One side of body is less responsive

[CozyTeapot]

I decided to do 10 days of Diva Buns and right off the bat I notice that I'm just not feeling the burn in my left side like I do in my right. Last night I did the right side first and it burned like crazy. Switched to the left and barely felt anything - I actually counted to 27 slow lifts before I realized I'd gone over the stopping point.

Tonight I started with the left side and I did feel more a burn than last night so I thought, yay! But when I switched and worked the right side, that whole area on the right just about frogged up it was getting such a workout.

About an hour later I looked and noticed that my right side is more firm and shapely than my left.

I'm wondering if, since I have this terrible varicose vein on my right leg, if my brain is trained to just focus on that side more. I'm constantly aware of "that leg" - not bumping it, don't let the kids sit on it, etc.

Or is this something rather normal and will it work itself out? Should I do twice as many reps on the left side? I feel very lopsided right now. One side feels sore and tight and the other feels just a tad sore and floppy.

[Tamra]

A trainer will surely pop up with a piece of great advice but my *unprofessional* guess would be that you just continue working the both sides to your personal max. And really no need to double repetitions

[ayj67]

I am not a trainer, what I think is likely not completely correct.

Is one side weaker and smaller than the other? If you keep doing the maximum activation, they should both even out sooner than you think.

I never alternate sides for exercise except the DD workout on the CRT dvd, as one side is significantly slower than they other, same as the Critter Crunch workout, one side is more than the other, I alternate. I normally mirror Teresa's, as I cannot focus and forget what side I did the exercise with.

If I have significantly weaker side, I would actually start with the weaker side first each time, and keep the strong side the same repetition as what the weaker side can handle. May I suggest more skin brushing on the weaker leg to stimulate more circulation and the nerve sensitivity. Skin brushing helps to minimize the varicose veinn.

[BlessedMama]

Not a trainer yet here, but I would not do twice the reps on one side. That won't help balance things out, in fact it may add to imbalances.

I do alternate sides on DD if I'm doing it for several days. Same for Pretzel Twist and AL. The side you first did will definitely get a bit "more" of a workout when you're working the opposite side!

I would double check your alignment--I had a mirror I could put against the couch to really watch my form. Might be since that side is weaker you are compromising form somewhere. Really make sure that lifting leg is level. Watch all the form tips you can on it--do you have the CRT brushing dvd?

Believe me, I really focused on form with DD, but with that mirror I found out I was letting my foot/ankle/knee go out of alignment, and as I thought about what I was feeling, realized I wasn't using the right muscles to lift on one side. If you can, get a mirror and try that.

Another thing that has helped me is to really press my body into the floor to help stabilize and give me something to help isolate the non-lifting side.

HTH!

[monica213]

It is VERY normal to have one side of the body stronger than the other. Start with your weaker side, do NOT double up on it, keep everything even and focus on developing NK awareness to that area. (You can poke the muscles to help engage them and bring awareness to the area) It will take time, but it will happen just be consistent.

[CozyTeapot]

Thanks everyone!

[Joyfilled!!!]

One side of my body is weaker also. But it has slowly improved over time.

[CozyTeapot]

The side you first did will definitely get a bit "more" of a workout when you're working the opposite side!

I've been working the left side first so that it does get that extra workout you mention. It's very weird because it's almost like the muscle on that side is asleep. I measured my legs about a week ago and the left side was smaller than the right by about 1/4 to 1/2 inch all the way down. I did poke myself and that seemed to "wake" the muscle up a bit.

Watch all the form tips you can on it--do you have the CRT brushing dvd?

I don't have the dvd. I'm just going based on what's on the web.

[bevibrant]

You might also consider actually stretching the hip flexors/psoas on the right side as I personally find that to be the reason for imbalance in my body. When testing normal posas function, I did great on the right side but totally failed the left side. Since stretching my posas more, I have better digestion, and more equal activation.

Just another thoughts...