# risers you use with stepping ?

i rememeber laura's post and she did say she only burned 5 more calories when using two risers on each side. once i changed to one riser on each side, i noticed my knees felt better (i had used 8" for years). i think if you are really tall (i'm not) then an 8" height might be better, but for me at 5'3, one on each side is fine. i just try to jump higher and really concentrate on my moves. i have been very happy since i switched to one on each side. although, when doing weights, i pile four risers on each side. i like being high up so i can really extend my arms for things like pullovers.
 
I never use risers. I tried but I trip all over the place and it just about kills my hips. My knees don't seem to mind it but my poor hips can't take it.
 
I didn't read the past discussion concerning step height and calorie burn. Was the consensus that the number of risers didn't contribute to a higher calorie burn based only on LauraMax's workouts?

I might have to break out my heart rate monitor and see how many calories my body burns based on risers. Of course there are many other variables that will affect the number of calories burned other than step height.

Personally, I prefer using zero to 2 risers because of my knees. Although, after finishing a round of P90X, I finally figured out how tighten my leg muscles without letting my joints take as much of the impact. If I haven't stepped in awhile, I'll use zero risers until my body gets used to stepping again.

Keep in mind that Cathe and her crew are working out on those wonderful aerobic floors. I noticed a huge difference in how high I could jump and fast I could run on those floors while exerting less energy. Don't get me wrong, Cathe still killed me on the RT. My knees were probably the only body part not hurting afterwards.
 
Interesting. When I do 8" vs. 6" I see a more notable difference in my calories burned. I enjoy Body Max 2 Scrambled Eggs - no weights (I fast forward through the lower body weight work, but do the step and blast of the power circuit). According to my HRM I burn 10-15% more calories consistantly when I do it on an 8" step vs a 6" step. And my HR on the 6" averages 127, on the 8" it's 135 (for BodyMax 2)

That being said - I have certain workouts I'll do on 8" and certain workouts I'll only do on 6". For example, I have Amy Bento's Advanced Step Challenge 2 that will NEVER be done any higher than 6" - I think I'd kill myself. But the more simple straightforward workouts I sometimes like the challenge of the higher step.
 
I think your height really must matter in terms of how high the step is. I am 5'8", and I feel as though I am not doing any work at all if I use 0 or 1 set of risers. That is what I did when I was pregnant. Now, I always use 2 sets of risers for Cathe, and I hate to admit this, but I use 3 sets when I do my old Charlene Prickett tapes. Charlene's workouts, however, are much slower and usually less dancy. It feels more like Cathe's Legs and Glutes. I would never use 3 sets with Cathe; 2 sets is perfect for me.
 
I use 3 risers on each side. I am very tall 5'11" and have been using this height for over 15 years. I am just starting to use a heart rate monitor to see what the difference is between 3 on each side vs 2 on each side. If there is not much of difference, I will lower the height. I also use 17 and 18 inch high step when doing the tall riser leg lifts but, I will probably not change this.
 
I am 5'11" as well and used to always use the 2 risers (8") all the time. But now my knees seem to love me much more by using only 1 riser (6"). I dont notice a big difference in intensity - other than it helps with the trickier step combos so I dont trip myself up...

I will an extra risers on the high step because of my height - but I just killed my knees in basketball and the 8" bench step just makes them so much more uncomfortable.
 
For Cathe I use 2 risers per side except for IMAX3 intervals 1 and 7 and IMAX2 interval 6, I drop it to 1 per side or else my timing gets messed up. If I'm doing a Charlene Prickett workout I use 3 risers per side with no trouble.

Take Care
Laurie:)
 
WOW! I've been feeling like a weenie for using 1 riser per side, but it looks like one is just fine. And actually, this discussion has made me think about going to no risers. A lot of times (BM2!!) I have to curtial my arm movements to keep my heartrate from going too high. Maybe if I don't use risers at all, I can put more into the workout.

However, I am interested in the comment that your legs will get toned better by using risers. I'm going to start Gym style workouts this week though, so maybe that'd be overkill!
 
Well for me, I find that I 'feel' as if I am working a LOT harder with 4 risers. Especially my legs...it requires a lot more balance and coordination for me to use 4 risers, and I am 5'7". But some workouts, like AMY BENTO, I would never use 4 risers. 2 at the MAX !! I guess it also depends on how complex the choreography is ! The more complex...the less risers.
 
I use a 6in step height for all of step. I have a reebok step. (but I want a new step) Maybe DH will buy me one.

Jenn
 
Zee-roe. I can use a 6" step, but my knees can't. Every time I try to add risers, my knees hurt too much. It's the weakest link thing going on here.
 
I am also 5'11" and a few years ago when Cathe dropped most of her workouts to 6", I did as well. My 45 year old knees have thanked me too. I want to stay in great shape, but not at the cost of my knee health. I find I can work out more intensely at a 6" height because I am not afraid of tripping. I do go to an 8" height on LowMax and BodyMax 2 and do fine.;-)

redrocks
 
I thought that I would be in the minority here using only one riser per side. I'm surprised to find out that I am not! I'm short and if I go higher it hurts my knees and now I find that it really isn't worth it!
Ellen
 
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