An update on my first impressions with Cathe...aka the Bionic Woman...hahaha!!

[tillard]

I must say I've started my first week of a Hardcore rotation and it's literally kicking my butt!! I've been doing Beachbody stuff for a year now and most recently have done 1 1/2 rounds of the X, but I have to say doing Cathe's Gym Styles makes me feel like I haven't worked out in my entire life !

I can't get over how different her workouts are to Tony Horton's. I feel like Tony didn't get me at all prepared for the beast named Cathe . The DOMS I've been having are like no other!! My calves from Gym Style Legs, even two days later, are so sore I can barely walk ;( . All I have to say is with my previous weight work, especially with the X, I must have been using quite a bit of momentum to help me out because I was using decent amounts of weight. But with Cathe's workouts I've had to go down in weight quite considerably as you can't get away too much with momentum in her workouts. I have to say though I do like the way Tony's workouts allow for a little more of a recovery period between sets. Cathe flies from one set to the next...I've started having to use the pause button on occasion .

I can't wait to see what this four week rotation brings...not to mention the other's I planned out for the next few months!! I've accumulated pretty much her entire collection over the past few weeks...heehee!!

 

[Miss Lee]

Don't you just love those "pause" buttons!? LOL!

I'm glad you're enjoying your Cathe DVD's.

Michele

 

[cwsoxfan]

That's interesting. I keep hearing so much about the P90X series. I've been debating on getting it. I guess that's why it's good to have a nice, well-rounded DVD collection. Keep switching things up every now and again!

Right now the Gym Style are my favorite. I have to force myself to do other weight DVDs!

Thanks for sharing.

Dallas

 

[kathryn]

I'm surprised you find Cathe's upper body more effective and challenging than P90X. I can see it on the lower body, but I felt that Cathe prepared me for P90X, not the other way around.

Just goes to show that it's good to mix things up, and trying something new can often bring great results.

And one reason you can lift heavier with P90X isn't necessarily that you are using momentum, IMO, but that Tony sequences the exercises so that your muscles get a chance to recover, and he includes those ever-so-necessary rest breaks, therefore you can lift heavier. Cathe seems to favor the old straight-set approach to weight training (work chest several sets of several exercises, then move on to back, etc.).

If you haven't tried Cathe's cardio yet, you're REALLY in for a change, LOL!

 

[tillard]

Oh don't get me wrong...I love P90X. It's just his routines are so much different than Cathe's. He allows for a lot more recovery and with his I was doing reps in the 8-10 range lifting fairly heavy. Trust me Tony will always have a place in future rotations, I'm just realizing how much Cathe has to offer my rotations as well.

The more endurance based weight training routines are obviously not my forte...so therefore Cathe will be good for me. It's always good to switch it up and try new things. Her workouts were a good taste of reality and let me know that I still have much room for improvement when it comes to different types of approaches to resistance training.

 

[tillard]

Kathryn,

Oh...I can definately tell I was using a bit more momentum than I should have. My lower back always had a slight ache to it after his arm workouts and now I know it was because I was frequently rocking a bit more than I should. I haven't really had any of the back ache (besides from her intense core workouts) since doing Cathe.

I agree with you in his approach allowed for more muscle recovery, but I think I'm going to like the challenge Cathe puts forth in a more "endurance" based approach...the straight sets are a bear!! My muscles obviously aren't used to that, so it's good for them. I think once I do a few rotations of Cathe and then go back to the X I'll get even more out of his routines!!

And her cardio is like no other. I did Imax 3 the other day and had to stop before the end. It put Plyo X to shame...it probably didn't help though that I did it first thing in the morning without any substance in my system. I'm not one that does well with the first thing in the morning workouts, especially when they are really intense...I'm prone to bonking big time then. I've also done Kick Max and KPC. Loved them both, and the intensity is just what I've been looking for in in-home cardio videos!!

 

[amybajamy]

The first time I did GS legs, my calves were so sore I could hardly walk for 4 days!! I love it when I have DOMS, but 4 days is ridiculous! I'm also very familiar with my pause button. Gotta love those workouts though!

Amy

 

[tillard]

I'm not sure what the heck's up with my calves...they aren't getting any better. Their so sore and tense that I can't even straighten out my leg the whole way. I look like a 90 year old woman walking around all hunchback :7 . I had intentions of doing cardio today, but not sure that's going to happen seeing as though simply walking is quite the physical challenge . Hopefully they'll feel better tomorrow!!

Deni