Cathe Basic too advanced for MIL?

[alison13]

Hi everyone,

You are all so knowledgeable, I thought I'd ask your opinions! My MIL is almost 60, pretty overweight (30-40 pounds over?), and has diabetes. She says cardio makes her blood sugar drop and then she has to eat something, so I suggested starting some light weight training. Do you think she could handle the Cathe's Basic Step DVD that has the upper body and lower body weight segments? Or is there something better to start with?

Thanks!!!!
Alison

 

[cakebaker]

Cathe & Leslie

You may want to start her with Cathe's Basic Step & some Leslie Sansone dvd(s) for cross training.

 

[RapidBreath]

I would say that Cathe is a bit advanced to start. I did not do any Cathe until I had lost the first 45 pounds but it depends on her coordination. Leslie Sansone is a great place to start. Let her watch a clip and see if she thinks she can do it. Also, tell her that her blood sugar is supposed to drop with exercise, thats how it works. It opens up the insulin receptors on her cells and shuttles in the glucose that was in her blood stream. She can eat a snack before and one after. I like banana/peanut butter or some other fruit after. That should bring her blood sugar back up if she has her insulin. Can she eat fats? If so, she can increase the amount of healthy fats in her diet to help with her blood sugar. I hope it helps her, the exercise has brought me back from being insulin resistant and headed to a heart attack to having a random glucose of 81.

 

[kathryn]

I wouldn't recommend Basic Step for her. I had it (I used to be a Cathe completionist, and HAD to have every workout she put out!) and did it a couple of times. Putting myself in the place of a beginner, I thought it would be rather frustrating. I don't think the cuing is sufficient (I don't recall details, but one thing I do recall is that she cues the "rocking horse" as "just like being on a rocking horse". Much easier as 'knee-curl-knee' I'd think).

For weight work, I'd check out www.collagevideo.com and look for weight workouts for beginners. You can see clips, read user reviews, and get an idea from them if something would be appropriate for her.

Though it has an aweful title, this "Shaping up with Weights for Dummies" DVD looks like something that would fit the bill: http://thecathenation.com/forum/blog.php?b=1595

 

[Carmen829]

I remember starting with Denise Austin. That seems so long ago. She was pretty easy to follow if you can get past her perky raspy voice.

 

[chet101]

You might want to start her out with a Leslie Sansone's Basic walking tape. She uses 2lb light balls in her walking routine. (1mile, 2miles, 3miles) Very easy and slow.