Hello all - so after a fantastic weekend of celebrating my favorite green holiday in a very non-NROL4W way (Cassandra doesn't reccommend green beer and green pizza...does she? hehe) I started Stage 3 this morning! I enjoyed it, what a great time I had standing there with my big book and my stopwatch for a whole 105 seconds between every 6 reps SO MUCH FUN!.... and then I got to the Body Weight Matrix..... OH MY.......
I could only do the first half (24 squats, 24 lunges), and then i went in for the jumping lunges and fell to the ground, legs stiff as boards. If I can do everything else in the workout(fairly well I'd say), than why can't I make it to the jumps?!?! I am hopeful that I will eventually work my way up to those darm jumps but did anyone else experience such a problem when doing the BWM for the first time?
The BWM is evil. It's not just you. the first time I did it I had to hold onto the railing to get down the steps from the weight room. The second time I did it, it was much better, but still nasty. The third time I got much faster at it. The fourth time I got a little faster at it. Oh, and you get to do it again in Stage 5!
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HAHAHAHA yes pretty much! Except I had to go straight to work so basically, feeling like that but sitting in a more upright position. A year ago I worked out with a friend who was an all-star gymnast and she made me do something similar to the BWM (lots of hopping and other frog-type moves). I remember I could not walk the next day. SO EXCITED FOR TOMORROW!!!
I had the EXACT same response the first time. I got through them by doing one................jump....... ..............at.............. .........a.................... time. And trying not to pass out inbetween. I think it took something like 8 minutes.
I dreaded the idea of ever having to repeat that exercise...but each time it did get better. I did them again yesterday for the first time in level 5 and while they were still a killer, I could do 6 jumps before I'd have to stop and catch my breath. Times down to just under 3 minutes for the whole routine and I'm 50. So hang it there, it will get better. I've actually come to like them in a sick way.
Same thing happened to me. I did the BWM in the basketball court part of the gym and I'd get through the squats and lunges and I'd have to walk a lap or two around the gym to loosen up my legs before completing the lunge jumps and squat jumps. By the end of stage 5 I was finally able to complete the whole set all at once so hang in there!
Swimgirl,
I had the exact same experience as you my first Stage 3 BWM. As many others have attested it does get better. I took a different approach--after miserably failing a couple times to complete anything other than the squats and lunges (no jumping possible without risk of great bodily harm), I decided to cut my reps of each from 24 to 12. That way I was doing each of the 4 exercises (squat, lunge, jump lunge, jump squat) 12 times instead of only 24 of the first two and then collapsing. For some personal reasons, I am staying in Stage 3 a few more times than the book prescribed, so each time I do the BWM I have been adding 2 more reps. I am now up to 16 each exercise in the time it originally took me to do 12, and my form is greatly improved (i.e. the jumping part actually involves gettting both feet off the ground at the same time now, whereas before it was more like a shuffle). So hang in there, it does get better. I hope that by stage 5, I will be up to the full BWM.
thanks everyone, this has been very helpful! I needed a full 2 days rest before going in for the kill on Stage 3 workout B... but I hope that when I try it tomorrow, my legs will have somewhat recovered from the bazillion squats and lunges. On my next BWM, I think I will go for a combined approach - slow but steady....and, lowering the numbers (like MamaMa suggested)...
Yeah, it is very very hard. I just took it slowly, rested between jumps, and didn't worry too much about my form. Not looking forward to starting Stage 5 next week ...
Completed my first BWM - it is brutal... and quite funny if anyone was watching. The first time looked pretty bad, there was certainly no air in my "jumps". After the rest of which I laid on the bench - I attempted it for the second time... imagine a three year old trying to jump but not going anywhere... yup that was me and with no balance. The last 24 squats there wasn't a jump to be found. My legs are dead!!!! Glad to read from some of you that it does get better....
I start stage 3 tonight! can't wait! Question for you ladies - with the lunges in the BWM, are you doing a static lunge? Stepping front? Stepping back? Alternating legs? I know that lunge jumps would be alternating, but just not quite sure about the first 24 lunges, they don't seem to specify.
Oh my god. These have me cursing Alwyn's name! I say this in good spirits, knowing that this sort of ass-kicking is good, but holy crap. I couldn't even do the lunge jumps - had to skip those this first time. But something so challenging makes me excited for it to get easier next time. (I did lunges in place - step my foot forward to lunge, then come back up to standing in the same place.)
I started stage 3 and the BWM is definitely a challenge. Anyone have any links or instructions re: the squat or lunge jumps? I'm not sure if I am doing them correctly
just started stage 3 - BWM IMPOSSIBLE!
hehe) I started Stage 3 this morning! I enjoyed it, what a great time I had standing there with my big book and my stopwatch for a whole 105 seconds between every 6 reps SO MUCH FUN!.... and then I got to the Body Weight Matrix..... OH MY.......
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