a silly question and a confession

T

thirty11

Cathlete
Do you find that it motivates you or discourages you to watch yourself work out?

I usually work out at night and am able to see myself in the sliding glass doors of my workout room. today, when I worked out in the afternoon, I discovered I missed being able to see if I was doing things right and so . . . I went and got a full-length mirror to watch myself in. THAT . . was discouraging. Turns out I jiggle a lot more in actual reflection than in the gentler, kinder sliding glass door view. :)

My confession: I am probably the only faithful Catheite out there (for almost a year now) who is doing Low Max on a 6 inch step and huffin' and puffin' her way through it.

I used to console myself with Rhonda using an eight inch step in the older videos because I was SURE she was about 5'll or so. Turns out we're the same height, 5'6! :-(

Anna
 
Anna,

Rest assured that you are not the only Catheite who has to lower her step, weights, or speed lol! We'll get there someday.

As for watching myself- I do it now and then to check my form, but I don't find it motivating or discouraging.
 
I can often see myself in the sliding doors too, and it's off-putting during cardio. But, I always use it to check my form when doing S&H.

Clare
 
Hi Anna,
I actually have a large mirror in my workout room. I watch myself all the time! I think it's okay to watch your form with. Not silly at all. deb;)
 
Depends on what I'm doing. If I'm lifting, I like to see my reflection. If I'm doing KPC, I'd rather not.

Actually, I don't have any mirrors in my living room and I remember that when I worked out in the gym, I always felt self-consious looking in the mirror at myself. I felt like I was being vain. I know, silly...
 
Anna - I use a 6 inch step and huff and puff the entire time. We are still getting a great workout!

Angie
 
When I'm doing cardio, I know I look like I'm being electrocuted so I prefer NOT to see myself in the reflection of our sliding glass doors.

However, when I'm lifting I do like to use my reflection to check my form.

Don't worry about an ostensibly low step. I only graduated myself to an 8" step a few weeks ago myself, and I've been doing Cathe step routines for years. It's important to get the choreography, the cueing and the form down before trying to add on step height.

A-Jock
 
I don't want to look! I can hold an image of a graceful, rhythmic creature in my head unless I catch site of the gangly, gawky creature who's in control of the outside. Besides the slightest loss of concentration means the danger of a header. I have already perfected them so it's okay to move on. :) I must say when Cathe started using 6", I refused. Never would I want or need to drop my step height. Boy, I'm glad I got over that. I wonder if that's why I haven't flung myself off my step in awhile? I have feet issue and happily impact on the step is easier on them and a six incher allows a safer push off and with that in place, I have been using 6 inches with Low Max because it feels safer that way for the moment. When I can do the workout in my sleep I may up the step, who knows. Don't you have a deeper, darker confession to make? ;) A few years ago I quit looking at exercise as a competition even if only with myself and I have been injury free for quite a time. As the Divine Ms. C say, make it work for you! By the way, I am 5' 7".
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Mary Oliver
 
I have no reflective surfaces in my living room (thank goodness) so I can't see myself doing cardio.

But I definitely love to see myself while I'm lifting. Not only to make sure I'm using proper form (which IMO is very very important) but also b/c I really like seeing my muscles at work.
 
I only watch myself when weight lifting. I don't care how I look when doing cardio. All I want is to be able to follow the cueing and choreography.

The motivation or frustration comes not from how I look but how I perform the workout. Did I use good form? Did I finish the set? Did I finish the workout? Was I able to increase my weight? Was I able to follow the choreography better than last time? Things like that...:)

Pinky
 
I really don't want to look or I will think I am watching Sharon Mann on TV..that is probably how I would look. Sorry, but I think she looks alittle silly. LOL! Anyways, I would only want a glimpse to see if my form is correct because sometimes I have my husband check my form if he is around since I can't see.

Charlotte~~
 
I exercise naked (except for shoes and socks) and have full-length mirrors on every wall of the family room where I work out.:p
 
Like Bobbi, I would like to continue to believe in the beautiful, graceful creature that I'm sure I am when working out. I have no mirrors.
 
I have a mirror in my workout room and I look at it quite often for form, especially weights and lunges. I actually really like it to check my knees for lunges. The other day, I was not able to see my knees when lunging and lost my balance and almost fell over!!!! Guess maybe I rely on it a little too much!!

And, OMG, I thought Rhonda was at least 5'10" also!!!! She looks so much taller than everyone else!!!
 
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