Start It Up review and workout ponderings (long)

[Guest guest]

I did this one early this morning and I've had an amazingly hectic day since then. I don't remember a whole lot about the sequence or particular exercises so I'll just hit highlights of my impressions and experiences. For some reason, I thought this was a circuit workout but apparently it is a fast-paced body weight strength workout that has a definite cardio effect. I picked it because I thought it was circuit and because I thought it was for beginners. I think I was wrong on both counts! It was either much harder than I was expecting or I'm much more deconditioned than I thought I was (or both). I liked Debbie Siebers a lot, I thought she was encouraging without being phony. It wasn't instructional at all so it wasn't a flat out beginner workout, but she gave very good form pointers, some were different than others I've heard and though they didn't stick with me, I found them helpful while I was doing it. It has been a few months since I've done any kind of strength workout and I needed the tips! I knew body weight workouts were effective, but I didn't realize how effective and how difficult they could be until I did this. There are usually 12 reps for each exercise and I think she does 2 sets of each with the 2nd being a little different and harder than the first. Then there is a 3rd set of 8 that has pulsing or other more difficult stuff. It was very repetitive but I found it challenging and only a little bit boring. You move very quickly from one set to another and one exercise to another with very little time for rest so there is, as I said, a definite cardio effect. I was surprised at how, while I wasn't quite in my training zone (just below it) I was working at that raised heart rate for most of the 25 minute workout and found I was breathing hard, getting tired and really thought about doing less reps and other beginner modifications she suggests (in a very encouraging way). I didn't though. I stuck with it and did the entire workout but it was hard! I thought I was going to have a "light" day but I was ready for it to be done after just those 25 minutes! The only things I didn't like about it were: the music (which I know everyone complains about) and Debbie's cueing. It seemed like she was cueing right on the move and since I didn't know the workout I was always a half or full rep behind. They were all very simple, athletic movements so it wasn't hard to pick up but it was a little annoying. I added on a 10 minute stretch from Tamilee's DVD because there is a laughable stretch at the end of this (that would be a 3rd dislike I guess). Next time I will try Slim & Limber I think

I picked this workout sort of on a whim. I wanted to try it, didn't know hardly anything about it except that people love the series and I've collected the pieces thinking I might do it sometime but didn't know when. I thought it might be a good rehab workout and that doing the 6 week program might help bring me back more. I hadn't been planning to do any sort of a program, I'm kind of floating around, not sure what I need, not sure what I'm capable of and definitely not sure how hard to push myself. In the past, when I've stopped and then started again I'd always start too fast and it would be too much (I'd be too tired and sore) and I'd give up. I definitely don't want that to happen and with the added complication of recovering from surgery and a shoulder injury (which I'm not sure is completely healed either) before surgery... ugh. I have the positive experience of starting with baby steps almost 3 year ago, when I finally got really committed to working out regularly and I'm okay with that this time but I'm not sure if anything is too "babyish" right now and if I couldn't also "hurt" myself by not working out strong or hard enough. What a weird dilemma. When Debbie went to the floor and started doing pushups I was struck with terror, not sure I could do them even on my knees (which is how they're done in this workout), not sure I should try. I did probably 8 or 9 out of the 12 and felt fine but was scared so I quit before it could start to hurt! I'm still fine now so that's really good. I didn't feel nearly as strong as I did when I was pumping out however many on my toes in P90X Synergistics but I was still amazed at how strong I did feel, it was good. I'm not having any pain now either, hopefully tomorrow will be the same. I did notice, as I did in another workout this week, that my quad strength has very definitely deteriorated. I cannot do those darn pulses for squats hardly at all right now and I had gotten so good at that kind of stuff! It took a long time to build up that strength too. Darn. I will keep working at it though, I know I can improve it at least!

I am going to think about using this series... just not sure how. I'm concerned about there not being a deliberate cardio piece because I really want to pick up my endurance but then again, I really had to work hard cardio wise anyway so maybe it shouldn't be a concern.I want to lose 2-5 pounds but mostly I want my endurance, strength and definition back. I want it all back yesterday but am willing to go slow anyway and I do think I need more of a planned approach. I was thinking about trying The FIRM again in a week or two and doing those for about a month if I felt up to it but maybe I'll do SI6 for a totally new challenge.

Okay, I'm done thinking out loud for now. It is after 11 PM, I've had a very long day and another one is staring at me for tomorrow. DH just discovered an awful leak in a sink we just had replaced (new counter top and sink) and is upset (lots of water under the cabinet). Ugh. If anyone has any ideas/thoughts or things for me to think about I'd like to hear them (about my workout thoughts, not the leak!). Thanks!

[Guest guest]

hi nancy, no you weren't far off. circuit work is also meant(well originally meant) as a fast paced weight workout. b/c you move from one exercise to the next so fast without rest it gives you a cardio effect. you repeat large sets of exercises without rest like when i do kettlebell circuits(which i will be getting to in 20 minutes) i have a block of exercises run through them one time short rest for 30 sec then run through them again and repeat that pattern as many times as i like. i can keep it to one set of circuit or break up into 2-3 circuit blocks and repeat those as many sets as i feel necessary. but circuits can also mean alternating a format of cardio/body sculpting although that is not a technical term for it but cardio/body part weights/rest and repeat. as for your upper body work, don't worry about it to much. just do one set and

rest and modify until you get more clearance from your dr. i am sure its a killer not to be where you were before. i have been there too,but after i had surgery(had a few that required laproscopy so i have these tiny little scars all over my abs) they didn't want me doing much for a few months either b/c of the internal probably wouldn't have healed by then even though the outer would be. that prevent me from doing ab work or any jumping. i eventually got there i think you were doing right to be cautious. its so hard to be patient especially when you were so consistent with your workouts before and even now. do you like kickboxing? i was thinking that would help your upper body without having to lift weights or do push ups(well some do). kassiaFrom: nancydewolf@... <nancydewolf@...>Subject: Start It Up review and workout ponderings (long) Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 11:10 PM

I did this one early this morning and I've had an amazingly hectic day since then. I don't remember a whole lot about the sequence or particular exercises so I'll just hit highlights of my impressions and experiences. For some reason, I thought this was a circuit workout but apparently it is a fast-paced body weight strength workout that has a definite cardio effect. I picked it because I thought it was circuit and because I thought it was for beginners. I think I was wrong on both counts! It was either much harder than I was expecting or I'm much more deconditioned than I thought I was (or both). I liked Debbie Siebers a lot, I thought she was encouraging without being phony. It wasn't instructional at all so it wasn't a flat out beginner workout, but she gave very good form pointers, some were different than others I've heard and though they didn't stick with me, I found them helpful while I was doing it. It has been a few months since I've done any kind of strength workout and I needed the tips! I knew body weight workouts were effective, but I didn't realize how effective and how difficult they could be until I did this. There are usually 12 reps for each exercise and I think she does 2 sets of each with the 2nd being a little different and harder than the first. Then there is a 3rd set of 8 that has pulsing or other more difficult stuff. It was very repetitive but I found it challenging and only a little bit boring. You move very quickly from one set to another and one exercise to another with very little time for rest so there is, as I said, a definite cardio effect. I was surprised at how, while I wasn't quite in my training zone (just below it) I was working at that raised heart rate for most of the 25 minute workout and found I was breathing hard, getting tired and really thought about doing less reps and other beginner modifications she suggests (in a very encouraging way). I didn't though. I stuck with it and did the entire workout but it was hard! I thought I was going to have a "light" day but I was ready for it to be done after just those 25 minutes! The only things I didn't like about it were: the music (which I know everyone complains about) and Debbie's cueing. It seemed like she was cueing right on the move and since I didn't know the workout I was always a half or full rep behind. They were all very simple, athletic movements so it wasn't hard to pick up but it was a little annoying. I added on a 10 minute stretch from Tamilee's DVD because there is a laughable stretch at the end of this (that would be a 3rd dislike I guess). Next time I will try Slim & Limber I think

I picked this workout sort of on a whim. I wanted to try it, didn't know hardly anything about it except that people love the series and I've collected the pieces thinking I might do it sometime but didn't know when. I thought it might be a good rehab workout and that doing the 6 week program might help bring me back more. I hadn't been planning to do any sort of a program, I'm kind of floating around, not sure what I need, not sure what I'm capable of and definitely not sure how hard to push myself. In the past, when I've stopped and then started again I'd always start too fast and it would be too much (I'd be too tired and sore) and I'd give up. I definitely don't want that to happen and with the added complication of recovering from surgery and a shoulder injury (which I'm not sure is completely healed either) before surgery... ugh. I have the positive experience of starting with baby steps almost 3 year ago, when I finally got really committed to working out regularly and I'm okay with that this time but I'm not sure if anything is too "babyish" right now and if I couldn't also "hurt" myself by not working out strong or hard enough. What a weird dilemma. When Debbie went to the floor and started doing pushups I was struck with terror, not sure I could do them even on my knees (which is how they're done in this workout), not sure I should try. I did probably 8 or 9 out of the 12 and felt fine but was scared so I quit before it could start to hurt! I'm still fine now so that's really good. I didn't feel nearly as strong as I did when I was pumping out however many on my toes in P90X Synergistics but I was still amazed at how strong I did feel, it was good. I'm not having any pain now either, hopefully tomorrow will be the same. I did notice, as I did in another workout this week, that my quad strength has very definitely deteriorated. I cannot do those darn pulses for squats hardly at all right now and I had gotten so good at that kind of stuff! It took a long time to build up that strength too. Darn. I will keep working at it though, I know I can improve it at least!

I am going to think about using this series... just not sure how. I'm concerned about there not being a deliberate cardio piece because I really want to pick up my endurance but then again, I really had to work hard cardio wise anyway so maybe it shouldn't be a concern.I want to lose 2-5 pounds but mostly I want my endurance, strength and definition back. I want it all back yesterday but am willing to go slow anyway and I do think I need more of a planned approach. I was thinking about trying The FIRM again in a week or two and doing those for about a month if I felt up to it but maybe I'll do SI6 for a totally new challenge.

Okay, I'm done thinking out loud for now. It is after 11 PM, I've had a very long day and another one is staring at me for tomorrow. DH just discovered an awful leak in a sink we just had replaced (new counter top and sink) and is upset (lots of water under the cabinet). Ugh. If anyone has any ideas/thoughts or things for me to think about I'd like to hear them (about my workout thoughts, not the leak!). Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Hi Kassia,

Thanks for the explanations, I thought that there were 2 meanings for circuit work, this helped a lot.

Doc says do whatever I want as long as I don't hurt. He told me too, not to be afraid to stretch the muscles, that I won't damage them at this point. One problem though is distinguishing between "shouldn't do that pain" and "wow, that muscle is super tight pain." I'm working on that. When I get that figured out I might be more likely to be more (safely) adventurous.

I do like kickboxing. I was thinking about trying out Guillermo Gomez Kickbox Underground again or the Caribbean Workout DVD you sent me (you sweetie). Wasn't sure if those would be too advanced for my cardio conditioning though and I remember, I think it was Kickbox Underground or maybe it was something else, gave me surprisingly intense upper body DOMS the first and only time I did it.

Speaking of DOMS, even though it was only 25 minutes, I'm feeling SI6 today! Not terribly but I woke up surprised to feel soreness everywhere! I have an extremely busy day and was going to skip a workout unless I can get a really quick one in late this afternoon but decided I have about 20 minutes to stretch so I'm doing that with Madeline after the big kid gets on his bus in a few minutes. I have about 40 minutes in between kids (get the little one up about 40 minutes after the big one leaves) so I can do something really quick in between them. I don't need to shower after stretching so that makes it okay this morning too! ;-)

Gotta run, thanks again!!

Start It Up review and workout ponderings (long) Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 11:10 PM

I did this one early this morning and I've had an amazingly hectic day since then. I don't remember a whole lot about the sequence or particular exercises so I'll just hit highlights of my impressions and experiences. For some reason, I thought this was a circuit workout but apparently it is a fast-paced body weight strength workout that has a definite cardio effect. I picked it because I thought it was circuit and because I thought it was for beginners. I think I was wrong on both counts! It was either much harder than I was expecting or I'm much more deconditioned than I thought I was (or both). I liked Debbie Siebers a lot, I thought she was encouraging without being phony. It wasn't instructional at all so it wasn't a flat out beginner workout, but she gave very good form pointers, some were different than others I've heard and though they didn't stick with me, I found them helpful while I was doing it. It has been a few months since I've done any kind of strength workout and I needed the tips! I knew body weight workouts were effective, but I didn't realize how effective and how difficult they could be until I did this. There are usually 12 reps for each exercise and I think she does 2 sets of each with the 2nd being a little different and harder than the first. Then there is a 3rd set of 8 that has pulsing or other more difficult stuff. It was very repetitive but I found it challenging and only a little bit boring. You move very quickly from one set to another and one exercise to another with very little time for rest so there is, as I said, a definite cardio effect. I was surprised at how, while I wasn't quite in my training zone (just below it) I was working at that raised heart rate for most of the 25 minute workout and found I was breathing hard, getting tired and really thought about doing less reps and other beginner modifications she suggests (in a very encouraging way). I didn't though. I stuck with it and did the entire workout but it was hard! I thought I was going to have a "light" day but I was ready for it to be done after just those 25 minutes! The only things I didn't like about it were: the music (which I know everyone complains about) and Debbie's cueing. It seemed like she was cueing right on the move and since I didn't know the workout I was always a half or full rep behind. They were all very simple, athletic movements so it wasn't hard to pick up but it was a little annoying. I added on a 10 minute stretch from Tamilee's DVD because there is a laughable stretch at the end of this (that would be a 3rd dislike I guess). Next time I will try Slim & Limber I think

I picked this workout sort of on a whim. I wanted to try it, didn't know hardly anything about it except that people love the series and I've collected the pieces thinking I might do it sometime but didn't know when. I thought it might be a good rehab workout and that doing the 6 week program might help bring me back more. I hadn't been planning to do any sort of a program, I'm kind of floating around, not sure what I need, not sure what I'm capable of and definitely not sure how hard to push myself. In the past, when I've stopped and then started again I'd always start too fast and it would be too much (I'd be too tired and sore) and I'd give up. I definitely don't want that to happen and with the added complication of recovering from surgery and a shoulder injury (which I'm not sure is completely healed either) before surgery... ugh. I have the positive experience of starting with baby steps almost 3 year ago, when I finally got really committed to working out regularly and I'm okay with that this time but I'm not sure if anything is too "babyish" right now and if I couldn't also "hurt" myself by not working out strong or hard enough. What a weird dilemma. When Debbie went to the floor and started doing pushups I was struck with terror, not sure I could do them even on my knees (which is how they're done in this workout), not sure I should try. I did probably 8 or 9 out of the 12 and felt fine but was scared so I quit before it could start to hurt! I'm still fine now so that's really good. I didn't feel nearly as strong as I did when I was pumping out however many on my toes in P90X Synergistics but I was still amazed at how strong I did feel, it was good. I'm not having any pain now either, hopefully tomorrow will be the same. I did notice, as I did in another workout this week, that my quad strength has very definitely deteriorated. I cannot do those darn pulses for squats hardly at all right now and I had gotten so good at that kind of stuff! It took a long time to build up that strength too. Darn. I will keep working at it though, I know I can improve it at least!

I am going to think about using this series... just not sure how. I'm concerned about there not being a deliberate cardio piece because I really want to pick up my endurance but then again, I really had to work hard cardio wise anyway so maybe it shouldn't be a concern.I want to lose 2-5 pounds but mostly I want my endurance, strength and definition back. I want it all back yesterday but am willing to go slow anyway and I do think I need more of a planned approach. I was thinking about trying The FIRM again in a week or two and doing those for about a month if I felt up to it but maybe I'll do SI6 for a totally new challenge.

Okay, I'm done thinking out loud for now. It is after 11 PM, I've had a very long day and another one is staring at me for tomorrow. DH just discovered an awful leak in a sink we just had replaced (new counter top and sink) and is upset (lots of water under the cabinet). Ugh. If anyone has any ideas/thoughts or things for me to think about I'd like to hear them (about my workout thoughts, not the leak!). Thanks!

[Guest guest]

ugh i went to reply but viola jumped on here so i think its lost forever. kickbox underground is a great kickboxing workout, haven't done it in awhile myself so maybe i will have to pull that out over the weekend. with caribbean workout watch the kickboxing and step b/c i know one of them they don't show the feet work when she cues but otherwise they are great basic punches and some kicking combos. i think you will find this great for quick days. i think with pain you would know what is good/bad. uncomfortable isn't always great either so i usually take a break then too. even if its not painful any discomfort could be a bad sign as well. usually i just have adjust. stretch is great too conflicting reports on if it helps or hinder strength but i can't imagine not ever doing any stretching. just feels good and i think it helps with my

mobility. if i was tight or tense it would be hard to get through a day let alone a workout :-).kassia

From: nancydewolf@ sbcglobal. net <nancydewolf@ sbcglobal. net>Subject: Start It Up review and workout ponderings (long)Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 11:10 PM

I did this one early this morning and I've had an amazingly hectic day since then. I don't remember a whole lot about the sequence or particular exercises so I'll just hit highlights of my impressions and experiences. For some reason, I thought this was a circuit workout but apparently it is a fast-paced body weight strength workout that has a definite cardio effect. I picked it because I thought it was circuit and because I thought it was for beginners. I think I was wrong on both counts! It was either much harder than I was expecting or I'm much more deconditioned than I thought I was (or both). I liked Debbie Siebers a lot, I thought she was encouraging without being phony. It wasn't instructional at all so it wasn't a flat out beginner workout, but she gave very good form pointers, some were different than others I've heard and though they didn't stick with me, I found them helpful while I was doing it. It has been a few months since I've done any kind of strength workout and I needed the tips! I knew body weight workouts were effective, but I didn't realize how effective and how difficult they could be until I did this. There are usually 12 reps for each exercise and I think she does 2 sets of each with the 2nd being a little different and harder than the first. Then there is a 3rd set of 8 that has pulsing or other more difficult stuff. It was very repetitive but I found it challenging and only a little bit boring. You move very quickly from one set to another and one exercise to another with very little time for rest so there is, as I said, a definite cardio effect. I was surprised at how, while I wasn't quite in my training zone (just below it) I was working at that raised heart rate for most of the 25 minute workout and found I was breathing hard, getting tired and really thought about doing less reps and other beginner modifications she suggests (in a very encouraging way). I didn't though. I stuck with it and did the entire workout but it was hard! I thought I was going to have a "light" day but I was ready for it to be done after just those 25 minutes! The only things I didn't like about it were: the music (which I know everyone complains about) and Debbie's cueing. It seemed like she was cueing right on the move and since I didn't know the workout I was always a half or full rep behind. They were all very simple, athletic movements so it wasn't hard to pick up but it was a little annoying. I added on a 10 minute stretch from Tamilee's DVD because there is a laughable stretch at the end of this (that would be a 3rd dislike I guess). Next time I will try Slim & Limber I think

I picked this workout sort of on a whim. I wanted to try it, didn't know hardly anything about it except that people love the series and I've collected the pieces thinking I might do it sometime but didn't know when. I thought it might be a good rehab workout and that doing the 6 week program might help bring me back more. I hadn't been planning to do any sort of a program, I'm kind of floating around, not sure what I need, not sure what I'm capable of and definitely not sure how hard to push myself. In the past, when I've stopped and then started again I'd always start too fast and it would be too much (I'd be too tired and sore) and I'd give up. I definitely don't want that to happen and with the added complication of recovering from surgery and a shoulder injury (which I'm not sure is completely healed either) before surgery... ugh. I have the positive experience of starting with baby steps almost 3 year ago, when I finally got really committed to working out regularly and I'm okay with that this time but I'm not sure if anything is too "babyish" right now and if I couldn't also "hurt" myself by not working out strong or hard enough. What a weird dilemma. When Debbie went to the floor and started doing pushups I was struck with terror, not sure I could do them even on my knees (which is how they're done in this workout), not sure I should try. I did probably 8 or 9 out of the 12 and felt fine but was scared so I quit before it could start to hurt! I'm still fine now so that's really good. I didn't feel nearly as strong as I did when I was pumping out however many on my toes in P90X Synergistics but I was still amazed at how strong I did feel, it was good. I'm not having any pain now either, hopefully tomorrow will be the same. I did notice, as I did in another workout this week, that my quad strength has very definitely deteriorated. I cannot do those darn pulses for squats hardly at all right now and I had gotten so good at that kind of stuff! It took a long time to build up that strength too. Darn. I will keep working at it though, I know I can improve it at least!

I am going to think about using this series... just not sure how. I'm concerned about there not being a deliberate cardio piece because I really want to pick up my endurance but then again, I really had to work hard cardio wise anyway so maybe it shouldn't be a concern.I want to lose 2-5 pounds but mostly I want my endurance, strength and definition back. I want it all back yesterday but am willing to go slow anyway and I do think I need more of a planned approach. I was thinking about trying The FIRM again in a week or two and doing those for about a month if I felt up to it but maybe I'll do SI6 for a totally new challenge.

Okay, I'm done thinking out loud for now. It is after 11 PM, I've had a very long day and another one is staring at me for tomorrow. DH just discovered an awful leak in a sink we just had replaced (new counter top and sink) and is upset (lots of water under the cabinet). Ugh. If anyone has any ideas/thoughts or things for me to think about I'd like to hear them (about my workout thoughts, not the leak!). Thanks!

[Guest guest]

I know how that is with the kids and the computer, oops!

I'll watch Caribbean Workout later and see how it looks for me. I'd love to do some of that soon.

I think it is mostly uncomfortable and I worry about that because I got uncomfortable in August doing Core Synergistics and didn't listen and then was in pain up to and including my surgery so I'm being overly careful to avoid being an idiot again I think! :-)

I don't care if stretching hinders strength. I can't imagine how it could be bad to be able to move your body however you want to (without breaking any laws of nature as you try to do things most people's bodies, no matter how flexible, just don't do). I love how I feel when I'm limber. I ended up missing my stretch this morning though! The big kid missed the bus and I had to drive him to school. I took advantage of the time out and about (DH was home) to grab some things I needed at the WW center in town for another class I'm doing elsewhere today then came home where the little one was just about ready for school. Grabbed her and went to school to make copies for teachers to distribute for the Holiday Shop I'm chairing. Figured I'd be there an hour and could come home & stretch. Wrong. Copier wouldn't work, other copier didn't have toner and school didn't either (money issues) so I ran to the copy shop and got my darn copies made. Collated them for each teacher, threw them in their mailboxes, came home for a fast snack and relaxation a la email and now I'm off to do my class!!! I MIGHT have time for the stretch later today. I sure hope so... I love how it makes me feel!

I'm off and running (again, as usual). Thanks for the chat!

Start It Up review and workout ponderings (long)Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 11:10 PM

I did this one early this morning and I've had an amazingly hectic day since then. I don't remember a whole lot about the sequence or particular exercises so I'll just hit highlights of my impressions and experiences. For some reason, I thought this was a circuit workout but apparently it is a fast-paced body weight strength workout that has a definite cardio effect. I picked it because I thought it was circuit and because I thought it was for beginners. I think I was wrong on both counts! It was either much harder than I was expecting or I'm much more deconditioned than I thought I was (or both). I liked Debbie Siebers a lot, I thought she was encouraging without being phony. It wasn't instructional at all so it wasn't a flat out beginner workout, but she gave very good form pointers, some were different than others I've heard and though they didn't stick with me, I found them helpful while I was doing it. It has been a few months since I've done any kind of strength workout and I needed the tips! I knew body weight workouts were effective, but I didn't realize how effective and how difficult they could be until I did this. There are usually 12 reps for each exercise and I think she does 2 sets of each with the 2nd being a little different and harder than the first. Then there is a 3rd set of 8 that has pulsing or other more difficult stuff. It was very repetitive but I found it challenging and only a little bit boring. You move very quickly from one set to another and one exercise to another with very little time for rest so there is, as I said, a definite cardio effect. I was surprised at how, while I wasn't quite in my training zone (just below it) I was working at that raised heart rate for most of the 25 minute workout and found I was breathing hard, getting tired and really thought about doing less reps and other beginner modifications she suggests (in a very encouraging way). I didn't though. I stuck with it and did the entire workout but it was hard! I thought I was going to have a "light" day but I was ready for it to be done after just those 25 minutes! The only things I didn't like about it were: the music (which I know everyone complains about) and Debbie's cueing. It seemed like she was cueing right on the move and since I didn't know the workout I was always a half or full rep behind. They were all very simple, athletic movements so it wasn't hard to pick up but it was a little annoying. I added on a 10 minute stretch from Tamilee's DVD because there is a laughable stretch at the end of this (that would be a 3rd dislike I guess). Next time I will try Slim & Limber I think

I picked this workout sort of on a whim. I wanted to try it, didn't know hardly anything about it except that people love the series and I've collected the pieces thinking I might do it sometime but didn't know when. I thought it might be a good rehab workout and that doing the 6 week program might help bring me back more. I hadn't been planning to do any sort of a program, I'm kind of floating around, not sure what I need, not sure what I'm capable of and definitely not sure how hard to push myself. In the past, when I've stopped and then started again I'd always start too fast and it would be too much (I'd be too tired and sore) and I'd give up. I definitely don't want that to happen and with the added complication of recovering from surgery and a shoulder injury (which I'm not sure is completely healed either) before surgery... ugh. I have the positive experience of starting with baby steps almost 3 year ago, when I finally got really committed to working out regularly and I'm okay with that this time but I'm not sure if anything is too "babyish" right now and if I couldn't also "hurt" myself by not working out strong or hard enough. What a weird dilemma. When Debbie went to the floor and started doing pushups I was struck with terror, not sure I could do them even on my knees (which is how they're done in this workout), not sure I should try. I did probably 8 or 9 out of the 12 and felt fine but was scared so I quit before it could start to hurt! I'm still fine now so that's really good. I didn't feel nearly as strong as I did when I was pumping out however many on my toes in P90X Synergistics but I was still amazed at how strong I did feel, it was good. I'm not having any pain now either, hopefully tomorrow will be the same. I did notice, as I did in another workout this week, that my quad strength has very definitely deteriorated. I cannot do those darn pulses for squats hardly at all right now and I had gotten so good at that kind of stuff! It took a long time to build up that strength too. Darn. I will keep working at it though, I know I can improve it at least!

I am going to think about using this series... just not sure how. I'm concerned about there not being a deliberate cardio piece because I really want to pick up my endurance but then again, I really had to work hard cardio wise anyway so maybe it shouldn't be a concern.I want to lose 2-5 pounds but mostly I want my endurance, strength and definition back. I want it all back yesterday but am willing to go slow anyway and I do think I need more of a planned approach. I was thinking about trying The FIRM again in a week or two and doing those for about a month if I felt up to it but maybe I'll do SI6 for a totally new challenge.

Okay, I'm done thinking out loud for now. It is after 11 PM, I've had a very long day and another one is staring at me for tomorrow. DH just discovered an awful leak in a sink we just had replaced (new counter top and sink) and is upset (lots of water under the cabinet). Ugh. If anyone has any ideas/thoughts or things for me to think about I'd like to hear them (about my workout thoughts, not the leak!). Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Hi !

You enabler, you - you got me thinking that I want Slim in 6! This sounds like a good workout - maybe I'll see if I can trade for some of them. Are all the exercises bodyweight?As for injury stuff - it is a very fine line between "babying" yourself too much and aggravating something. I find that I am walking that line every day. The thing you definately don't want to do is aggravate an injury to the point where you have to take time off - so I tend to favor a little of the "babying" side more! I think it comes down to being honest with yourself and seeing how everything feels. If you did the 8 push-ups today and are ok - you can try for a few more next time.

I hope you continue to improve! It is good to know that you got to a certain level once before and can certainly do it again!

Take care!Donna

From: nancydewolf@... <nancydewolf@...>Subject: Start It Up review and workout ponderings (long) Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 11:10 PM

I did this one early this morning and I've had an amazingly hectic day since then. I don't remember a whole lot about the sequence or particular exercises so I'll just hit highlights of my impressions and experiences. For some reason, I thought this was a circuit workout but apparently it is a fast-paced body weight strength workout that has a definite cardio effect. I picked it because I thought it was circuit and because I thought it was for beginners. I think I was wrong on both counts! It was either much harder than I was expecting or I'm much more deconditioned than I thought I was (or both). I liked Debbie Siebers a lot, I thought she was encouraging without being phony. It wasn't instructional at all so it wasn't a flat out beginner workout, but she gave very good form pointers, some were different than others I've heard and though they didn't stick with me, I found them helpful while I was doing it. It has

been a few months since I've done any kind of strength workout and I needed the tips! I knew body weight workouts were effective, but I didn't realize how effective and how difficult they could be until I did this. There are usually 12 reps for each exercise and I think she does 2 sets of each with the 2nd being a little different and harder than the first. Then there is a 3rd set of 8 that has pulsing or other more difficult stuff. It was very repetitive but I found it challenging and only a little bit boring. You move very quickly from one set to another and one exercise to another with very little time for rest so there is, as I said, a definite cardio effect. I was surprised at how, while I wasn't quite in my training zone (just below it) I was working at that raised heart rate for most of the 25 minute workout and found I was breathing hard, getting tired and really thought about doing less reps and other beginner modifications she suggests (in a

very encouraging way). I didn't though. I stuck with it and did the entire workout but it was hard! I thought I was going to have a "light" day but I was ready for it to be done after just those 25 minutes! The only things I didn't like about it were: the music (which I know everyone complains about) and Debbie's cueing. It seemed like she was cueing right on the move and since I didn't know the workout I was always a half or full rep behind. They were all very simple, athletic movements so it wasn't hard to pick up but it was a little annoying. I added on a 10 minute stretch from Tamilee's DVD because there is a laughable stretch at the end of this (that would be a 3rd dislike I guess). Next time I will try Slim & Limber I think

I picked this workout sort of on a whim. I wanted to try it, didn't know hardly anything about it except that people love the series and I've collected the pieces thinking I might do it sometime but didn't know when. I thought it might be a good rehab workout and that doing the 6 week program might help bring me back more. I hadn't been planning to do any sort of a program, I'm kind of floating around, not sure what I need, not sure what I'm capable of and definitely not sure how hard to push myself. In the past, when I've stopped and then started again I'd always start too fast and it would be too much (I'd be too tired and sore) and I'd give up. I definitely don't want that to happen and with the added complication of recovering from surgery and a shoulder injury (which I'm not sure is completely healed either) before surgery... ugh. I have the positive experience of starting with baby steps almost 3 year ago, when I

finally got really committed to working out regularly and I'm okay with that this time but I'm not sure if anything is too "babyish" right now and if I couldn't also "hurt" myself by not working out strong or hard enough. What a weird dilemma. When Debbie went to the floor and started doing pushups I was struck with terror, not sure I could do them even on my knees (which is how they're done in this workout), not sure I should try. I did probably 8 or 9 out of the 12 and felt fine but was scared so I quit before it could start to hurt! I'm still fine now so that's really good. I didn't feel nearly as strong as I did when I was pumping out however many on my toes in P90X Synergistics but I was still amazed at how strong I did feel, it was good. I'm not having any pain now either, hopefully tomorrow will be the same. I did notice, as I did in another workout this week, that my quad strength has very definitely deteriorated. I cannot do those darn

pulses for squats hardly at all right now and I had gotten so good at that kind of stuff! It took a long time to build up that strength too. Darn. I will keep working at it though, I know I can improve it at least!

I am going to think about using this series... just not sure how. I'm concerned about there not being a deliberate cardio piece because I really want to pick up my endurance but then again, I really had to work hard cardio wise anyway so maybe it shouldn't be a concern.I want to lose 2-5 pounds but mostly I want my endurance, strength and definition back. I want it all back yesterday but am willing to go slow anyway and I do think I need more of a planned approach. I was thinking about trying The FIRM again in a week or two and doing those for about a month if I felt up to it but maybe I'll do SI6 for a totally new challenge.

Okay, I'm done thinking out loud for now. It is after 11 PM, I've had a very long day and another one is staring at me for tomorrow. DH just discovered an awful leak in a sink we just had replaced (new counter top and sink) and is upset (lots of water under the cabinet). Ugh. If anyone has any ideas/thoughts or things for me to think about I'd like to hear them (about my workout thoughts, not the leak!). Thanks!

[Guest guest]

I really like the Slim in 6 series. Start It Up was a little too easy for me,

and so was Ramp It Up, that is, until you do the legwork at the end on the matt.

OW OW OW! Debbie really fries the legs in Ramp It Up, even more than she does

in Burn It Up!

The Slim Series which follow are harder (Cool It Off is part of this set). I've

done three of them, of which Firm it Up is my favorite. It's all legwork, using

no weights, just your body weight, and no lunges. Debbie KILLS your lower body

in this one, and when she laughs that little laugh of hers you will want to

throw your table lamp right through the tv.

You're making me want to do these again too, ! There is an express series

that came out after that and other than Cool It Off Express they are all

virgins. I think I saved an email where Carolyn ranked them all from easiest to

hardest. I'll see if I can find it

[Guest guest]



Hi Donna,

That was a totally unintentional enabling, not that I'm necessarily apologizing though! All the exercise in Start It Up were bodyweight, I don't know about the other workouts though.

Being honest with myself is a bit of a problem. I want to do more so I sometimes say, "oh this is fine!" and that's how I hurt my shoulder before the surgery! I do have some nice, not terrible but still letting me know they're there DOMS and NO PAIN at all in my chest and shoulder muscles except very light DOMS and the usual pulling pain because the muscle needs to be used more (as I use it more it gets more flexible). So, I think you're right about the pushups. I'll just keep overanalyzing every sensation and I'll eventually figure out what is going on as it is going on! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences!

Start It Up review and workout ponderings (long) Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 11:10 PM

I did this one early this morning and I've had an amazingly hectic day since then. I don't remember a whole lot about the sequence or particular exercises so I'll just hit highlights of my impressions and experiences. For some reason, I thought this was a circuit workout but apparently it is a fast-paced body weight strength workout that has a definite cardio effect. I picked it because I thought it was circuit and because I thought it was for beginners. I think I was wrong on both counts! It was either much harder than I was expecting or I'm much more deconditioned than I thought I was (or both). I liked Debbie Siebers a lot, I thought she was encouraging without being phony. It wasn't instructional at all so it wasn't a flat out beginner workout, but she gave very good form pointers, some were different than others I've heard and though they didn't stick with me, I found them helpful while I was doing it. It has been a few months since I've done any kind of strength workout and I needed the tips! I knew body weight workouts were effective, but I didn't realize how effective and how difficult they could be until I did this. There are usually 12 reps for each exercise and I think she does 2 sets of each with the 2nd being a little different and harder than the first. Then there is a 3rd set of 8 that has pulsing or other more difficult stuff. It was very repetitive but I found it challenging and only a little bit boring. You move very quickly from one set to another and one exercise to another with very little time for rest so there is, as I said, a definite cardio effect. I was surprised at how, while I wasn't quite in my training zone (just below it) I was working at that raised heart rate for most of the 25 minute workout and found I was breathing hard, getting tired and really thought about doing less reps and other beginner modifications she suggests (in a very encouraging way). I didn't though. I stuck with it and did the entire workout but it was hard! I thought I was going to have a "light" day but I was ready for it to be done after just those 25 minutes! The only things I didn't like about it were: the music (which I know everyone complains about) and Debbie's cueing. It seemed like she was cueing right on the move and since I didn't know the workout I was always a half or full rep behind. They were all very simple, athletic movements so it wasn't hard to pick up but it was a little annoying. I added on a 10 minute stretch from Tamilee's DVD because there is a laughable stretch at the end of this (that would be a 3rd dislike I guess). Next time I will try Slim & Limber I think

I picked this workout sort of on a whim. I wanted to try it, didn't know hardly anything about it except that people love the series and I've collected the pieces thinking I might do it sometime but didn't know when. I thought it might be a good rehab workout and that doing the 6 week program might help bring me back more. I hadn't been planning to do any sort of a program, I'm kind of floating around, not sure what I need, not sure what I'm capable of and definitely not sure how hard to push myself. In the past, when I've stopped and then started again I'd always start too fast and it would be too much (I'd be too tired and sore) and I'd give up. I definitely don't want that to happen and with the added complication of recovering from surgery and a shoulder injury (which I'm not sure is completely healed either) before surgery... ugh. I have the positive experience of starting with baby steps almost 3 year ago, when I finally got really committed to working out regularly and I'm okay with that this time but I'm not sure if anything is too "babyish" right now and if I couldn't also "hurt" myself by not working out strong or hard enough. What a weird dilemma. When Debbie went to the floor and started doing pushups I was struck with terror, not sure I could do them even on my knees (which is how they're done in this workout), not sure I should try. I did probably 8 or 9 out of the 12 and felt fine but was scared so I quit before it could start to hurt! I'm still fine now so that's really good. I didn't feel nearly as strong as I did when I was pumping out however many on my toes in P90X Synergistics but I was still amazed at how strong I did feel, it was good. I'm not having any pain now either, hopefully tomorrow will be the same. I did notice, as I did in another workout this week, that my quad strength has very definitely deteriorated. I cannot do those darn pulses for squats hardly at all right now and I had gotten so good at that kind of stuff! It took a long time to build up that strength too. Darn. I will keep working at it though, I know I can improve it at least!

I am going to think about using this series... just not sure how. I'm concerned about there not being a deliberate cardio piece because I really want to pick up my endurance but then again, I really had to work hard cardio wise anyway so maybe it shouldn't be a concern.I want to lose 2-5 pounds but mostly I want my endurance, strength and definition back. I want it all back yesterday but am willing to go slow anyway and I do think I need more of a planned approach. I was thinking about trying The FIRM again in a week or two and doing those for about a month if I felt up to it but maybe I'll do SI6 for a totally new challenge.

Okay, I'm done thinking out loud for now. It is after 11 PM, I've had a very long day and another one is staring at me for tomorrow. DH just discovered an awful leak in a sink we just had replaced (new counter top and sink) and is upset (lots of water under the cabinet). Ugh. If anyone has any ideas/thoughts or things for me to think about I'd like to hear them (about my workout thoughts, not the leak!). Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Hey Donna, Let me check. I might be able to send you mine. I RARELY use it. BUT

I think one of the DVDs skips. I was thinking about getting slim in six express

anyway.

a

>

>

> From: nancydewolf@... <nancydewolf@...>

> Subject: Start It Up review and workout ponderings (long)

>

> Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 11:10 PM

>

>

>  

>

>

>

>

> I did this one early this morning and I've had an amazingly hectic day since

then. I don't remember a whole lot about the sequence or particular exercises so

I'll just hit highlights of my impressions and experiences. For some reason, I

thought this was a circuit workout but apparently it is a fast-paced body weight

strength workout that has a definite cardio effect. I picked it because I

thought it was circuit and because I thought it was for beginners. I think I was

wrong on both counts! It was either much harder than I was expecting or I'm much

more deconditioned than I thought I was (or both). I liked Debbie Siebers a lot,

I thought she was encouraging without being phony. It wasn't instructional at

all so it wasn't a flat out beginner workout, but she gave very good form

pointers, some were different than others I've heard and though they didn't

stick with me, I found them helpful while I was doing it. It has been a few

months since I've done any

> kind of strength workout and I needed the tips! I knew body weight workouts

were effective, but I didn't realize how effective and how difficult they could

be until I did this. There are usually 12 reps for each exercise and I think she

does 2 sets of each with the 2nd being a little different and harder than the

first. Then there is a 3rd set of 8 that has pulsing or other more difficult

stuff. It was very repetitive but I found it challenging and only a little bit

boring. You move very quickly from one set to another and one exercise to

another with very little time for rest so there is, as I said, a definite cardio

effect. I was surprised at how, while I wasn't quite in my training zone (just

below it) I was working at that raised heart rate for most of the 25 minute

workout and found I was breathing hard, getting tired and really thought about

doing less reps and other beginner modifications she suggests (in a very

encouraging way). I didn't though.

> I stuck with it and did the entire workout but it was hard! I thought I was

going to have a " light " day but I was ready for it to be done after just those

25 minutes! The only things I didn't like about it were: the music (which I know

everyone complains about) and Debbie's cueing. It seemed like she was cueing

right on the move and since I didn't know the workout I was always a half or

full rep behind. They were all very simple, athletic movements so it wasn't hard

to pick up but it was a little annoying. I added on a 10 minute stretch from

Tamilee's DVD because there is a laughable stretch at the end of this (that

would be a 3rd dislike I guess). Next time I will try Slim & Limber I think

>  

> I picked this workout sort of on a whim. I wanted to try it, didn't know

hardly anything about it except that people love the series and I've collected

the pieces thinking I might do it sometime but didn't know when. I thought it

might be a good rehab workout and that doing the 6 week program might help bring

me back more. I hadn't been planning to do any sort of a program, I'm kind of

floating around, not sure what I need, not sure what I'm capable of and

definitely not sure how hard to push myself. In the past, when I've stopped and

then started again I'd always start too fast and it would be too much (I'd be

too tired and sore) and I'd give up. I definitely don't want that to happen and

with the added complication of recovering from surgery and a shoulder injury

(which I'm not sure is completely healed either) before surgery... ugh. I have

the positive experience of starting with baby steps almost 3 year ago, when I

finally got really committed to

> working out regularly and I'm okay with that this time but I'm not sure if

anything is too " babyish " right now and if I couldn't also " hurt " myself by not

working out strong or hard enough. What a weird dilemma. When Debbie went to the

floor and started doing pushups I was struck with terror, not sure I could do

them even on my knees (which is how they're done in this workout), not sure I

should try. I did probably 8 or 9 out of the 12 and felt fine but was scared so

I quit before it could start to hurt! I'm still fine now so that's really good.

I didn't feel nearly as strong as I did when I was pumping out however many on

my toes in P90X Synergistics but I was still amazed at how strong I did feel, it

was good. I'm not having any pain now either, hopefully tomorrow will be the

same. I did notice, as I did in another workout this week, that my quad strength

has very definitely deteriorated. I cannot do those darn pulses for squats

hardly at all right

> now and I had gotten so good at that kind of stuff! It took a long time to

build up that strength too. Darn. I will keep working at it though, I know I can

improve it at least!

>  

> I am going to think about using this series... just not sure how. I'm

concerned about there not being a deliberate cardio piece because I really want

to pick up my endurance but then again, I really had to work hard cardio wise

anyway so maybe it shouldn't be a concern.I want to lose 2-5 pounds but mostly I

want my endurance, strength and definition back. I want it all back yesterday

but am willing to go slow anyway and I do think I need more of a planned

approach. I was thinking about trying The FIRM again in a week or two and doing

those for about a month if I felt up to it but maybe I'll do SI6 for a totally

new challenge.

>  

> Okay, I'm done thinking out loud for now. It is after 11 PM, I've had a very

long day and another one is staring at me for tomorrow. DH just discovered an

awful leak in a sink we just had replaced (new counter top and sink) and is

upset (lots of water under the cabinet). Ugh. If anyone has any ideas/thoughts

or things for me to think about I'd like to hear them (about my workout

thoughts, not the leak!). Thanks!

>  

>

>