How are some of Cathe's workouts used/classified?

[jengollf]

I have a question. Now that I have so many Cathe workouts and am working my through them, I am confused about how some of them should be used. The ones I'm referring to To the Max, Circuit Blast, Afterburn and maybe to a lesser extent Crossfire.

I have been using To the Max and Crossfire as cardio and Afterburn as strength + cardio. I wanted to use Circuit Blast as cardio, but after doing it, I'm wondering if it should be used as cardio + strength.

The only concern I have about my "classifications" is that I don't feel satisfied with Afterburn and Circuit Blast as a strength workouts--though I love the the workouts and plan to continue using them. And TMM seems to hit my shoulders pretty hard! Crossfire uses a lot of weights, but I don't really feel like I am getting a strength workout like I do in parts of the other others. But like I said, the others don't feel like balanced strength work.

I'd like to hear others thoughts to help clarify my own.

 

[jldx2in2000]

I feel Afterburn and CrossFire are for sure cardio workouts. The weights are used simply as a means to increase the intensity of the cardio not necessarily to build muscle or strength (although you theoritically could do that at the same time I suppose).

To The Max also feels more cardio to me simply because out of the 54 minutes only 14 is spent with weights and you are more likely using lighter weights meant to increase the intensity of the workout rather than to build muscle.

Circuit Blast could definitely be categorized as cardio if you keep the weights light enough to increase the intensity of the workout but it may be better classified as a true circuit workout. I don't necessarily view circuit workouts to take the place of strength workouts though.

I also believe Cathe has mentioned that workouts like Afterburn can be considered cardio not strength and can be used the day after strength training. In fact, doing this can help alleviate any DOMS from the previous strength workout.

This is all my opinion and others that are more tenured and knowledgeable may weigh in differently.

Hope that helps!

ETA: Here's a post with Cathe's take on this.

 

[jengollf]

I feel Afterburn and CrossFire are for sure cardio workouts. The weights are used simply as a means to increase the intensity of the cardio not necessarily to build muscle or strength (although you theoritically could do that at the same time I suppose).

To The Max also feels more cardio to me simply because out of the 54 minutes only 14 is spent with weights and you are more likely using lighter weights meant to increase the intensity of the workout rather than to build muscle.

Circuit Blast could definitely be categorized as cardio if you keep the weights light enough to increase the intensity of the workout but it may be better classified as a true circuit workout. I don't necessarily view circuit workouts to take the place of strength workouts though.

I also believe Cathe has mentioned that workouts like Afterburn can be considered cardio not strength and can be used the day after strength training. In fact, doing this can help alleviate any DOMS from the previous strength workout.

This is all my opinion and others that are more tenured and knowledgeable may weigh in differently.

Hope that helps!

ETA: Here's a post with Cathe's take on this.

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I hoped to hear--especially straight from Cathe! This makes creating my rotations easier on my mind!

 

[nckfitheart2009]

classification

Hello,

It makes three of us being on the same page for the classification. When both cross fire and to the max got launched, I can recall Cathe classifying both as cardio. July rotation, still appearing on this forum, can confirm.

As to Afterburn, it is a metabolic cardio workout.

Oh as to circuit blast, I reckon the name is self explanatory. It could be a metabolic cardio type routine. I am not sure.
On cathe's website, dvd are classified. Jen if you browse when you have a chance, you will find the confirmation of the same thought we are sharing.

Hope this helps Jen,

Nathalie

 

[jengollf]

Hello,

It makes three of us being on the same page for the classification. When both cross fire and to the max got launched, I can recall Cathe classifying both as cardio. July rotation, still appearing on this forum, can confirm.

As to Afterburn, it is a metabolic cardio workout.

Oh as to circuit blast, I reckon the name is self explanatory. It could be a metabolic cardio type routine. I am not sure.
On cathe's website, dvd are classified. Jen if you browse when you have a chance, you will find the confirmation of the same thought we are sharing.

Hope this helps Jen,

Nathalie

Thanks Nathalie,

I thought I knew a lot about fitness, but I'm learning a lot more from doing Cathe! I looked at the "Low Impact Cardio" DVD section and I was surprised to see Slide N Glide and Athletic Training. Now, I know they both have cardio in them, but I thought they were also strength workouts. I noticed some workouts show up in multiple categories, but then you go to Strength workouts and neither of them are there. The High Step workouts aren't in strength, either. I know they are under "high step"--but they are strength workouts, too. But they show up under circuit workouts as well. But then Cardio Core Circuit is also under circuit workouts which definitely has no strength. 4DS shows up in three categories--strength, bootcamp and step workouts. I can't find CF and TTM in any DVD category.

So I'm didn't find the categories used to classify the DVDs 100% useful, at least in how to use them in my rotations.

However, the answers I am receiving here are giving me exactly what I want to hear. I want to use them all as cardio. I just got concerned. Until Cathe, I never did a cardio workout that used heavier than a 5 pound dumbbell to increase intensity! So even though I don't *feel* like Afterburn or Circuit Blast should be a strength workout, the fact I am using 10 and 15 pound weights while doing them gave me pause! But Cathe is teaching me a better way of doing things!