[GoingGoal]

The long muscles down the sides of my back give out way before my energy or stomach muscles. Am I doing something wrong? I am pulling my shoulders approx. 5 inches off the floor. I am exhaling when coming up and trying to push my back to the floor and tighten my stomach muscles.

[northernbelle]

It could be your erector spinae. These muscles, which support your spine, also need attention. Try some lower back exercises to balance with the ab exercises- chest extensions on the floor or the ball, hyperextension bench, alternate arm/leg raises on the floor, the ball, or on hands and knees.

Leg exercises, such as squats, deadlifts and straight leg deadlifts, also work your lower back.

[GoingGoal]

Originally Posted by northernbelle

It could be your erector spinae. These muscles, which support your spine, also need attention. Try some lower back exercises to balance with the ab exercises- chest extensions on the floor or the ball, hyperextension bench, alternate arm/leg raises on the floor, the ball, or on hands and knees.

Leg exercises, such as squats, deadlifts and straight leg deadlifts, also work your lower back.

Yep, that's it. I Googled Erector Spinae [ too big of a word for little me. ] and that was were the pain was.

Bummer #2-

Push disk came in the mail yesterday but it stalls right after the intro. I can FF to the warm up but then it stalls again. I tried wiping it with a cotton cloth--no luck. I will call them on Monday and see what they say. While I am waiting I will do some of the leg raises, ie.. alternate arm/leg and the one where you lift leg at 90% angle. I can't do squats my knees can't take it.

[northernbelle]

Here's a place that might help

http://www.shapefit.com/training.html