Meso Basic Question

W

Westcoaster

Active Member
Up to now, I've been lifting lighter weights ( up to about 15lb dumbells) to avoid past aggravating past injuries- and have done just fine. I have lots of Cathe's videos and love them and am now thinking of ordering the Meso series. My question is, do I absolutely need to use barbells for Meso 3, or can I get away with dumbells up to 20 lbs each? Alternatively, can I just do Meso 1 and 2 and not do Meso 3?

Any suggestions as to how to get me up and going on this series will be appreciated, as I want to focus on strength training in the coming year.
 
Hi There :)

As long as 20lbs per hand is enough weight for you for all of the exercises listed then you should be able to get through STS with the dumbells. The barbell is good for veriation though and for some exercises where 40 lbs total is just not enought weight.

In theory, I guess you could pick and choose meso's, but I really don't think that you will want to. By the time you get through meso 1 and 2 you will be rearing to go and will want to charge ahead into Meso 3. Meso three is where you really start to realize the changes you've made and it's where your strength increase becomes apparent. Every meso has something different to offer and the three of them together really round out the whole series.

What Cathe videos are your favorites right now?

jenn
 
Meso Basic

From what I hear you saying, I will probably have to break down and get the barbells and weight bench for Meso 3, correct??? My concern also is not having a spotter..When I worked out at the gym and lifted heavier weights ( bench pressed 40 or 50 lbs) I could always find someone to spot me

I just Hiit, and tried the first workout. I did like it a lot. After I write this, I'm going in and doing Butts& Gutts.

I have the Gym Style upper body 2 DVDs which I like a lot and got me thinking about Meso.

Also, I never was good at step and now just plug into the basic step when I have no time and want to get my heart going. To change things up, I really also like the High step circuit and challenge too.

I really think it's impt to shock my body- and mind with these. Having said that, strength training is on my list for 2010.

I am open to all ideas.. I've looked at the rotations, and what happens is that I get kind of confused if I don't have one or two of the DVDs mentioned and just go back to doing a full DVD. I guess that's also why Meso attracts me-- just to plug into a goal...

Mary
 
Well, if you do basic step dvds then you probably have the cathe step right? If you have the step then don't need a weight bench. You may want to order a couple extra risers though. As far as the barbell, it's definetely a personal choice. I prefer a barbell to dumbells, but you can definetely pull it off with dumbells. Why don't you do some of your your 1 rep max tests with the dumbells so that you can guage whether they will be heavy enough? Go into the workout manager and click the one rep max link. There's a cathe tutorial on how to do them :)
 
Hey, thanks for the practical ideas.. never even thought about getting extra steps- and also I never have checked out Workout Manager. I am fairly new to the site. Will definitely do so.

Thank you both for your help, as I do think that Meso may be the way for me to go in 2010.

Happy New Year!!

Mary
 
You could always stay with dumbbells and purchase the new weighted vest that goes from 12-20 lbs. to add weight. Just a thought.
 
OK, I just checked out the vest. .. Looks very interesting. How do you see it working with Meso?? Let's say I wanted to do bicep curls. It looks like it will add addtional weight to the chest and shoulder area, does that also affect the arm as well?

Have you used it yet? And if so, how has it worked for you?
 
IMO a spotter or a weight bench or the Tower are necessary for the bench presses in Meso 2 and 3. There's no way I could have layed back onto my step bench with that weight, then get it up and off of me when done. An injury looking to happen. My first round, my DH spotted me. For my 2nd round, I had the Tower, which I HIGHLY recommend. One of my very best purchases. I love it for doing pushups with too. I can do my straight legged ones without it hurting my shoulders. I'm surprised I haven't heard more raves about the Tower, as I think it's super!
 
A Basic Meso Question

Netta,

OK, so I just checked out the Tower.. Where have I been when all these things were being developed?? In front of my TV with my step, high step and weights I guess...

Educate me please..

How can you do pushups on it and bench presses- certainly understand pullups and also removing the barbell from the rack, but explain pls if you can..

Again, thanks everybody for jumping in on this and giving me all these ideas-- and stuff to purchase!!!
 
I did the 6 month rotation using the dumbell the entire time.
I used my 10lb weighted vest for Meso 3 for added weight for my legs.
I also added weights slowly on my arms for more added weight.
I don't think you have to have a barbell.
Try it without the barbell and in the future you could break down and buy a barbell. I do have a barbell but, I have better control with my dumbells.

As for doing push ups on the Tower. You just lean on it like you are leaning against a wall. You just keep on lowering the bar as you get use to the push ups until you are almost low to the ground. It is like doing push up with a bent knee. But you are standing up and putting your weight on the bar.
 
Got it about the Tower, but could someone describe how the vest works ( I have seen the photo) for biceps- and what it's best used for? It looks really easy, practical and could make workouts more of a challenge, correct???
 
For some reason, I thought you were concerned with the dumbbells not being heavy enough for your leg work! That's why I suggested the vest! Oops! :eek: I don't have one yet, but it's on my list!

If you need weight that heavy for your upper body work, kudos to you! I'm very weak in the upper body and I don't need a rack or spotter quite yet! There are also plate mates (I think those are the magnetic ones) that attach to the metal plates to increase the weight, but I'm not sure how heavy they go.

Westcoaster said:
OK, I just checked out the vest. .. Looks very interesting. How do you see it working with Meso?? Let's say I wanted to do bicep curls. It looks like it will add addtional weight to the chest and shoulder area, does that also affect the arm as well?

Have you used it yet? And if so, how has it worked for you?
Click to expand...
 
Just want to thank you all for the suggestions you gave me. I am going to look into all these possibilites, check into the products ( the weight vest is sounding like a must no matter what) and then get my plan together. It is good to know that someone has one this with just dumbells, but I'm going to need to check the Workout Manager, to see if that will work for me.
 
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