Legs & Glutes

M

mkunkel

Cathlete
I was wondering what you all thought of L&G. I have it (love it!) and here are some of my opinions/questions:

-those explosive plie squats and curtsey lunges kill me, I can't make it all the way to the end without stopping.

-the one legged dead lifts feel weird, am not sure if I'm doing them right - any suggestions? I don't quite "feel it" where I'm supposed to.

-I feel like I'm going to keel over during the explosive lunges.

-the glute/outer thigh sweeps kill me too. I'm wondering if it would be more beneficial to not use ankle weights until I master them, or use the weights and work up to doing as many as Cathe. When I use ankle weights, I'm not able to lift up - in other words, my bottom/supporting leg stays on the ground, I can't lift up. And my top/working leg pushes more out than up & out. If I don't use ankle weights I'm able to them more correctly.

Anyway, I just did that workout last night and was feeling it today, so I thought I'd post while it was on my mind.

Any input you all have is appreciated.
 
I love this workout!! It's really fun!!

I guess just do what you can on the explosive lunges, and one day you will make it!

I use 5# ankle weights with this one, otherwise I don't feel much, but we're all different. Just do what you can and you'll work up to it! Cathe is only using 2# ankle weights. If you can do them correctly and it seems to be working for you without weights, then I would say do them without weights for now until if and when you feel you are ready. All these workouts only "work" for us if we do them within the framework of our own individual strength, range of motion, etc. Nothing is set in stone.

As for the dead lifts, if you feel it in your lower back a little and in your hamstrings more, you are doing them right. I keep my back leg grounded for these. Cathe does so much other core and balance work in all her workouts, I don't feel I need to lighten up on the weight in order to lift my back leg and work on balance here. I go as heavy as I can on these. However, others might have differing opinions, and other ways in which you can do them so you feel it. I hope this helps!

Carol
:)
 
By the time you get to the ankle weights, your legs are already fried. So I tried just doing the ankle weights premix and found that I was able to really do all the moves with a much better range of motion and even do those whatever they're called-lie on your side, lift up both your hips and outer thigh lifts-much more effectively. I may split legs and glutes into two workouts to better work the muscles until I get a little stronger (i got really deconditioned from the flu and just can't do anything nearly as strong now.)
I'm still having trouble with the one-legged deadlifts putting too much strain on my low back-so I'm still experimenting with just how to get those down. I think I'm going to try bracing my back leg against the wall.
Beth
 
For some reasons I got the best results of ANYTHING i've ever gotten from this tape. I'm not doing I Series and have added it in.. making it a 7 day rotation (then I get the day off).

Not sure why such great results.. but amazing....
Today I got 3 compliments that I'm looking great shape :)
 
Beth,

I think doing the ankle weights premix is a good idea. I can do that first and see how well I do before my legs are fried.

Regarding those one-legged deadlifts, I think I'm having the same problem as you. I actually feel it more in my hamstrings when I do regular two-legged ones, so I think my form isn't quite right on the one-legged ones. I'll have to keep experimenting too. I almost found it easier when I did try to lift the rear leg (at least for a few reps before I lost my balance).

Carol,

I can't believe you use 5# ankle weights! I guess that's something I'll have to strive for.

Thank you both for your suggestions. Another question. Does anybody know where on Cathe's website we can find the breakdown of the different premixes on the DVDs?

Thanks,
Melissa
 
Melissa, just strive to do your personal best, and your body will thank you! I'm used to ankle weights because a lot of the Firm tapes use them, and those are the ones I used for years before I found Cathe. We all have different strengths, and my legs are just very strong. However, if you saw me trying to do those pikes on that stability ball, you'd laugh!! LOL!! One day ... but I'm not there yet!!

I did find going a bit lighter on the one-legged deadlifts helped with keeping my balance and easing up on the hamstring soreness. I definitely feel them more than the traditional dead lifts.

You sound like you're off to a fabulous start!!! Keep up the good work and enjoy!!!

Carol
:)
 
I really like this workout, but I have only done it once and it is hard when it comes to the exploding lunges, its going to take practice, and I had to take the ankle weights off too because they made my leg to heavy to lift, and also made it hard on the other exercise where your on the mini step and step off the side with one leg like a squat, because I don't have a mini step and have to use a 12 inch step stool. So just modify until you get it :7 ... enjoy ... Rhonda
 
>-those explosive plie squats and curtsey lunges kill me, I
>can't make it all the way to the end without stopping.

I never do the curtsey lunges, as I think they are risky for the knees (and maybe even ankles--just look at the angles of these two joints on Cathe while she's doing them. Maybe she can do this with no injury, but I wouldn't risk it. I just do a regular lunge.)


>-the one legged dead lifts feel weird, am not sure if I'm
>doing them right - any suggestions? I don't quite "feel it"
>where I'm supposed to.

There is a lot of balance challenge in these, so it's hard to "get it" at first. Try using lighter weights at first, or even no weight, as you build up to doing the move with weights. As you push up, try to make the movement come through your heel, then up through the hamstring and glutes.



>-I feel like I'm going to keel over during the explosive
>lunges.

Another move my knees don't like. I modify by stayiing with the same leg forward. I change the pulses to a 1/1 count lunge, and do the explosive part in place, then change legs.


>-the glute/outer thigh sweeps kill me too. I'm wondering if
>it would be more beneficial to not use ankle weights until I
>master them, or use the weights and work up to doing as many
>as Cathe. When I use ankle weights, I'm not able to lift up -
>in other words, my bottom/supporting leg stays on the ground,
>I can't lift up. And my top/working leg pushes more out than
>up & out. If I don't use ankle weights I'm able to them more
>correctly.

Either not using ankle weights, or leaving the bottom leg on the ground (it will get good outer thigh work without this move)are two options you can try.
 
Let's try this again. My reply yesterday apparently didn't go through.

Kathryn,

Thanks for responding. I always look forward to your advice. I'm anxious to hear your thoughts on the Supersets/Push-Pull DVD. (I think I read in one of your posts you ordered that one.)

I wondered how those curtsey lunges would affect my knees. I've torqued my knees before so I think I will probably modify those and the explosive lunges to be on the safe side.

Regarding the one-legged squats. How do you distribute the weight between the front and rear leg? More weight on the front foot I assume? I just feel awkward doing them. Raising the rear leg feels more natural, I just can't stay balanced that long.

Are you able to do pikes on the stability ball? I recently tried those from the Supersets workout. That's going to be another tough exercise for me to master.

Well, thanks again.

Melissa
 
>Regarding the one-legged squats. How do you distribute the
>weight between the front and rear leg? More weight on the
>front foot I assume? I just feel awkward doing them. Raising
>the rear leg feels more natural, I just can't stay balanced
>that long.

Do you mean the one with the back leg on the stability ball? I make sure that my front knee doesn't go beyond perpendicular to the floor, and my weight seems to come down directly through my crotch (there may be a nicer way of saying that, but at least this is clear!).

Or do you mean the 1-legged deadlift? On that one, I try to do most of them with my rear foot lifted, but it's a balance challenge. When my rear foot is down, the toe is just touching the floor, and I try to lift it up ever so slightly at various points of the move.


>Are you able to do pikes on the stability ball? I recently
>tried those from the Supersets workout. That's going to be
>another tough exercise for me to master.

Those are definitely tough for me! Something to work up to for sure. I think it's one of those moves that eventually your body "gets," but until then things just don't seem to work together as smoothly as they should (at least that's what it feels like to me). My weak spot on these seems more my shoulders and arms than my abs. Gotta keep on trying, though!
 
Oops. I meant to say one-legged deadlifts. I think I'll do as you do and try to keep my rear foot lifted (as long as I can without falling over). That felt more natural to me anyway. And then when I feel I'm going to lose my balance I'll just put my toe on the floor so my weight remains over the front foot.

Regarding pikes, I think I need a spotter or at least have my husband watch me to see how far I am from getting my butt all the way up in the air. I think I'm a lot further away than I hoped. But I just started doing these so hopefully I'll get them after awhile.

Still trying to get used to the stability ball. For some exercises I think it's great, but for others (like chest presses in Supersets) I'm not so sure. Maybe my ball is just too bouncy.

Anyway, thanks again for the tips.

Melissa
 
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