Cardio Coach Levels/Recovery Question

carres1973

carres1973

Cathlete
I am hoping one of my fellow Catheites who are also devoted Cardio Coach lovers can help me with a level question. I was introduced to Coach Sean (**dreamy**) via this forum and have loved exploring the different volumes. I only have one problem when doing the challenges. You know how there are various parts to a challenge? Let's say we have a level 3 hill for one minute, take it down for 30 seconds and then into a level 3 sprint. When I take it down for that 30 seconds I don't make it quickly to level 1 and then level 2 as the Coach coaches. I get it to level 2 effort during that time but definitely not 1 as coached. Should I take a longer break and try to reach level 1 or just keep it at level 2?

Thank you all for your advice!

Carrie
 
You are not supposed to reach a level 1 during recovery, you are going down to a level 2. When he talks about level 1 after the challenge he refers to your effort. Meaning work at a level 1 effort if you have to in order to bring your heartrate down to a level 2. I hope this makes sense.
 
Last edited:
hiitdogs said:
You are not supposed to reach a level 1 during recovery, you are going down to a level 2. When he talks about level 1 after the challenge he refers you your effort. Meaning work at a level 1 effort if you have to in order to bring your heartrate down to a level 2. I hope this makes sense.
Click to expand...

It makes total sense. I think I am confusing levels with heart rate levels with zones. Phew! I REALLY want to like Cardio Coach just because Coach Sean seems so nice. I also use the iTrains which I really like. Sometimes, I am not up to thinking about my heart rate and levels and like for Grace to just tell me what to do:D.

Carrie
 
I don't always think about heartrate, there are those days where I will just speed up for zone 3/4 and slow down 1/2 without paying much attention to heartrate.

Most of the time I pay attention to perceived exertion though, meaning if I think I will start throwing up during a challenge it maybe time to cut it short or take a longer break afterwards :eek: I usually try to push through and not get too whimpy.
 
Carrie, if it makes you feel any better.... I wear a HRM, and I have noticed time and time again that if I do what Coach Sean says about the effort level I'm putting out, my heart rate does exactly what he wants it to. It always makes me wonder how he puts these things together, but he obviously really has it down.

-Beth
 
When I first started using CC, I would get frustrated that my heart rate zone never seemed to match my perceived exertion level. Sometimes my heart rate would indicate I was in zone 4 (90%+ HR) but I felt my exertion level was a 3. When I quit stressing about the "numbers" and based my workout more on how I felt, it became easier and more enjoyable.

As you become more conditioned, your heart rate should start to recover more quickly and drop faster into the lower zones during recovery. FYI: I rarely drop to level one unless it is a long recovery or the cool down;)

JJ
 
Thanks everyone for the responses. I guess I need to differentiate in my head exertion level, heart rate percentage, and zone color. I do feel that I get an awesome workout from the Cardio Coach volumes. Just like anything else, they can be addictive. I bought one and now own just about all of them:p. I am sure I can justify buying the two I don't have and getting pump for free SOMEHOW:rolleyes:!

Another question - how often do you all do Cardio Coach workouts? Since they are mofified HIIT, are they ok to do every day or every other day?

Carrie
 
Even though they are a "modified" HIIT workout, they are still very intense and I wouldn't do them every day. JMHO! Every other day would be better and for myself personally, I would still switch up the equipment (treadmill, elliptical, bike...) to avoid over use.

HTH:)

JJ
 
I would like to jump in here with a question if you don't mind. How many of you are using perceived exertion ONLY with CC? I started doing CC recently and have not been using a HR monitor at all. I definitely push myself and find CC to be the most intense cardio workout I have ever done, even without the HR monitor. I guess I'm just wondering if the monitor would enhance the experience or take away from it (I wouldn't want to be focusing on the numbers alone). Thanks ladies! :)
 
Thanks so much for sharing Michele! I was afraid that I might be missing something without the monitor but it definitely sounds like that's not necessarily the case! :D To me there is nothing like pushing to my limit and sticking with a challenge for those last 10 seconds when it is sooooo tempting to lower those settings! I guess we all know when we push enough and it's very rewarding when you have that total kickbutt workout experience. I will just continue on with what I'm doing.....I can not believe how my overall cardio endurance has improved with just one month of CC.
 
That is a good suggestion. Maybe when I do my next CC workout, I won't wear the HRM and just go by how I feel. I will even do a volume I have not done yet so that I don't use remembered settings (you know - get stuck in a rut!!).

Carrie
 
You just crack me up, Michele!!!!!

I just want everyone to know that it is all due to Michele's that I do CC and only go by perceived exertion. Before that I was glued to the darn HRM and afraid I would drop dead if I didn't use it :mad:. I stopped about 10 days ago and much to my surprise I am still alive :eek::D

It did help though when I started to kind of have an idea of where the heart rate should be and how it feels. Every once in a while I will put the HRM on to check, can't get over that control thing quite that fast without relapses :)

With Miss Lee as my idol I will get over that, too.:D:D
 
Last edited:
Michelle,

You are a riot girl! I missed that post. I love all the colorful smileys. Mine are not working? anyway...

I too ditched my HRM a long time ago. Mostly out of sheer laziness(didn't want to hook the stupid thing up). ha ha ha, joke was on me! Now I work harder than ever before!!

Yeah, that whole fat burning zone number is a myth. I found myself slowing down just to get my number where it was suppose to be. Perceived exertion is where it's at!
 
Don't even get me started on the fat burning zone!!

I was trotting around for months with my HRM strapped on, obsessing that I don't go over and start, God forbid burning carbs instead of fat. I managed to burn neither, or at least nothing worth mentioning, the only burning was that I started to burn out.

If anyone ever tells me again I need to do steady state at a low heart to burn fat and lose weight, I am going to hit them upside the head with my heartrate monitor :mad::p







 
fit44 said:
I too ditched my HRM a long time ago. Mostly out of sheer laziness(didn't want to hook the stupid thing up). ha ha ha, joke was on me! Now I work harder than ever before!!
Click to expand...

The same thing happened with me. I just got way too lazy to hook that thing up and strap it around me, blah, blah, blah. Plus, I knew I was bordering on obsessive the way I HAD to make sure I burned a certain number of calories. Working out was no longer fun at all. Once I ditched that bad boy, my workouts became so much better! And MUCH more fun!!

In the words of our Dear Miss Lee: Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
fit44 said:
Michelle,

You are a riot girl! I missed that post. I love all the colorful smileys. Mine are not working? anyway...

I too ditched my HRM a long time ago. Mostly out of sheer laziness(didn't want to hook the stupid thing up). ha ha ha, joke was on me! Now I work harder than ever before!!

Yeah, that whole fat burning zone number is a myth. I found myself slowing down just to get my number where it was suppose to be. Perceived exertion is where it's at!
Click to expand...

It's funny really. One morning I forgot my HRM upstairs (I work out in the basement). Instead of just doing the CC without the HRM, I did an iTrain instead. It's fine, I still did a workout but I certainly could have just done the CC and used perceived exertion:rolleyes:. Once I read on the CC website about HR percentage levels, I feel I MUST be within them. Obsess much:D?

Carrie
 
hiitdogs said:
Don't even get me started on the fat burning zone!!

I was trotting around for months with my HRM strapped on, obsessing that I don't go over and start, God forbid burning carbs instead of fat. I managed to burn neither, or at least nothing worth mentioning, the only burning was that I started to burn out.

If anyone ever tells me again I need to do steady state at a low heart to burn fat and lose weight, I am going to hit them upside the head with my heartrate monitor :mad::p

Click to expand...


LOL very well said!:D
 
hiitdogs said:
You just crack me up, Michele!!!!!

I just want everyone to know that it is all due to Michele's that I do CC and only go by perceived exertion. Before that I was glued to the darn HRM and afraid I would drop dead if I didn't use it :mad:. I stopped about 10 days ago and much to my surprise I am still alive :eek::D

It did help though when I started to kind of have an idea of where the heart rate should be and how it feels. Every once in a while I will put the HRM on to check, can't get over that control thing quite that fast without relapses :)

With Miss Lee as my idol I will get over that, too.:D:D
Click to expand...
Oh the irony!!! :eek: :p :D

I mean, first I started a check-in group for cardio haters (Haterville)
shy2.gif
, then I discovered Sean O'Magic... er... O'Malley and fell in love with his crazy Cardio Coach workouts
snapoutofit.gif
, which inspired me to change the name of Haterville to Smileyville, and then I become Carola's idol! It's just plain crazy!!
25r30wi.gif
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top