I have made good progress in gaining muscle, but I just have a hard time getting through Mega Step Blast on the 8-inch step. I've been doing this tape for a couple months now regularly. I also do The FIRM and really think that has helped me to tone up and I am more sculpted, but when it comes to cardio, I am a WIMP. I just can't seem to improve. I workout 5-6 days a week doing cardio and about 3 days a week weight lifting. I am not overweight. I'd like to get through MSB using a 8-inch step. I can do it on a 6-inch and that is hard, but I do get through it and with good form. But whenever I try this on the 8-inch... well, it just poops me out. How can I improve?
How Can I Improve My Stamina
- Thread starter Seed
- Start date
H
honeybunch
Guest
Here's a thought.....MSB is done is sections, so could you start out with an 8" step and then lower it when you get tired? There is no law out there that says you can't stop your tape!;-) I did the with Body Max.
Besides that, it's OK to keep your step at 6". Cathe herself has done that with her newer tapes.
Besides that, it's OK to keep your step at 6". Cathe herself has done that with her newer tapes.
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jun-12-01 AT 09:23PM (Est)[/font][p]i have no expertise..
but i would just throw out a thing or two.
1: how long have you been working out all together?
i read that it takes about 3 months to get your body used to working out before its really in gear...and 6 months before you are ready to give 100%.
2. you might need more rest in between workouts.
its weird but when i havent worked out 5-6 days I go back stronger than ever.....so sometimes more rest gets you stronger!
3.
what condition are you starting out with?
how old are you? age might have to do with progress...
hormones definately effect how much energy you have......
If you are in your 30's and experienced any muscle loss yet you might need to make some of that up before really feeling your best..
I got very weak in my 30's after being tireless in my 20's... i dont know why, but maybe i lost muscle fast...
Hows your health and eating...?
i understand that different people have different optimum balances in nutrition....
sometimes a vitamin or mineral might make a difference.....
???
i am not one to follow my advice..but i bet its smart to know what is a healthy challange and then give yourself space to grow.
also... if you are doing too much in the first place maybe you cant get strong enough to make progress
but i would just throw out a thing or two.
1: how long have you been working out all together?
i read that it takes about 3 months to get your body used to working out before its really in gear...and 6 months before you are ready to give 100%.
2. you might need more rest in between workouts.
its weird but when i havent worked out 5-6 days I go back stronger than ever.....so sometimes more rest gets you stronger!
3.
what condition are you starting out with?
how old are you? age might have to do with progress...
hormones definately effect how much energy you have......
If you are in your 30's and experienced any muscle loss yet you might need to make some of that up before really feeling your best..
I got very weak in my 30's after being tireless in my 20's... i dont know why, but maybe i lost muscle fast...
Hows your health and eating...?
i understand that different people have different optimum balances in nutrition....
sometimes a vitamin or mineral might make a difference.....
???
i am not one to follow my advice..but i bet its smart to know what is a healthy challange and then give yourself space to grow.
also... if you are doing too much in the first place maybe you cant get strong enough to make progress
I am 45 years old and yes, I think I might be trying to do too much too soon. I have been doing The FIRM for about 2 years and it has made a BIG difference in how I look and feel. I am healthier and more fit now than when I was in my 30's. I just wanted to thank you for your suggestions. I'm certainly going to take them to heart and not push myself so hard. I also had diabetis (type I, insulin-dependent) for 35 years, so nutrition has always been good. I wouldn't have survived this long if it wasn't and take 3-4 shots a day). Also, I think I'm starting to experience early menopause (will be seeing my doctor tomorrow). Thanks again for your advice.
A
Andrea
Guest
I don't know if anyone would agree with me, but I think this is another of those "everyone is different" things. I am 6 feet tall, not overweight, healthy, but I almost ALWAYS use a 4" step. Granted I had a baby 4 mo. ago, BUT even before I got preg I had been working out for about 1 1/2 years and I was STILL on a 4" step for most of Cathe's videos. And they would totally wipe me out! I just hope that when I get to go on a Cathe trip (someday) I'm not the only 4 incher. I haven't given up on working up to a higher step, but I don't worry about it either. I have NEVER done a Cathe at 8". I am amazed at those who do :-wow
Andrea
Andrea
Interval training is the quickest way to develop improved endurance in my experience. You can adjust any ordinary cardio workout to an interval one just by varying the intensity in sections. Work medium hard for 1 minute, work at your maximum for one minute, or as much of a minute as you can manage, then recover for one minute, working at a minimum pace. Go for about thirty minutes total to start with and then increase the length of your intervals as well as the duration of the entire workout.(But don't increase the length of your recovery time.) Cathe has a great tape, "Interval Max" which guides you through ten very tough intervals, and would not be for a beginner, but an intermediate could work up to it. Almost any steady cardio tape can be "intervalised"--I just keep a clock with a second hand on top of the TV when I do this. Good luck. Hope this helps.
--Ann
--Ann
Aquajock
Cathlete
Hi, Seed! I have to agree with the other posters who suggested that going to a lower step might actually be the way to improve your performance and thus your stamina. You can put more oomph into the moves as opposed to just getting up on the step!
I also agree with Hounddog's suggesting about interval training, as well as her suggestion for the Interval Max tape - this workout not only is great for interval training, but it also strengthens the thigh muscles, those major biggies that you need for power performance and stamina.
Also, may I suggest you pay attention to your arm form? Often with step or any land-floor aerobics we over-focus on getting the steps, and forget to put power, control and GOOD range of motion into the arms.
Good luck!
Annette
I also agree with Hounddog's suggesting about interval training, as well as her suggestion for the Interval Max tape - this workout not only is great for interval training, but it also strengthens the thigh muscles, those major biggies that you need for power performance and stamina.
Also, may I suggest you pay attention to your arm form? Often with step or any land-floor aerobics we over-focus on getting the steps, and forget to put power, control and GOOD range of motion into the arms.
Good luck!
Annette
starlight6
Cathlete
Ann, Andrea & Annette! (hmm)
What wonderful suggestions - I never thought of intervalizing a regular workout, I am going to try it today! As for Interval Max, that tape has always given me the sneaking suspicion that somebody out there is trying to kill me!! It's a real toughie, I am still working on that one. :-tired
I used to try to force myself to use the 8" step for everything, until I read on this forum that a lot of people feel their workout is BETTER on a 6" step because they can concentrate on the workout itself & not on whether they're going to trip & break a leg! I took that to heart & have used the 6" ever since, & I truly feel I am getting a better workout. Maybe someday I'll advance to 8", but maybe not. I don't really care! Remarks about the arm movements are interesting also - I think I need to work on that.
Ruth
What wonderful suggestions - I never thought of intervalizing a regular workout, I am going to try it today! As for Interval Max, that tape has always given me the sneaking suspicion that somebody out there is trying to kill me!! It's a real toughie, I am still working on that one. :-tired
I used to try to force myself to use the 8" step for everything, until I read on this forum that a lot of people feel their workout is BETTER on a 6" step because they can concentrate on the workout itself & not on whether they're going to trip & break a leg! I took that to heart & have used the 6" ever since, & I truly feel I am getting a better workout. Maybe someday I'll advance to 8", but maybe not. I don't really care! Remarks about the arm movements are interesting also - I think I need to work on that.
Ruth
