HELP ~ too much too quickly???

dbelden1

dbelden1

Cathlete
Ok, so yesterday morning after getting back from running errands and having breakfast with DH, I was sitting on the couch faithfully lurking on this forum and trying to digest everything (both literally and figuratively)... heading "natures call" I set the computer aside to take a break and... OUCH!!! a funny (strange, not funny haha ;)) intense pain started on the right side of my lower back and into my hips... not down my leg, so don't think it is sciatica or anything like that, but DH thinks it may be because I may have done too much too fast with my new workout routines...

I must admit that he may be right, as I received my first 4 Cathe DVD's last monday and have been sweatin' my bootie off this week, and friday I recieved 3 more DVD's ~ I didn't have ANY Cathe workouts but 2 "edited for TV" Pyramid workouts. Sooo, I did KPC friday afternoon and LOVED it, but found that by the last two combinations I was pretty much fried... I gave it all I had and felt good about that! I just sat in a puddle of sweat and watched the stability ball core routine... :confused: in complete awwww. I want to be like Cathe when I grow up! Apparently I have a LONG way to go! :eek:

Here is my rotation for the past two weeks...
mon: 45 minutes steady state cardio - Treadmill
tue: Pyramid lower body (from FitTV)
wed: 45 minutes steady state cardio - TM
thurs: PUB
fri: 45 min SS cardio - TM
sat: off

Sun: PLB
Mon: High step circuit
tues: Gymstyle BSB
wed: B&G
thurs: HSC
fri: KPC
sat... you know the rest...


today I feel a bit better, but need to get off the couch every so often to keep from getting stiff... might even do a slow steady flat walk on TM as suggested on WebMD for back strains, to keep everything loose.

I hate beginner workouts and when starting my past workout programs I have just jumped in with both feet and never had an issue... now that I'm older, and it has been about 3 years since I have had any regular workout regimine to speak of, I apparently am having issues this time.

I love Cathe and every workout I have so far, but having to take at least the past 2 days off doesn't make me feel like I can handle these workouts yet...

I am just ready for a change in my body, my eating, my overall health and wanted to give it my all and truly make the committment to get fit and lean... have I started off too much too quickly this time?
 
Funny you mentioned KPC, I love this dvd, but the second time I did it, my neck was sore and had limited mobility for days because my form isn't very good, turns out I shrug my shoulders when I kick, so now I stay very conscious of that.

Your first week looks pretty good, it's a lot, but not too too bad because of the alternating treadmill work.

The second week seems pretty intense for starting out, and you are saying these are your first 2 weeks back to working out after a while.

Only you know if you can handle the workouts, and you've done them all, so you probably can, but may want to start to rotate them in at a slower pace. I know I know, it's so hard when they come in the mail to just let them sit there! :D

Also, check the premixes for shorter premix versions on some of the dvds, this might help you work into them too. You can also modify most of the moves in the videos, to be lower impact where that applies. And if something doesn't feel right, don't do it, just keep moving and substitute something else until they move on to the next exercise.

Right now, you have to rest your back, try icing it too. I use a bag of frozen peas, it molds better to your body. As you feel better, try slowly incorporating the treadmill, walking not running ;), and maybe some lower impact cardio.

Hope you feel better soon!
 
I don't have any additional advice to offer, only a healthy amount of empathy. :) I used to be able to abuse the heck out of my body in my teens and 20s. Now at 38, I have nagging aches and pains, and I'm being forced to address them. Blech.
 
I like Dela's suggestion to ease in with the premixes. LOL, I have to do that with the more complex choreography anyway, I guess. ;)

I'd say to take it easy with the treadmill, and only do a high impact DVD every other day until you've spent more time with them. The HSC and KPC are both relatively high impact, so try to use workouts like that every other day. I also have really squishy mats so that helps.

So which DVD workouts do you have now? I'm not sure what you got from FitTV and what you've purchased. Wonder if you can work out a rotation for yourself with what you have.

And on top of all of that, it may have just been a weird torque to put your computer down! (sheesh; isn't that just the way?!)
 
amyg said:
So which DVD workouts do you have now? I'm not sure what you got from FitTV and what you've purchased. Wonder if you can work out a rotation for yourself with what you have.

And on top of all of that, it may have just been a weird torque to put your computer down! (sheesh; isn't that just the way?!)
Click to expand...

Hi Amyg: Here are the DVD's I received last week...

Butts & Guts
Hardcore Series: Gym Style Legs DVD
Hardcore Series: Gym Style: Back, Shoulders & Bice
Hardcore Series: Muscle Max
High Step Circuit
Intensity Series: Boot Camp
Intensity Series:Muscle Endurance
Intensity Series: Pyramid Upper Body (from FitTV)
Intensity Series: Pyramid Lower Body (from FitTV)
Kick, Punch & Crunch


I found the beginners workout that Cathe posts on her Rotation section in her Beginners thread. I tried to identify whether it was an Upper Body, Lower Body, Total Body, Cardio, etc (my guesses with the help of that one page that lists each DVD and the ratings) and did the same to the DVD's I had, then tried to match as close as I could...

the first two weeks rotations were listed above and here's what hopefully will be next weeks rotation:

mon: Body Blast: Legs & glutes
tues: treadmill
wed: Intensity Series Muscle Endurance
thurs: treadmill
fri: Hard Core Muscle Max
sat: Intensity Series: Bootcamp


these are all new workouts to me so not sure what they all entail or how strenuous they may be. Feel free to make any suggestions... I have looked at the past rotations (someone posted a wonderful list of the past few years with each months focus listed) and have a few that I have printed off, but not having all the DVD's in Cathe's arsenal I find I'm floundering a bit and just wingin' it...

Any rotation recommendations would be greatly appreciated, or little tweeks to what I have going on right now... somehow I thought I would have an easier time, not realizing how intense these actually are... :eek:

if I feel up to treadmill later, it will be very SLOW and LOW... just to keep from getting so stiff... stretching only seems to make it worse!




Dela: thanks for your input and suggestion on the premixes.. will have to check them out.. I keep thinking that premixes are shorter and that I am somehow cheating not doing the full original workout, but I guess I can always add more if I feel that I need something else when I'm done :)

Laughingwater: sometimes empathy is just what I need! at least I know that I'm not the only one that has BTDT! I felt like such a dork since I can't really pinpoint WHAT I did, only that it stopped me in my tracks!
 
Oh no... I hope it heals quickly! Lots of water and rest, and maybe gentle stretching?

If it helps any, I pulled a few muscles when I first started... you aren't alone! But it isn't any fun.
 
Dani- I'm not sure how long you've been exercising; if you're used to the shorter versions on FitTV you should be aware of how adding that 10-15 min per workout can be such a huge increase for your body. Try doing a couple premixes/week until you're used to working out longer. (I'm also dying to know why you didn't get GS Chest/Triceps it would drive me *crazy* not to have a full set, LOL!)

So, you said what your next week looks like and I'd make a couple suggestions. First, these will all likely feel like a lot for your body right now, and you've got a number of full-body weight workouts listed. You may want to factor in an additional rest day so you work out only 5 days each week. ME, MM, and Bootcamp can all toast you pretty well! Perhaps do ME on Monday, then treadmill Tuesday, and Wednesday Bootcamp if you're up to it, or take a rest day. Thursday treadmill, and Friday the upper body premix of ME or MM and then Saturday Legs and Glutes.

That's how I'd work it, although I should say I never do any of the rotations; I kinda just go with what I feel like on a given day! ;)


As for your past weeks: the TM steady states look good but think hard about adding in a TM interval workout instead. If you've got FitTV I think they show IMax 2 and that would work great as well. I personally think that PLB and B&G are each hard enough on their own and so I'd do a premix of one of them if I'm going to do each of them in a week. I think there is also a premix on the PUB/PLB dvd that has a full body workout but I'm not sure?

Keep in mind HSC is a full-body workout too and it's at the easier end of Cathe's scale, while Bootcamp is at the tougher end.

Curious why you did 3 days of TM one week and none the next week? Probably a result of the UPS man! ;) With the exception of KPC and loosely HSC you've got all weight workouts. Try alternating and doing TM twice a week (one of those days an interval workout, one steady state) and KPC the third day that week. Insert the weight workouts on the alternate days, doing PLB or B&G as one day, PUB as the next, and ME or MM the third weight day.

The nice thing about DVDs is that you will always have them!!! Preview them but don't try to jump in on all of them all at once! ;) As hard as that is...

hth
 
Thanks Amy!

Well... I have been "seriously" working out for about 5 weeks now, took Labor Day week off as we were on vaction, but only recently started logging them into WM. Since until last week I only had the two Pyramid workouts I taped from FitTV I just tried to make the best of it... then I went on a shopping spree!!! ;) Also, I made a bet with my DH that if I lost 40 pounds he would quit smoking... that is a HUGE thing for me! We didn't take a honeymoon after our recent wedding either and we want to go to Bahamas or something like that... and I REFUSE to step outside the house in a swimsuit let alone a beach right now! :eek:

Yes, the UPS man definately had a LOT to do with my choices last week... I wanted to do them ALL, but then reality set in about thursday, and quickly realized that this exercise thing is not a "jump into the deep end" sort of deal... I need to doggie paddle to the shallow end and maybe even get some water-wings! Hey, at least I can swim a little!

as for not buying all of one series, I didn't know what series I would like so I just tried a few of each, that didn't contain any regular step routines... I can handle the High Step for the most part, but have two left feet . I once recorded one of Cathe's advanced step routines a few years back and stood there and watched, feeling like my shoestrings were tied together as Cathe and Co bounce around, up, over, backwards and all around that silly step! I had a hard enough time with the KPC with some of her longer combinations at the end the other night... I'm such a klutz! Good thing I do this in the privacy of my own home! :eek:

Also, after pre-ordering STS, 7 Cathe DVD's, a barbell set, gloves and 2 more heavier sets of dumbbells, I pretty much shot my monthly "fun" money allowance (for the next few months)! I'll invest in a few more in a few months when I get the jist of things here... then I will know more about what I will need to fill in the gaps. I'm hoping STS will be here for the holidays, along with everyone else, and hope to be at a level where I can confidently and safely move right into that!

I wish I was a go-with-the-flow kind of person, but if I did what I felt at the time, like you, but I'd be sitting on the couch! lol!!! I need to listen to my body a little more as well, but having that WM calendar helps me have a focus at this point. Just need to figure out something that won't kill me!

Thank you for your insight - it will be, and has been very helpful! :)
 
Could it be something specific to KPC? I think the extensions from punching & kicking and the quick repetitive jabs as well as the twisting motions really affect the joints and gets those little muscles that may not be recruited in other workouts.

It's been my experience that this workout causes unique aches that I don't get from other workouts, even when I jump in feet first into higher intensity w/o like you have.

The suggestion to do more stretching is a good one, maybe also take it easy on the twisting moves that could affect the lower back.

Hope you can ease back into it next week.
 
YasBeFit said:
The suggestion to do more stretching is a good one, maybe also take it easy on the twisting moves that could affect the lower back.
Click to expand...

I totally agree about more stretching... I must admit, that I am a little lax when it comes to stretching because I am FAR from being very limber, and I always feel like I am straining to stretch, but on the other hand, it always seems to backfire on me when I don't...

and it is totally possible that all the twists in KPC is what irritated my back issue... I am also having issues with my shoes and carpet while doing this workout. will try shoe-less next time to see if that helps :)
 
Dani, sounds like you've had quite an outrageously fun week or two!!! :cool:

5 weeks: Please go slower with your exercise as you start off so you can ease your body into that much exercise after your time away. I started with stuff waaay easier than Cathe and still felt whacked by her workouts! (Okay, so that's part of why I love her, lol!) I worked for about 3-4 years before I found her intermediate and advanced stuff! Recognize you're 5 weeks into your journey and you want to keep going for the rest of your life-- there's no time limit on this!! :)

All of that said, let's make it work for you right now!!!

Learning the Workouts: Definitely start with the shorter premixes and re-do some of the chapters (the mix and match options will bring you back to the chapter menu after the single chapter you chose) to get the hang of the choreography. Low Max was my first Cathe and let me tell you, I think I had to watch it with my remote in my hand for about a week just to get through half of it! ;) I was with you, standing there, staring at the screen, dumbfounded. :eek:

Shoes: always wear shoes when doing any high impact work!! You will have to be careful as you said your carpet wasn't helping you-- be sure you don't get your foot stuck in one direction while the rest of your body heads in the opposite direction!

I know some of us have done upper body workouts without shoes, and stretching of course, but other than that you're more apt to hurt your feet, knees, hips, back, etc without the cushioning and support good shoes provide. If you're struggling with your carpet try a patch of linoleum or puzzle mats on top.

Stretching: As for "straining" when you are stretching, ease up and don't try to get as far as anyone else (especially those who are paid to be on the screen- they do this for a living!). Stretching is something that definitely gets easier as you do more so keep up your attempts.

LOL your explanation of why only 2 GS makes sense!!! I just know I couldn't do it that way. ;) I hate having partial anything!! Sigh. :p I swear my life would be easier if I could!

I still say five days instead of six is a much healthier way to start off. Keep in mind several of us around here have been doing Cathe workouts for years or are fitness instructors. Just because someone else does 6 days/week does not in any way mean you should! ;)

I'm afraid my posts make it sound like I'm scolding you somehow: I don't want to sound like that- I'm just trying to help you get where you want to be as quickly and as safely as possible!! I've been all over the map with my fitness route as I know many others here have too. Use our experiences!

hth a little
 
Being one who has to watch out with my lower back, when mine is acting up I don't do any deadlifts. They use the back quite a bit. I also have to watch out what types of ab work I do as some of them will irritate a sore back. If you are doing anything that you feel in your back, for now, skip it and move on.

ITA with icing a few times a day for 15 or 20 minutes. Do that for a few days and then you can slowly ease into some heat and then slow stretching.

I usually watch it for a week or so and then slowly test it out. It will also depend on how much you have to sit down during the day - for me that seems to slow the process a bit also.

HTH a bit.

Have fun with your new workouts - you will soon be addicted like the rest of us ! :p
 
Update: back is feeling much better this morning... lots of Advil and bed rest and moving around very gingerly yesterday...

Amy: I don't take it as scolding... I take it as HELP, which is what I asked for. :) I guess I just got caught up in the excitement of Cathe and so despirately want to see results so thought I was doing the right thing by going balls-to-the wall right out of the gate... I'll have to take a step back and be realistic of where I am in my health and fitness journey and make some better choices. I would never consider running a marathon my first week of training either, so I need to apply that "start slow and build over time" menality to my own journey. You have given me some great advice and a place to start (again). It does absolutely no good to push so hard now if I end up doing damage to my body just because of lack of knowledge... I want this to be a LONG road with real and permenant results! Thank you very much!

Thanks Jacque for the additional back tips and knowing that I am not going through this alone! it helps :)
 
You're off to a great smart start Dani. I think we are all in the same boat about going balls to the wall sometimes, especially with Cathe!!! She just kinda does that to us, doesn't she??

Results will come. Just keep yourself safe!!! I'm thrilled to hear you're feeling better today.
 
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