Reviews for Body Parts in STS2.0?

[Kellyro77]

Did Biceps with Bonus today. I stayed somewhat conservative with my selections and glad I did! My biceps and forearms are feeling pretty worked right now. The drop sets in the bonus were once again brutal. Going to have to start off lighter next time around, 'cause I could barely squeak out four reps with my mid-range weight selection.

Have to say I'm happy to see wrist curls in a workout. They don't appear very often in Cathe's workouts. I think they're pretty necessary for grip strength and then just all-around daily functionality for us desk job people, typing and clicking all day.

Did anyone notice that the Users Guide lists something called "BARBELL CURL PAUSE REPS" at the end of the bonus section but the exercise never appears in the workout? Maybe it got forgotten, or maybe it's hiding in the chapters. I noted the discrepancy in another thread about the user's guide for BP Biceps already started.

 

[aqua girl]

Did anyone notice that the Users Guide lists something called "BARBELL CURL PAUSE REPS" at the end of the bonus section but the exercise never appears in the workout?

Yes, that's an error in the guide on the biceps bonus exercises, but the Barbell Curl Pause
Reps exercise is in the main Biceps workout, like about the 3 or 4th exercise in.

 

[nickisteen]

Just finished Chest, and right now my chest feels like I'm walking around like a puffed-up body builder.

This was definitely challenging with the right weights. I hit failure several times through. I was even yelling out final rep counts while trying to get through some of them. ("Ssssssssssiiiiiixxxx!!!!") That combo incline press to close-grip had me actually losing it and laughing my butt off by my last failed rep.

I did the bonuses, too. Again, failure on the drop sets. The flys with hip raises were intense. And that final chest press with the hips raised? I don't know HOW Cathe was able to do that with 30# weights! I barely managed it with 17.5# weights. (Maybe she was technically "fresh" when they filmed those bonus exercises...)

I am definitely going to feel this tomorrow... and probably for the next three or four days.

Good job, Kellyro77!! I did Upper Body 1 today and was struggling with some of the last reps which tells me I am doing the right weights - challenging!!

 

[Kellyro77]

Congrats on getting through all the workouts! I know I was wondering what I'd do after I'm finished with the 12-week rotation and decided to do her XTrain/STS 2.0 rotation next. That's going to add in more cardio, for sure, and keep things interesting, I think. Actually, since I appreciate doing 12-week rotations, the first four weeks before her XTrain rotation, I'm going to do the following:

(Sorry, the image says 12-week, but it only shows the first 4 weeks - the remaining 8 weeks follows the XTrain rotation in the guide.)

 

[Nanbo]

Congrats on getting through all the workouts! I know I was wondering what I'd do after I'm finished with the 12-week rotation and decided to do her XTrain/STS 2.0 rotation next. That's going to add in more cardio, for sure, and keep things interesting, I think. Actually, since I appreciate doing 12-week rotations, the first four weeks before her XTrain rotation, I'm going to do the following:

(Sorry, the image says 12-week, but it only shows the first 4 weeks - the remaining 8 weeks follows the XTrain rotation in the guide.)
View attachment 8588

Ooooo, this looks really good!

 

[Kellyro77]

I'm officially now part of the "done every STS 2.0 workout" club - finished Triceps today. I think triceps are probably my least favorite body part to work... likely because they need the work!

I appreciated all the variation in the workout, though, and that, aside from the warmup, there weren't any double arm overhead extensions with heavy weights. My shoulders always burn out on me on those. I suppose if you don't have bands you might have done them later in the workout, but I used the band options when presented. Those pushdowns were really tough. Glad tomorrow's a recovery day since my biceps are still barking from yesterday and even my chest is still a bit tight from Chest.

I am starting to be a little more concerned about the lack of cardio now that I'm into the BP-exclusive portion of the 12-week rotation, but I'm going to trust what Cathe wrote in a newsletter maybe a month or so ago about being willing to try something new.

I'm definitely feeling like I'm getting results, however, I can tell my clothing is fitting a bit better. The muffin-top is disappearing haha. But I also have to attribute that to buckling down on my eating.

Tomorrow's my birthday, though, and I'm going to enjoy some Cold Stone ice cream.

 

[vivbc]

I have also done all the workouts, and bonus, once, or twice. I didn't do cardio until week 4 of the 8 week rotation and I added only short cardio, ICE Low Impact Sweat, for example.
I really enjoy the flow of the rotation. I love two days of weights followed by one recovery (with a bit of cardio).
My muscles are more defined now. I have been able to increase weights on lunges. Overall, I'm loving this series.
I may be traveling in September, so I don’t know what I will do next. I tend towards trying the mishmash body parts premixes, to see how they feel. I'm curious about them. Hoping to put together a STS and STS2.0 rotation for the fall.

 

[FlemingCol56]

I'm officially now part of the "done every STS 2.0 workout" club - finished Triceps today. I think triceps are probably my least favorite body part to work... likely because they need the work!

I appreciated all the variation in the workout, though, and that, aside from the warmup, there weren't any double arm overhead extensions with heavy weights. My shoulders always burn out on me on those. I suppose if you don't have bands you might have done them later in the workout, but I used the band options when presented. Those pushdowns were really tough. Glad tomorrow's a recovery day since my biceps are still barking from yesterday and even my chest is still a bit tight from Chest.

I am starting to be a little more concerned about the lack of cardio now that I'm into the BP-exclusive portion of the 12-week rotation, but I'm going to trust what Cathe wrote in a newsletter maybe a month or so ago about being willing to try something new.

I'm definitely feeling like I'm getting results, however, I can tell my clothing is fitting a bit better. The muffin-top is disappearing haha. But I also have to attribute that to buckling down on my eating.

Tomorrow's my birthday, though, and I'm going to enjoy some Cold Stone ice cream.

I also dislike Triceps and that’s the only Body parts workout of STS 2 that I’ve yet to do!!

 

[Hazlady]

Tomorrow's my birthday, though, and I'm going to enjoy some Cold Stone ice cream.

Happy Birthday!!

Shoulders used to be my least favorite area to work.

Shoulders are still my least favorite area, particularly overhead presses.

I've been doing combination body parts based on the premixes but using the workout manager to shorten them to fit into my workout time. I've made up 2 workouts for each body part combination, so between the two workouts I cover all the exercises. I've still got a few of these to go and then I will have completed all the workouts. At some stage I want to do the body parts workouts separately, but I may go back to the total body or upper/lower body ones first.

I also made a bands only workout using workout manager incorporating most of the band work from STS 2.0 but throwing in a couple of bicep ones from other workouts. I do this using my Pilates springboard and a door anchor. I insert the door anchor through the spring attachment loops on the springboard which are small enough to hold the door anchor. Then I can use my resistance tubing as normal. My springboard is mounted in my spare bedroom at the other end of the house from my living room where I normally work out, so I can do this entire workout in my spare bedroom.

 

[aqua girl]

 

[Kellyro77]

I might have to try a kneeling pose, too, Deb, as my arms aren't long enough to quickly grab the bands when the next set is ready to start, which means I have to hold onto them uncomfortably while waiting to start again.

Did Legs again today, this time including the bonus content. My legs were absolutely fried once again after that. I have a really difficult time with the Bulgarian Split Squats - anatomically, my legs just do NOT like them. I tried lowering my step height this time around and still it was uncomfortable. I think I'm going to need to default to static lunges for those. I still really felt it when I did the forward-leaning lunge minus the step, though.

Tomorrow is shoulders again, and then next week I have a scheduled active recovery week. Once again, it's coming up at just the right time, I think!

 

[Kellyro77]

What are your plans for your week of Active Recovery?

Yoga, walks, rest days. Just so happens I even have a massage scheduled at the end of the week, so that'll contribute, too.

For yoga, I have a bunch of different yoga workouts beyond my Cathe collection. I have all four seasons of Namaste Yoga, and also some workouts from Sarah Ivanhoe. And my work is planning to do some kind of a yoga thing on Tuesday - have no idea what that will be.

 

[ashaw]

Congrats on getting through all the workouts! I know I was wondering what I'd do after I'm finished with the 12-week rotation and decided to do her XTrain/STS 2.0 rotation next. That's going to add in more cardio, for sure, and keep things interesting, I think. Actually, since I appreciate doing 12-week rotations, the first four weeks before her XTrain rotation, I'm going to do the following:

(Sorry, the image says 12-week, but it only shows the first 4 weeks - the remaining 8 weeks follows the XTrain rotation in the guide.)
View attachment 8588

Now that's good stuff right there. I'm gonna keep that in mind for when I finish my current rotation. I have one more week of upper/lower splits and then I'm going to alternate between the single body parts workouts and the two body parts per day, three days a week premixes. I might even throw in a week of P.volve as my active recovery.

 

[vivbc]

How have you been liking Phase 2 workouts?

They may be my favourite ones. I thought body parts would be, and I really like them, yet . . . Might like split workouts just a little more. I like working the legs twice a week, for sure, and I feel pumped after the upper body exercises. Finishing the rotation in mid-August, and unsure of where I will be in September, so I’m going to try the body parts Mish Mosh for two weeks, until I know what I’m doing.

 

[Nanbo]

They may be my favourite ones. I thought body parts would be, and I really like them, yet . . . Might like split workouts just a little more. I like working the legs twice a week, for sure, and I feel pumped after the upper body exercises. Finishing the rotation in mid-August, and unsure of where I will be in September, so I’m going to try the body parts Mish Mosh for two weeks, until I know what I’m doing.

A few years back I did Gym Styles and got FABULOUS results! I did GS Legs 2X per week. I would add on the GS biceps & shoulders segment to Chest/Triceps, and add on the GS triceps segment to Back/Biceps so I was hitting my "beach muscles" 2X per week, too. These were very long workouts (LOL!)! I did cardio 2X per week during that time. I seem to respond best to working muscle groups at least twice per week.

 

[vivbc]

A few years back I did Gym Styles and got FABULOUS results! I did GS Legs 2X per week. I would add on the GS biceps & shoulders segment to Chest/Triceps, and add on the GS triceps segment to Back/Biceps so I was hitting my "beach muscles" 2X per week, too. These were very long workouts (LOL!)! I did cardio 2X per week during that time. I seem to respond best to working muscle groups at least twice per week.

I love GS Legs too. Sounds like a great way to use the workouts.
I’m using her premixes to double up the body parts, back & biceps, chest & triceps. Shall see how that goes.
Cathe’s May 2022 rotation has two leg workouts a week. From her description: “We’ll hit the lower body twice each week, once with a plyometric cardio flare and once with solid heavy weights.” I love that rotation, and getting at the power moves.

 

[Kellyro77]

I've been on active recovery this week, but boy have I been feeling fidgety!! I mean I'm going for walks, doing yoga, but I can definitely tell this series has increased my energy levels. Wednesday I decided to do a combo of Cathe's Active Recovery workout, and then a mobility workout on YouTube by julia.reppel

I'm actually finding myself feeling a bit obsessive lately with mobility workouts, so it's nice to see there's a lot of content creators out there who post mobility workouts, too. I prefer Cathe's queueing, however, over Julia's non-verbal demos (but the music is nice.)

Kinda glad my recovery week is almost over. I'm ready to hit the weights again!

 

[jillybean]

I started with Body Parts: Chest and Triceps. It was so hard. I had to drop weight on a few exercises. I previewed the workout but forgot there were THREE sets of dips. Those dips on the STS bars are so challenging. I don't know where I feel them more; my triceps or my chest. I did the original STS not that long ago and because of ALL the pushups in Meso 1, I don't dread them like I used to so I was actually happy when the pushups showed up in the chest workout! I really like the exercises she chose and feel like these body parts workouts have so much versatility. Like making a timesaver mix in workout blender incorporating some of the bonus body parts chapters and using them as an updated CTX or 4 Day Split.

 

[Kellyro77]

I was glad for the express workouts this week, as I had to miss my workout on Monday (supposed to be back). So on Tuesday (which was chest), I did the express versions of that and back (plus the back bonuses) so I didn't feel like I cheated myself by missing a body part this week. Granted, they weren't the full workouts, but I still felt like my muscles got a good challenge - especially those darn drop sets in the bonus section!

 

[Hazlady]

I've finally finished my body parts mixes that I made in the workout blender. This was taking the 2 body parts premixes idea but shortening the workouts to fit my schedule. During the week I'm often only able to do 45min max. It took me longer than expected to get through these workouts due to work interruptions. Now I am going to go back to Total Body as I only did the upper body workouts for Supersets and Trisets the first time through. I'm looking at doing Supersets Express 4 premix and Trisets Express 3 premix. After that I will return to the Body Parts and do them individually. I am noticing that I'm getting stronger though. I am increasing my weights on some exercises.