lying floor work for legs

[jgoycoolea]

I confess that I have not done lying floor work for my legs very much in the past. My legs are not a really trouble spot for me. And I tended to think that there wouldn't be much calorie burn in doing them and I'd be better off spending my time doing cardio to try and burn off a that little layer of fat that covers my body fairly evenly.

But lately I've noticed that a half hour of standing leg work doesn't get me as sore as it used to. And I've thought that my inner thighs and glutes could use more shaping.

So, while i do tend to trust Cathe--if she does it, there must be value--I was hoping for some additional encouragement from you all.

Do you really see a difference when adding lying leg work? Do you see any difference in your glutes even ifyou have a little fat in the butt/thigh join area?

Which lying floor work do you like the best?

Thanks, Jeanne

 

[HPLECTRA]

Hi Jeanne,

Yes, doing floor work for your lower body is really worth it. You focus primarily on those muscle being worked at that time. Cardio does help to burn calories and keeps burning even after you have finished which in turn burns more fat. Floor work really tones things up and adds more muscle and definition.

First, which lower body DVD's do you have or have tried?

I like the Gym Style Legs,Pyramid Lower Body workout which has floor work in it and Butts & Guts. Legs & Glutes is good too.

How about trying out one of the lower body rotations.

Take Care...Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Heidi

Oh...one more thing...If your standing leg workout isn't getting you as you say then add heavier weights.

 

[jgoycoolea]

I have all of the leg dvds except Butts & Gutts. I already use a barbell up to 55 pounds. Any heavier and I can't get it over my head safely. And I only have up to 15 pound dumbbells. (I really need heavier ones. I am not getting as much out of the 4DS bc of this.) But I suppose I could use heavier db in say the slow lunges in Gym Style. Of course there must be ways to go heavier. I was thinking that lying floor work just be a real change for the legs. But for some strange reason am resistant to give it a go. Thanks for the reply!

 

[HPLECTRA]

Hi Jeanne,

Having heavier DB's in lets say 20,25,30 and so forth would be beneficial for the GS or other standing leg work. For floor work if you haven't tried it GO FOR IT! If it still doesn't get you...add leg weights..2.5-5 lbs. This should be really tough!

Is you current 15# DB's metal? If so you can use plateweights or pacemates which would help to increase the weights gradually instead of making the big jump to 20#'s.

For some of Cathe standing leg work I use DB's of 30#'s and up because like you said it is tough to try to get that barbell over your head safely. You can always hold them in front of you or at your sides instead of putting them on your shoulders too. ;-)

Good Luck! Have a great workout!
Heidi

 

[jgoycoolea]

Well, if funds would allow I would get the heavier dumbbells in a second. My 15's are the metal hexagon type like Cathe typically uses. I have dumbbell bars that you can add plates to make heavier dumbbells (like a barbell), but the end holders aren't very secure. They make me nervous, and the large plates seem to get in my way. I could use the ones I use on my barbell, that would only make for one dumbbell. Again, there are no funds for anything new. All of this said, the conversation is making me think more creatively about how I could use my existing stuff. Like would plates really slide off just doing low plane lunges???

I was thinking of trying the PS floor work first since Cathe uses weight herself on that one. Plus my resistance band snapped and it hasn't yet been replaced. Maybe I'll do it this morning.

Jeanne

 

[susandean]

I finished P90X the end of Oct. and have been doing Cathe's 4DS trying to learn LIS. I thought my legs were in pretty good shape from the X. I finally decided I needed to work my legs and got out Butts and Guts. My legs were fried and by the time I got to the floor work it was all I could do without leg weights to do a few reps. I could really feel the floor work in my glutes and couldn't finish all the reps. I can see where it will be worth it to do more and even get some ankle weights now. Didn't even do the ab work, just plopped on the couch and watched it. I never had DOMS from the X like I do today from the B&G. I have areas in my gluts that are sore that I didn't even know I had and feel it in the thighs too.

 

[jgoycoolea]

I do have 5 pound ankle weights. Butts and Guts is one of the few Cathe's I don't have. I do Cathe exclusively and am not familiar with P90X except in theory. I did the floor work of PS today after doing 4DS low and higher intensity step. I used a 15 pound barbell the whole time. I did feel it. I think it is important to keep doing the same or quite similar floor work if I want to see a shape difference. You know, give the muscles the same stress and allow them to adapt. --Jeanne