Am I doing the right workouts?

[AlisonK]

This is for Cathe or anyone out there who can give me some advice. First I just want to say how in awe I am of all of you! You are all so incredibly knowledgable and to top it off so helpful and supportive.

My question is am I doing the right workouts for my situation. I started excercising and using Cathe tapes about 2 months ago. I have excercised on and off throughout my life but at the time I started Cathe's tapes was pretty out of shape. So I guess I would call myself a beginner for the most part. I also need to lose weight. So for the past 8 weeks I have been doing step tapes 4 days a week (rotating between Wedding Tape, Mega Step Blast and Step Heat) and then strength 2 days a week (Wedding Tape and MIS). I just ordered Cardio Hits on dvd and hope to work up to those workouts also.

My goal is to lose the weight I need to lose and to become a total fitness addict : ) I know I have a long way to go so I just wanted to make sure I am doing everything I possibly can to do this. This week is my 8th straight week of working out 6 days a week and it feels so great! I have to tell you Cathe that I couldnt have done it without your absolutely incredible and easy to follow tapes. Also by coming to this board...all of you inspire me every single day. Iam proud to say that I am officially a Cathe addict: ) Thanks!

Any recommendations on new tapes, changes to my workout or other suggestions would be extremely helpful. Oh also can someone recommend a good flexibility tape ?

 

[Pamela_P]

My only suggestion...

...would be to try to vary your cardio workouts more. By doing step four days a week, you may eventually experience overuse injuries. Also your body will get used to that kind of activity and thus it may be less effective over time. By incorporating some kickboxing, walking, running, swimming or any other kind of cardio activity once or twice a week instead of step, you'll get the variety you need to keep your body on its proverbial toes.

That being said, I should take my own advice because I LOVE stepping and tend to do it far more than I should!

Nothing else is as FUN for me.

 

[Pamela_P]

P.S. (flexibility)

One of my favorite flexibility tapes is Karen Voight's Pure & Simple Stretch. It's short enough (35 mins.) to do fairly often but long enough to feel like I really got a good stretch. Yoga is also an option if you don't mind the "mystical" aspect of it. For that I would recommend any of the Yoga Zone tapes.

Remember if you add in a flexibility workout or two during the week, they should be done on one of the six days you're working out, not on the seventh. Your body needs at least one complete rest day per week.

 

[BLinda]

yoga

What I have been doing lately is doing a step workout and instead of doing the cooldown, adding in a 20 minute power yoga tape. This works out nicely, as my body is already warmed up, and the power yoga is a lower intensity cardio (for me) plus strenght plus stretch. I feel great when I finish. It really forces the body to work as a whole, which I find to be very different than a normal strenght or cardio workout, and doesn't add that much time to my workout. I find the power yoga makes a real difference in how I feel, although I am still waiting for the weight loss (from any form of exercise). It really will lengthen your muscles, if bulking is a problem for you. I use the Rodney Yee power yoga tapes which are about $7 at target, but Baron Baptiste also has some sections that are short enough for add ons, and aerobic enough to use as cool downs.

 

[fitmom]

Question about crosstraining

I hope you don't mind me asking you this Pamela but, do you think that incorporating just regular floor aerobics (like the first part of MIC) is enough cross training? I have a really hard time working out to anybody other than Cathe (I always find that "Cathe wouldn't have done it like that"

or "You need to watch a few Cathe video's and learn a few things about making a video"

)and until these new tapes come out, I'm really limited to my choices.

Thanks
Allison

 

[Pamela_P]

I feel like a hypocrite saying this...

I think the conventional wisdom among trainers and fitness professionals is that alternating step and hi/lo is not true cross-training. When they say to vary your workouts, they mean more like rowing, spinning, running, something that's truly different from aerobics.

All that being said, I personally rarely do anything other than step and hi/lo. I know I could probably have better results if I'd use the treadmill more often, but it bores me to tears. So I always go back to what Covert Bailey says..."The best exercise is the one you'll do." I've lost 125 pounds so far, so my body seems to be satisfied enough with what I'm doing.

Once I get close to my goal weight I may have to change things up, but for now I just wanna have FUN!

 

[Aimee]

Crosstrain & yoga

I really like Crunch Joy of Yoga. There isn't any mystical aspect to it. Sarah [the instructor], will say things like " wriggle your foot up or schooa, schooa" I really like that it's not treated as sacred [not that there's anything wrong with that.] I'm a hyprcrite as well when it comes to crosstraing, i do step 5 days a week, 1 day of hi/lo, and then 1 day with my crunch tape. when I teach my classes [not in the summer I coach little league] Of course I cut back on step. The only other cardio I do is ride my bike. I love that also! Lastly I strength train 3 days a week. I don't know if any of this helps, but I thought maybe bike riding would be good to cross with step? OK I'm going to shut up now and congratulations on your comitment, and you new addiction to Cathe that a healthy addiction everyone should have!!!

 

[fitmom]

That is so wonderful!

You've lost 125 lbs! You should be so proud of yourself

!!

Thanks for answering my question about the crosstraining. I'm supposed to be getting my dad's treadmill which I'm looking forward to just because I can play my own music and for the variety but, I know I will always love Cathe most

Thanks again
Allison