Thoughts on my second round through STS

[morningstar]

So I'm back into STS, doing an undulating rotation. I admire Cathe and the program more each time I do it (especially her amazin' lats and biceps! Holy Christ!)

Here's the one thing that bugs me: on upper body workouts, to warm up, she sends the guys off to warm up on a cardio machine - which does absolutely nothing to warm up the area that will be working. I can see it, sort of, for lower body workouts (although I still don't think a cardio machine will warm up the whole lower body) but what's up with that for upper body? Aren't they pretty much going in to the workout cold?

I also don't do the stretch at the beginning of the workouts, just continuing to warm up instead, because studies have shown that static stretching actually weakens a muscle temporarily, the last thing you want to do just before a strength workout.

 

[syzygy314]

That always bugs me too! The guys don't warm up the upper body at all!

Interesting info on those studies. I wonder when they're going to change their minds about that one too!

 

[banslug]

I agree about the cardio equipment for warming up.....I tried it a few times my first time thru and just didn't feel warmed up enough.

The one thing that is bothering me, now my 2nd time thru, is that the 'specifically timed' rest periods are longer than the 'prescribed' time, if that makes sense. I'm impatient to begin with, but when a 1 minute rest period gets extended by even 5 seconds because I'm listening to the same pointers and tips from the last time, I get huffy and just start before Cathe and crew! But, that's just my impatient self! LOL

 

[dr.mel_PT]

For those of you who are on round 2 of STS, did you do your 1RM's again or did you just increase the weight you used last round by a margin?

Side note...I'm on week 3 of Meso 3 and last night's Chest & Back was a KILLER!! OUCH!!!

 

[banslug]

For those of you who are on round 2 of STS, did you do your 1RM's again or did you just increase the weight you used last round by a margin?

Side note...I'm on week 3 of Meso 3 and last night's Chest & Back was a KILLER!! OUCH!!!

Melissa, I just kind of eeked the weights up a bit the second time without re-doing 1RMs.