Help! I need an endurance rotation!

[feebee]

I need help. I need an endurance rotation that will get me back to working out for an hour or more. I have all Cathe workouts on DVD or VHS.
I have been so inconsistent, winter really took a toll on me. I started a new job at a preschool and caught every cold and bug and virus there was. Everytime I was close to recovery I caught another bug.
I have started back with Basic Step and have gotten to the point that I could now do more. This is where I need help. I need a gradual increase in endurance so I won't get frustrated and give up.
Any suggestions, any rotation using any part of Cathe workouts would be so great.
Thanks,

Colleen

 

[Author]

Howdy!

I'm not an expert or anything, but I thought I'd post my opinion. Since you're doing the Basic Step, I think that comes with a whole series, doesn't it (I don't have it) with a High Step for Beginners, etc, doesn't it? If so why don't you rotate those beginning workouts for a week.

Then the next week, rotate the TimeSaver DVD -- I'm only mentioning that because these workouts are shorter and so I think they might be slightly easier.

Then the next week either keep rotating the TimeSaver DVD or move up to rotating the CTX series. All these workouts have their own built in rotation and so you don't have to think about rotations.

Then do CTX series for another week or two until you feel you've mastered those -- maybe give it three or four weeks.

Then, when you're ready, you might consider moving on up to the Intensity series. Once you're at the Intensity series, you need to think about rotations, and I would definitely recommend that you get and read READY, SET, GO! by Phil Campbell. You'll come away understanding rotations and what they are used for and how to set up your own. This is a very important step since you need to know how to rotate for the best results. (For instance, always put 1-2 days between the IMAX's as well as weight work, etc.)

Anyway, that's just my 2 cents.

Okay, gotta get off the internet and go to bed.:7

 

[feebee]

Hi Karen!
Thanks for your 2 cents! I like your idea of using TimeSaver DVD and moving up to CTX series then Intensity Series. This does sound like a nice gradual increase in endurance. I tried Timesaver#1, in its entirety, the next day I did Muscle Endurance using 1/2 of what Cathe uses for weights, I skipped chest and triceps(they were on the Timesaver#1) I felt nauseous and took a break then finished. Today I tried All Step(cardio only) with a tiny break at the perceived exertion. I was thinking of Power Hour tomorrow. Do you think that might be to much?
I will definetly look for Ready, Set,Go by Phil Campbell. It looks like I could learn alot.

Another thing I would really like to learn about is clean eating. I've seen things posted but didn't quite understand everything. Know of any good sources on this subject? I'm always ready to learn something new especially about health and fitness.
Thanks so much for your response! It really helps.
Colleen

 

[Author]

Hi Colleen,

Graduating up to Power Hour might be a bit much, in my humble opinion, if you felt nauseous on Muscle Endurance. Really, don't push too hard too fast. A nice gradual increase will get you where you want to go with little discomfort. I'm going to quote something out of the book READY, SET, GO! because it may help you a bit.

"...major muscle groups typically need 48 hours to recover. Overtraining can cause injury. And most injuries are actually "overuse injuries." Listen to your body and learn when to back-off and when to press-on."

If you were feeling nauseous on Muscle Endurance, I'd just back off and do the TimeSaver DVD (I do these on weeks when I'm just too pressed for time) and leave it at that. You really should schedule a day off between weight work." Now, the TimeSaver DVD, however, works one major muscle area per day and that's a little different than working them all every day...as I'm sure you know.

Hmmm...clean eating. Not sure if Cathe wants food talked about on her site as she doesn't give out advice. But if you'd like to email me privately, I'd be happy to give you my opinions. In the meantime, my best advice would be Adele Davis "Let's Eat Healthy" -- it's out of print, however, and hard to find. In lieu of that, I would suggest the books PROTEIN POWER, LIFETIME PLAN -- also and of the ATKINS books -- also EAT RIGHT FOR YOUR BLOOD TYPE -- and probably the best all around plan that is out there is THE ZONE. In my opinion the ZONE is one of the best eating plans out there -- not really a diet to lose weight -- it is a diet to eat healthy. But I'd read all of these, if I were you, and then find out -- using your advanced knowledge -- what works for you. The big no-nos are any form of refined sugar and any form of processed food, be that macaroni and cheese out of a package or simply white flour. White flour or white rice are as good as eating sugar. Potatoes, as well, (not sweet potatoes) can act like sugar in the body -- and corn also is a no-no. Goes into the body like staight sugar.

Besides, there was a recent incident with corn with an overseas chemical company that mistakenly labelled "grown for drugs" corn seed as "food" corn seed.x( :+

Anyway, easy does it in getting back into the workouts and within a few weeks, you'll be back on top, with no injuries to mar your road.:7 Oh, yes, and that book, READY, SET, GO! tells you also what to eat before and after a workout to aid your exercise plan.

Hope you have a lot of fun.:7

 

[feebee]

Hi Karen!
I'm going to try a Timesaver maybe #2. Thanks for all the helpful info. I will look for some of those to read. I really appreciate any help!
Thanks again,
Colleen

 

[Author]

Hi Colleen,

You are most welcome. I did answer your message, by the way -- excuse the lengthy reply -- sometimes I get wordy.:+

Let me know how it goes, okay?:7