PLB

[spyrosmom]

So I finally got the Pyramids, and I did lower last night, and have to do the upper still. But I'm wondering what the big deal is? I don't "get it." I did it with the same weights as Cathe, but didn't really feel like I was doing anything. I know I could go heavier,but I always do the workout as prescribed 1st. This morning my freakin' upper back/shoulder blades are sore from hoisting the barbell up and down so many times. I feel like I got a shoulder workout but nothing for the lower body. Is this workout comfortable to do with dumb bells instead?? I normally don't like squats w/ dumb bells, but I think for the the leg presses and lunges it would be ok and then moving the bar to the front for the plie squats would take some of the work off my shoulders. Plus, my upper back has been bugging me for the last few days anyway, its been real tight. It was just starting to feel better, which is why I did LB 1st. I think that may have not helped the issue. How does everyone else modify (if you do) this one to put the work back into the legs and not the shoulders?

Nan

Oh, the floor work, I felt that, no probs with that. I liked that part.

 

[SRP]

Hi Nan -
Yes, this workout is very doable with dumbbells, and that's the only way I do it (except for the the deadlifts). One thing though: I don't do regular squats because they bug my knees. Instead, I do them using the stability ball up against the wall, and the only way to do those is with dumbbells. If I did regular squats, I'd probably continue with the barbell on those and the deadlifts, but use DBs on everything else.

I do go quite a bit heavier than Cathe on this one, and when I do, I feel like PLB gives me a very good workout. Sometimes I also use it when I need a lighter day, and then I stick with what she uses. So I find it very versatile.

 

[deanie]

The Pyramids are great! I go heavier than Cathe in most excersises and definately get a good workout. I try to use the dumbells as much as possible for the lower body- changing the barbell is a pain! Stick with it, I'm sure you will like the results.

Deanie

 

[beth6395]

I am going to modify this next time too. I did mine on Monday and my legs everywhere are in pain I had a hard time with Kick Max today I matched weights, finally, but it did get hard with the heaviest weight on the shoulders.

beth6395

"Double Knot your laces and let's move on"
-Cathe Friedrich

 

[maddiesmum]

I don't have problems with my shoulders through hoisting a heavier barbell than Cathe. I take mine up to a high of 60 pounds on squats and lunges and deadlifts. This may be a question of "your shoulders received more of a workout that they were expecting and will adjust." Let's hope so.

With these heavier weights, I definitely get a good workout. And partly what makes this workout "work" is the relentless nature of it: high number of reps, fast pace. It becomes a sweat factory experience. Do it in the Summer in non-air conditioned house: you will not need a sauna afterwards!

I use the barbell throughout, but often sub for dumbells with the plies for variety and also because I find these more difficult than Cathe and crew do, I lack their inner thigh flexibility, even after a childhood spent doing ballet!

Back to the question of the shoulders: in order to get a better workout, you sound like you need to lift heavier weights. If you have heavier ones in dumbells, go ahead and make them work for you. But if you persist with the barbell, you need to think of ways of getting that weight onto the shoulders/across the top of the back muscles without risking shoulder strain. I am lucky in that I have a table that is the perfect height for this. I load up my barbell onto it, swuat underneath, roll barbell onto shoulders and push to stand. Do you have a squat rack, or table or other piece of furniture that could help with this? otherwise, you may ,like to invest in a weighted vest which allows you to keep the barbell weight at a comfortable 40 pounds, and still increase the total weight load in a safe fashion.

Clare

 

[spyrosmom]

Thanks, everyone. I normally don't have a prob lifting 60 lbs up over my head for squats, etc. I think it was just all the repetition of the up and down. Normally the bar is up, I squat, then bar comes down, and I move on. I think my body just needs to adjust. My back/shoulders are already feeling better this afternoon after just being up and moving around a few hours. I just wasn't expecting that. I think I will do it once more w/ Cathe's weights to see how it goes, then up my wts back up to what I normally use (or try to anyway).

Nan

 

[maddiesmum]

Sounds good Nan. Glad to hear the shoulders are recovering!

Clare