Stage 7

I'm starting Stage 7 today - wish me luck!  These workouts look killer: four sets with high reps and not much of a rest period.  I'll have to experiment with finding the right weight for this so I don't flame out in the middle of the workout.

Originally, I was going to do these workouts at home where my husband has an OK setup in the garage, but I've decided to do most of them at the gym instead.  (I have a better energy level earlier in the day.)  It does mean that I'll have to get a good setup with all the DBs and barbells I need and "guard" it because the supersets include up to four exercises.  With the exception of the lat pulldowns and seated rows, I'll be able to do the workouts as planned out.  It's just that my gym gets crazy busy sometimes, especially around the cable stations, so if you give up your spot to go off to do another exercise, you're pretty much hosed. 

I do not know if you have the same problem....but this time of year the gym gets so busy because of the new year resolutioners.  I should be proud of them for starting a workout program and not be so annoyed....but I am annoyed.

Yeah Meg!  Stage 7!  Please share all the gory details!  I am in stage 5 now, so 7 is not too far out!  I was wondering how that would feel to do higher reps... I am liking the 4 reps in stage 5. lol.

I workout at home, so I don't have to worry about available equipment... I even shoo'd my hubby away when he tried to workout "with" me.  He has NROL and it is really annoying when it is time to do the next set and someone else is using your stuff!  I try to be pretty anal about the rest times - stopwatch and all (all except for the ab stuff - which gets so long I superset them.)  He does different days than me now.

Original Post by yogagirl6853:

all except for the ab stuff - which gets so long I superset them.

 I HATE the ab stuff in stage 3. I get so immensely bored, and I don't feel like any of the exercises really do anything for me. I'm holding as much weight as I can on the swiss ball crunches without it impairing the exercise, and it's barely making a difference.

Yeah - that is why I decided to do the supersets instead.  I didn't really need the rest between ab exercises.  I supersetted them in 3,4 & now 5 too!  I did make myself move on to ball side crunches instead of the Hanna stuff, but still!

I really need the rest for the planks though!  Yikes - I am up to 3 sets of 2 minutes each set.  I dread that and also the still evil matrix! 

OK, I'm a quivering mass of jello.  For those getting close to Stage 7 - do not overestimate what weight you think you can use and don't let your ego get the best of you!  Ha ha!  I finished the whole thing, but on the static lunges rear foot elevated, did the last two sets at body weight - there was no other way I was going to finish them.

The rep range on these is 15 - 20.  Someone can do 20?  Holy cow.

I even sat down for the measly little rest periods, and prayed for just 10 more seconds.  Yeah, I'm anal about rest times too.

I loved it.

Cool!  So - did you 1/2 the weight you were doing before?  Use the same weights as when you started doing each of the exercises?  It will be interesting to see if "The final cut" really does cut alot!  I am sooo looking forward to the cut!  What will you do next?  Stage 7 again? Start over at stage 1?  or a diff program all together?

Yeah, about half the weight.  I should have gone with 15 pounds on the static lunges - I'll try that next time they pop up in this Stage so I don't get so tired early.

yogagirl - I sent you a pm, let me know what you think.

One other thing I've been thinking is that I could try doing this stage at a small deficit - like 200 cals?  I'm on maintenance now so I don't want to lose weight, but does anyone know in terms of fat loss - it's better to have a small deficit, yes?  (I'm not promising I'll do it though, because I loves my meals.)

Way to go, Megan! This workout looked intense - and it sounds like it keeps its promise. I'm on stage 5 now and I can't tell you how much I've appreciated reading your experiences - it keeps  me motivated to do my most in my workouts because I'll need all the strength I can gain to do what you're accomplishing.

OMG - I feel like throwing up... literally.  30 secs was not even enough to catch my breath!  Only finished 3 sets and had to stop because I was seriously feeling like throwing up. 

I will have to cut the weight way down next time.  I used 75 pounds for the rom deads, started with 20# dumbbells for the static lunges and 25 for the dumbbell rows.  I cut to BW for lunges, left the deads at 75 and the rows with 20 pounds.

I think I see pink barbiebells in my future!

Yeah, the first workout in this stage was the only time I ever felt nausea during this program.  I had to cut WAY back on my weights to get through this.

Oh, and those aren't pink, they're mauve with just a hint of lavender piping!

Yay!! Someone else in stage 7.  How are you doing Yogagirl?  Isn't it crazy??  I too feel like throwing up during the workout.  The worst for me is a set of 20 deadlifts.  All that bending with a pounding heart really makes me dizzy and nauseous.  And I think I wait more than 30 sec between sets.  I wait for my heart to stop pounding a little before I start again.

This Sunday I did workout 6 in stage 7 with a slight hangover.  I felt horrible.  I almost stopped during the stepups several times.  But I kept thinking of my thighs where the remainder of my stubborn extra body fat is hanging out and it kept me going. 

I only have done the one workout so far in stage 7 & yes, it is crazy!!  I have never felt nausea during any of the workouts until this one.  I tried only 30 seconds, but I didn't stop huffing before it was time to do the next set.  The first set was OK, the second was do-able, but by the time I got to the third, I felt like I couldn't breath!  I think I will try to wait a little longer next time, with an eye on shortening the time. 

You are doing well to be doing it with a hangover!

Today I did workout 7 of stage 7.  It's getting a little more manageable.  I think I should have went heavier, but I don't have the mental toughness to go heavy for 20 reps.  Also, I think I am stretching my 30 second rests to at least 45 seconds.  Maybe next time I will go heavier but only do 15 reps.  Either way it is a killer workout. 

Hey Laura - are you doing stage 7 twice?  I am assuming so since you said wo 7 & there are only 6.  I am going to try and do that too (if I can make it that far!).

I just finished wo 2 of stage 7 & did much better than wo 1.  I dumbed down the weights and it didn't make me nauseous like wo 1 did.  I think because of the shoulder presses kinda gave you a rest from the entire body stuff.  I used real low weights though and will try a little more next time I have this series.  We'll see Saturday if I can do that pushup, rom deadlift series again!

I was pretty sure the book said to go through workouts 1-6 twice.  Was I mistaken? 

I think he says you can do it twice,  if you do, you are a better man than he.  lol 

No, laura, you're right.

quote (p.154):

"You can do workouts 1 through 6 once each, or repeat the sequence for a total of twelve workouts. And if you get through twelve workouts in this stage, all I can say is this: You're a better man than I."

I don't think I like the last part ;)

Edit: Apparently yogagirl is faster than I... :)

Woo hoo - I'm a better man that Lou.  But seriously, I like this workout for its fat burning properties.  I have my nutrition under control for the time being so I am seeing good results.  (I have many ups and downs when it comes to nutrition.)

I am burning out on stage 7.  I can't wait to be done.  3 more workouts to go.  I HATE 20 reps - especially elevated leg lunges, and stepups.  I used to like them, but doing 80 on each leg in one workout gets tedious.  

I am with you, Laura.  I don't like this stage too much either.  Mostly, I don't like the high reps and the short rests.  My legs were killing me after doing the 60 lunges.  I am only doing the 15 reps - that is enough for me!