Cathe Beginner/Intermediate Check-In 11/6-11/12

How long do you wait to start exercising when you eat in the mornings? I prefer to workout in the morning but it scares me because I feel defeated that I cannot get through it because of weakness and hunger.

Belinda:)
 
Welcome MJ,

We have something in common, I also am a beginner in cardio and an intermediate in strength training. I actually prefer to strength train. Michelle and Belinda, my alarm goes off at 5:25 a.m. in the morning and I just stare at the ceiling for about 10 minutes and then get up. I will keep telling myself "get up, get up" :) My goal is to get up at 5:00 a.m. and start exercising at 5:15 a.m. I know eventually I will get there. I just need to turn in a little bit earlier. I usually get very hungry when I do heavy weight workouts for some reason but I am fine when I do cardio.

---Kimberly C
 
I used to be able to exercise on an empty stomach in the morning, but after turning 40 my metabolism changed or something, and I get very weak and nauseated unless I eat first. I usually eat a light breakfast of peanut butter (1tsp) on wheat toast and a glass of milk, wait about 30 minutes and then I can start exercising.
Well today I had a burst of energy and did StepMax warmup, combo 2, and cooldown-takes about 25 minutes. Then Pure Strength CST-30 minutes, then the abs on PS-10 minutes. I was determined to ride my bike today since I haven't ridden for a while, and it was a gorgeious day, so pushed myself to go 30 minutes there, then swam my 14 laps at the 25meter pool. I was pretty tired but it felt great to have a long exercise day. Tomorrow I think Stretchmax or something similar will be it. I just listen to my body daily, its really hard to plan the exact exercise becuase I don't know how I'm going to feel. I was just glad to have a high energy day for a change!
Beth
 
I typically get up, have lemon water with honey, and a BIG glass of water, and a bagel...Check e-mail, let the dog out, and settle in for a workout...I cannot, and I'll repeat, CANNOT exercise on an empty stomach...


As for today, it's SH Legs and abs...

MJ
 
Belinda, I'm rarely hungry first thing in the morning. Doing cardio for up to 50 minutes is fine on an empty stomach for me, but after that I need some nourishment. Plus I workout before work so I don't have time to eat and let it digest then workout. If I'm doing a workout like body fusion, I'll eat an apple or drink some oj

Todays's checkin
Cathe Basic Step w/ redo of sections 2&3 to extend workout
 
Hi Crissy.

Today I got up at 5:25 and had a slice of pineapple. I got through the second aerobic segment on Rhythmic Step. I was wiped. I get the shakes. Most mornings I have to do the Low Impact Step because my body doesn't give out on me halfway through. I will have to just grit my teeth. As I lose weight hopefully the fallout will subside.

Belinda

:) ;-)
 
Hi everyone,

Today was a rest day for me. I see everyone had a good exercise day. I can't wait to do Body Fusion tomorrow. I have decided that I am going to focus on 5 day workout week until December 31. It seems to me that I do better actually having 2 rest days per week. I will have to do cardio 4-5 days per week (step 3 days per week)but still following the Cathe Rotation.

--Kimberly C
 
Kimberly, that's good you can listen to your body and do best on a 5 day plan. I know I cannot sustain a 6 day out of 7 exercise routine week after week either. I have found that the "off" days do well with a light walk, bike ride or swim. Just a very leisurely, non-aerobic pace. It seems to loosen up the muscles better than a total couch potato day or even just stretching alone.
Today I took a nice walk in the mountain park behind our house with my husband. I did race him up one hill (I lost, and he was even walking backwards to try and even up the odds.) It was 88 here today (Phoenix) and I am really enjoying this last blast of warm weather before the "cold" 60's hit (hah hah.) We went up to the pool again and swam laps nice and slow, then I did Stretchmax segments 1 and 2. I don't really like segment 1, in the future I'm just going to do 2 and 3, they are a lot better.
Beth
 
Hello everyone.

So far this week, I have been fairly regular with my workouts. I am trying to stay on track and continue to get up for early morning workouts. I am definately not a morning person - but if I workout in the evening - i find there is no time to just unwind. So the last two weeks, I have been diligent (the time change sure helps!).

Sunday - 1hr walk and one hour pilates class.
Monday - Basic Step
Tuesday - first 2 segments of Rhythmic Step, 1hr yoga class
Wednesday - High Step Circuit
Thursday off
plan to do:
Friday - Body Fusion + 1hr pilates workout
Saturday - Basic Step

Cheers.
Yve
 
Low Max is more of an advanced workout, and it runs to about 70 minutes. The step choreography isn't as complicated as that of Rhythmic Step, but it is a bit tricky. It was the first Cathe workout that I ordered, and I thought that I would never get the choreography down, but I did it through practice. The workout has a warmup, seven step combos (each one has a blast that is low impact) followed by a cooldown and stretch. It is also a great workout for the lower body.

I think that most intermediate steppers would be able to learn this workout and do well with it. Cathe uses an 8 inch step but you can use lower. It is one of my favorite step workouts.
 
Good morning everyone,

This morning I did about 75% of Body Fusion. I didn't get up early enough. I need to finish exercising by 6:30 so I can get ready for work. I will try to do better next time. I am using 5 pound weights in the weight segment.

Have a good exercise day!

--Kimberly C
 
I hate when I can't get the whole workout in or have to adjust the type of workout I actually wanted to do in order to be on time for work.

No Cathe for me today. Tonight will be Slim Series-Tone it Up
 
Hello all!

TGIF!!!

I got up early this morning for the 3rd time this week!! I did Supersets this morning and loved it. Of course I'm a LONG way from lifting the kind of weights that Cathe is lifting, but I feel good about what I did.

I'm still struggling with the cardio workouts -- I would much rather lift weights, but I know I need to get my cardio in -- so that is what I'm going to work on this weekend. I also find that I tend to shut the cardio tapes off early -- why do I do that? I always finish the weight tapes, but never the cardio ones.

Kimberly -- since you started this thread -- what do you think about making this a daily check in? I think this thread keeps getting lost in the shuffle -- just a thought!

Now if I can just eat healthy and get in at least one good workout this weekend, I'll feel like this was a successful week!

I hope you all have a wonderful and healthy weekend!
Michelle
 
I am new to Cathe, but not new to exercise. I have the Basic Step Body Fusion DVD and recently purchased the Boot Camp Muscle Endurance. I consider myself at the intermediate level. My goal is to drop 10 and firm/tone up.

Thanks for the rotation suggestion.
Carmen
 
Hi everyone,

Carmen welcome to the beginner/intermediate check-in. Today was a rest day for me. I have next weeks rotation planned. We can start with a daily check in. Who ever is the first to post for that day can go ahead and start the thread. It's fine with me. It is getting little long. Have a good day!

--Kimberly C
 
Its still friday night but this post probably says saturday. There's something weird with Cathe's clock. I did PS legs just the standing half today. That was certainly enough leg work. I'm going to split it into 2 workouts. That way I have 2UB and 2LB to even out. I'm going to try and alternate a cardio day and a weights day for a week, then do a week of circuits for my weight days the following week. See how that goes. Tomorrow will be low impact step again. I just can't get enough of that one for now-its so fun!
Beth
 
>Hi everyone! I did Muscle Endurance for the first time
>yesterday, which I thought was a great weights workout, and
>then tried Low Max for the first time today, which was a bit
>discouraging. I am never going to get the choreography down!
>Anyone tried that one yet and have any tips? I seem to have
>hurt my achilles a bit, so not sure what I'm going to do
>tomorrow. Maybe just the upper body split of muscle endurance
>to give my leg a bit of a rest. Hope everyone is having a
>great weekend!
>
>Jenny

Hi Jenny

Congrats on doing Muscle Endurance. I feel the same way about Low Max and was getting very frustrated, so I have put it on the shelf for a while and tried to learn Step Blast instead. After several times, I've just about got it. I don't use a step at all, having tricky knees, and that makes it easier to learn. Step Blast has some high impact moves, but I just modify them to low impact. Also, I learned one combo at a time, I would do combo #1 three times in a row, then the next combo the next day etc. When you can't get the moves it really takes away from the enjoyment. But keep trying Low Max. I didn't like Step Blast the first two times - because I couldn't get the moves. But now that I've almost got them, I look forward to doing the tape.

Good luck!
 
Michelle-

I've realized after 15 years of doing step workouts that I really don't like them! I can deal with CTX because so many of them are mixed up, but I've fallen in LOVE with kickboxing and hi/lo! I tried Billy Blanks years ago, and couldn't stand the "bootcampyness" of his style...Cathe is a different type of teacher, that's for sure! If you're turning cardio off early, then find a different kind of cardio!You'll find one that you LOVE!!

MJ

Oh, forgot to post on here yesterday! Changed my week from the plan on Thursday! I did SH last week, too, and just couldn't sit through another round!!! So will be finishing this week with Pure Strength, AND doing my PS rotation next week also...

*Thursday-PS Chest, Shoulders and Triceps-30 minute jog with dog'
*Friday-PS Back and biceps, CTX Kickbox (LOVE IT!), and was still going strong...Also did the intermediate drills on KPC, TWICE (yesterday was a GREAT workout day!!)
*Saturday (today)-PS Legs and Abs...That's almost an hour right there...I may call it quits after that and sweep the shop (1200 square feet) and the front garage (900 square feet)...With a big broom, my heart rate should get up there for a couple of minutes!!

MJ
 
Hi everyone,

This morning I did Cathe Upper Body. I was to do Lower body and abs but I was looking at the other DVD workouts that I have and I started viewing some of them and doing some of the routines.

My next week rotation is:

Sun - Rest
Mon - Basic Step + Ab Ad on
Tue - High Step Circuit
Wed - Rest
Thur- High Step Circuit
Fri - Basic Step + Ab Ad on
Sat - Body Fusion

Tomorrow we will start posting a daily Beginner/Intermediate Check in.

Have a wonderful weekend!

--Kimberly C
 

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