Problems with Jessica Smith AND Leslie Sansone

[Gemini2874]

I haven’t posted in awhile as I have had a sick family member. I wanted to know if anyone else has had a problem with Jessica Smith and Leslie Sansone. Some history, I was doing primarily Jessica Smith for the last few years. I own almost every DVD (and double couples of each for just in case). I posted about my back pain here before. Well, it got so bad I saw 2 doctors. Finally, I had x rays done because it was so severe. The x rays came back clear. The doctor said it was muscular. I was convinced I had compressed discs due to the pain. I know my form has been good because I put a mirror in my workout room back when I wondered if that could be the cause. Fast forward, despite being vaccinated and boostered, masked up (double) and sanitizing, I got COVID. I got it pretty bad- probably because I have asthma. I was down and out for about 4 weeks (thanks to anti-viral meds that turned it around). During that time, I couldn’t exercise at all. For the first time in a long time, my back stopped hurting. Has anyone else had back pain with Jessica? She does do a lot of twisting in cardio and forward hingeing in strength work. I don’t know what else it could be.

I started back up with Denise Austin and Kathy Smith instead of Jessica. I even got up to the high impact moves and 5 lb dumbbells for strength work. Zero back pain. But, I got tired of the repetition and lost motivation. Started back up with Leslie Sansone for cardio and strength. Did just Leslie. I thought things were going well. I was truly enjoying it. However, I noticed my balance has significantly deteriorated. I was shocked. I knew Jessica incorporated a lot of balance work but I didn’t realize just how much her workouts had improved my balance. I noticed Leslie does zero balance work. So, have other people experienced their balance deteriorating after just doing Leslie? I think this is a hole in her program along with a lack of flexibility work.

I did buy all 5 Jane Adams DVDs and I do have Jessica’s yoga and stretch DVDs. So, I might try to tack those on to my daily Leslie walks. But, I was curious if I am the only one experiencing these issues!

[sbh]

I too start having low back pain when I do Jessica Smith's workouts too often. I have an old low back injury. I started eliminating hinging forward, but I still was having problems. I stick to her older workouts and only do them occasionally. Leslie is good once in a while too. I do different moves a lot of the times instead of the main 4 moves. Again, only do her occasionally. Too much yoga irritates my low back. I still have not found a yoga routine on dvd that is exactly what I want, so I am just going to do my own choreography. I use to teach yoga back in the day. I've been really enjoying Lively Ladies and Senior Fitness w/Meredith on youtube. They have some good balance work that I like. Hope your back feels better soon!

[Gemini2874]

Sherri,

Thank you for posting your experience. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE LOVE LOVE Jessica so it has really been a bummer. I tested it again after doing Denise, Kathy, and then Leslie all with zero back pain. I pulled out a Jessica workout and boom. Back pain again for the first time since it finally healed. I am disappointed to say that her workouts just don’t work for me which is so sad as she is my favorite instructor. The weird thing is that I am just not sure”why” they don’t work for me. What is it about her workouts that hurt me??

[Pat58]

Gemini, I have the same problem with Jessica. I love her as a person, and she is a joy to work out with. So it's very disappointing that I can't use her workouts, but for some reason she tweaks my back.

Is it her tempo? The workouts I had tried seem safe. But the back tweaking happened every time so it has to be something.

It sounds like you've had a lot of troubles. Sending hugs your way.

[alisoncooks]

Count me in as another that can’t do Jessica’s workouts. I want to, and I usually think I can when I preview them. But there’s usually something that comes out unhappy (knees or back).

[JENILU]

Maybe its how we are built (certain ones of us, our frames i mean?) She helps my balance greatly, even tho I have a tweaked ankle that keeps me from doing most people's balance work, yet I do have a low back issue that is aggravated with her workouts. I guess, on my part atleast, its a little give and take. I like to focus on Jessica's workouts, but I can only do them a few times a week.

I have flat feet with sinus tarsi, and she does greatly help my balance issues without injury in that area. But, with the back thing- and it can't be proven, I feel like my lower back slides sometimes when I try to do standing core work? So it may not be just her, for me atleast. but the fact that I like to do standing core type exercises.