Leaner Legs/ light weights/no weights?

[samanthaeve10]

Hello all.
I stopped using weights to train my lower body about 7 months ago-- I still do Cathes, and Slim series, etc, but use light weights (5 lbs- 8 lbs) for all the weight work in them, and even on my floorwork I have lightened the load to 2 1/2 lbs as opposed to the usual 5 lb ankleweights.- by the by, my quads have gone down in size (yea!) altho I do think I have lost some strength in the leg area- I used to heavy up with all of Cathes workouts, and it was so hard to get myself into the frame of mind to lighten the weights for a while and see what happens. I waited for my legs to turn to flab, but since that didnt happen, I am ok with continuing on to exercise them hi rep/ lo weight.

My question is this...
Has anyone here done LL on a consistent basis, with very light weights or no weights at all and achieved good results? And how about PLB? I realize weights are necessary in PLB, but instead of the wts that rae used in the video, I was thinking of using 5-8-10. and of course, the ball work is a must. I use the floor portion of PLB as an add on, and it is Killer! Has anyone tried this? Would training this way be something like the freestyle principle?

Even tho I am getting good results from Cathe and SS, I am counting on some kind of change having to be on the horizon, and perhaps modifying PLB and LL to fit my hi rep regimen might be ok.

I would love to hear if any of you have lightened the weights on LL and PLB , yet still achieved visible results. I was also thinking that the speed in PLB at some points might be a little slow for light weight, theeby lessening the intensity. Maybe I will do a trial run tonight, and see how it feels.

 

[gelfling]

Before I found Cathe, I had never done leg work with weights - I didn't even know that people did that! LOL I had really great results doing workouts with squats and lunges etc although it might be fair to say that the results were a little longer in coming. Of course I've never seen or done a non-Cathe leg workout that comes close to workouts like Leaner Legs and PLB!
I think Leaner Legs is tough enough to do with no weights and would still give you great results.
ATB,
- Lisa

 

[dani21496]

I've tried doing leg workouts with a heavy 45 lb barbell and
with no weights at all. My legs are muscular already and even 45 lbs seemed easy. Leaner Legs was no problem for me.

When I was using heavy weights for the lower body, my legs bulked up. Now that I use no weights for the lower body they are leaner and sleeker.

This is what worked for me, but everyone is different. Try experimenting and see what happens.

I like to use Cindy Crawford's Shape Your Body and Next Challenge for leg workouts. She uses only body weight and I get the results I want.

I also love Winsor Pilates Buns & Thighs.

 

[CAgostini]

Hi,

I also do not use weight to train my legs. I found, however, that you must squeeze the muscle in order for the movement to work. Squeeze the muscle as hard as you can throughout the entire movement. It is very challenging; I sweat more this way than with weights. I love this method of training. If I use weights, it is very light, 5-8 lbs. I think I've been seeing results. I'm going to persist in this method because I really believe that my lowerbody bulks when I use weights.

Cathy

 

[gelfling]

>I like to use Cindy Crawford's Shape Your Body and Next
>Challenge for leg workouts. She uses only body weight and I
>get the results I want.
>

The Next Challenge was the one that got my legs in the best shape ever and I still use it today.

 

[dani21496]

>
>The Next Challenge was the one that got my legs in the best
>shape ever and I still use it today.

That's so cool! I thought I was the only one. I just LOVE this workout and I just recently bought backup copies! I WISH it would come out on DVD!! I heard they are coming out with all the Cindy's on DVD over in Europe. I really hope they do that here! I would be all over that!!:7

 

[gelfling]

>>
>>The Next Challenge was the one that got my legs in the best
>>shape ever and I still use it today.
>
>That's so cool! I thought I was the only one. I just
>LOVE this workout and I just recently bought backup copies! I
>WISH it would come out on DVD!! I heard they are coming out
>with all the Cindy's on DVD over in Europe. I really hope
>they do that here! I would be all over that!!:7

I'd love to have them on DVD too! One of the Spanish VFers said there is a Spanish language version with (I think) all 3 Cindy Crawford workouts available. The French language version (www.amazon.fr) definitely contains all 3 workouts but is no longer available from Amazon France at least. No sign of an English language release yet though.

There are VCD versions available (www.ccnow.com and www.getvcds.com have them for sale) but these aren't quite as good as the VHS versions. If you have a little computer know-how, you can edit these into chapters and re-record them to VCD or if you have the equipment you can put them onto a DVD. There's not much you can do to improve the picture quality though but at least you will be able to skip to the parts of the workout you want (my DVD player won't fast-forward or rewind VCD discs)
ATB,
- Lisa
P.S. I've gone through 4 VHS copies!

 

[dani21496]

Lisa!

Thanks a bunch!!! I'm going to look into this!!! I really hope they put out an English release also. I've gone through 3 VHS copies already!!

I wouldn't even mind getting the DVD with the French or Spanish language!