Cathe: cardio for person with major issues!

morningstar

morningstar

Cathlete
Hi Cathe,

With cardio encouragement from some of your stalwart supporters, I would like to try some of your cardio workouts. I have a few issues:

  • I have tendonitis in my knees, which acts up whenever I do anything high impact
  • I have only a 3' by 6' space to work out it, which pretty much lets out kickboxing (don't want to put a foot through the TV!) and the use of a regular step for cardio (I can use a step for strength, because I can position it once for an exercise in a way that works for my space, but with step cardio, with all that moving around the step, it just wouldn't work)
  • I do not belong to a gym and do not have any machines at all -no bicycle, no elliptical, no treadmill, nuthin'!
  • I have a virus in my eyes that makes it impossible for me to swim in chlorinated water, and in Toronto, there ain't no other kind to swim in! Lake Ontario is polluted beyond belief.
  • I prefer not to mix cardio and strength in the same session, as my main focus is on building muscle and I don't want to interfere with the recovery periods from my strength sessions.
  • I have never done step work, and am a complete beginner.

So, my questions are these:

  • Given all my "issues", are there any of your cardio DVDs that you think would fit the bill?
  • I would really like to try your step DVDs; would it be possible for me to adjust the routines to use a high step instead? Is there a particular step DVD that would lend itself to that adjustment?
  • Are there any other suggestions that you might have to help me in the cardio area?

Thank you so much! I love your strength DVDs, and have all of them!
 
Wow! sounds like your really limited here. I know 2 of cathe's dvd's that has a step segment using the high step. HSC and HSTA both have cardio segments with the High Step. HSTA has a premix thats 15 minutes long. I guess you could repeat it a few times. Hopes this helps.:D
 
a question

Not Cathe here obviously - this is a great question though because I am sure others have similar challenges, including my sister.

My question - have you seen a doctor about the tendonitis in your knees? If it is chronic, perhaps there is something else going on there? I am no expert, but just thought I would ask.

Is it possible to for you to do cardio outside instead? I know it is freezing right now, but maybe in the spring and summer. Walking up hills, climbing stairs, doing kick boxing outside where you have more room are possibilities.

Are you able to research and join a low-cost gym for additional cardio options? Perhaps make a deal to use just the cardio machines?

I searched for exercising in a small apartment online - not assuming you have a smal apartment, but I got more results that way. Here are some links to some sites that might be helpful. My sister also has limited space for her workouts. I think she modifies where needed, but I do believe she has a bit more room than 3 x 6.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2163518_wor...ce=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

http://caloriecount.about.com/aerobic-exercise-small-space-indoors-ft5139

HTH and Good luck!
 
What about doing some walking videos? I'm doing Kathy Smith's Power Walk for Weight Loss at work on my lunch hr and it lends itself to having limited space. Maybe even Leslie Sansome's walking videos? Would a rebounder also work? Just 2 ideas that came to my mind.
 
not Cathe either. . .

I second the Leslie Sansone suggestion. Pick out one of the advanced workouts. Those can always be modified for a small space. Even when they walk forward you can walk in place. I know they seem easy but its a lot more than no cardio and you seem to be focused on muscle building anyway. I love my high step but I don't really think that you can completely modify a step wo to it. However, that said, I think a cardio wo using the high step would be really neat. Still, 3 feet by 6 feet is cutting it short for a high step.

When I was a teen I was told that I had tendonitis in my right shoulder, I could not raise my right arm even to elbow height and I was in constant pain. I discovered that my neck was out of alignment and with a short amount of time with a chiropractor was able to be pain free. You may wish to look into some chiropractic therapy because if your lower spine/back area is out of alignment you will feel pain in your lower body as well as odd numbness. Many good chiropractors will do an assessment for free.
 
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