Core Secrets -- yikes

[MarlaGaz]

Okay, I tried Core Secrets this morning -- Full Body Challenge. I had to shut it off. It drove me crazy. I absolutely cannot workout with someone whose reps don't keep pace with or match the music!

I continued to try for a while, but Gunnar's pace was completely off from the music. It was really frustrating. What on EARTH is the point of the music?????

The workout itself was fairly easy, but it was a little different and intersting. I actually liked the music -- but it was like Gunnar couldn't hear it.

Also, the workout moves quickly through different exercises -- too quickly to get any kind of a burn going.

I did get one cool exercise challenge before I shut if off, though -- balancing on the ball without touching the floor. That was actually difficult and I'll implement that into my workouts -- heck I can do that while I watch American Idol! :7

I will try Ab Assault later, since it came with the 2-DVD set. But I'm not expecting much.

Just thought I'd pass this along.

 

[nbergren]

Thanks Marla. I have been sort of wondering about those DVD's. I think you just saved me some time and money.

Keep us posted on the Ab Assault one.

Nancy

 

[Caren]

Ab Assault is the only one I have and I really like it. I just got it a couple weeks ago. I didn't notice anything weird about the music not matching up. I think it's a good ad on ab workout.

 

[67firecracker]

Tell me about balancing on the ball without touching the floor. Are you sitting? laying? standing? Do describe, I love new ball moves.

Trish

 

[MarlaGaz]

You sit on the ball holding a dumbbell on each thigh (up near your hip flexors) and you lift your feet off the floor. Nothing touches the floor except the ball. It's tough. (I thought it was interesting that such a difficult move was thrown in the middle of the workout -- the rest was pretty easy stuff.)

I had never done that move before, and I found it really hard to keep the ball in place. I had to put my weights down. It's a cool move -- it keeps your core engaged and hits all different parts of your core as you try to keep the ball from rolling out from under you.

 

[kathryn]

I really like Core Secrets. Usually, when instructors don't keep the beat of the music, it really annoys me. But somehow I cann ignore it with CS (partly because I do my own pace and follow the music more, and get in more reps than they do while Gunnar is 'splainín'.

I think CS, like many functional fitness workouts, is deceptively easy feeling. I usually feel my glutes the day after doing one of Gunnar's workouts. I find the 1-legged work (squats and deadlifts and reaching lunges) to be very effective for balance, core strength and glute work.

 

[MarlaGaz]

Hi Kathryn,

I'm going to give this another whirl. It does drive me crazy that his reps are not on the beat (makes it difficult to follow him and the pace is off), but there were some interesting aspects to the workout. I admit I got so frustrated with the music-thing that I shut if off early. I will, at the very least, go back and do the entire workout.

I did Ab Assault last night and it seemed a little better. I do like Gunnar's personality -- he's a fun trainer. I'm just so hung up on the rhythm of the reps/music (I'm a musician -- it goes totally against my grain to be rhythmically out of sync).

Thanks for your input Kathryn.

 

[becky v]

I had ordered the ball and videos off an informercial because I had been wanting a ball for a long time & it was very cheap. The videos are a waste of my time & I cancelled my subscription right away, but the ball is great! I don't need Gunnars useless videos when I've got Cathe who gives me a true workout!!

 

[runninggal]

I have almost everything that Cathe has produced, but I do like Core Secrets as well. I use it to change things up. My husband likes to do these workouts too. He relates to Gunnar. I enjoy Gunnar's sense of humor... "Own it, don't rent it!"

 

[kathryn]

I like using Core Secrets in a "recovery week," after 3 weeks of tougher workouts. It works the core and stabilizing muscles, and prepares me for the next bout of tough workouts. It seems to work well. I did CS for a couple of weeks before I got the Hardcore Series, and I could jump into the Gym Styles without feeling like I had lost strength.