STS first time!

Today's treadmill day. :)

Since my husband and I live in far west TX, the tornadoes were nowhere near us but both of us grew up in Fort Worth so we have a lot of family there. Thankfully, no one was in the direct path of the tornadoes.

Jean - yes, it's nice to know we have similar ages in common. I started working out regularly when I was 18. These last few years weren't as regular but getting back to it feels like the most normal thing for me to do. Not that I quit altogether, but I lacked the structure that seems so important to me. That's why doing STS really appeals to me. I had charts made up for months at a time for my workouts, in the past. This is getting me back to that way of scheduling, which I seem to thrive on.
 
Greetings,
Well, I'm popping in to this forum because I am an STS first timer. I started it last Tuesday, and just completed disc 4 week 2 yesterday, which was my second day of chest, biceps and shoulders. Today I did MMA Fusion, which I have never done before. I liked it, and found it more challenging than the kickboxing dvd, which was a pleasant surprise. I downloaded it to include in the STS rotation, and tomorrow I do triceps and back. I'm going to try to stick with the STS rotation and use the STS dvds for my cardio, but I'm a little worried because many of them are shorter than most of Cathe's workouts and therefore don't burn as many calories. I'm kind of a cardio junkie, always looking for the max calorie burn, but I have faith in Cathe's expertise and I assume she designed this program with those specific workouts for a reason. I have been doing the LIS dvds for the last few months and I needed a break from those. I loved them when I got them, but I was doing them constantly for months and needed to change up my routine mentally and physically!

It seems that most of you who are active here now have already finished STS, so I'm not sure how much chatting there is here relative to the program, but if there is anyone else who is actively doing it (I saw at least one poster), then I'd love to chat here and keep each other going.


Eva
 
Good Evening ladies!!! I just finished CSS and 30 minutes elliptical. I did my elliptical workout first and then went straight into CSS. Oh my...I think it gave me more energy to get through it!!! I am drenched in sweat!!!! :p

Eva---Welcome! I too am a cardio junkie! I get up every morning and do and hour on my treadmill before I go to work. And, in the evenings I do Cathe DVD's. I am currently doing the LIS/STS rotation. I started it Monday. I was doing STS/ but got board so I changed my rotation to LIS/STS. I really enjoy the lifting but I missed the fun Cathe DVD's. So I am mixing them. So now I can have my cake and eat it too!!! hahaha :D So welcome! Even if we are not doing the same rotation, we can help each other stay motivated.

Jean---tonight I was thinking of you when the discs came out in CSS. These are my modifications: When in plank position pulling your legs in---I stand in plank with my body elevated on the step. I have 5 rises on each side---so I have more room to move my legs. It seems to help my back. Doing them this way I can follow along with all these types of exercises. This may help you. Give it a try and see. Do a few on the floor and a few elevated and see if you feel a difference. Let me know.

Okay...I have to go shower. Have a nice evening!!! :)
 
Hi Eva,

I just started STS a couple of weeks ago. And in fact, started over this week already, since I decided to change from the 3 month cycle to the 6 month cycle. I feel like I need to have more time to get the hang of each new exercise, plus I'm getting the turbo tower next week and would like to be able to do the first discs (disc 2 uses it) with it. Won't get to try that until next week since I don't have it yet.

Anyway, even though we aren't all at the same place and even though some of the folks aren't doing STS now, this is a very motivating place to be. And I love to be able to now ask STS questions to people I "know". :D That are my experienced experts. :cool:

mar
 
Well I finished Meso 2! I really liked Disc 24 Back & Bis, went heavy and thankfully it was a little shorter workout. The only one I had a little trouble with was the deadlifts, my weight was really heavy and my forearms killed, so I think my form suffered a bit. I am looking forward to a week off and then I'll start Meso 3. The only thing I'm a little worried about is the Chest exercises. I never got the tower and feel like I can't safely go much heavier for those chest presses.

We are going to Mexico for the girls' spring vacation. We've been so busy I haven't had much time to think about it, but I think we need to do some bathing suit shopping.

Betty I think we are still on the same schedule but my trip will throw me off a bit.

Welcome Eva! We are all in different places here but always happy to talk about STS.

Have a great day!
 
Good Morning ladies! I have lower body DOMS!!! Yeah!!! Call me crazy! I like DOMS. It makes me feel like I did something.

So, I did my morning cardio and went to work!

Looking forward to my STS DVD this afternoon.

I have to go to eye dr today at 3pm! And, then I will go home and workout!!!

Be back later! :D
 
Hi everybody! Wow, lots of posts to read through. So cool!:D

I was MIA last night because I had to go to an seminar for optometrists that one of our local clinics puts on for us every year. We get 2.5 free continuing ed credits which is nice plus it's good to see some of the other local optometrists occasionally. I tend to get caught up in my Shopko bubble since there isn't any kind of local association around here (Shopko is the company I work for). Unfortunately it's also pretty boring. This one retinal specialist, while he is a total genius, also isn't the most exciting speaker. He always shows all these graphs and studies about macular degeneration as I drift off...eyelids. feeling. heavy...ZZZZZ.

Speaking of my profession, Marie- I'm going to be coming up your way in May! The Minnesota Eye Foundation puts on a day long seminar with free CE too. It's a pretty long day but it's worth it for the credits and learning I get. I'll be at the Radisson by the Mall of America all day May 14. If you're in the area you can stop by and say hi!:) I don't think I mentioned it before but when I first got out of optometry school I actually worked in the Twin Cities, too. You know the LensCrafters in the Mall of America? I worked there for 9 months! That was awhile ago (2000). It's hard to believe it's been 12 years since I graduated!:eek: Also, with your contacts it's totally okay to wear them the 14 days rather than throw them out at 2 weeks if you haven't worn them every day. Have you ever thought about the 1 day contacts? Those can be really spendy for people who wear their contacts every day but for people who are more part time they are super convenient. Just wear once and toss. You get a fresh sterile lens every time and no solution to mess with or cleaning.

Welcome Eva! Alot of us are finished with the official STS rotation but we're still using STS a lot. I'm doing a sort of modified pyramid with STS. I got to Meso 3 but I only made it two weeks before I decided to stop there.:eek: I wasn't loving the upper body workouts but I think it's because I don't have the tower and couldn't go heavy enough for the chest or do pull ups. I decided to go back to Meso 2 but alternate weeks with kettlebell dvds and circuit workouts. I'm going to go through Meso 2 alternating with circuits, take a rest week, then do the same thing down through Meso 1. It's not a traditional rotation, more of a concept rotation. I like to have the freedom to choose my workouts and I missed my circuits, but this way I can still do STS (I loved Meso 1 and 2!!), plus I get that little bit of structure that STS gave me which I love too.

Speaking of Meso 2 I did disc 15 today! For the pull downs with the rubber tubing I doubled up on the tubes and twisted them around each other for extra resistance. That really helped! I think it was Mar that suggested that? Thank you!! I was totally amazed at how that ravenous hunger came back again from the Meso 2 heavy liftingl...after just 2 discs I noticed it! I made sure to use some more whey protein in my yogurt but boy is that phenomenen real!:eek:

Jean- I'm so glad you aren't as sore from AB as you thought! It'll get better every time you do it! After awhile you may even enjoy working the legs and doing LIS! ;) Good for you on keeping it up! I know you can do it!!

I was hoping to respond to more of your posts but my post is already turning into a novel and I can hear them screening the next patient, so I'd better get going! Have a great day ladies!!
 
Congratulations on finishing Meso 2 Betty!! I was always so surprised by how much I missed weights on my rest weeks. It's so funny, when I was doing circuit workouts last week, I kept thinking about STS...then this week while doing STS I kept thinking about my circuits! I just can't be satisfied!:p
 
Hi Missy!
I like my transition lenses a lot (when I do wear my glasses, that is ;)). I am SUPER light sensitive though. I swear, it's ridiculous. I have to wear sunglasses even on cloudy days when I wear my contacts!:confused: The only thing about Transition lenses is that during the winter, when it's cold outside they get really dark. It's good when you're outside, but when I come in from the cold wearing my glasses they fog up from the change from cold to warm and it takes about a minute for them to get clear again. I'm always like "whoa", gotta take 'em off for a second to see!:eek: During the summer they still get dark enough for sunglasses but not as much as the winter. HTH!

ETA: One more thing, Transition lenses won't get very dark in a car because they use UV light to darken and pretty much all newer cars have a UV coating/screen in the windshield. Alot of folks like to use sunglasses when they drive so that can be a bit of a drawback with those.
 
Colleen---Thanks. I have an eye appointment today, and was thinking of getting them. I live in South GA---so I need to either go transitions or prescription sunglasses. :D
 
Goodafternoon!!! Just finished 30 minutes on the elliptical. I have to cook dinner now, and then off to do my STS disc. I went to the eye dr and ordered a new pair of glasses. After I swallowed the cost---I am excited!!! They are cute and sexy!!!

It rained like crazy this afternoon. Now, the grass is all wet. And, my dog is "little ms priss" She doesn't like to get her feet wet. Spoiled rotton!!! So after a fuss, she went outside, but now she is back on her bed watching TV with a dog bone!!!

Carolyn---rest your calfs and get back on it tomorrow! We all need rest days. Those prisoner squats got me yesterday, this morning I was sore and lovin it!!!:D

Okay, gotta go---dinner is not going to cook itself!!! Be back later! :eek:
 
Colleen---Thats was so funny! I understand where you are coming from as I deal with "challenging" patients too. You made me laugh so hard!!! Thanks. :p
 
Good Morning!

Today I did Afterburn - what a great workout. I really had to concentrate on those sliding disc moves for good form. Now I'm sitting eating a pumpkin muffin. I have asked my husband not to bring this kind of stuff in the house but he has a real sweet tooth. If its not here I don't miss it but its hard when its sitting on the counter.

Jean, my oldest is 16 and my twins are 12. Even though my kids are older they still want to have an Easter egg hunt. I have to resist all that candy when I put the eggs together!

Have to get going, everyone is off from school today. Have a great one!
 
Holy smokes! Where is everybody today? There were tons of posts to read through yesterday and just a few today. :(

Congratulations on the 46 pushups Jean! Wow! I'm not worthy!!:eek::eek: That's incredible!

Maryk- I'm totally with you on being able to resist bad food as long as it's not in the house! I've been better lately though, since Mark insists on bringing ice cream home. I don't get too tempted by that. Actually, ice cream seems to bother my stomach so all I have to do is remember that feeling and I'm not tempted by the yummy taste! I am actually thinking about making chocolate chip oatmeal cookies today since he's been begging me to make my famous recipe ;). I usually only give in to one of those and bring the bulk of them to my work to give away! Mark always gets greedy and complains if I take any to give to other people! LOL

I'm going to try and attempt Athletic Step today for the first time. Hopefully I don't get to frustrated and curse at the tv! :eek:

Later girls!
 
Greetings,
Thanks to all for the warm welcome. It is also nice to know that several of you are still doing STS and are in various stages of completing, or even revisiting, the program. Thanks for clarifying that.

I was asked to post a little more about myself, so here goes...I live in Northern Virginia in the DC suburbs, about 30 miles from the city, and I work in DC. I'm an HR Manager, no kids, but I have a fiance and a cat, and I turn 38 years old in a week and a half! Woohoo!

I've been doing Cathe workouts off and on for about 12 years or so. I don't even remember how I found Cathe, but it was love at first sight. I have strayed from exercising over those years here and there, but I always come back to it. I have also gained and lost about 40 pounds during that period. I'm now holding steady at the smallest size I have been as a grown up, and I wear a size 8. I'd like to get down to a size 6, and I figured that STS might be just the thing to get me to my goal, as I've tried just about every iteration of cardio that's out there, including a round of Insanity (I lost zero pounds, but did improve my cardio tremendously). I am curious to see if heavy lifting, and more frequent lifting finally enables me to change my body the way I envision it. I'll never be tiny, but I'd like to tone up and be a little slimmer. I'm 5'3" so there's not a lot of places to hide the bulk.

I did not work out yesterday because I had a very restless night the night before, but I'm doubling up today. I did HIIT 30/30 this morning, and am about to do disc 5 today, which is what I had scheduled yesterday. Then I'll be on track. The way I've scheduled my workouts, Monday is my rest day.

I want to congratulate Jean on the 46 pushups. Toe pushups have been my most recent fitness demon to conquer, and I'm doing much better than ever on that. I'm also hoping to make even more progress on that during STS. It's getting easier, but it's amazing how wicked pushups are. It boggles the mind, really!

Take care and happy Easter weekend to those of you who celebrate the holiday.
 
Carolyn- I did Athletic Step today. I have Athletic Training since I got LIS with the preorder and LOVE that one!:D I have to find a way to fit in AT this week!! Athletic Step was one of the shock cardio series and I just got it recently based on the recommendation from Natty. It was good, I liked it but boy is the choreography tricky for me! My brain hurt when I was done just trying to figure out all those moves! I had to stop the dvd and rewind several times just to get some of the moves and I still didn't get it all. I think I will enjoy it once it becomes old hat though. I hate dancey type step choreography but since this was more athletic I rather liked it.

It's funny because, I think I told you guys before, I workout barefoot. I HATE shoes! So I was doing this workout barefoot and by about 30 minutes I was feeling the muscles in my feet fatigue from all the intricate footwork so I thought I'd better take a break. I keep a tennis ball around to massage the fascia on the bottom of my foot and the arch especially. Then I thought, maybe I'd better wear shoes for this like most people do. I dug out tennis shoes from my closet (I have several pairs from years of trying to find a shoe that I didn't absolutely hate), put them on and within a minute of starting the workout back up I took the suckers off again and tossed them aside. I can't put into words how much I HATE shoes! They literally felt like bricks on my feet and my knees immediately felt torqued!:mad:

Okay, better go outside and enjoy that sunshine! BBL to write more!
 
All this talk about pizza!!

I was supposed to get pizza tonight, but long story short, we changed our plans and so no pizza. Now that I've gotten myself all worked up for it, though, I am pretty determined to have some this weekend.

Today would have been the perfect day since I worked out twice, so to speak, and am under my calories for today, but I'm sure I'll find something to fill the void. :)

And speaking of Athletic Step, that's probably one of my favorite workouts from the Shock Cardio series. I don't know why, perhaps because it's challenging, but short. I tried to do Rhythmic Step last Sunday but gave up about 10 minutes into it. Partially because my fiance was sleeping and our house is small, so pounding on the step can be heard in our bedroom, but it was also partly because it was complicated and I just was not ready to sort that out. I am going to try it again this Sunday. I'm off an on with the step workouts, but I always come back to them...they're like comfort food, exercise wise.

I'm looking forward to doing my leg workout tomorrow. I just peeked at my card for that workout and it looks good. I have to say that one of the things I really am glad about with the leg workouts that I've seen so far (only two) is that they are not loaded with the pulsing lunges and the pulsing barbell squats. I hate those and was getting pretty bored with them. I am actually looking forward to the leg workout because it has some new moves that I have not done a hundred times already. I imagine they'll pop up at some point in the program, because they work, but it's nice to have some new ways to challenge my quads for a while.

Eva
 
Carolyn, CSS is a little easier version of AB, so you could use that as a sub. I think it has 8 rounds instead of 10.

Jean, congrats on the pushups! Did you see S&H is the deal of the day!
 
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