Hi SNM and Cathe,
Okay, I understand that someone unable to complete the STS workouts as planned will need to modify. I got that.
But how to BEST modify the workouts?
For example, I looked at the first workout disc (Meso 1, Week 1, Workout 1) for Chest, Shoulders and Biceps. I see 136 push ups in 8 different sets. I KNOW I cannot even do half that many, not even on my knees.
Option 1: Do I try to complete as many as I can for the first few sets then bag all the other push up sets?
Option 2: Since they are all different varieties of push ups (regular, wide hands, on the ball, staggered, boot camp core style etc), do I pace myself so I can do AT LEAST 1 rep of each set so I get some variety benefit?
Option 3: Do I skip other chest exercises (the flyes) and any anterior deltoid exercises (front raises on ball) to save my limited muscle power for push ups?
Option 4: I don't have one, but maybe you do??
FWIW, my lower body is much stronger than my upper body so I know I can manage to do at least a few reps of every set, so I'm less concerned about that.
I would appreciate your advice so I'm not just winging it since I know Cathe put so much thought into creating these workouts, choosing the best exercises, putting them in the optimal order, etc. I don't think I'm alone with this problem since most people will need to modify something and this program is intended for a wide spectrum of fitness levels and no specific prep training is recommended.
Just saying, "modify as you need to" doesn't really help me that much. I know how to modify a step workout for impact, how to modify Cathe's other wt workouts where I can't do all the reps, but I've never faced such a wide gap between my known abilities and the workouts expectations, especially in the first workout of the first week. Naturally, I also understand that I'll get stronger over the course of STS so this will be less of an issue in future mesos.
Thank you very much for your help!
Okay, I understand that someone unable to complete the STS workouts as planned will need to modify. I got that.
But how to BEST modify the workouts? For example, I looked at the first workout disc (Meso 1, Week 1, Workout 1) for Chest, Shoulders and Biceps. I see 136 push ups in 8 different sets. I KNOW I cannot even do half that many, not even on my knees.
Option 1: Do I try to complete as many as I can for the first few sets then bag all the other push up sets?
Option 2: Since they are all different varieties of push ups (regular, wide hands, on the ball, staggered, boot camp core style etc), do I pace myself so I can do AT LEAST 1 rep of each set so I get some variety benefit?
Option 3: Do I skip other chest exercises (the flyes) and any anterior deltoid exercises (front raises on ball) to save my limited muscle power for push ups?
Option 4: I don't have one, but maybe you do??
FWIW, my lower body is much stronger than my upper body so I know I can manage to do at least a few reps of every set, so I'm less concerned about that.
I would appreciate your advice so I'm not just winging it since I know Cathe put so much thought into creating these workouts, choosing the best exercises, putting them in the optimal order, etc. I don't think I'm alone with this problem since most people will need to modify something and this program is intended for a wide spectrum of fitness levels and no specific prep training is recommended.
Just saying, "modify as you need to" doesn't really help me that much. I know how to modify a step workout for impact, how to modify Cathe's other wt workouts where I can't do all the reps, but I've never faced such a wide gap between my known abilities and the workouts expectations, especially in the first workout of the first week.
Naturally, I also understand that I'll get stronger over the course of STS so this will be less of an issue in future mesos. Thank you very much for your help!
