BFL and Cathe?

[Cbelle]

I just started BFL (Sun) and was wondering if anyone out there has done it using CAthe tapes before. My current schedule looks like this:

Sun- CArdio using one of Cathe's 30 min CTX tapes (cardio portion only) 30 min Power Yoga
Mon - Upper body strictly the BFL way
Tues - Cardio using one of CAthe's 30 min CTX tapes 30 Min Power YOga
Wed - Leaner Legs from CTX
Thurs - Spinning 30 min Power Yoga
Fri -Upper Body strictly the BFL way

The next week flip the weights schedule (2 lower body, 1 upper body)

Is this too much of an abberation of the true BFL way? Will I still results?

 

[trevor]

All I know is when I followed JUST the BFL weight and cardio program, slightly modified, I could not hold my desirable body weight at all. It gave me great definition and cuts, even in the abs, but I just couldn't eat enough to maintain my weight. I just this week started lifting heavy and slow again. And so I begin my climb back to my desirable weight of 185#.
You can modify ANY program any way you like but if you follow the TRUE BFL program I don't see how you can incorporate Cathe's tapes. However, her tapes certainly would make it more fun.
Trevor

 

[eema]

Hi Cbell,

I did BFL for awhile and actually the part that I really enjoyed was doing his version of cardio - the all out 20 minute interval. I felt so incredible after I would do that in the morning. I would just use my own music and do step - repeating the 4 - 1 minute moves at increasing intensity. So like level 1 is step up and kick, 2 is around the worlds, 3 is over the tops and 4 is power 7's. Then for my last blast I would do plyo jacks. Not the most exciting thing but it was only 20 minutes and I found I could really concentrate on working instead of trying to follow a video. Also, one thing that really came through with that is what Bill says about doing stuff at YOUR 50%, 60%, etc. and no one else's. So it's not like you're looking at a video and sometimes thinking - "Oh, this is hard, I can't keep up with her pace." You're just really pushing yourself. It was a nice change. I went back to Cathe's cardio but I still do the BFL on the step every once in a while. One concern I have with you tacking on the power yoga is over use of your upper body. You will be lifting really heavy on your lifting days and maybe you should just totally rest your upper body instead of using it with the yoga. If you just love the yoga and can't live without it then I'd do it on a weight day. If you're doing it for the extra cardio, so just do more than 20 minutes. If you are going to substitute Cathe cardio for BFL then CTX is the way to go because it is so intense. Other good ones are the first cardio portion to Body Max and part, or all, of IMax.

I personally had a hard time with the weights - I like to work my muscles so they feel totally pumped up - a feeling I always get with Cathe and didn't really get with BFL. I also felt that it was really difficult to go as heavy as I would need to do the heavy reps at home - which may be why I didn't feel the pump. I'm curious if Trevor was working out at home or at a gym. It seems like it could be much more effective at a gym or with a spotter.

I think it's great that you're trying something new and you should see results just from changing your routine. I agree with what Trevor said about not having to follow it 100%. You have to do what works for you. Good luck!

 

[trevor]

Hi there!
Yes, I do my weight work in a health club. I think it allows you to go heavier unless you have a spotter or equipment that allows you to do that at home.
The high reps associated with BFL definitely shredded my bodyweight for sure. As I said, I had to stop because I couldn't keep the bodyweight up. I am still doing the high intensity cardio and just lifting heavy now. I don't consider BFL to be heavy weight work.
Trevor

 

[LaBelleRebelle]

If you are not rotating the 46-min pyramid weight training and the 20-min cardio training, along w/the eating plan, then you are not doing BFL. BFL is the workout and diet, combined. Doing anything else and you may be doing something similar to BFL, but it is *not* BFL.

Sorry, that's just a peeve of mine. Kinda like when people call sodas of all kinds "Coke."

 

[trevor]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jun-06-02 AT 08:58AM (Est)[/font][p]I agree which is why I made sure I distinguished the fact that I only did the weight and cardio part of it. But, you can still take that program, modify it any way you like, and call it anything you like. The eating is too rigid and unnecessary for me personally. I have a quick metabolism so I just try to eat in the ratios Cathe has recommended and maybe go even lower with the fat intake. I like to tinker with my program every few months too so I avoid ruts and plateaus and the pure BFL program doesn't allow for that. And to be honest I have a really hard time believing that those really big muscular guys you see on the BFL book cover got that way from that program. Lifting low reps with heavy weight maybe, but high reps and relatively low weights......highly doubt it. It does seem good, from my few month's experience with it, for getting really lean with defined lean muscles. Just my opinion.
Trevor