Cathe:
It is hard to come up with suggestions for already excellent exercise DVDs. But perhaps the following might be helpful.
Workouts that move quickly are helpful for those with time limitations. Weight work outs with barbells have down time when a weight change is needed. It is much quicker to grab a couple of dumbbells. Early morning when I am trying to make the train for work, I fast forward DVDs with weight changes through the weight change and do the whole work out with dumbbells to avoid down time and maintain a zippy pace. As someone else's thread says, skip the cardio, just make this a weights work out.
I like to do three sets for each exercise, the first set is with low weight to warm up the muscle. The second set is 5 or 10 lbs heavier than the first (depending on how i feel) and likewise the third. On days I feel energetic, I pause DVDs with two sets of a particular exercise, then do a 3rd set, then start the DVD playing again. The low weight 1st set is easier when working out early A.M. shortly after getting up when you are tighter.
Another way to speed up the work outs (gotta make that train) is to eliminate single arm exercises or alternating arm exercises. So all side rows and triceps kickbacks are done bent over with both arms going at the same time and i use dumbbells for the kickbacks rather than a strap. Then I fast forward through the other arm on the DVD.
Another way to speed up the work out up is to eliminate rest between exercises by alternating exercises between opposing muscle groups, e.g. 1 set bicep curls, then 1 set triceps kickbacks, 1 set bicep curls, etc. only pausing, if necessary, to change the dumbbell. You sometimes accomplish this same thing by alternating exercises for the same muscle, e.g. overhead triceps press and dips (on Musclemax).
To keep things moving, if possible, do all the reps in time with the music. This also helps with exercises where you are looking at the floor (e.g., rows, kickbacks). But perhaps this is much more costly to produce. If it is not too costly, maybe the DVD could have more than one track for the work out in question.
Thanks for your already excellent products.
H.
P.S. due to space limitations and a paranoid dog, will never have an exercise ball. It is great when you include non-ball routines in the work outs, if only with one or two of the background crew.
It is hard to come up with suggestions for already excellent exercise DVDs. But perhaps the following might be helpful.
Workouts that move quickly are helpful for those with time limitations. Weight work outs with barbells have down time when a weight change is needed. It is much quicker to grab a couple of dumbbells. Early morning when I am trying to make the train for work, I fast forward DVDs with weight changes through the weight change and do the whole work out with dumbbells to avoid down time and maintain a zippy pace. As someone else's thread says, skip the cardio, just make this a weights work out.
I like to do three sets for each exercise, the first set is with low weight to warm up the muscle. The second set is 5 or 10 lbs heavier than the first (depending on how i feel) and likewise the third. On days I feel energetic, I pause DVDs with two sets of a particular exercise, then do a 3rd set, then start the DVD playing again. The low weight 1st set is easier when working out early A.M. shortly after getting up when you are tighter.
Another way to speed up the work outs (gotta make that train) is to eliminate single arm exercises or alternating arm exercises. So all side rows and triceps kickbacks are done bent over with both arms going at the same time and i use dumbbells for the kickbacks rather than a strap. Then I fast forward through the other arm on the DVD.
Another way to speed up the work out up is to eliminate rest between exercises by alternating exercises between opposing muscle groups, e.g. 1 set bicep curls, then 1 set triceps kickbacks, 1 set bicep curls, etc. only pausing, if necessary, to change the dumbbell. You sometimes accomplish this same thing by alternating exercises for the same muscle, e.g. overhead triceps press and dips (on Musclemax).
To keep things moving, if possible, do all the reps in time with the music. This also helps with exercises where you are looking at the floor (e.g., rows, kickbacks). But perhaps this is much more costly to produce. If it is not too costly, maybe the DVD could have more than one track for the work out in question.
Thanks for your already excellent products.
H.
P.S. due to space limitations and a paranoid dog, will never have an exercise ball. It is great when you include non-ball routines in the work outs, if only with one or two of the background crew.
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