. Although I admit I only had a 4 lb ball, i believe Cathe's was 8 lbs. I ended up adding on the partner abs on because DS was watching me. He is only 10 but we are close in height (already!!) He liked doing it although the tosses were kinda scary (he didn't have much control when he was throwing the ball) This could have also made it a little easier for me since his timing was off.

I didn't view any of the other ones yet.

chrissy

 

[Havingfun]

weighted/plate ab work

Hi,

I did the weighted ab routine. I think Cathe had 2.5 lbs on her ankles and 2 lbs gloves. I had the same except used my 2lb dumbells. It worked fine. That is one tough core workout. I was sweating when I finished. It was a lot of varieties of roll ups, which since I've finally mastered effectively without weights, were quite challenging with the weights, but doable. Then you take the weights off and do a variety of plank moves with the paper plates under your feet. Silly me, I thought since it was weights and plates the plates were weight plates! Anyway, these pikes and various moves were challenging and a nice variation on planks. Great workout!

Tracy

 

[cb1924]

I just did the stability ball abs. It was good. It was challenging but I was able to do the whole thing (with modifications) Usually during Cathe's abs I ended up watching part of it because it is just pure torture (I admit it, I like short and sweet when it comes to abs). This one I finished, however she did straight leg pikes and I can not do them. My ball just will not roll more than a couple of inches so I modified doing them with bent knees. Then she did 1 legged pikes (WTH!!!) Again I definitely had to modify because, well if I can't do it with 2 legs, its not gonna happen with one! But it was definitely effective and fun. The 20 minutes actually went by fairly quickly.

chrissy

 

[cb1924]

Hi,

Silly me, I thought since it was weights and plates the plates were weight plates!
Tracy

How did those weight plates slide for you!?! I betcha that added some intensity to the moves. LOL