ME vs. Pyramids

[gogigi]

Hello,
I am very curious as to the differences in weights you all can use for say PUB/PLB and ME. I don't want to do this to compare myself or others but out of curiosity and to see what I can aspire to as working out alone at home sometimes leaves one wondering if one is performing at his or her best, pushing enough or too little.

For example I can safely squat and do static lunges with a 55lb. BB in PLB(I believe I could squat more, but have not yet invested in a weighted vest) but in ME I can only use a 30lb. BB for the squat segment and I can barely do the entire static lunge set in ME with a 20lb. BB. I know that we use lighter weights for endurance type workouts, but what might be a safe maximum to shoot for? Anyway, I would like to hear what others are doing and what the differences are in any strength/endurance workout that you are currently doing.:7

 

[clareMc]

Well, to stay with the examples of exercises you have chosen, on PLB I usually do a max weight of 50 or 55 lbs for the top weight on squats, and stay with that weight til the end of the set. But I do all the reps just as front squats because i can't lift the same amount with plie squats. So for plie squats I do the whole shebang again with 25, 30, 35 lbs, because I am working on improving my form right now so I don't want too much weight. There's no way I could do 55 lbs for plie squats. Hey, we are all different, right?!

For lunges I do 40, 45 and 50 and then stay at 50 to see out the sets.

For ME, which I have just done this past weekend for the first time (it seemed to go on for ever!) I used the same as Cathe for squats, 40 lbs, quite tough at the end there! And 30 or 35 for the lunges section can't remember exactly, also tough, screaming at TV screen at the end there !!!!

I think that whatever is a safe max to shoot for is going to be so different for all of us. Some of eat PH for breakfast, others would be happier doing S&H squats with 65 lbs barbell... everybody's different.

Just keep playing around with endurance/strength/endurance alternations, and shoot for a poundage uppage on a day you feel nice and strong with gritted teeth!

Clare

 

[gogigi]

Wow Clare! ME is so much harder for me to increase my weights with. I was able to increase my weights so much faster with PLB. I am in awe that you can squat 40 lb and even 30 or 35 for the lunge section in ME! My legs get fried during those low ends and I sometimes think that I'm not gonna make it!x( I will keep working though. I'm off to tackle ME now.