Do I Need the Slow & Heavy Series?

J

JenniferAnn

Cathlete
Hi everyone. I've entered the modern age since I just bought a DVD player today. I'd been planning on buying the pyramid DVD but I got to thinking that maybe I need S&H more. What do you guys think? BTW, I have all of Cathe's weight tapes except for S&H. Do you think that S&H is 'essential?'
 
To answer your question, yes, you do need this series. :) Seriously, I have all of Cathe's strength workouts myself and I love S/H more. The slow training method works well for me. I have seen better results using thes than with PH, PS or MIS. I can go heavier with S/H and can really feel my muscles working. I've been able to see more definition using S/H than I did with the others. I just love what it does for me.


Sharon
 
Hi,
I would say, get the Pyramids. They are brand new, will have pre-mixed combos, have an endurance component thrown in according to the reviews and you canprobably use them for a modified Body for Life rotation.
I have both S&H and PS. Although I love S&H, PS gets used more simply because it is easier to fit into a rotation. The pace of S&H, the concentration it demands, plus those bent over moves (tricep extensions and rows for lumbar endurance)make it difficult to just wing it after a hard day at work. Plus she recommends it for about 3 weeks...then what? If you want a split routine to be a base routine then it's either PS or the new series. I like the S&H Legs and shoulders routine the best and chest & back...it's a good series to have in your collection but it isn't a NEED.
 
If money only grew on trees...

I think that S&H is really good for busting through your strength plateaus, but is probably not a "NEED." The very first time I used S&H in a 3-week rotation, it added some bulk for me to my upper body, but that was smoothed out by going into a six-week muscular endurance rotation. The end result was some nice, firm, defined muscles in my upper body (although still covered by that stubborn layer of fat).

As far as the legs and abs go, well they are another story. As far as I can tell, the S&H didn't do much for the way they look, but I did feel stronger after that rotation in the legs.

For me, my DH already noticed my butt and gut looking smaller with the new Pyramid/Intensity series rotation I am now doing.

I guess if I had to pick, I would say go for the pyramids. I think they are more fun and my trouble spots are my lower body, which DH thinks they are helping. So, S&H is probably not a "NEED."

Good luck with whatever you decide! And don't be like me and let your eating sabotage your hard workout efforts!

Linda
 
Yes you need it. Its the best series for serious muscle building of the group of strength tapes, IMO. (I don't have my Upper and Lower Pyramids DVDs yet, mind you)

I think S&H is necessary for a well-rounded strength program. Get it, you'll not be disappointed, only very, very sore. :)
 
I don't have my pyramids yet. so I can't compare, but I think slow and heavy is a must. It is structured as a 3 day split so it can be hard to make a rotation around it, but what I have done is make a 2 day split out of it by doing only 2 sets instead of three of each exercise (made 2 tapes from my DVD's). I still get amazing strength gains, and it works in really well. I love this series, I try to do it at least twice a year. What I find is that doing a strength series like that makes everything easier: the endurance stuff gets easier, cardio gets easier.

Christine
 
I love S&H series. I have the pyramids too. But to me they are so different. I use S&H series five to six times a year for 3 weeks each. It is an amazing series. The power gain, muscle gain, and when it's followed by other weight endurance exercises: PS series, PH, MIS, Pyramids,... the defenition is amazing. To me it's so important to have that concentration and slow motion from time to time. Have fun!
 
Yes you need the Slow and Heavy Series. I just got the pyramids and they are great, but I guess I was hoping for a slow and heavy pyramid approach and the pyramids are more endurance in my opinion. Too fast for slow and heavy. What I have done with slow and heavy is to lift heavy on the first and third set and lift REALLY heavy (even if I can only do 6 or so) on the second set. I have seen incredible muscle gain this way that I have never seen Cathe's endurance workouts. Endurance workouts do have a place, but S&H is completely different and adds an important dimension to EVERYONES program. IMHO.

Briee
 
Hi Janice, just a quick addition. I find it somewhat tough to stay focused for some reason when I'm doing three sets at the same weight and lifting REALLY heavy on the second helps break up the monotony as well as pushing me to heavier weights. I seem to have broken some plateau's with this method in my own lifting, although I can't quite seem to push my shoulder's beyond that 10 pound dumbbell and even find it hard to manage that sometimes. This really frustrates me to no end!!!!! Any ideas are always appreciated!

Briee
 
Jennifer Ann-

I haven't received my pyramid DVDs yet. However, my experience in these last 6 or so months of strenghth training is that there are times when you are just in the mood for that slow, heavy weight training and you gotta have it. Sometimes, I love to focus on only one muscle group per day. It's so easy to fit that half hour in before dinner no matter how busy I am.

You may not do S&H for a few months, but when you get to it again, it's different enough from all the other strength/endurance stuff you've been doing to make your workout life more interesting, and I think that's key.

Just my HO.

-Nancy


Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself. -Eleanor Roosevelt
 
I absolutely LOVE S& H, so mine is not an unbiased opinion. However, I think it is a good workout to include in your weight training repertoire, because it allows for numerous variation on slower training speed, whereas Cathe's other weight tapes, even PS, are more endurance-oriented. Thanks to DVD, I just "mixed up" an S & H upper body workout doing 2 sets of each exercise. I often change the reps in S& H (the slow 8 count allows you to play around with it a bit). I mostly do a 5 up/3 down count (the 2 down count seems fast to me in this workout), or a 4 up/4 down workout.
 
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