20 mins. per day?

nancy324

nancy324

Cathlete
After many years of doing Cathe workouts, I had to put all that aside in 2006 to move my career (and a few other things) forward. Things are going pretty well now, and I'd like to get back to a bit of strength training. However, I'm just not ready to go back to Cathe yet. I need to start slow.

Does anyone know of any workout videos that provide for strength training in 20-minute sessions, or something close to that? Ideally, I'd like to do one or two body parts per day, 6-7 days per week, for about 20 mins. per day (right before dinner when I get home from work.) I'll save the cardio for the weekends, as twice per week of cardio seems to be enough for me for now.

All suggestions appreciated.
Thanks!
-Nancy
 
Nancy - what videos do you have? Could you use them but only do parts each day? Say, if you have PUB, you could do about half of it, working the chest, back and shoulders one day, and then pick up the triceps and biceps the next day. Same with legs - do the weight work on one day and then the floor exercises on another day.

I also like to make up my own routines, especially for the upper body. I just turn on some upbeat music and go for it, deciding on the amount of weight, etc. depending on how strong I feel that day.
 
Hi Nancy (my curly-haired idol)!

I do my own routine of lifting weights 3 xs per week, for about 30 minutes each time. It might benefit you to look in magazines or get a book and kind of "write your own" plan that does not require you to get out a bunch of equipment. Then you don't have to spend time programming a DVD or what have you.

My 30(sometimes up to 35 min) minute routine is all upper body, and I do chest, back, biceps, triceps, and shoulders based on what I have learned from the FIRM and Jari Love (I've been wanting to get a Cathe for about a year, but haven't decided which one yet. Been lurking on the forum for a year, too!). Sometimes I follow that with HIIT cardio, or I do steady-state cardio at other times during the day.

HTH!

Kristi
 
Thanks, Shannon. I've tried using the time savers, and breaking up Cathe videos before, and it's fine, but I'm just not up for Cathe right now. I find that knowing that I'm cutting corners is discouraging to me. I want to feel good about what I'm doing, rather than feeling like a Cathe wuss. Even at the height of my fitness training, I could never do ALL of Cathe's lunges without resting in between. I'm looking for an instructor who actually acknowledges that muscle failure is a reality, and who accounts for it in the workout to some extent. On the other hand, I'm not willing to go back to that silly Kathy Smith stuff, either. Hmmmmmm.

-Nancy
 
Nancy, I don't have any video suggestions. Cathe's are the only ones I use for weight work. I like Shannon's suggestion of doing your own thing. You know enough from the past to pick 3 or 4 moves for each body part. Pick the amount of weight you think will work, adjust, adjust, adjust. Put on some Motown and go for it until you feel comfortable jumping back into Cathe's workouts. I've done this in the past if I want to tack on one body part to a cardio WO, or the TV is in use when I want to lift. The only problem I have is keeping count. I wonder if Cathe would loan you Cedie?
 
maybe some tamilee webb, you might be able to find some at the library to try out. i really enjoy her workotus for lighter days or time crunches. most of her workouts are short, and her i want that body dvds breaks up 15 min workouts, 2 for abs, 2 for buns, 2 for arms. i also like using denise austin, karen voight, and kathy smith.
i would see what the library has or try netflix. been using netflix to try new workouts out and curb my spending.

kassia

http://www.picturetrail.com/ldy_solana

"And do what thee wilt as long as ye harm none"
 
Well, Cathe always says to use a weight that's comfortable for you. Sometimes I go lighter than her, and sometimes heavier. I don't think you'd be cutting corners, by any means. You'll just be working at your level, and working up to the level you want to reach.
 
Nancy, you could try get fitness or shape magazine. Each month they have a strength rotation. You could buy just 1 issue and see if its something you would like to start. Fitness doesn't tend to be too advanced. HTH.
 
Here's an idea of you have Boot Camp. Keep the weights light as (Cathe does in the workout) and just do the upper body workout 2 times - comes to about 18 minutes. Ditto on the lower body workout - Or just do the upper and lower body workouts one time through each. Again the weights are lighter so it would be a good start. When you are ready to rock, do the whole thing. I have also done the cardio only premix 2 or 3 times through when I have been short on time. If you have time, do the abs only workout for another 8 minutes. Else skip that and just stretch for a few. If you get the DVD it also has Muscle Endurance, which you can break up by upper and lower as well. But these sections are longer and the weights are heavier. This DVD has some more great pre mixes as well so well worth the price.

Good luck!

Julie
 
Hi Nancy,

First, there's no doubt that Cathe's the best but I have several DVDs I still use when I need something less intense or need to build back up slowly. They're mostly intermediate but pretty solid workouts for that level. They are the 10 Minute Solution & Quick Fix workouts. The 10 Minute Solutions have 5 ten minute segments focusing on different areas. For instance, the 10 Minute Solution Kickboxing has solid state cardio, high intensity cardio, upper body weights, lower body toning, & abs. The Quick Fix workouts have 4 ten minute segments so the Quick Fix Stability ball segments focus on abs, upper body, & lower body, & total body. There are a bunch of these workouts & most can be found at stores like Kmart, Walmart, Target, etc., & also on Collage. Again, these are a step below Cathe but I do like them enough to have kept them. I'm sure you'll get a lot more suggestions (& probably better ones) but this is my input anyway. Congratulations on the positive changes in your life & good luck!

Take care,
Kel
 
How about Jari Love's Ripped workouts? They are well chaptered, so you can select which body parts to work. Her exercises are lower weights and higher reps, but I feel like I can get an excellent workout with her! You can adjust your weights based on how you feel each day, or pyramid down during a set if you're getting fatigued.
 
Nancy,

I purchased a Jane Fonda workout from the 1990's. It is pretty good though. It is beginner, the cardio is even pretty fun. The workouts seem very short. It is "Jane Fonda's Complete Personal Trainer Series". It is three workouts on one DVD. For me the music makes or breaks a workout. The last music that really got me going in a Cathe workout was the Intensity Series! Body Blast was tolerable and Hardcore was good tunes but too slow a beat for me to get in to. I have been dissapointed for a while. This tape from Jane Fonda has that infectious energy feeling most of the time. Check it out! I am in the same boat as you....ever trying to get going!;-)
 
Nancy, the "Power Half Hour" series from BeachBody is designed to be a complete workout in a half hour. I haven't used these but I am sorely tempted (I'm like you, I don't like shortening workouts when I'm short on time). I know Kathryn has these, so perhaps she will chime in with her comments.

I also just previewed Jari Love and her workouts look really fun and different. More endurance than strength, though, I think.

Good luck!
Marie
 
If you use the Gym Styles for only one body part a day, I think it works out to about 20 minutes. Never feel bad about lifting more lightly than Cathe; when I lose some of my strength, I do that. There is also The Firm Jiggle Free Arms and Jiggle Free Buns, but you need a Transfirmer to do them. I invested in it for times when I needed to do a lighter workout. As others have suggested, there are many ways of doing weight work in only twenty minutes a day.

Good luck.....
 
Nance, do you belong to Netflix? It might be worth a 3 month membership so that you can try out different workouts until you're feeling ready to return to Cathe. They have a bunch of different workouts!!

I think there is the same kind of service for only fitness dvds, but I can't remember the name of it. Flickety Fit or something?
 
I just wanted to thank everyone for all of your suggestions. I am considering most of them, and will let you know what I decide and what works.

Julie: I do have bootcamp, though I've never even viewed it. I'll have to take a look.

Kassia, I will check out Tammilee Webb. I have a few Kathy Smith's but those are just too basic for me.

I will also check out the Ripped videos and 10-minute solution. I like the sound of 10 minutes! :D

Janice, the only problem I have with Jane Fonda is on the videos I have, she is just not having fun. She's too serious and makes it all seem too much like work for my taste.

Marie, I've considered those workouts before, and they look interesting to me.

Caitlin, great idea! I'm going to check it out. I have the GS and I like them. I'm just a little scared of them though.

For those who suggest doing my own thing, I don't know why, but that is just not my personality. It's kind of strange. I love free-style cardio but need lots of structure for weight training. Odd.

Thanks so much to everyone who responded!
-Nancy
 
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