How do you decide on rotation?

[Yvanna]

Hello everyone,

I am interested in putting together a rotation, but don't know how to get it together or where to begin.I am an intermediate exerciser in terms of cardio - but wrt strength training - I can manage about 6lb dumbells during the strength portion of the workout.
I bought Cathe's Basic Step and Body Fusion - which I loved so much that I went ahead and bought some more.

I now own 6 Cathe DVDs:

Basic Step and Body Fusion (love both and can get through them with relative ease)
Step, Jump and Pump (haven't tried it yet)
Rhythmic Step(havent tried it yet)
High Step Circuit(haven't tried it yet)
Coremax
StretchMax

Any recommendation on how I should alternate these would be appreciated....I recognize that some are advanced - but I would simply modify them to my level.

I also own: Karen Voight Ultimate Circuit Training; Half and Half; Strong and Streamlined;
Kathy Smith Step Workout; Rules of Fat Burning;

Classical Pilates; Classical Pilates Magic Circle; Kathy Smith Ultimate Pilates.

Tamilee Webb - I Love that Body.

Thanks in advance for any advice you may give.

Yve

 

[andtckrtoo]

I'm probably not the best one to answer as I'm fairly new to Cathe and rotations, but I have been working out for a while. That being said, I thought you should have at least some kind of answer.

A rotation is based upon what end results you want to get. If you want general over all toning and weight loss, go with muscle work 2 days a week, and cardio 3 (or 4 if you want to go 6 days).

You could break it down something like:

Monday: Basic Step
Tuesday: Step, Jump and Pump (weights and Cardio)
Wednesday: Rhythmic Step
Thursday: Body Fusion
Friday: Basic Step (or Kathy Smith's step - or another cardio workout of choice).

Sat and Sun off - or do 1 Segment of Core Max on Saturday and Stretch Max.

Then the following week -

Monday: High Step Challenge (this is a toughie - so you may want to sub one of your other circuit workouts to start)
Tuesday: Basic Step (or other Cardio of choice)
Wednesday: Rhythmic Step
Thursday: Body Fusion
Friday: Kathy Smith Step and pilates.

(you don't have go Monday-Friday - I actually go Saturday through Thursday so I can sleep in one morning of the week).

Hope that helps. It's really just mixing them up to get a good mix of weight work and cardio and no weight work back to back.

With the Cathe's you haven't done - they are a lot more advanced than the basic step and body fusion. Watch them and go slowly when you try them. You don't have to do everything. If you get tired, take a break. You'll work up to it.

If anyone disagrees with anything I say, please speak up!

 

[Yvanna]

Hi Christine,

Thanks a million for your response.

I am so looking forward to getting on a 'plan' so to speak - as opposed to just picking something randomly.

Kind regards,

Yve

 

[andtckrtoo]

Yve -

I know exactly what you mean. I don't always follow my rotation perfectly, but I come very close. To give you an idea today was Upper Body, Abs and Cardio for me. I had planned to do MIS Upper Body w/ Core Max Seg 1 (about an hour total for those two) with a step class at the gym. Ended up doing a 40 minute Tae Bo tape, Core Max Seg 1, and doing Upper Body at the gym - got in the same Cardio and muscle I wanted, but I mixed it up. It's nice having a plan for what you want to accomplish that day.

As you get more familar with Cathe, read the rotations that are out there. This will give you an idea of the DVD's you'll want to buy (unfortunately, Cathe is an addiction - a healthy one! - and you WILL be buying more, so get used to that idea). And as you become familar with rotations, you'll understand how to substitute more. You have a good start. Do what you can and break out those new DVDs! You'll be happy you did!

Your friend in sweat...