I'm back to the Pyramid workouts again...

nancy324

Cathlete
And I am loving them. But I can't do those hamstring leg raises on the stability ball for anything! Remember in PS SLA when Cathe does the hamstring raises on an 8" box? Those were hard enough, but doable, because there was no ball to balance on. Any reason not to substitute these? Or is there some reason you can think of why I should keep trying to balance on the ball?
 
Hi Nancy! Try putting the ball right up against your step & then try the exercises. I've found it stabilizes the ball for me & boy do I feel these! These are the best exercises for hamstrings & glutes; try this & let me know how you made out. Kathy
 
Nancy - Recently I've been using the calf and floor section of PS:Legs and that hamstring work has been tough but effective. Never would I have thought to use the step when doing the Pyramid tape! Duh! I've been struggling all this time to balance on that darn ball!

Next month I get to go back to the Pyramids! Yeah! They are fun and this is one set of videos where I can tell right away when I need to increase the weights. And it seems to happen a lot sooner than with any other set I've used before! :)

Kathy - thanks for the suggestion to place the ball against the step! I swear I have all this equipment sitting around me and you'd think I could figure some things out for myself! :eek:

Thanks for your help ladies!
Angie
 
Nancy, both the step version and the ball version work the hamstrings, but the ball version adds a stability challenge for supporting muscles. You could still get that stability challenge by doing the step version, and lifting one leg. Or how about starting out with a few on the stability ball, and keeping the step near so you can finish out the set that way? The Firm does a lot of the step version of this exercise, and I find that it works the hamstrings really well. Of course, you can't do the "push out, pull in" move on a step
 
Oh the ball work, isn't it great.

I did the PS series for 3-4 weeks and am now doing the Pyramid series and I can actually do most of the ball hamstring work. Whereas before I couldn't so I am guessing the PS series has helped my hamstrings out, making them stronger. I am going to stick with the pyramids for a while.

I am anxiously awaiting the new videos and would love to hear an update. Am I the only one? Seems like forever since Cathe has said anything, I know, I know she is really busy getting the tapes ready but I am too impatient.

Rhonda
 
Hey Nancy, doesn't Brenda show modifications of doing the ball work on the step? I just did PLB two weeks ago & already I can't remember but I know there are modifications show. Do whatever modifications are shown in the tape.

HOWEVER, I think the idea of putting the ball next to a stable surface is an awesome idea. You could start there & move the ball away from the stabilizer as you progress.

WORK THOSE HAMS BABY!
 
You are quite right, Deb. Brenda does indeed show modifications on the ministep. I forgot that. And I'm always wondering why they don't all just use the ministep instead of the balance ball. As Kathryn points out, there is a reason. I love the idea about bracing the ball with the step, and will try that. Thanks guys!
 
Hi!!

I could not do these on the old ball that I had. When I got my new one, I was able to do them! The ball was firmer and just easier to balance on. So, do you think it's the ball???? Just a thought!! Good luck! Cathy;)
 
Using a ball instead of a fixed object like a step is more challenging because you have to "stabilize". You're using your core along with hamstrings & glutes. So try to work towards doing hamstring work on a non-braced stability ball.

Debra
 
Kathy-
Your advice about putting the ball against the step was great! I feel that I still got all the benefit of using the stability ball, but this time I was actually able to do the exercise! Thanks so much for the tip. That is such an effective exercise.

I've been refining the pyramid workouts further. I decided that it makes no sense to me that Cathe uses the same weight for the two chest exercises. I think you wind up either going too light on the chest presses, or going too heavy on the flyes. I just don't think they were meant to be done at the same weight, so I modify.

Also, after 5 sets of leg presses, in order to get thru the lunges, I take 1-2 min. breaks between legs and have started with no weights at all. My legs are so pre-exhausted from the leg presses, I can't get thru the lunges if I use weight. I'm hoping that this will change as the weeks go on.

In spite of my weaknesses, I am really loving the pyramid workouts!

-Nancy
 
RE: Nancy --- I'm back to the Pyramid workouts again...

Nancy,
How do you modify the chest exercises in PUB?
I agree about going too light on presses/too heavy on flies......
 
>Kathy-
>I've been refining the pyramid workouts further. I decided
>that it makes no sense to me that Cathe uses the same weight
>for the two chest exercises. I think you wind up either going
>too light on the chest presses, or going too heavy on the
>flyes. I just don't think they were meant to be done at the
>same weight, so I modify.
>
>Also, after 5 sets of leg presses, in order to get thru the
>lunges, I take 1-2 min. breaks between legs and have started
>with no weights at all. My legs are so pre-exhausted from the
>leg presses, I can't get thru the lunges if I use weight. I'm
>hoping that this will change as the weeks go on.
>
>-Nancy

Nancy, I also modify the chest work because it makes no sense to me (or from a relative-muscle=strength point of view), to use the same weights for both preses and flyes, since the former is a compound exercise and uses more muscle, and the latter is an isolation exercise. I try to get ahead of Cathe a bit, so I have time to change weights before doing presses.

I also believe in taking longer breaks as needed (as long as they're not TOO long, and 1-2 minutes is certainly reasonable). I often have longer breaks between all the sets in PLB because it takes me a bit longer to change the weights than Speedy Gonzales and crew! And I don't want to feel rushed when doing weight work.
 
RE: Nancy --- I'm back to the Pyramid workouts again...

I mean I modify by using heavier weights for the chest presses then I do for the flies. Which means I pause the DVD to change weights. Otherwise I do everything that Cathe does in the same order.
 

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