2 Questions for Cathe

[Jul]

Hi Cathe and everyone! I have 2 questions regarding Cathe's answers to other posts. First, on one post you said that it is best to do the PS upper body tapes on two separate days but if you must, you may do them on the same day. I've been doing them on the same day but switching the order. Just wondered why they are better one separate. Is it because you are better able to focus and work a specific muscle harder when it is not as fatigued (as it would be after doing several other body parts)?
Second question, I was thrilled to see you provide a couple of different rotation examples. I always wonder though why a plan must be followed for several weeks before switching to another plan. For example, if I had enough tapes, what if I just switched among completely different tapes for a few weeks? For example, if I did PS series one week, Firm tapes the next, MIS & BodyMax the next, your new 6 pack express the next week, etc.. (Of course cardio would be inserted on alternate days).
I hope you can follow my long winded questions. Thanks!

 

[DebbieH]

Hi Jul!

I think one of the reasons it would be a good idea to stick with a certain rotation for a bit would be to see if that works for YOU! Everyone is different and different type of workouts work differently for others. If you shake it up EVERY week, it would be hard to tell if a certain rotation would be better. Does that make sense to you? That's not to say you can't do whatever, whenever. I think that when you try a certain rotation, that eventually, your muscles will grow accustomed to it after some time, then, that is when you want to do something different to SHOCK those same muscles. Maybe Cathe can give you more of an educated answer, but, do what works for you!! Talk about being looooong-winded!!

DebbieH

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Jul !

Question 1: Yes, you are right. It is better to do them on separate days because you will have better focus and will not be as fatigued while doing each tape.

Question 2: The main reason that you should stick with one rotation for a few weeks is so that you have a way to measure your progress. It takes a few weeks for your muscles to acclimate to a program and then a few more to really see comparative changes. It is during these weeks that you can determine how your body responds to particular programs. If it responds positively, then you can stay with it longer and let your muscles really grow/improve/benefit from the workout(side note: at the time that you notice that your improvements are plateauing, you would shake things up within the current rotation OR try a whole new rotation). If it responds negatively, in the sense that you are not really seeing any changes and/or you are not enjoying a particular rotation, then you know that this is a type of rotation that does not seem to work with or for you.

While switching in and out of different rotations on a WEEKLY basis will not harm your body, it would be unlikely that your muscles would reach their maximum potential(since they do not have the opportunity to react and respond to a particular program). Perhaps "rotation hopping" could be looked at as a way of providing variety in an overall fitness conditioning program rather than setting out to reach a specific goal.

Hope this helps!