Re: Montenengro Method Endurance Workout 1

[Guest guest]



Thanks, Donna!

Wow, #1 was harder than the others for you! I didn't think about it having more burpees, that might make a difference. I noticed one or both of the others had mountain climbers though which are also killers. As I was doing the first set of burpees I said to the TV, "Have I told you lately how much I hate burpees?" and then I thought, "The only thing that could be worse is if this is followed up by mountain climbers." Thankfully, it wasn't (I kept meaning to preview but didn't and then finally said, "just do it" today).

I will probably try Strength sometime next week. I'm not planning a rotation or even my next workout at this point though, it just isn't working for me at the moment. I have it in my head at least that my next best day to get a workout in is Tuesday so I'm planning that much at least and that's good. I'll let you know when I do it though. Thanks for the warning about upper body!!!

Montenengro Method Endurance Workout 1To: exercisevideos Date: Friday, September 10, 2010, 11:19 AM

First, thank you my friend for letting me borrow these workouts!!! Second, HOLY COW! I know I haven't done much exercising in the last month and a half but I didn't think I was that deconditioned. She totally kicked my butt. And I followed the beginner modifications for all the pushups and took a long break during circuit 2 (of 3) because I hit the wrong button on my DVD remote by mistake and spent forever trying to get back to the right place. I know Donna has described these workouts extremely well so I won't add a whole lot except to say, WOW and add my own personal thoughts. Each circuit is just a series of athletic exercises and you think, 30 seconds of whatever, that's not long. Yes, it is. It is an eternity. Especially 30 seconds of burpees. Especially burpees where you jump back to plank, jump your legs out in a V, jump your legs back to straight plank, then jump up your legs tucked then jump straight in the air and do it all over again. Especially after you just endured a lot of other exercises that were not exactly low intensity either. And this was just the first of 3 workouts. I just watched the 2nd and am now watching the 3rd and oh my goodness, it gets a lot more intense. She's starting workout 3 with a squat jump to a lunge jump to a squat combination using one leg for 30 seconds then switch immediately to the other leg... I definitely need to work on my endurance!!

My knees did really well, despite a lot of lunges, squats and plyometrics. I liked the fact that the workouts on this DVD don't require any equipment. The music was really interesting. Not intrusive but definitely moved you along. I really liked Marta. She's direct, no-nonsense but also encouraging. Not at all chatty but lots of tips and encouragement in a very "real" kind of way. She's also very honest about how tough some of the moves are and is breathing hard along with you. (None of The FIRM "That was tough" comments from a non-sweaty, hardly breathing instructor!)

As Donna has mentioned too, there's no warm-up or cool-down, which I do think she should have added as separate chapters at least. I warmed-up with the first cardio workout from Kathy Kaehler's Total Body DVD. It is 10 minutes. She's looks like she's using weighted gloves and I picked up 3 pound dumbbells but next time will use my 1.5 pound gloves. It was hard to keep form and pace with 3 lbs. I kept telling myself, it is only 10 minutes but nah, next time I'll go lighter. That is one boring workout too. The music is non-existent, Kathy doesn't say much of anything except cues and the moves are boring. All low impact though and it worked for a warm-up for this. I put in Tamilee's Beginner Stretch for Flexibility after MM and did the 10 minute floor stretch (since I was definitely on the floor after MM and wasn't getting up for a while) and that felt good. I usually use the standing routine because it is first and forget how nice this one is too.

It feels good to be getting back to the more fit me. I'm working tomorrow and then we're busy all the rest of the day and evening so tomorrow is another day off but I'll get more consistent next week probably. I want to conquer these workouts! :-)