How did you get where you are?

[susan p]

Hi all! The new Cathe's are VERY intense, aren't they? Yet some of you are not only doing them every day, but doing TWO a day. PHENOMENAL!! I can get through the CTX series cardio because it is only 30 minutes, I figure I can do ANYTHING for 30 minutes so I really push. But my feet are achey the next day (I'm only almost-37, I'm NOT 85!) so I can't do CTX cardio two days in a row. And Circuit Max?? ACK! I did it today, sorta. . . I modified quite a bit (it IS very modifiable, thank you Cathe!) and only did 40 minutes before FFing to the cooldown (which I loved). SO, my question is, how did you guys reach the amazonian state you are in? These new tapes are really making me feel like a wimp, almost like a beginner again! What a blow to my pride when I thought I was fit! Of course, I've done shorter workouts during the summer because of a combo of kids and heat (I just DON'T do heat well and am always TONS "more fit" in the winter when it's chilly. So maybe my fitness level is a bit lower than usual). Still, I find myself not even wanting to do the new tapes. I feel like one of my kids when they cry in frustration and throw down the crayon because they can't make their picture turn out like they want to.

 

[DebbieH]

You Are...

...Too funny!! I think anything new always challenges us. Isn't that what it's all about? You are probably doing just fine Susan & are being too critical on yourself. Look at this way~You have something to achieve and YOU WILL achieve it! Now, GO PICK UP THAT CRAYON & get coloring!

DebbieH

 

[honeybunch]

Time for a little pep-talk from Auntie HB

I remember the first time I did Taebo Advanced Live for the first time. I got through the warm up and thought, "THIS is the warm-up???!!!" I thought I was gonna die, but obviously I didn't.

You gotta work into these tapes if you don't feel you can do all six in a row. There will be no Cathe police showing up at your door in Indiana if you do only two or three of the tapes in a week.

Here's a tiny suggestion: Why not do one or two tapes, and fill the rest of the week up with some tapes that are less intense? Some of your old stand-bys that don't send you into cardiac arrest.

We all have different fitness levels....I'd don't think I could EVER keep up with, say, our Erica. I know better than to even try. She's a heck of a lot younger (sometimes it DOES matter, like it or not) than me, and just plain has more stamina.

You got the tapes, you're trying, and you work your way into them. I didn't do all six the first week......I did four.

Just do the best you can, that's all anyone can do!

Go get 'em, girl!

 

[JanetH]

Don't Be Discouraged! - Pace Yourself

Susan

Auntie HB is, of course, correct - work into it over a period of weeks. When I first came across Cathe's videos, I threw myself into them, doing nothing else but Cathe. You know, she has such a sweet little smile on her face, and talks to you so encouragingly throughout the workout, its easy to get lulled into a false sense of security. Her workouts are tough, tough, tough. And yes, when first trying to learn her workouts, I was known to say bad words and sit on the step and cry.

I finally came to my senses after about a month, when I started feeling tired and sore all the time and realized, thanks to the educated crowd, that I was seriously overtraining. So, I used the Cathe cardio videos as my two intense workouts for the week and used others for more moderate days. It worked! Over a period of time I added the strength videos and another Cathe cardio into the rotation.

Based on my previous experience, I'm slowly substituting express workouts for some of the others, I've been using. It doesn't take long to realize that "Express" does not mean "Easy." Cathe and her crew are pros. The videos are obviously well-grounded in current science and techniques. They should be challenging.

Don't be discouraged...instead, give yourself a big pat on the back for what you have accomplished. Think of all the people out there who don't have the discipline to exercise regularly. Anyone who does Cathe's videos (whether partially or all the way through, with or without modifications) is a star

.

Janet

 

[ErinF]

These videos are HARD!

Like Janet said, "express" doesn't translate "easy."

I've been doing 1 a day ( well, yesterday I did 2, but that was All Step, which didn't leave my legs that tired because I'm so used to Cathe's step, and Leaner Legs, which proceeded to about kill me

), and I'm starting to think about substituting other cardio for some of the days and just doing the weights sections. They're very high impact, and my 33-year-old knees aren't very happy about it. The whole idea here is to give us OPTIONS. If your feet hate this level of high impact on a daily basis, DON'T make them do it! Other people you read about may have a better workout surface, better or newer shoes, fewer old injuries, a million different things. Also, maybe THEIR feet and/or knees ache, but they don't mention it. You just never know.

I know you know this, but comparing yourself to anybody else is just self-defeating. You're your own special self. WE wouldn't want you to change that, even if it meant you could do the whole Express pack in one day. So buck up there, Sweetie!!

Erin

 

[Lex411]

hydration

Hey Susan! Don't call yourself a wimp! A true wimp wouldn't even think of doing Cathe workouts.

Something struck me when I was reading your post, the part about not tolerating heat very well. I lived most of my life in Chicago and then moved about 2 years ago to LA. I was DYING from the heat, my body just wasn't used to it and I never really sweat much so I would just radiate heat. My doctor, who is very into holistic medicine and specializes in sports nutrition, talked to me about my heat intolerance and even the way I'd get all pink in the face when I worked out and didn't sweat as much as I felt I should. She impressed upon me the incredible importance of hydration. It sounds silly and most people say "yeah, yeah, drink my 8 glasses." But consider this; even the tiniest bit of dehydration in the muscles causes an ENORMOUS loss of endurance and strength, water not only carries nutrients TO the muscles but it also carries toxins and impurities away so they can be flushed out of the body. She recommended that I drink about a half liter of water (in addition to my normal water intake of the 8 glasses per day) about 30 minutes before exercising and sipping water every 5 to 10 minutes during. Then immediately afterwards drink another half liter. It sounds like a lot but you'd be surprised at the difference in your level of endurance. The first time I was able to get through Interval Max without dying or stopping the tape for a break was the first day I followed her hydration program. It really did give me more energy and I ended up sweating a lot more during the workout, which meant releasing more heat so I felt cooler throughout. A nice side benefit of all this was that even when not working out, my body has learned to sweat more to release body heat so now the warm weather doesn't bother me nearly as much.

It never hurts to drink more water, and I PROMISE you it made a huge difference in my workouts. My doc works with athletes and swears by her hydration program. Now when I'm done with my workouts I drink even more than she suggested and it seems to really fuel my recovery. I know it seems too simple to make much difference, but try it and see what you think. It could help you tolerate heat better in general, like it did for me. I used to consider myself a winter person, but now I'm loving warm weather like I never have.

Hope this helps!
Lex

 

[kristinam]

A word of encouragement to Susan

Isn't it amazing how hard we are on ourselves? Just so you know, the gym classes in my town are pretty remedial,but folks here think they are tough because it's what they are used to. I lent Cathe's Interval Max tape to a male instructor friend who is in fab shape...he refused to believe my statement that I had found tapes harder than the club. When he returned it, he told me that he had been unable to finish the last two intervals and was wiped out the next day!! You have great advice from others here...a tape that is too easy on the first try is not worth the money! You should absolutely rotate in other tapes that aren't so hard on you physically...give yourself days off to rest...and only do Cathe's "nuclear tapes" on days when you are well rested and energetic. Every time you do them, try to get through a little more. The hardest part is being patient. Over time, you will be able to get through. The reason we all love Cathe is because she is so tough...it gives you a goal. But recognize they are tough...and just because you find them ulta-challenging is NOT a reflection on you being in poor shape, it is a reflection on Cathe's great tapes as a motivating and challenging addition to your work outs. Take heart, tapes this tough give you results! And WATER WATER WATER...you gotta hydrate when you sweat that much.. before, during, and after. Congratulations on stepping up to the Cathe challenge! Most of my friends get tired just watching them and won't even try doing them!

 

[lwseymour]

Thanks Lex!

Thank you for your post about hydration. I didn't realize that water had so much to do with how much energy a person has. I'm willing to try anything to have more energy. I drink several glasses a day, but will try to drink much more after reading your post. Thanks for the information.
Lisa

 

[beverly]

Hi Susan

Just wondered where in Indiana you live? I grew up in Portage In, up by Lake Michigan.
Hang in there with Cathe's tapes. Strength training is always the least favorite thing for me to do, but Cathe makes it fun.

 

[susan p]

thanks to everyone

Thanks for all the encouragement, and the info about hydration too! That IS an area I need to work on, it could very well be part of the problem. I love the , with fairly minor modifications) so I just need to work up to being able to keep that intensity going longer.

I'm in Lafayette IN, Beverly. . . same half of the state as you were although not terribly close! Welcome to the forum, by the way, I meant to welcome you earlier and didn't get it done. We're glad to have you on board!

 

[Lex411]

anytime!

I come from a family that only drinks milk, soda or juice, never water, so it was a HUGE adjustment I owe mainly to my fiance. When we started dating and I'd go to his place, he didn't have anything but pitchers of water, which I remember thinking was so weird! In my house we always had some Crystal Light or something and I don't think I ever drank a glass of water. Now the first thing I do in the morning is drink 1.5 liters (one of the big Evian bottles) before I even eat or anything. Then throughout the rest of the day, excluding what I drink during and after I workout, I try to get 2 more big bottles down. Now I crave it, but I remember 7 years ago when I had to hold my nose to drink a glass! The days I don't get a chance to drink my usual, I feel it when I work out. I don't sweat enough, get too hot and hit the wall. So now I know it makes a big difference. I pee all the time, but now I know that's a good thing. Means I'm flushing toxins out of my body all the time.

I'm really glad I could help. Bottoms up!