Thoughts on Pyramid series
- Thread starter pjlippert
- Start date
What she said. Plus I like to do the pyramid up only premixes. Fabulous workouts - so underrated.
jgoycoolea
Cathlete
I read so many posts of people saying how much they love the pyramids. And usally I just keep quiet, not wanting to say anything negative about a Cathe workout when I appreciate her so so much. But I am going to say it this time.--I don't care for the pyramids so much.
PUB BACK--I don't like the back workout. It is mainly because I don't like double arm rows--the major heavy back move, the pullovers being done with lighter weight. I like rows to be done one arm at a time or to use a barbell with a different grip. (And it isn't easy to change the barbell as quick as Cathe switches dumbbells. ) The double arm rows just feel like too much lower back and core stabilization for me rather than heavy upper back. And believe me, I work my core in other Cathe dvds. It should be strong. In fact, maybe it is too taxed already to have to do so much work for a back workout.
PUB TRI'S-- I don't like kickbacks. I simply cannont feel them adequately. I'm also not crazy about overhead extensions the other tris move.
So for back and tris, I am not a fan of one of the only two moves done for that body part. I just haven't worked out any substitutions that feel right for me.
PUB SHOULDERS - Its ok I supppose. But I prefer to have presses and upright rows in a shoulder workout.
PUB CHEST & BI'S - They are fine. But on chest I have to do 2 sets of presses at 8 reps with a barbell since my dumbbells don't go high enough to be taxing.
PLB --As ironic as it sounds, I feel too lazy to be switching my plates so much during a workout. I just don't like it.
So put all of this toghether and I am just not loving the pyramids like so many others do. But I still only have the pyramids on VHS so can't comment on dvd premixes.
(I'm sorry Cathe, but in an odd way, it feels good to get this off my chest. I'm still in love with PS and GS series, and have recently got into the back/bi & chest/shoulder/tri superset premixes of 4DS)
PUB BACK--I don't like the back workout. It is mainly because I don't like double arm rows--the major heavy back move, the pullovers being done with lighter weight. I like rows to be done one arm at a time or to use a barbell with a different grip. (And it isn't easy to change the barbell as quick as Cathe switches dumbbells. ) The double arm rows just feel like too much lower back and core stabilization for me rather than heavy upper back. And believe me, I work my core in other Cathe dvds. It should be strong. In fact, maybe it is too taxed already to have to do so much work for a back workout.
PUB TRI'S-- I don't like kickbacks. I simply cannont feel them adequately. I'm also not crazy about overhead extensions the other tris move.
So for back and tris, I am not a fan of one of the only two moves done for that body part. I just haven't worked out any substitutions that feel right for me.
PUB SHOULDERS - Its ok I supppose. But I prefer to have presses and upright rows in a shoulder workout.
PUB CHEST & BI'S - They are fine. But on chest I have to do 2 sets of presses at 8 reps with a barbell since my dumbbells don't go high enough to be taxing.
PLB --As ironic as it sounds, I feel too lazy to be switching my plates so much during a workout. I just don't like it.
So put all of this toghether and I am just not loving the pyramids like so many others do. But I still only have the pyramids on VHS so can't comment on dvd premixes.
(I'm sorry Cathe, but in an odd way, it feels good to get this off my chest. I'm still in love with PS and GS series, and have recently got into the back/bi & chest/shoulder/tri superset premixes of 4DS)
ebonynicole
Cathlete
I agree you can't go wrong with this one, great workout all the way around 
Bobbi-B
Cathlete
These are great workouts, but I have an embarrassing confession. I love Pyramid Upper Body, but for lower body, I find myself reaching for other dvd's over Pyramid Lower Body because I get tired of switching the barbell plates in between every set! I know it's silly, but I'll substitute B&G, GSL, or L&G instead for that very reason. (It's not an issue with Pyramid Upper Body, because it's easy to pick up different dumbbells for each set.)
Sunshine1528
Cathlete
Another who likes these workouts !
Bobbi-B - ITA about the switching, so I use both BB and DB's and it works well. Like 2 - 15's, then 35 BB, then 2 - 20's. Try it that way and it works just fine and quick !
Bobbi-B - ITA about the switching, so I use both BB and DB's and it works well. Like 2 - 15's, then 35 BB, then 2 - 20's. Try it that way and it works just fine and quick !
Bobbi-B
Cathlete
Another who likes these workouts !
Bobbi-B - ITA about the switching, so I use both BB and DB's and it works well. Like 2 - 15's, then 35 BB, then 2 - 20's. Try it that way and it works just fine and quick !
Hey, great idea, thanks! Not sure why I didn't think of that. Also, I recently got a weighted vest, which should also help decrease all of the plate-switching. I think I'm going to try PLB again. and see how it goes.
maddiesmum
Cathlete
I'm with jgoycoolea, I am not the biggest fan of PUB and PLB.
I agree with her assessment of PUB: the shoulder work excludes the two best shoulder exercises, in my opinion, upright rows and Arnold's press/military presses, and the three exercises included go so fast you can only use a light weight throughout. So, this puts PUB heavily in the endurance workout category, which, I really don't need for my upper body. I need strength building, heavier weights, slower pace. PUB is very fast. I often have to totally ignore Cathe's count, finish each set after her in order to get my reps in, especially with chest, then rewind her and join back in. The only part of PUB I really like is the section for biceps which will really fry your mental focus and the core section is fabulous. Still, I haven't done it in 4 years.
PLB irritates me for a different reason. I don't mind the changing of the plates at all, what I do not like is the lack of variety in the exercises chosen. You work the quads, gluteus maximus and some inner thigh, a lot. It is not a fully rounded workout. In order to make it so, you would have to do the floor section and quite honestly, it is nowhere near as good as the floor section of GS legs.
PUB and PLB are great if you want to work some muscle groups for endurance work and want to make it quick and dirty and get it over and done with. But I still prefer the GS legs for lower body and CTX upper for the best upper body endurance workout.
Clare
I agree with her assessment of PUB: the shoulder work excludes the two best shoulder exercises, in my opinion, upright rows and Arnold's press/military presses, and the three exercises included go so fast you can only use a light weight throughout. So, this puts PUB heavily in the endurance workout category, which, I really don't need for my upper body. I need strength building, heavier weights, slower pace. PUB is very fast. I often have to totally ignore Cathe's count, finish each set after her in order to get my reps in, especially with chest, then rewind her and join back in. The only part of PUB I really like is the section for biceps which will really fry your mental focus and the core section is fabulous. Still, I haven't done it in 4 years.
PLB irritates me for a different reason. I don't mind the changing of the plates at all, what I do not like is the lack of variety in the exercises chosen. You work the quads, gluteus maximus and some inner thigh, a lot. It is not a fully rounded workout. In order to make it so, you would have to do the floor section and quite honestly, it is nowhere near as good as the floor section of GS legs.
PUB and PLB are great if you want to work some muscle groups for endurance work and want to make it quick and dirty and get it over and done with. But I still prefer the GS legs for lower body and CTX upper for the best upper body endurance workout.
Clare
Bobbi-B
Cathlete
Clare, do you know how long the CTX upper body premix is? I have CTX but I haven't done the upper body yet, I think I'll plan it into a rotation soon. TIA
P.S. GS Legs gives me DOMS like NO OTHER leg dvd!!! I haven't taken the time to analyze what it is about GSL and not all the other cathe leg dvds that works my legs so hard.
This is one of my favorites, it may even be the favorite of all Cathe workouts. A real Cathe Classic.
I saw this one on Fit TV last year and it really changed the way I thought about exercising, needless to say, as soon as I finished the beginner rotation, I did that TV version both upper & lower parts, with some other cardios. It makes the time go fast, is an excellent endurance workout, has great stability ball exercises, and can be used as a total body workout. Now I can't wait to get back to it, so I got it on special this week (marked down & 30% off), it's a keeper!
Buy it!
I saw this one on Fit TV last year and it really changed the way I thought about exercising, needless to say, as soon as I finished the beginner rotation, I did that TV version both upper & lower parts, with some other cardios. It makes the time go fast, is an excellent endurance workout, has great stability ball exercises, and can be used as a total body workout. Now I can't wait to get back to it, so I got it on special this week (marked down & 30% off), it's a keeper!
Buy it!
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toughYrun
Cathlete
I've had this workout so long and know PUB so well that I don't use the DVD when I do it.
I agree with a previous poster who said that they don't like some of the back, triceps and shoulder work. Since I do this one without the DVD I substitute the following:
For back I do single arm rows rather than double arm rows. I use a barbell for the pullovers (I have 3 barbells so I don't have to add or subract weight between sets).
For tris I don't like kickbacks so substitute that exercise where you are laying on the bench and lower the dumbbells to your forehead then back up.
For shoulders I do the superset from the DVD and then add an overhead press pyramid.
I love to do PUB when I really would just rather turn on the TV, music or radio on and go at my own pace. I think it's a great workout to include in a Cathe collection.
I agree with a previous poster who said that they don't like some of the back, triceps and shoulder work. Since I do this one without the DVD I substitute the following:
For back I do single arm rows rather than double arm rows. I use a barbell for the pullovers (I have 3 barbells so I don't have to add or subract weight between sets).
For tris I don't like kickbacks so substitute that exercise where you are laying on the bench and lower the dumbbells to your forehead then back up.
For shoulders I do the superset from the DVD and then add an overhead press pyramid.
I love to do PUB when I really would just rather turn on the TV, music or radio on and go at my own pace. I think it's a great workout to include in a Cathe collection.
Bobbi-B
Cathlete
It's just pyramid up for both upper and lower body. I don't remember about the floor work though.