Stage 2 starts Monday - holy crap Batman

[sybilizedliving]

Today I did a run-through with a PT on the Stage 2 exercises that I was unfamiliar with....holy crap Batman! Stage 2 seems to be a killer (and a total challenge) - especially since I struggle with balance. The Cuban Row/Snatch move.....I was only able to do 2 of them before nearly falling over and the Bulgarian Squats....well, I had to do those WITHOUT a plate in order to keep my balance.

Having had my little whinge though - I must say that I really feel good after Stage 1 (previously I was doing the Slow Burn protocol). August 1 I'll weigh/measure/take photo and have some more concrete results but in the meantime, I'm pleased at the number of people at the gym that have been commenting on my changes over the last 2 weeks. One bloke pulled me aside today and said "you've been losing weight again, haven't you?". I told him the scale made me crazy so I wasn't sure. He then said "well, let me tell you, it certainly looks like you've been dropping kilos.". How cool is that?

Thanks all for the amount of information contained here - it helps tremendously.

[mimi_pope]

Originally Posted by sybilizedliving

Today I did a run-through with a PT on the Stage 2 exercises that I was unfamiliar with....holy crap Batman! Stage 2 seems to be a killer (and a total challenge) - especially since I struggle with balance. The Cuban Row/Snatch move.....I was only able to do 2 of them before nearly falling over and the Bulgarian Squats....well, I had to do those WITHOUT a plate in order to keep my balance.

Having had my little whinge though - I must say that I really feel good after Stage 1 (previously I was doing the Slow Burn protocol). August 1 I'll weigh/measure/take photo and have some more concrete results but in the meantime, I'm pleased at the number of people at the gym that have been commenting on my changes over the last 2 weeks. One bloke pulled me aside today and said "you've been losing weight again, haven't you?". I told him the scale made me crazy so I wasn't sure. He then said "well, let me tell you, it certainly looks like you've been dropping kilos.". How cool is that?

Thanks all for the amount of information contained here - it helps tremendously.

How do you mean, falling over? Did you fall off the bench? I have extra padding up top and as long as I took the time to space everything properly i was able to stay balanced on the bench.

(Gonna ask a silly question, but you are doing them on an incline bench, right?)

[sybilizedliving]

No silly questions - thanks for answering.

I'm laughing (at myself).....I lent my book to the PT to finish reading over the weekend (she was very impressed with the program) and I gave the wrong exercise name (in my post) that I am having balance issues with. Sorry for the confusion.

The one I struggled with was the row where you lift your back leg and bend your upper body forward (sorta a dancing yoga move?) and then lift the weights. I could only do 2-3 without losing my balance and tipping forward. It seems like if I kept my shoulders straight and even and really focused on keeping my core firm that it made it slightly more manageable. It's probably just one of those things that takes practice and will get better as I do them. I was 'practicing' the position last night in front of the TV.

[mimi_pope]

Gotcha. I think that's the single leg romanian deadlift. I call it my ballet deadlift LOL

Just go slow. The definition in the calf muscles that will pop out after a few weeks is so worth it! Makes you want to wear heels and show it off all the time!

[TheWookie]

Originally Posted by sybilizedliving

The one I struggled with was the row where you lift your back leg and bend your upper body forward (sorta a dancing yoga move?) and then lift the weights.

1 point dumbbell row

[missjane]

Originally Posted by mimi_pope

Gotcha. I think that's the single leg romanian deadlift. I call it my ballet deadlift LOL

Just go slow. The definition in the calf muscles that will pop out after a few weeks is so worth it! Makes you want to wear heels and show it off all the time!

The SLRDL should be working your hammies and glutes; not your calves

[LancelotsLover]

I've been lifting for a long time, and I admit, I just started stage 2 and it's got some exercises in it I had NEVER encountered before. They are pretty killer, but I like the stage a lot better than stage 1. You'll get the one point rows down after some practice; you're right, it's a lot of core balance. Also, I found that bending the standing knee just slightly gives me better control. And really tighten the leg muscles along with the core. These are some of my favorite lifts now.

Did you practice the Front Squat Push Press? Another killer one!

[mimi_pope]

Originally Posted by missjane

The SLRDL should be working your hammies and glutes; not your calves

But the balance it requires to not make me fall over seems to work all those little calf muscles on the the side of the calf. I feel it in my hams and glutes, but I see it in my calves.