PH lunges IMPOSSIBLE?

[LHK]

I need to know if I am the only one on earth having this problem:

I am 30, fit, relatively firm, run about 15 miles a week, and have "mastered" Interval Max, Circuit Max, MIS, Body Max, CK, etc, meaning I can do all of those with no modifications. I have plenty of muscle, especially in my legs, and weigh 120.

So can anyone explain to me (or at least sympathize??) WHY can I not get through the static lunges in Power Hour? For Cathe's weight tapes I generally can lift about 75% of whatever Cathe uses, but for the lunges I use NO weights! ZERO! And still I have to stop and shake my legs out. Plies, squats, etc are all manageable.

Has anyone else had this happen- where you can do everything Cathe does except this one thing?
Lisa

 

[kristieschultz]

Yes they are hard. Just keep doing them at least twice a week for at least a few weeks to a month and it will get easier I promise!

 

[Connie1]

I have the same problem! Right now I am on Round 2 of a S&H rotation, but after I finish 1 or 2 more rounds of it I will try PH again "with a vengeance." Good to know others have the same obstacle.
How 'bout those push-ups in Slow and Heavy??

-Connie

 

[kathryn]

The first time I did PH, I skipped the lunges (so nice to have a DVD player--you can skip over a chapter without even noticing that much!). After that, I gradually built up to doing more and more of them. I started out with no weights, then went to very light weights. I haven't done the workout for a while, but I'm not sure I ever got to do all of the lunges yet.

 

[Cruncholi]

Hi Lisa,

I have almost mastered everything you mentioned (not IMax), and I do not have a problem with PH lunges. I did feel unstable on the static lunges until I tried this trick:

When you get into position, take at least a one foot wider stance, so you end up standing almost shoulder width apart in your split stance lunge position. I think this may help you with the shakes and the balance issues (if they are presenting problems for you). I still feel it in the glutes and hamstrings, so I don't think this undermines the efforts!

I cannot master those nasty planks Cathe does in all of her newer videos--I shake like a leaf and have to go down on my knees. Any suggestions on those?

Good luck!

Linda

 

[AKirkland]

"How 'bout those push-ups in Slow and Heavy??"

Oh my! How do they do those from their toes? It kills me just doing them from my knees!!! Guess I'm an upper body wimp.

 

[LHK]

Hi Linda- it took me a second to understand what you meant, but I think I have it! Go into a lunge split stance, say, with right foot forward, and then move your left foot farther to the left. I just tried it (here in my office!) and I think you're on to something! I think it helps isolate the FRONT leg, which is great! My problem has been lactic acid buildup in the back quad, and not enough work in the front.

THANKS so much! I'll try this!

About the planks, those are definitely TOUGH. Just think "my core is a rock, my core is a rock", and it will support you through all those long seconds! Are you shakey in your core? Or some other muscle? And when all else fails, go to your knees!

Lisa

 

[Lizzie]

Hi Lisa -

If you aren't feeling it so much in the front leg, you may need to try to focus more on pushing up through the heel of your front leg and feeling the glute and hamstring work. I find that the back leg fatigues quite easily, but I really have to concentrate on my form and the front leg to get it to the same fatigue level as the back. The back leg is often culprit if I don't make it through a set of lunges. PH is hard! No doubt about it.

 

[kathryn]

Another way to focus on the front leg is to do static lunges with the front foot on a platform (8"at the most). Then you can really focus on pushing up through the heel of the front foot.

 

[Cruncholi]

Lisa,
Sorry my post was sort of confusing. You've got it though--you take a "wider" split static lunge stance. I hope it works for you like it did for me. You really get to concentrate on your glute/hamstring instead of maintaining your balance.

Anyway, on those planks, I will try what you suggested. I end up going to my knees a lot. I can hold the planks for ages on my knees. I get shakey in my core region but also in my arms. I think I am just a wimp when it comes to the planks.

Have a nice holiday!

Linda