Excercise Routine question...

[candigirl]

Hello all,
I need some help with my excercise routine please. I work out 6 (sometimes 5) day a week. I rotate weights (push pull and supersets) with an upright bike. I need new dvds, Ive been using the same dvds for about 3 months. In order to maximize my workouts should I be doing more cardio (my bike.. I hate step aerobics)? I am not sure if my workout is sufficient or if I need to do more of one or the other. (I read somewhere you should do cardio 4 days a week). If anyone can suggest a good routine I would appreciate it. Also some dvds as well. Oh and i have a 1 year old so time is a bit of an issue for me. Thanks so much.

 

[RunninTeach]

Candigirl,

When it comes to the question of how much cardio/how much weights, there really is no magic formula that works for everyone. Some folks here (myself included) need more cardio to burn fat while others have had great success the other way around. You may have to experiment to see what's best for you. Changing things up is a good idea to keep getting results.

I would recommend checking out the rotations thread and finding one that matches your goals. There are several which are time-efficient. You can always sub other cardio when it calls for step. If you're open to kickboxing, KPC would be a great DVD to throw in a bit of cross-training.

However, I have to say this about step...I'm one who was never a fan. I'm just that uncoordinated and don't have a whole lot of time to learn routines. I seem to have done OK with LIC, which I like, but don't use it all that often. Recently I purchased Basic Step (30 min.) & Body Fusion (which is a circuit w/out, 50 min.) and I have to say, if you are willing to give step a try, I would start here. It is beginner/intermediate level, but I still got a good sweat with both. The moves were not hard to pick up on, so it was fun. It's actually changed my attitude toward step, in general. Now I feel I *can* do this! So, I think this DVD, in particular, is good for step-challenged folks. They're a great way to become more comfortable with step and will still be good to have for lighter days. You can also increase the intensity by upping the weights or the step height.

HTH.

[font face="heather" font color=brick red size=+2]~Cathy [/font face] http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/wavesmile.gif
"Out on the roads there is fitness and self-discovery and the persons we were destined to be." -George Sheehan

 

[kimyenchu]

Hello,

You don't have to like step to get a really good cardio workout. You can try kickboxing: I much prefer kickboxing myself because it's low impact and kinder to knees, but still work your heart like no other. try KickMax, Kick, Punch and Crunch and Cardio Kicks. Other instructors like Christy Taylor also have a variety of floor aerobics (I have not tried them though) that you could try.

How about an eliptical trainer or cross trainer? They will cost a few more but maybe worth the investment to give you variety.

You should also try other weight workouts like Muscle Endurance, Muscle Max, or heavier weight training like Gym Styles, Slow and Heavy, or cdircuit style that combine high intensity floor aerobics and lighter weights e.g. Bootcamp (on same DVD as Muscle Endurance), Circuit Max (on same DVD as Cardio Kicks). In fact any of Cathe's weight training series will be good. She offers the greatest variety when it comes to weights.


Here are the workouts in a more presentatable format:

Cardio Kicks & Circuit Max
Kick Max
Kick, Punch and Crunch & Legs and Glutes
Muscle Endurance and Bootcamp
Muscle Max
Gym Styles
Slow and Heavy
Pyramid series - upper body and lower body
Core Max
Stretch Max

Other instructors:
Christy Taylor hi low workouts

Yen

 

[geojill]

If you're looking for more cardio, I also think that kickboxing would be great! I took some classes for about a year and when I had to start working out at home I did Tae Bo for a few years. It really got me into shape! Then just recently I discovered Cathe's KPC and Kick Max and they are just FANTASTIC!! It's good cardio but it really works your body all over.

You might also think about getting different weight DVDs. What about changing it up and doing gym styles or something like that? Or a circuit video?

 

[berry99]

Candigirl, what about circuit workouts? I have found that by straight lifting two days a week, doing cardio 3 days, and then adding a circuit day (with cardio and weights) that my body is responding very well. Bootcamp is a great circuit workout that I don't think uses the step much (I can't remember). She does use a high step though. This workout is on a DVD with Muscle Endurance too which is a good workout. Drill Max is another good circuit workout that is not step intensive. Also, her high step workouts are good. They do use a high step but the choreo is very basic.

HTH

 

[debbydarestobefit]

You have lots of options,

Now that you've been doing a Total Body Weight routine a couple of times a week, the next logical progression would be to do a two day split -- upper body one day, lower body the second day. You could do this rotation 2-4 times a week, depending on your schedule and workout/fitness goals. The Pyramids fit this type of rotation nicely. You could also mix'n match with a lower body workout (Butts &Guts, Gym Style Legs, Legs & Glutes) and an upper body workout (a premix from the DVD you currently have or Muscle Max or Muscle Endurance). If you got Legs & Glutes, the DVD also contains Kick, Punch and Crunch, one of my favorite kickboxing routines to give you another cardio option. If you got Muscle Endurance (I don't know the premixes on that one), you'd also get BootCamp, a circuit workout.

For the bike, you could add variety by going to Cardio Coach's website and getting a few workouts from there. You could also do power-walking for cardio.

HTH, Deb