Hi!
I started to reply with my thoughts about LIC in the other thread, but began to add comments about the others, so I decided to start a new thread. Please feel free to add any comments on any of the videos, especially if you disagree with my assessments!--perhaps we can help other pregnant gals decide whether or not go get these (or if you already have them, to try them!) I'm 6 months pregnant and have been making my way through the new DVDs a little at a time. Here are my thoughts.... I'm interested to hear what others have to say as well!
Low Impact Circuit: I did the whole thing (except Abs, started them but just wasn't in the mood) and just modified the blasts when necessary, which actually wasn't too much (I mainly just reduced the intensity to make sure not to go anaerobic). I thought the upper body work was good and I only remember one thing done lying on your back which I modified to lying on my ball. There may have been more on-your-back moves...if so, I modified those and other moves as needed. All in all, I thought it was VERY modifiable for a pregnant lady!
Butts & Guts (Standing): I've done pieces of B&G at a time. I did standing portion after walking my dog and found it very doable (I mean, moves for pregnancy--I couldn't complete all the reps for all the exercises). Wow, was my butt toasted by the end. I used light weights, sometimes none (which is ok, I've gained some to make up for it!
) I thought (for now) the faster moving moves--i.e., the thrust hammer punches--were ok, I just didn't go as low as normal. I imagine I may have to cut them out completely in a while, but we'll just see how it goes. Also, I can see how joints may be put to the test (esp the one-legged squats) so be careful with this one. I really liked this segment, though.
Butts & Guts (floorwork): I did the floorwork on a separate day, and actually didn't like it. I thought working on all fours would be perfect but it ended up making my stomach feel achy and kind of crampy (nothing I was worried about, just uncomfortable). I thought GS:Legs floorwork was better for me, and modified easier than this one.
Butts & Guts (bonus stablilty ball abs): I had to modify this a lot, so much so I'm not sure it's worth it when I have other abs I can do for now. In non-pregnancy terms, however, I think it's a great routine and I'm going to enjoy getting to it once the baby's here. I haven't tried the regular abs yet. I'll try to update when I do.
Body Max 2(step cardio): Very modifiable. I was even able to do some of the jumpy moves (not too high) and modified other jumpy moves (esp the around-the-world stuff) with more "push-off" type moves where you almost jump but the foot never actually leaves the step. I did this on just the platform, and thought it was a great 30 min cardio (even the warmup was getting my heartrate up). Cathe offers a few suggestions throughout to keep impact low if you need it. One thing I liked was there wasn't any walking or shuffling around the step, which in the last few weeks I've not liked to do if possible (although I think there's some in LIC, ug, I may sub with something else). But that might just be me.
BodyMax 2 (Bootcamp premix--power circuit + leg weights + upper body wts, circuit style): I guess the circuit-style aspect of this premix made me tired--I only made it through drills 1-3 and chest, back and shoulders (I did biceps/tris the next day). But I'm including this in the review because it gave me a good idea of what the power circuit drills were like. I thought it was pretty easy to modify and keep everything at steady-state cardio by reducing impact or intensity. A nice way to bang out some cardio and light leg weights in less than 30 mins.
BodyMax 2 (upper weights and Abs): I've done the upper weights a few times now, on their own and with the premix above. I thought they were great! Short and sweet, but I felt nice and worked. I believe nearly everything involves sitting or lying on the ball (I started to think of it as my sit-down weight workout!) A couple things I had to modify (ironically!) was to stand for some of the moves where you sit on the ball and bend forward (like I think there's a seated double arm row). I just didn't have the belly room to be able to do that comfortably. Standing, though, these moves were no problem.
I can hardly remember the abs, but I wrote in my logbook that I thought they were easily modifiable. I skipped the hip thrusts, and moved crunches to the ball. I did do reverse crunches on the floor, but that segment was really short and I felt fine. I just can't do reverse crunches on an incline--I start to slip down the step!
So that's it for me. To sum up, I give a pregnant thumbs up to BodyMax 2 step & upper weights, LIC, and Butts & Guts Standing. I haven't attempted DrillMax yet...I'm sure I'll pop it in soon and see how much I can do. If nothing else, from the description it sounds like the weight work will be ok but we shall see!
Take care all, & thanks for reading,
Kristy
I started to reply with my thoughts about LIC in the other thread, but began to add comments about the others, so I decided to start a new thread. Please feel free to add any comments on any of the videos, especially if you disagree with my assessments!--perhaps we can help other pregnant gals decide whether or not go get these (or if you already have them, to try them!) I'm 6 months pregnant and have been making my way through the new DVDs a little at a time. Here are my thoughts.... I'm interested to hear what others have to say as well!
Low Impact Circuit: I did the whole thing (except Abs, started them but just wasn't in the mood) and just modified the blasts when necessary, which actually wasn't too much (I mainly just reduced the intensity to make sure not to go anaerobic). I thought the upper body work was good and I only remember one thing done lying on your back which I modified to lying on my ball. There may have been more on-your-back moves...if so, I modified those and other moves as needed. All in all, I thought it was VERY modifiable for a pregnant lady!
Butts & Guts (Standing): I've done pieces of B&G at a time. I did standing portion after walking my dog and found it very doable (I mean, moves for pregnancy--I couldn't complete all the reps for all the exercises). Wow, was my butt toasted by the end. I used light weights, sometimes none (which is ok, I've gained some to make up for it!
) I thought (for now) the faster moving moves--i.e., the thrust hammer punches--were ok, I just didn't go as low as normal. I imagine I may have to cut them out completely in a while, but we'll just see how it goes. Also, I can see how joints may be put to the test (esp the one-legged squats) so be careful with this one. I really liked this segment, though.Butts & Guts (floorwork): I did the floorwork on a separate day, and actually didn't like it. I thought working on all fours would be perfect but it ended up making my stomach feel achy and kind of crampy (nothing I was worried about, just uncomfortable). I thought GS:Legs floorwork was better for me, and modified easier than this one.
Butts & Guts (bonus stablilty ball abs): I had to modify this a lot, so much so I'm not sure it's worth it when I have other abs I can do for now. In non-pregnancy terms, however, I think it's a great routine and I'm going to enjoy getting to it once the baby's here. I haven't tried the regular abs yet. I'll try to update when I do.
Body Max 2(step cardio): Very modifiable. I was even able to do some of the jumpy moves (not too high) and modified other jumpy moves (esp the around-the-world stuff) with more "push-off" type moves where you almost jump but the foot never actually leaves the step. I did this on just the platform, and thought it was a great 30 min cardio (even the warmup was getting my heartrate up). Cathe offers a few suggestions throughout to keep impact low if you need it. One thing I liked was there wasn't any walking or shuffling around the step, which in the last few weeks I've not liked to do if possible (although I think there's some in LIC, ug, I may sub with something else). But that might just be me.
BodyMax 2 (Bootcamp premix--power circuit + leg weights + upper body wts, circuit style): I guess the circuit-style aspect of this premix made me tired--I only made it through drills 1-3 and chest, back and shoulders (I did biceps/tris the next day). But I'm including this in the review because it gave me a good idea of what the power circuit drills were like. I thought it was pretty easy to modify and keep everything at steady-state cardio by reducing impact or intensity. A nice way to bang out some cardio and light leg weights in less than 30 mins.
BodyMax 2 (upper weights and Abs): I've done the upper weights a few times now, on their own and with the premix above. I thought they were great! Short and sweet, but I felt nice and worked. I believe nearly everything involves sitting or lying on the ball (I started to think of it as my sit-down weight workout!) A couple things I had to modify (ironically!) was to stand for some of the moves where you sit on the ball and bend forward (like I think there's a seated double arm row). I just didn't have the belly room to be able to do that comfortably. Standing, though, these moves were no problem.
I can hardly remember the abs, but I wrote in my logbook that I thought they were easily modifiable. I skipped the hip thrusts, and moved crunches to the ball. I did do reverse crunches on the floor, but that segment was really short and I felt fine. I just can't do reverse crunches on an incline--I start to slip down the step!
So that's it for me. To sum up, I give a pregnant thumbs up to BodyMax 2 step & upper weights, LIC, and Butts & Guts Standing. I haven't attempted DrillMax yet...I'm sure I'll pop it in soon and see how much I can do. If nothing else, from the description it sounds like the weight work will be ok but we shall see!
Take care all, & thanks for reading,
Kristy
