Will PUB or S&H be a good addition?

ksg68

ksg68

Cathlete
I'm looking for some advice from all the experts out there. I'd like to add another weight lifting DVD to my collection. So far, I have the following:

GS series, which I absolutely love!
Muscle Max, which is the newest and haven't done very often
4DS, which I can't really get into for some reason

Then I have some endurance DVD's like ME, and my favorite series, which is Cathe's 2006 release (LIC, BM2, DM, etc.). I'm not looking to add a lower body weight workout since I have bigger thighs. But would you suggest PUB or S&H?

Thanks!
 
PUB

PUB is my favorite upper body workout. I think most people seem to enjoy that one alot. I haven't done slow and heavy since I switched over from video to DVD. I really don't remember too much about that one. However, slow and heavy is 3 separate workouts and PUB is one. I think it is very effective. The biceps work is killer!!
Good luck with your decision.
chrissy
 
Man , I love PUB. It is effective, not too long, and fun. I also like S&H but even Cathe notes that it is not a workout to do continuously for weeks. I think she suggests doing it for a max of 3 weeks at a time. I personally enjoy it and it is nice that you can break up the work if you don't want to do all upper on one day but rather focus more intently on each part. The legs of S&H is nice too. I know you said that you weren't interested in legs, but it is straight weight work and lasts for about 30 minutes (no floorwork).
 
meowracer said:
Man , I love PUB. It is effective, not too long, and fun. I also like S&H but even Cathe notes that it is not a workout to do continuously for weeks. I think she suggests doing it for a max of 3 weeks at a time. I personally enjoy it and it is nice that you can break up the work if you don't want to do all upper on one day but rather focus more intently on each part. The legs of S&H is nice too. I know you said that you weren't interested in legs, but it is straight weight work and lasts for about 30 minutes (no floorwork).
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Can I just repeat everything you just said :D?

But correct me if I'm wrong, Pyramids (on DVD) has two separate workouts: Pyramid Upper and Pyramid Lower. Honestly, this is such a tough choice for me. If you already have Gym Styles, I would figure Pyramids is the way to go. Just make sure you have enough dumbells, since Pyramids goes by 3 graduations of weight. Example biceps: you start with 12 pound dumbells, do 12 reps, go to 15 pounders, do 10 reps, go to 20 pounds do 8 reps and then back down the pyramid. When I do this workout it really moves and here comes the sweat, there isn't a lot of rest time in this workout, so I wouldn't doubt you can loose some fat while doing it. These are the dumbells I use for this workout: 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25.
 
Yes, Pyramids has PUB and PLB. PLB has pyramid weights and floorwork. I use 3-20 lb weights. For biceps, I use 10,12,15 but I'm a gonna be working towards those 20's!!! I use the 20 for back work...it will be a while before I'm ready for 25s on that.:p Hmmmm, think I'll build my own and try 22.5. Anyway, I digress...! You do need a lot of dumbbells - Cathe starts with 3's for tricep and shoulder work and ends with 25s I think. I like to set mine all up and go to town. This is one to be sure you have a notebook handy to write down what you do. You can print out weight worksheets from http://web.mac.com/lainiefig/FitnessFig/Tools.html if you don't already have those. It makes it so much easier to set up and saves time, plus you can track your improvements.
 
Nothing against Slow & Heavy (which I owned in the past, and it was one of the very few Cathe productions I divested myself of), but I agree that the Pyramids is (are?) the way to go. Not only for the effectiveness of the weight lifting, but also the core routine on the stability ball is much, much more effective than the S/H ones. (Sorry, Cathe - you upgraded yourself!)

A-Jock
 
meowracer said:
Yes, Pyramids has PUB and PLB. PLB has pyramid weights and floorwork. I use 3-20 lb weights. For biceps, I use 10,12,15 but I'm a gonna be working towards those 20's!!! I use the 20 for back work...it will be a while before I'm ready for 25s on that.:p Hmmmm, think I'll build my own and try 22.5. Anyway, I digress...! You do need a lot of dumbbells - Cathe starts with 3's for tricep and shoulder work and ends with 25s I think. I like to set mine all up and go to town. This is one to be sure you have a notebook handy to write down what you do. You can print out weight worksheets from http://web.mac.com/lainiefig/FitnessFig/Tools.html if you don't already have those. It makes it so much easier to set up and saves time, plus you can track your improvements.
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THANK YOU! I did not have these worksheets - what a lifesaver!

The only thing about PUB is that I'll need to purchase more free weights, but I've been wanting to do that anyway. I guess that's probably the reason I don't like 4DS because of all the changing of the weights. I think I'll give PUB a try; it might be a good companion to the Gym Series.
 
If you have a Play it Again Sports in your area, they are .49 cents a pound used. That is where I go. Often, used look just like the new ones! The changing of the weights is not a pain. Like I said, just line them up in order, get your worksheets ready, and it goes by very quickly. I started with 2 lbs for shoulders b/c my shoulders aren't the best in the world but I was able to build enough strength to leave the 2's behind and start with 3's, which is what Cathe does and am pain free now. What weights do you currently have? If you don't have 20s, you may want to try the workout with 15s and see how that goes. Because of the pyramid design, you get fried quite easily!
 
meowracer said:
If you have a Play it Again Sports in your area, they are .49 cents a pound used. That is where I go. Often, used look just like the new ones! The changing of the weights is not a pain. Like I said, just line them up in order, get your worksheets ready, and it goes by very quickly. I started with 2 lbs for shoulders b/c my shoulders aren't the best in the world but I was able to build enough strength to leave the 2's behind and start with 3's, which is what Cathe does and am pain free now. What weights do you currently have? If you don't have 20s, you may want to try the workout with 15s and see how that goes. Because of the pyramid design, you get fried quite easily!
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I have 3, 5, 8 & 12's. I hate the other dumbbells we have because I have to physically remove the plates from the bar to add/remove weight. My DH doesn't understand how time-consuming and cumbersome this is; Cathe MOVES between her sets. He takes 1-2 minutes breaks between sets. I'd love to have a full set of dumbbells from 3-25's. Then workouts like PUB and 4DS would be so much easier. And I'd have no excuse not to do them! Am I making excuses or should I just change the plates?
 
Hey, I just got the pyramids, and have not yet done them. I was wondering if anyone knows how long the total body bonus is on that dvd. I checked her printed catalog that lists premixes and the cathe compendium that is an awesome resource (thank you, authors!), but it doesn't seem to be listed. I'm guessing it's probably about 40 + 40 minutes, because it looks like she goes up only, but the thing I don't know is whether or not she hits all of the same exercises. Just wondering how long I'll need to plan for this as I like to do the total body thing, even though I know I'll do them separately, too.

thanks!!

-Beth
 
ksg68 said:
I have 3, 5, 8 & 12's. I hate the other dumbbells we have because I have to physically remove the plates from the bar to add/remove weight. My DH doesn't understand how time-consuming and cumbersome this is; Cathe MOVES between her sets. He takes 1-2 minutes breaks between sets. I'd love to have a full set of dumbbells from 3-25's. Then workouts like PUB and 4DS would be so much easier. And I'd have no excuse not to do them! Am I making excuses or should I just change the plates?
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Well, how strong are you? I did it again yesterday and had forgotten that Cathe only goes to 20. She uses 20s on chest and back. She uses 15s on those two also, plus on biceps and triceps. You could set up the barbell things for 15 each and if needed, just add to them for 20s. I still can't do 20s for chest but use them for back. You would have time in between body parts to set up and would just have to pause to add 2.5s to up the 15s to 20s if you need 20s.

The way the DVD is set up, you do chest and finish up that. Next is back, followed by shoulders, triceps, and biceps. Each is in their own little section and you only need a sets of weights for each.

Am I making any sense at all??:p
 
I think the total body combo is about an hour, or just under. I haven't done it in a while, but it's a great burner! It does not include abs, though, just so you know.

anne
 
Thanks, Anne! I was going to do it yesterday, but had only an hour and it looked like it might go longer, so didn't try it yet..... I'll definitely be doing it soon.

-Beth
 
I'm still sore from Pyramid Upper Body!

I have both S&H, which I do love but it's a week-long commitment, and I have PUB. Wow. If you could have just one upper body workout, I think it must be PUB. I did it Sunday, thinking I'll take Monday off, then start a gym styles on Tuesday. But on Tuesday, I felt my biceps were still sore from PUB. I really needed 2.5 days just to get rid of the soreness.

As I say I do really like S&H, but if you want your upper body whipped into shape, it's got to be PUB, IMHO.

Also, I think PUB has the absolute hardest ab segment in Cathe's DVDs. I have to do the ab segment BEFORE starting the upper body or my arms are just too sore.

So that's my opinion. S&H is great for a week-long rotation (you probably need days off between workouts), but if you want your upper body kicked into shape instantly, try PUB! (One final comment: Cathe is really in a happy mood in PUB. It's great to see her struggling and laughing with us as we work out.)

Have a great day,
Dawn
 
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