Anyone start Meso3 yet?
- Thread starter Melclear
- Start date
jansherman
Cathlete
I'm doing meso 3, and I'm sorry to say that I'm not enjoying it so much. I LOVE the plyo legs, but the other workouts... The same exercises are used throughout the whole cycle, and you basically do 4 sets of each, dropping a rep each week until the last one, then you do 8 reps again. For me personally, the rests are too long, even using heavy weight. So I put other stuff in between. I guess my biggest disappointment is that I know I could have done this cycle without even watching the dvds.
I don't think you all will have any problems with this one.
I don't think you all will have any problems with this one.
Jazcam
Cathlete
Thanks for the info. Are you doing the squat rack workouts or just plyos?
jansherman
Cathlete
I've tried both the squat rack dvd and the plyo legs. I really like plyo legs, but I have the same problem with the squat rack track as the rest of the workout. The four exercises used are squats, stiff-leg deadlifts, front squats, and lunges. The rests are even longer than for upper body, and even with heavy weight (according to my 1RM's), 8 reps don't fatigue me enough to warrent that long of rest period. I'm sure I'm using heavy enough weight, maybe I just recover more quickly.
I really hope everyone else isn't as disappointed with this one as I am. Mayby I just have ADD when it comes to workouts and need more variety!
I really hope everyone else isn't as disappointed with this one as I am. Mayby I just have ADD when it comes to workouts and need more variety!
poohpeggy
Cathlete
I love Meso 3. It is my favorite. The music is timed perfectly. I love lifting heavy and doing less reps and there is no rushing. I have done the squat legs 1x. I'm using a backpack with 2-25lb plates and a 50lb BB. I have found the rest times in-between about 20 seconds too long for me but maybe the 2nd time will go different. Peggy
TarHeelMom
Cathlete
lightening16
Cathlete
That is an awesome idea! It would have to be small enough to stay next to your body it should work well!
Is it hot?
Heather
Is it hot?
Heather
michefit
Cathlete
Yes - what a great idea - I have been racking my brain (pun intended) to think of a way to do the squat rack workout without a squat rack. Do you take the back pack off between sets? Does it hurt your shoulders or back? Is it effective?
poohpeggy
Cathlete
I am so glad to help. I am using a child size strong built backpack from the "Childrens Place Store". Its a old one from my daughter. I adjust it to fit high up in the back and it even has a front buckle by the chest. I tried putting it on the front for front squats and the plates hit my knees so I'm going to try a bunch of 5 lb plates which are much smaller. I have it adjusted perfectly but it is too hard to remove during rests so I just sit on the couch until the next set comes up..then my back isn't under strain.
Peggy
Peggy
regina
Cathlete
I have done the first two workouts of meso three. When I did Meso three squat rack legs, if I felt that my muscles were not fatigued after the eight reps and/or if I felt like the rest period was too long, then I increased the weight for the next set. I knew when I hit the right weight because my muscles were fatigued and needed the rest period. In chest and back, I pretty much had the right weight the first go around.
drover
Cathlete
what a great idea, peggy!! that is what i'm gonna do. don't think i'm gonna put 2-25's in it though. LOL! at least one, though. i'm wondering if we could do the plyo legs and the squat rack legs both. or would that be too much?
so, i do disc 24 tomorrow and then my rest week. what are ya'll doing for your rest week? my hips are so sore from disc 23. and it was tough doing step and tall-box climb today.
what are we gonna do when we finish STS????
cathy
so, i do disc 24 tomorrow and then my rest week. what are ya'll doing for your rest week? my hips are so sore from disc 23. and it was tough doing step and tall-box climb today.
what are we gonna do when we finish STS????
cathy
jansherman
Cathlete
I did plyo legs week 3 today, and it was amazing! I'd never done one leg squat thrusts before. I'm going to try the plates in a backpack idea - maybe that will make me appreciate the rest between sets of the heavy legs.
Cathe Friedrich
Administrator
Cathe Friedrich
Administrator
The long rests in Meso 3
Hi Jansherman! It goes without saying that we all will have our favorite mesocycles since each of them is soooo different, but I just wanted to be sure that you give Meso #3 your fairest shot (and after that it still may not come up to be your favorite but, hey, you ate your veggies and got the job done
) by highlighting a few reminders. Remember to select a weight that you can barely squeak out 9 reps for each of the exercises. If you are able to do 10 or more reps with the weight you selected then the rest periods will be too long for the intensity of the exercise. Ideally in an all out strength workout your body needs anywhere from about 3 mins to 5 mins rest between sets no matter how great your genetics are. Your body simply can’t replenish the fuel it needs to power your muscles in an intense strength exercise in less time than this. If you’re truly using the correct weight for a strength based program and reduce your rest period, your body will burn out of fuel before you’re able to complete your next set and your results will suffer as far as increasing strength is concerned. So yes, the rests are definitely longer in meso #3, but are required to refuel the muscle fibers. While we encourage you to be using the correct weight in every mesocycle, doing so in meso #3 is especially important.
As for the Meso 3 leg workouts, we offered the plyo leg routines as the main feature because we knew most of you would not have the home tools available to safely hit these maximum weight numbers. We felt the plyo leg routines were a nice tough option that improved explosive strength if you didn't have a spotter or squat rack. But we do want everyone to be able to benefit from STS as designed so we felt it necessary to also include the squat rack routine in case you did have this option and wanted to go for it. The next best choice for maximum strength (if no spotter or squat rack) is the weighted vest option you see us using, which is a very good substitute however you most likely will still not be able to lift your MAXIMUM weight. So we were very thorough in making sure that everyone had some form of workout to meet their needs for their leg workouts for Meso three.
Keep up the good work Jan!
Hi Jansherman! It goes without saying that we all will have our favorite mesocycles since each of them is soooo different, but I just wanted to be sure that you give Meso #3 your fairest shot (and after that it still may not come up to be your favorite but, hey, you ate your veggies and got the job done
) by highlighting a few reminders. Remember to select a weight that you can barely squeak out 9 reps for each of the exercises. If you are able to do 10 or more reps with the weight you selected then the rest periods will be too long for the intensity of the exercise. Ideally in an all out strength workout your body needs anywhere from about 3 mins to 5 mins rest between sets no matter how great your genetics are. Your body simply can’t replenish the fuel it needs to power your muscles in an intense strength exercise in less time than this. If you’re truly using the correct weight for a strength based program and reduce your rest period, your body will burn out of fuel before you’re able to complete your next set and your results will suffer as far as increasing strength is concerned. So yes, the rests are definitely longer in meso #3, but are required to refuel the muscle fibers. While we encourage you to be using the correct weight in every mesocycle, doing so in meso #3 is especially important.As for the Meso 3 leg workouts, we offered the plyo leg routines as the main feature because we knew most of you would not have the home tools available to safely hit these maximum weight numbers. We felt the plyo leg routines were a nice tough option that improved explosive strength if you didn't have a spotter or squat rack. But we do want everyone to be able to benefit from STS as designed so we felt it necessary to also include the squat rack routine in case you did have this option and wanted to go for it. The next best choice for maximum strength (if no spotter or squat rack) is the weighted vest option you see us using, which is a very good substitute however you most likely will still not be able to lift your MAXIMUM weight. So we were very thorough in making sure that everyone had some form of workout to meet their needs for their leg workouts for Meso three.
Keep up the good work Jan!
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jansherman
Cathlete
Thanks, Cathe! You're right, after reconsidering my weight choices, I don't think I started this meso with the correct amount of weight. Tonight I redid most of my 1RM and came up with much heavier weight amounts than before. I must have had an off day when I did them before, and I was in a hurry to get them done.
So, I'm restarting meso 3 on Saturday with much heavier weights, and I'm going to keep going heavier until I appreciate those rest periods! I absolutely love the plyo legs workouts - it makes me happy in the morning when one of them is on my calendar. I'm also going to work in the squat rack legs using a weighted vest or maybe the backpack with weights.
Thanks again for your post. I really do need this meso, as I usually choose meso 1 or meso 2 type workouts, and like you say, we need to keep shocking our bodies!
So, I'm restarting meso 3 on Saturday with much heavier weights, and I'm going to keep going heavier until I appreciate those rest periods! I absolutely love the plyo legs workouts - it makes me happy in the morning when one of them is on my calendar. I'm also going to work in the squat rack legs using a weighted vest or maybe the backpack with weights.
Thanks again for your post. I really do need this meso, as I usually choose meso 1 or meso 2 type workouts, and like you say, we need to keep shocking our bodies!
pharma_gal
Cathlete
Hey-This is a cool idea..Do you wear the backpack on the back and secure it with something? Is the BB with 50lbs too heavy to lift over the head with 50lbs of weight already on the body? Thanks.