Better results with less time, intensity, etc?

Govtgirl

Govtgirl

Cathlete
I haven't posted in ages, mostly because I haven't worked out in ages and felt like I didn't have the right to :p This summer I lost about 10 pounds by working out more and eating better (= less), bad news is I just have no motivation for doing tough or long workouts anymore. I want to be healthy, but my Cathe DVDs and INSANITY are gathering dust.

I guess I've kept this weight off by being more active overall, taking the stairs instead of elevator etc, but how long can this last? I need to work out again, but all I have the desire to do is yoga and walking, maybe with a few sprints. I just don't want to beat myself up anymore. I'm 48 if that matters. ;)

Maybe this is a phase, but I am really interested in those of you that have had better results with less intense and/or shorter workouts. I remember Afreet had a thread a while ago about this....is that still working? What about the rest of you? I'm wondering if this is a new phase of my life, taking more time for me and less working out (not that I was a fiend about it by any stretch of the imagination) or am I just old and lazy? :eek:
 
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Govtgirl - after completing my STS and CLX rotations, I am taking a break from heavy weights and tougher cardio. I have been mainly walking for cardio and doing barre/squeeze workouts for resistance. My weight has remained steady. Actually, I have lost some weight because my eating has improved (a little!).

Kariev started a thread about her breaking through a weight plateau. She is happily surprised she is losing weight and working out less.

Good luck to you.

Carrie
 
hey girl. i totally know where your coming from. i was constantly pounding my body into the ground daily with heavy lifting and long cardio sessions. i missed doing yoga and i was often just left feeling worn down. 2 weeks ago i started turbulence training. it has changed the way i look at things. over the past 2 weeks i have lost 2.5lbs which is great since i'm working out less, eating the same, and have been stuck at 120 for over a year. i'm finding that i really like the TT workouts. while they are intense, its so short i don't mind pushing myself. the weight section is about 20 min and is a full body workout utilizing large muscles. the current workout i'm doing only calls for 2 sets of about 5-6 exercises but you use a weight that is challenging for the given number of reps. with less overall volume i don't feel like i'm running myself into the ground with heavy lifting. the cardio is interval style and you only do 5-6 cycles with a 5 min warm up and cool down. its short and to the point. i do these workouts 3 days a week and then do yoga the other 2 and take the weekends off. i'm so suprised at how this is working for me. i think that what you mentioned (diet, yoga, more daily activity) is a great way to be healthy. If right now that is working for you and your keeping your weight down i say keep with it b/c its working. there is no one way to workout so stick with it until your ready to change it or you stop getting the results your looking for.
 
me too

I read Afreet's postings too and plan on doing what she did. I have two weeks left in my STS 6-month rotation. I purchased the Physique 57 workouts and plan on getting the Squeeze video's as well.

Recently I took a week off because I lost all my oomph. I felt good that week and I am very encouraged about my future low weight/high rep routines. I plan on throwing in some Cathe cardio and P90X yoga.

I believe my diet is not sufficient enough to support a tough workout. I don't think I eat enough or the right foods. I should be eating more of the right foods and I just don't know what that is. I'm one of those people who joined Jenny Craig to lose weight because I needed to be told what to eat and when. It worked, but now I'm on my own and I'm back to being clueless. It's my own fault because I don't study up on it and try different things to determine a good diet for me.
 
Completed STS and then CLX and then just needed a break. I bought P57, fell in love with it and got CardioBarre. So now I am enjoying a less intense workout. Looking at BarMethod now. But I recently did Push Pull and really enjoyed working out with Cathe again.
 
my 2 cents

Well, the weight thing is more about diet for me. I have had to take a long break due to illness and this is the first week that I have been able to exercise. What I lost was stamina and strength. I am working on the couch to 5k program and I've reduced my number of workouts to just 5 days a week not 6. I think the only question you have to answer is how fit do you want to be? What level of fitness would you be happy with?
 
I'm 9 pounds down (11 more to go) and the change that did it for me was all in the diet. Let's face it, if you're on the Cathe forums, chances are you have a decent to excellent workout regimen. It's all about the food. High intensity works. Low intensity works. Total body weights works. Splits work. Everything works if you're eating less than you burn. You know what I mean? I actually believe that my weight gain over the past few years has been due to greatly increasing my workout level through Cathe and not keeping a handle on my portions. I've discovered through some very frustrating and demoralizing failed attempts at fat loss that when I work out intensely over long periods of time I'm just not capable of keeping my calories reasonable. My current success is due to dialing back the intensity (maybe only 1 or 2 intense workouts a week) so that I can lower my calories without suffering. Some people can probably do very intense work for weeks/months at a time and keep the calories in check and lose weight that way, just not me :)
 
Barb- The thing that works for me regards eating enough of the right foods is the 'clean eating' style where you just eat foods that are similar to the way they are in nature. So, thats whole fruits, vegetables, and plenty of healthy fats (olive oil, coconut oil.) I hope that helps.
 
Govtgirl - You're definitely not old and lazy! :D I've noticed that several people on the forum have been testing this way, too. Including me.

I've gone from 6 days a week to five, with one day a complete rest day and another for a nice, gentle walk outside. I've consolidated my weight lifting into two days (from three), to one for legs and one for upper body. My cardio is far more low impact now, although it can be pretty high intensity. I use an elliptical and an incline trainer one day each a week. I've had to take a break from step due to injuries, but I'm working that back in. I used to do step all the time, but I think now I'll keep it to just one day a week.

As for keeping fit - does less work? Yeah, I think it does. Referring back to those injuries of mine... I tend to be injury-prone. I honestly think my body just can't take the pounding anymore. Anyhow, these injuries have kept me from exercising for up to two months at a time, here and there. I do what I can, but of course not at the level I'm used to. And when I get back into the routine, I find that I really haven't lost all that much. I rarely have trouble with weight, either.

I'm saying that, because it shows me that a lower level of exercise is probably okay. I mean, if I can stay in decent shape for a few months doing not much of anything, then it seems logical that if I cut back a bit on overall intensity when I can exercise, I should still stay pretty fit. And so far it has proven true.

I still like hard cardio and heavy weights, and I still do them. But not as often, and if I need to back off, it's okay. More important, I'm finding that I feel LOADS better mentally. My walks on the weekend are fabulous - they clear the mind, let me breathe the air, and really help me to relax instead of focusing on how hard I can work out this time.
 
I think most of us feel that way sometimes. I regularly take breaks and do less intense workouts. I'll do them for a month, a week, however long I need to rejuvenate. Like others mentioned, I have to be careful with my diet. I prefer to keep my overall focus (both diet and exercise) on making choices that make me feel good. If having a nice salad and doing yoga is what achieves that, I do it. I'm all about "feel good" fitness.
 
Hi Kariev! Thanks for asking, I'm doing well, decided to focus on yoga and running. I like the idea of balance, and now that I'm 48, I'm more conscious of avoiding creaky joints and having DOMS. I just want to feel good, and be healthy, and right now any sort of program or routine doesn't appeal to me. Maybe I'm in a rebellious phase?! :p
 
Good for you! I'm happy your doing what you enjoy. I think as we age, its more about enjoying your workouts and focusing on things that make you feel good. What yoga dvds are you using?
 
Today I did the Cardio Barre workout for the first time. Wow. I was sweating. The whole time I was wondering how they did those moves so fast. The muscles were burning for sure. I'm also trying out Squeeze Stronger. These are good workouts to challenge the muscles in a new way.
 
kariev said:
Good for you! I'm happy your doing what you enjoy. I think as we age, its more about enjoying your workouts and focusing on things that make you feel good. What yoga dvds are you using?
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I actually joined www.myyogaonline.com, it's $9.99 amonth for all the yoga workouts you want. I like Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg as an instructor; I've just joined so I'm sure lots of others are good, but right now I like her style of instrcution. I used to use bryan Kest, but now he bothers me, he is too intense, and I want more to be able to relax into poses and not think, and especially not be yelled at all the time! :)

I've decided to do yoga in the morning, 30 minutes or so, and running 3 or so times a week. I'd love to be strong and limber, that's what my goal is now.
 
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