Barbell make a difference

[LynnW]

I just recieved my barbell set the other day so today was the first time I did MIS with the barbell and I sure could tell a difference. The 15 pound dumbells I used before were hard but I was sweating a ton this morning. I will probably feel it tomorrow too. I am glad it is a rest day of my rotation.

Reading everyone's feedback on the new videos is killing me though. I have had mine about 2 1/2 weeks but really need to get through a rotation Cathe so kindly recommended for me. Later this week I will finish my 6th week of it so I might break down and start the new video's. But since the barbell made such a big difference today, I am wondering if I should finish out the 12 weeek rotation or maybe make it a 9 week rotation. Any opinions out there?

BTW I bought the barbell from Troy and Bob Harms was very helpful and responsive.

I recently ordered some clothes from Hotskins and was a very disappointed in the way the order was handled and had to send it all back. I hate paying shipping twice especially when it is so high to begin with. Sorry I am venting now.

Lynn

 

[kellyeli]

Hotskins order

Hi Lynn! Just had to add my experience with ordering from hotskins. I recently (last month) ordered the v-shorts online and a full week later got a call from them telling me that they'd discontinued them and would I like to order anything in their place. I said no, very disappointed that 1) the shorts were available online and 2) it took a whole week for them to discover this mistake. I guess I'm lucky I didn't have to send anything back though. I've heard several people here say they've been pleased with what they ordered from them. Maybe we're just the 'unlucky' few, huh? Don't worry about venting, sometimes ya just have to!

Elizabeth Kelly

 

[wendy2]

same rotation, I think

Hi, Lynn! I think I might be doing the same rotation as you--did Cathe post it as a three week rotation to be repeated four times, substituting LL for SLA when the new tapes came? (There were other things about it, too, but I thought that would make it easy to identify.) If we are doing the same one, I'd love to know what you think of it, how are your results, etc. I've adapted it a little because I don't own some of the tapes you do (MIC, IMAX); I've also sometimes switched the order of the workouts depending on how I've felt that day.
I am having a hard time judging my results on such a short amount of time on it (this is the end of my 5th week), although maybe if it were really working for me , the results would be more blatant.(?)
I bought a barbell last week and liked it, too--especially using a higher weight on chest. I wanted to tell you, also, that rather than doing the cardio as she listed it, I have been substituting cardio (but not strength) from the new videos. Rather than Stepworks in its entirety, I might do parts of it with All Step; and for the days listed as non-step cardio, I've done Kickbox tacked on to other cardio.
Have you stuck to it exactly as Cathe wrote it for you (bless her heart!)? Do you think its ok that I've switched days around?
Wendy

 

[LynnW]

Hi Wendy!

Boy, I really goofed. I just finished responding to you and decided to read your bio. Well I didn't save the message so I lost it all.

oh well! Interesting bio. My husband and I are heading to Scottsdale in Feb for a week-long golf vacation. We love to get out of the Nebraska cold and snow.

Anyway, back to your post. I think we are doing similar rotations too. When I received the new tapes I posted a question to Cathe about changing rotations. I was only in the third week. She didn't recommend changing so soon since the body really shows results after 3-4 weeks. Since this rotation is 12 weeks, I think the results may take a little longer. I bet you will see results soon since you're just on the 5 week mark.

I haven't seen real dramatic results but I definitely like the variety with a "purpose" the rotation gives me.

I have not changed the tapes Cathe recommended but have changed the order somewhat. I really like to have Sunday as a rest day so I moved things around a bit too. Also depending on the days activities, I would alter a little. I really tried to keep the strength, cardio, etc. in the proper order though.

Cathe mentioned replacing the MIC with 10-10-10, All Step, and Step & Intervals if I wanted. I didn't know about switching PS Legs/Abs with LL though. The PS series is brand new to me so I will probably stick with those tapes for now. They are challenging enough for me now. With the new barbell, I will have more challenges to work on! Today my shoulders/neck are pretty sore. I guess the heavy bar was that new to those muscles.

I probably will continue with this rotation and maybe just switch the cardio tapes a little for the next few weeks. I like your ideals!

Do you have any specific goals? I would like to strengthen and reduce the inner thigh area. Define the legs and calves more and as always work on the lower abs. Would you like to keep in touch and monitor our progress?

Lynn

D

 

[wendy2]

Hi, Lynn

Yes, lets keep in touch and monitor our progress

. I have to say that I'll be more likely to do it through this forum than if we email, because I always check the forum and rarely if ever check my email! Is that ok? (I know its not ok with the people who email me, but is it ok with you

?!)

My goals are to lose some body fat in the upper thigh area and hips and butt. I don't really need to lose any weight, but if I could just lose the fat in that area (I know, I know, there is no such thing as spot reducing!) we'd all be able to enjoy the muscles hiding under there! Just to have allover definition would be nice--I don't want to have to flex my muscles in order to see them. I know this involves cutting my body fat percentage down, so I probably need to rethink my eating philosophy. I have a feeling I eat far too many carbs, but I want to steer clear of diets and extreme food restrictions like no protien, no carbohydrates, etc.

To replace MIC with those tapes, do you do the cardio in its entirety from 10-10-10, All Step and Step & Intervals, or just parts of them? I'm guessing all of them together, but the intensity is so high I doubt I could do those all back to back. I've put two together and that was a tough workout!

This week I'm going to try to stick with the rotation as posted. My work schedule just doesn't end up working the right way--On days I get off early, I'm scheduled for a rest day or an easier workout, and on days I get off later I'm scheduled for an hour of intensity! Oh, well, I love it either way

Keep in touch,
Wendy

 

[LynnW]

Hi Wendy!

The forum is just fine for me too. I like to check it before I hit the sack. It inspires me to get up early and work hard the next morning.

I haven't made the changes to MIC yet, but Cathe suggested replacing the high/low MIC with 10-10-10's first two portions and then putting in the All Step tapeor Step & Intervals for the step portion of MIC. I don't think I could do both tapes back to back either. I really have about 1 hr 15 min to get my work-out in. I don't know how some people do work-outs twice a day. I don't have time or desire to do that.

I think the rotation has stepped up my metabolism a little. I lost about 3 pounds the last few weeks and really didn't need to and I wasn't really trying either. My waist and hips have gotten a little smaller too. There is some more definition in my legs, I just have to face the fact that I won't have long skinny legs but they will be strong.

It is funny because my kids get a kick at looking and feeling my arm (bicep) muscles. Believe me they are not that big, you can just see them and wearing sleevless shirts tends to show them off a little. They think I am soo strong!! Hehehe

I agree with you about the diets. Last year my hubby tried the Atkins diet and I did it with him just to get me off the sugar and processed carbohydrates. He lost weight but once he got back to the old habits the weight crept back on. I did lose some weight but I know it was mostly water. I tend to eat a lot of carbs too but one thing the Atkins made me aware of is how bad all the processed food we eat is. I try to buy as many "whole foods" and really limit the processed stuff around the house. The kids now like whole wheat bread instead of "white" bread. I like to make popcorn the old fashioned way for the salty snack we crave. The chips are still around but we don't indulge that often. Personally, I can live without them. This is sort of funny, but I think tortilla chips are not so bad because they are sort of a " whole food" - CORN and contain some fiber, also some of them are not as high in fat as others. (Justifying that Friday night craving for nacho's and margarita's).

I'm scheduled for Step Works tomorrow with just two more days to finish 6 weeks of the rotation. I am still debating on switching to the new tapes. I'm thinking the LL tape might boost my leg area just from reading the other posts.

Got to go - time for bed for this girl!

Lynn