Newbie, just sayin HI!

[echokitten]

Hi everyone! I am finishing up reading New Rules and want to move into more effective weight training. I have previously done P90X training program and made lots of strength and endurance gains and want to take that a step further.
I wish that I had enough money for a gym membership somewhere so that I could have access to the weights and racks etc, but alas I have to make do with what I have. I'm lacking in the support area as well, because I usually lift alone with a DVD for structure and DH has no interest in helping me with spotting etc...so I'm kinda stuck there also.

Which brings me to my first question:
I have had surgery on both of my knees and have osteo arthritis as a result, when I was doing P90X I had to discontinue the Plyometrics because the squats and lunges usually ended up leaving me swollen for several days afterward and still does. Should I try with knee braces? Does anyone have any experience with that? I know eventually I will gain strength with the squats and lunges but am super hesitant to cause any additional damage (I have no health insurance...)

[nancysmithwp]

The only plyometrics you'll find in NROFW is the leg matrix. I wore my knee brace for those. I can't really speak with authority, but my own experience is that the slow moves like squats and static lunges will strengthen your knees.

[echokitten]

Hey, thanks! I have been incorporating more squats and lunges in my workouts but taking it easy to "test the waters" as it were. I am getting new knee braces today... when I lost all of my weight my old braces no longer fit properly and I have been working without them for a long time. I am going to use them for a while, at least until I get a little stronger so that I don't do any inadvertant damage. I really need them more for when I run outside,because I live in the city and concrete abounds and it's uber dangerous to run in the street . I do just fine when I run on the treadmill though because it's cushy. Thanks!