OPT Exercise Question

[krispy1138]

I PM'd Leigh this question, but she is a little short on time so she suggested I start a thread.

I started OPT on Sunday (goal is to lose 10-15 lbs - I'm currently 5'6 and 140) and I have a couple of questions on the exercises.

I've been doing NROLFW for the last couple of months so I'm used to much more intense training. That being said, however, some of the exercises are too easy for me (specifically, the Swiss Ball Bridge and prone Superman in A1 and the trunk extension in A2). Do you have any recommendations for how to make them more challenging? I work out at a gym so I have access to plenty of equipment.

Also, there are a couple of exercises where one weight is relatively easy but the next weight up is too hard for all of the reps (I could do 7-8 before my form falls apart). What do you recommend in that case?

Thanks in advance!

[lorigaud]

Well, I'm no expert... but my opinion would be that the exercises are designed to be done as is, so even though they are easy, I would do them as suggested for the program. It's not designed to be super intense, because strength is not the goal... fat loss is.

As far as the weights go, does your gym have the 1 1/2 pound magnetic weights that you can add on to the dumbbells? That's what I use sometimes when I need a little bit more weight without adding too much. If not, I'd go with the lower weight and concentrate on the form rather than trying to lift too heavy a weight.