It’s been a long time since I did the DVD version of this workout but I do remember really liking it and finding it very challenging. So, I did the DVD version on Saturday in preparation for doing this Live today. Although the live version does use some of the same exercises and works your lower body and your abs, these workouts are very different. I don’t even know where to start. Let me first start by saying that this is a very good workout. Great lower body strength training and great weighted core work. I really enjoyed this workout. However, when compared to the DVD version, this is easy. Super easy. When I did the DVD version on Saturday I only did the lower body–none of the “guts.” I also tacked on the lower body bonuses included on the DVD. My legs were fried. It was brutal. My legs stung the entire day (I did the workout in the morning) and I suffered some mild DOMS the next day.
The Live Butts & Guts was a challenging workout but not brutal. It worked my lower body very nicely–I still feel it in my glutes–but it did not fry my legs. Here are some more differences. Butts & Guts DVD version is 78 minutes long; the live version is 54:30 minutes long. The DVD version uses a the square step, a stability ball, barbell, one set of dumbbells, firewalker and ankle weights; it also does a lot of lower body floor work. The live version only uses dumbbells and the firewalker, and there is no lower body floor work. The DVD version uses super light weights (one set of 5 pound dumbbells and barbell is at 35 pounds). The live version uses 10 and 15 pound dumbbells–so heavier on some exercises and lighter on others (the exercises that used the barbell in the DVD version). The DVD stretch is 8 minutes, the live stretch is 3 minutes. The DVD abs is 14 minutes, the live abs is 10 minutes. Now, in preparing to do the DVD version this weekend, I looked over my review (from 2012) and also pulled out the workout card I used the last time I did it. I was surprised at how light the weights were that I used and yet I had still found this a brutal workout. I know for a fact I can lift heavier even in a high rep/endurance workout. Since it had been well over a year since I did the Butts & Guts DVD, I upped my weights across the board when doing the DVD version Saturday morning. It was doable but as I said–it seriously fried my lower body. So, I also had heavier weights ready for this live workout (see breakdown below–I list Cathe’s and my weight). I got a very good lower body workout, but no frying.
Anyway–important information! Don’t come to this workout expecting it to be as brutal as the DVD version because it is not. As I said, I did not do any of the abdominal work and since it has been so long since I did Butts & Guts DVD, I cannot remember a lot about it. So I cannot compare that portion. I really enjoyed the “guts” part of this live workout. I found it challenging but not brutal. Despite how this may sound, I do plan to return to this workout. It is excellent overall, however it will not give you the same level of workout you will get from the DVD.
Butts & Guts Live is 54:30 minutes long; 7:30 minute warm up, 31:30 minutes of standing lower body, 10 minutes core and 3 minute stretch. Recommended equipment: dumbbells in 10 and 15 pounds, a firewalker loop and a fitness mat. She also notes that the “guts” work will be weighted so have lighter dumbbells on hand (5s and 8s) if 10s are too heavy for you. It aired live on 10/16/14 and here is the video clip. I list both the weights I used and the weights Cathe used below–if there is no name attached and just the weight, that means I used the same weight as Cathe.
Butts:
- Squats (Cathe uses 15# DBs, I used 25# DBs)
- Marching sumo squats (Cathe uses one 15# DB, I used one 20# DB)
- Plie squats setting DB on floor and picking it up (Cathe uses 15# DBs, I used 20# DBs)
- Deadlifts (Cathe uses 15# DBs, I used 30# DBs)
- Static lunges (15# DBs)
- Side walking w/ firewalker loop
- Squats (Cathe uses 15# DBs, I used 25# DBs)
- Low pulse lunges (one 10# DB)
- Repeat #3
- Side walking plie squats (Cathe uses 10# DBs, I used 12# DBs)
- Pulsing plies (Cathe uses one 10# DB, I used one 12# DB)
- Pulsing curtsey lunges (one 15# DB)
- Side lunge into curtsey lunge–no DBs but you touch the floor w/ fingertips w/ each lunge
- Single leg deadlifts (Cathe uses one 15# DB, I used one 20# DB)
- Hamstring curls w/ firewalker around one ankle and around the bottom of the working foot
- Repeat 14 & 15 on other leg
- Walking lunges (4 in each direction) (15# DBs)
- Front back pulsing lunges (pulsing pendulum lunges) (no DBs)
Guts:
- Elbow to knee sweep (standing, holding one DB in both hands, raise one knee and twist DB over it) (Cathe uses 10# DB)
- Still standing and holding DB in one hand, raise the other arm overhead and point same side leg out to side; crunch torso to side lowering elbow and raising leg (Cathe uses one 10# DB, I used one 15# DB)
- Sit on mat, legs straight in front of you and holding one DB; lean back, pulling DB back along one side of body then sit back up, transferring DB to other hand; alternate sides (8# DB)
- Pullover cruches (lay on back and hold one DB in both hands, bring DB overhead while heels tap floor, then raise bent legs and DB so DB comes over shin at top of move (Cathe uses one 8# DB, I used one 10# DB)
- Do # 4 but this time, each time you crunch, you bring your heels farther out away from body; then keep them out at their farthest while continuing to crunch
- Pull over full sit up into oblique twist (Cathe uses one 8# DB, I used one 10# DB)
- Russian Twists (8# DB)
- High plank to low plank 2x then jack feet twice; this changes to high plank to low plank once then jack feet 2x; this changes to lower into forearm plank and jack feet once, raise into high plank and jack feet once
- Hold in high plank; hold in elbow plank; while still in elbow plank step feet out and in; hold in elbow plank
