Sigh...The Trouble with Stage 4....

[Aussiedipity]

I'm wondering what others' experiences have been with Stage 4...not sure why, but I've been having some frustrating issues with it. I took a 2 week vacation (cruised to Alaska!) and then launched into Stage 4 when I returned. Today, I finished workout 7 of 8, so am almost done which is a fabulous thing, BUT....a few glitches:

Since this stage specifies 2-3 sets of everything, I aimed for 3 sets most of the time and then found myself pooping out by the end of each workout and only able to do 2 sets of the moves at the end. I even tried mixing up the order of moves, and regardless, I ended up pooping out at the end. Not sure if this is what others have experienced but it's very frustrating!

The workouts in this stage are taking WAY longer than I expected...I'm in the gym now for 1.75 hours each time, especially on the B workout when I do HIITs. (Yikes!)

I'm also disappointed with my progress on a few moves -- particularly, I seem to have reached a serious plateau (since Stage 2!) with my push-ups and haven't improved at all in Stage 4. Am still doing push-ups from a bench and can STILL only do 3 sets of 8-9 reps max -- and that's pretty much working to failure. Maybe I should do them from the floor, even if I can only do 3 or 4?? Not sure how to work through this plateau...

The static lunges (with rear foot elevated on a step box) are also causing me grief, though I did them okay in Stage 2, and I find that my non-working kneecap feels like it's being scraped out from the inside. I can do Bulgarian Split Squats no problem, and I can do the reverse lunge -- so not sure why these are such an ordeal for me. I've been substituting moves for this one because of the knee pain

And, I just reviewed Stage 5 -- which I'll be starting soon -- and noticed we're STILL doing woodchops, planks and prone cobras!! OMG, stop the insanity on these already!!! Maybe because they're at the end of the workout and I'm usually shaking like Jello, but for some reason I absolutely loathe all three of these moves. How do you cope with the monotony??

Do any of these things sound familiar to anyone....or am I just extra lucky, as usual??

[Evie]

Originally Posted by Aussiedipity

I'm wondering what others' experiences have been with Stage 4...not sure why, but I've been having some frustrating issues with it. I took a 2 week vacation (cruised to Alaska!) and then launched into Stage 4 when I returned. Today, I finished workout 7 of 8, so am almost done which is a fabulous thing, BUT....a few glitches:

Since this stage specifies 2-3 sets of everything, I aimed for 3 sets most of the time and then found myself pooping out by the end of each workout and only able to do 2 sets of the moves at the end. I even tried mixing up the order of moves, and regardless, I ended up pooping out at the end. Not sure if this is what others have experienced but it's very frustrating!

It's a hard workout that asks you to lift heavier than before. I was always tired after workouts at that stage, but made it through 3 sets. Do you eat anything before you go to the gym? Maybe a light snack beforehand would help???

Originally Posted by Aussiedipity

The workouts in this stage are taking WAY longer than I expected...I'm in the gym now for 1.75 hours each time, especially on the B workout when I do HIITs. (Yikes!)

Yes, they take longer. I sometimes did my HIIT or ab work later if pressed for time.

Originally Posted by Aussiedipity

I'm also disappointed with my progress on a few moves -- particularly, I seem to have reached a serious plateau (since Stage 2!) with my push-ups and haven't improved at all in Stage 4. Am still doing push-ups from a bench and can STILL only do 3 sets of 8-9 reps max -- and that's pretty much working to failure. Maybe I should do them from the floor, even if I can only do 3 or 4?? Not sure how to work through this plateau...

When I get stuck on something, I try to do one set at the next level and if I don't finish it, so be it. I think it helps. Maybe it doesn't, but it makes me feel better. Try a set on the floor, see how many you can do, and if you can't finish it, try it again next time. If you can finish, try to do 2 sets that way the next time.

Originally Posted by Aussiedipity

The static lunges (with rear foot elevated on a step box) are also causing me grief, though I did them okay in Stage 2, and I find that my non-working kneecap feels like it's being scraped out from the inside. I can do Bulgarian Split Squats no problem, and I can do the reverse lunge -- so not sure why these are such an ordeal for me. I've been substituting moves for this one because of the knee pain

That sucks.

Originally Posted by Aussiedipity

And, I just reviewed Stage 5 -- which I'll be starting soon -- and noticed we're STILL doing woodchops, planks and prone cobras!! OMG, stop the insanity on these already!!! Maybe because they're at the end of the workout and I'm usually shaking like Jello, but for some reason I absolutely loathe all three of these moves. How do you cope with the monotony??

Do any of these things sound familiar to anyone....or am I just extra lucky, as usual??

I think Stage 5 is the last one w/ all those things.

[Lil Messi]

When I get stuck on something, I try to do one set at the next level and if I don't finish it, so be it. I think it helps. Maybe it doesn't, but it makes me feel better. Try a set on the floor, see how many you can do, and if you can't finish it, try it again next time. If you can finish, try to do 2 sets that way the next time.

Agreed! I almost always try to one-up my previous sets on each lift by attempting at least one set at a more challenging level. If I can't complete the entire amount of reps, no biggie. I usually do this more challenging set at the beginning of the sets and then assess the next sets based on how well I did there. If I have to go down in weight, again, no biggie. I found I've made some great gains in this way.

ps. Finally can do a proper *#$&%*@ pull-up! (thanks to said method)

[Aussiedipity]

Thanks for your input Evie and Lil Messi.....I think I do eat plenty before my workout, but in Stage 4 I've have to refuel by drinking most of my shake half way through the workout. Apparently I'm just a weenie! But the good news is that tomorrow is my final workout in Stage 4 so I'll have a few days to rest and get psyched up to start Stage 5. I don't see push-ups in this next stage but I may continue to do them to see if I make some progress doing them from the floor.