CTX & Pryamids

[gogigi]

Hello friends! I would like your thoughts on the following rotation using the CTX series and the Pyramid series. I want to shake things up and work one body part per day to exhaustion.
M: LL/PLB stability ball work/maybe a SHORT cardio...maybe
T: Step & Intervals WU & cardio/PUB Chest/Finish up with CTX Chest & Stretch
W: Kickbox WU & cardio/PUB Biceps/Finish up with CTX Biceps, abs, & stretch
TH: Power Circuit WU, cardio, & circuits/PLB Up only/PUB Back/Finish up with CTX Back, abs, & stretch
F: 10-10-10 WU & cardio/PUB Triceps/Finish up with CTX Triceps & stretch
S: All Step WU & cardio/PUB Shouldes/Finish up with CTX Shoulders, abs, & Stretch
Should I do PUB with heavy weight first and then finish up w/CTX going lighter than usual if I have to? Should I do the entire Pyramid set or just 2 or 3 sets? Will I lose cardio endurance if I don't throw in MIC or one of the Imax's? I could do MIC or an Imax workout on Saturday in place of All Step. What do you guys think? Too much for one body part in a day? I was thinking of doing this for 4 weeks or so or until the Body Blast DVD's are shipped?! Thanks for your help and sorry so long!
Angela:7

 

[willowe]

Hi Angela!
Wow! That sounds like an ambitious rotation there! You don't say what your current fitness/strength level is, but IMHO I would say that your upper body would be completely fried from doing PUB and then CTX Upper body work together. However, I am only saying this as my upper body is fried after doing CTX on it's own, so I can't imagine doing a PUB segment as well, Lol!! Perhaps you could try just doing the relevant section of PUB "Up" or "down" only initially, followed by CTX just to see how you get on? Then, if you are managing ok with that after the first week, you could then do the whole PUB section, "up" and "down". On Wednesday you have CTX Kickbox, followed by PUB Biceps and CTX Biceps - this seems like an awful lot of work for the biceps to me, particularly as there is also alot of punching in CTX Kickbox. Another suggestion would be to mix it up a bit, so that you work 2 muscle groups hard. For eg:

M; LL/PLB stability ball work/ short cardio (opt)
T: Step & Intervals WU & Cardio/PUB Chest/CTX Back & Stretch
W: Kickbox WU and Cardio/PUB Biceps/CTX Triceps, abs & stretch
TH: Power Circuit WU, cardio & circuits/PLB Up Only/PUB Shoulders/CTX Chest
F: 10-10-10 WU & Cardio/PUB Back/CTX Biceps
S: All Step WU & Cardio/PUB Triceps/CTX Shoulders

As for the cardio, I would say that the CTX cardio's would be sufficient, as altho they are shorter, they are intense. There's also ALOT of leg work in here, when you factor in all the stepping and kickboxing, plus the PLB leg work and Leaner Legs as well, so you may find that a longer cardio is just too tiring come the end of the week!!

Anyway, I hope these suggestions help, and good luck with whatever you decide to do. ;-)

Kaz x

PS: I too am on tenderhooks waiting for the Body Blast DVD's!!

 

[gogigi]

Thank you so much for your help! You are right that may be too much for my poor body part in one day. I was just wondering how you work one body part to exhaustion. I've gotten used to the Pyramids and can match or exceed Cathe's weights. I can't really purchase Pure Strength or the Slow & Heavy workouts right now thanks to preordering the entire Body Blast series! I figured I would have to go much lighter on the CTX portion, but your suggestions sound good. I have been doing total body strength training along with the Pyramids. I was also looking on fitnessvideofanatics for rotation ideas. I am just having a hard time deciding what to do next. I think I may give your rotation a go but I am now looking at a few other rotations...decisions, decisions, decisions! Anyway, I really do appreciate your help! Have a good one!
Angela

 

[KathyH]

Hi Angela! IMHO your rotation looks to me to be over-the-top! :7 I've been compiling CTX w/Power Hour just as Cathe had mapped out in the Oct. rotation. Let me tell you its a frier!!

I don't know how much time you have but I would work it this way instead:

Mon: CTX chest & PUB chest/CTX biceps & PUB biceps only
Tues: CTX Power Circuit only circuits
Wed: CTX shoulders & PUB shoulders/CTX triceps & PUB triceps
Thurs: cardio of your choice but I would do IMAX 1 or 2
Fri: CTX back & PUB back + cardio of your choice
Sat: yoga or pilates
Sun: REST

Try concentrating on sculpting your body less cardio but when doing cardio pick something intense. Just a suggestion. HTH, Kathy