Cathe and the Total Gym

macska

macska

Cathlete
Hi eveyone.
In the past few months I've became totally addicted to Cathe and I 've been doing her workouts almost exclusively. But yesterday I just felt so bad for my old faithful total gym... So today I decided to put Cathe and my TG together. I figured that I can substitute the pull overs from PUB very safely with my favorite chin ups -- so that's exactly what I did. Increasing (decreasing) the weights with the tape, but doing the workout on the TG. It was a lot of fun! Tomorrow I'll sub the legpress with one legged squats on the TG with the weight bar.
Ok, guys -- just wanted to share. Happy sweating to everyone!

Mari
 
Mari, can I ask what the Total Gym is? Is it like a Bowflex?

The reason I'm asking is that DH wants to purchase a weight machine for home use and I'm looking for the best one for the money (I'm absolutlely thrilled that he wants to start working out with weights!). I was also wondering how I could use it too. I need to start lifting heavier ... I am addicted to Cathe, but I am finding that her workouts have too many reps with weights that are too light (especially legs...I'm hoping I can use a machine for Leg Press along with Cathe at half time...)

TIA,

Robin
 
Hi Robin

I *think* I have the total gym 2000 -- I have the one you can see on TV. I love it. I can do basically everything on it -- exactly like they say on TV. I like to do Cathe because it is a no brainer -- all I have to do is just follow. With the TG I always had to plan ahead and that's OK too, but in that case sometimes I cut the workout short. With a tape I always finish the planned excersize.
It is a good idea to have a weight bar with the TG, I usually add weight when doing legs and back on it. You don't need to buy it for $60, you can buy the same rod in Home Depot for a lot less. I used the TG "before Cathe" and had very good results. I have to tell you that my husband and son also use it and like it a lot. I saw a lot of TGs on ebay for a lot less than on their web site.

Best of luck
Mari
 
I bought my Total Trainer off of ebay a couple of years ago from www.bayoufitness.com ! They still sell on ebay and have different sellers you can contact! I have recommended this piece of equipment to many and they are totally happy with it as well as I am! One of the seller's is Total-Trainer here's a link to their store http://www.stores.ebay.com/id=54989500&ssPageName=L2 you can also do a search on ebay for total gym and a bunch will pop up! I had a great experience and service with the link I provided!

Here's a mini program I do on mine

Time crunch total body workout(for a longer workout do 20 mins cardio(rowing) and 2 mins per exercise)
Instructions-Do one full minute per exercise, once you set yourself up and have the right accessories in tact, you start the time when you are ready to begin, you want to do as many "proper" reps as you can in one full minute per exercise!
Accessories: pullup/chin up bar,*t-bar(or squat stand)*tricep dip bar
Workout
Warmup 5 mins w/ seated row(no pulley on these til noted)
Wide grip pull up (1 min** for all exercises)
Hamstring pulls(lock feet under chin up bar or strap)
Chin ups with underhand and close grip
Reverse crunch(holding the chinup bar bringing knees to chest)
****Now put on tbar bottom(or squat stand) and tricep dip bar
Tricep presses/or dips
Squats on Tbar or stand
Right one legged squat
Left one legged squat
Plie squats(toes pointed outward)
***now turn on belly
Calf raises(you can do each leg for 30 secs for more intensity)
****Turn upside down grabbing on to tbar
shoulder presses
****put on pulley and sit on knees or with feet out ( facing opposite the squat stand)
Bicep curls
Back/shoulder pulls(high or low)
Tricep pressdowns
Outter thigh pulls(extend legs outward on the ropes pulling you up)
***turn around to lay down
Chest presses
Latpulldown/shoulder press
Overhead pull w/ upperbody crunch
Tricep pushdowns
***get on the side of machine holding both handles
side oblique twists
*** get on other side
side oblique twist
Cooldown
do 3 mins atleast of static stretches and if you have time a yoga/pilates tape

Enjoy;-)
 
Francine, I don't know how many Total Gyms ( or trainers) I "sold" already! Really a wonderful piece of equipment. I like your workout plan. You don't like to do decline sit ups or you just forgot?
 
I agree that this is such a wonderful piece of equipment! It's so versatile and I love how it stimlulates the muscles differently!

I'm glad you liked my mini workout program! It's even great to add on before or after a short high intensity workout(for ex.. CTX) if you are going for a longer workout including total body training!

Oh, BTW, I love, love,love decline ab work --That's a whole nother program }(
 
Francine, I own a total gym and I love it so much but haven't used it much lately. I recently had arthroscopic surgery (10/3)and although I'm doing 2-3 sessions a week with my PT i'm anxious to get back to working out. What do you suggest as far as using the total gym. My PT says I can also use the total gym with pilates - he said I can attach a pulley of sorts or a bungee cord-what do you think? The other day while at my session, 10 total gyms were delivered and are going to be used as part of their physical therapy with patients - I think this is awesome!!!

Look forward to your response Francine :D

Take care,

Iris
 
Hi Iris,
I understand your anxiousness for wanting to get back into the swing of things! No One likes to be out of commision x(

Good thing you do have the total trainer at home, it will be the perfect piece of equipment to aid you in your recovery ! As for what to do on it, your possibilities are endless, (including pilates)

However, talk this over with your PT, I'm sure you have a good working relationship with him ! Tell him your concerns,goals and your desires! He is the one that is well aware of your medical condition and he will be able to recommend the best exercises for you. Have him SHOW you what to do,then try them out, give him feedback and let him know if anything is uncomfortable or not, your feedback is "crucial", it will get you the best customized program that will suit YOUR individual needs and also help you reach your goals!

Take care and let me know how your progress goes, email me at [email protected]

;-)
 
Francine and Mari...thank you for your post, replies and recommendations.

I recently purchased the last model of the Total Gym (XL, I believe). It is a very well-made piece of equipment and comes with a few "workout" tapes. We got the model that brings everything, including the Pilates stuff. Since I am very much into SS, SI6, running, taebo, Body-B-Fit and Cathe, among others, I have not even done a workout on it. A shame, I know...;( oh, where does the time go!

It is so wonderful to know that the Total Gym and Cathe can go along hand-in-hand and that there are others out there as much in love with it as we are. In fact, because of this machine, my hubby turned the family room into the Gym. Tomorrow, we are having mirrors installed on the back wall so that I can see myself workout! :p I have done the pull up / chin bar and the inclined sit ups and I just love them.

If anyone has any more "rotation/workout" routines that they like to practice on the Total Gym, please share them with the rest of us. I know that the lurkers who have the Total Gym and don't post will appreciate it. :D

Thanks!

Blessings from our home to yours...Runathon http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/lach.gif[/img]
 
runathon

I hear ya about fitting it all in. :p

The beauty of the total gym is that it's a great investment for it's versatility! A cross trainer's delight:7 There are soo many neat exercises that work the smaller muscle groups as well as the bigger ones ! You really get a thorough workout on this puppy and it's an awesome change of pace from the weights from time to time!

I too would love to hear other's programs on this as well! Some of the training techniques that I use on the total gym are
with supersetting doing 4-5 exercises for one body part(if I'm training one bodypart a day),

pyramiding(adjusting the level higher each set with less reps-) or

pyramiding down lowering the level and doing more reps)

circuit training-doing 1 set of 16 for each of my exercises then i repeat the cycles 3 xs

Partial rep training 1 hard set for 8 and 12-16 partial reps

low range totalbody stretch the muscles out w/o( on a slight incline nothing intense just using bodyweight for an easy going push and pull)

Lowerbody only workout with cables and added weight on bar for squats,plies,lunges ,one legged lunges and calf raises :)
Just some more ideas for you, hope we some more ;-)

Enjoy!
PS I'm glad to hear you are hooking up your workout room!Good for you!
PSS How are you liking wendilee's w/o s?????Which ones did you do????
Love to hear feedback!
Take care & TTYS
 
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