How do you feel if you can't do all the moves in a strength workout?

[kathryn]

After doing Gym Style Legs for the first time, not doing all the moves "as-is" (I did 3 slow lunges instead of 4, and on the third one, I "cheated" a bit by supporting my hands on my front quad; and I couldn't do the one-leg version of the ball hamstring pulls), and having read posts by people who seem frustrated about not being able to do everything that Cathe and crew do, I was inspired to post this poll.

(I didn't include cardio, because it's a different challenge and some difficulty would come from not "getting" the choreography.)

I personally don't care if I can do all the moves the first time, or the first 5 or 10 times. It gives me something to work up to, and I respect my limitations (with age comes wisdom??).

How do you all feel about it?

 

[swimnfit]

RE: How do you feel if you can't do all the moves in a ...

I am by no means an advanced exerciser (yet!) but I really love using Cathe's workouts precisely because I CAN'T do her workouts "as-is" the first or third or maybe even the tenth time I do them. That's exactly why I continue to do her workouts...they are challenging! My goodness, if they were easy, we'd all be bored, and there wouldn't be anything to discuss. I like having something to work up to...it gives me motivation to improve. "If Cathe can do it, so can I". (*someday*).

I agree you definitely have to respect your limitations. If you do your workouts to the best of your ability, challenging yourself to improve each time, what more could you ask for? I think that's a tremendous accomplishment!

Sorry I rambled!

Nicole

 

[jdoll]

RE: How do you feel if you can't do all the moves in a ...

i can't match her pound for pound yet, but i will one day!

jes

 

[hippahips]

My first weight training DVD was PS. I couldn't do push-ups. I had Ab Hits and couldn't do planks. My back was a mess and my legs had great shape from lard in all the wrong places. Almost two years later, I was able to do all of the GS push ups my first try. I hear gasps when I show my friends how to do pikes on a ball. My back, despite my bad bones, is strong, and my legs are nicely toned. I'm heavier but smaller.

I look at it this way... if I get a workout video and find it easy, then I really haven't gotten my money's worth.

Pinky

 

[tytbody]

Right now I feel great. I know I can do this. It is my first time doing Cathe so.. what if I don't do all the reps. There is not a gym class you will go into and do the whole thing correctly because you don't know what they are going to do up there. At least with this, I am looking forward to being in the same place she lands at the end of the routine. Happy I made it.

 

[truton]

RE: How do you feel if you can't do all the moves in a ...

If it were easy then to me there's just no point. Today Step Fit was in my rotation. I haven't done this one in a long time and remembered that when I first started doing Cathe videos I found power scissors kind of hard. Today I just sailed right through them. Each time I do a Cathe video there's always one more thing I find I can do a little better each time. The sense of accomplishment you get from doing these workouts is a great motivator. Now if I can only get better on those #$@!&* tuck jumps LOL!

 

[NY25]

For me it kind of depends. I generally don't have a problem not being able to do it all the first time - if you can, what's the point? However, with that said, I do have my days when not being able to do it frustrates me a great deal. This is particularly true of cardio - if I can't keep up because I'm a little out of shape, I'm fine with that. If it's because the steps are too confusing or the queueing is off (more common on non-Cathe DVDs), etc. then I get frustrated.

 

[haydee]

Kathryn as you've stated I like the idea of a challenge. So if I can't keep up with Cathe one day I look forward to the next time I do that particular exercise. For ex. I have been working out with Cathe several months now and I still can't complete PUB biceps, but I continue to go on b/c I know I will eventually get there either with the wts. Cathe uses or less. Or sometimes it just may be the day that I am weak....i.e. not enough sleep at night, not enough food in my system....or just one of those days. I refuse to let myself get so bent b/c it takes away the joy of the challenge.


http://www.PictureTrail.com/haydee1

Haydee

 

[midnight]

RE: How do you feel if you can't do all the moves in a ...

Even if you're not keeping up with Cathe either in weight or in reps, if you are fatigueing your muscles, you are building muscle strength and endurance. Exercising your muscles to fatigue causes microscopic tears in the muscle fiber which when healing, cause the muscle fiber to become larger. Larger muscle fiber = more strength and endurance. This process takes about 48 hours which is why you shouldn't exercise the same muscle group on consecutive days. Stick with it and you'll be matching Cathe pound for pound, rep for rep, and maybe even surpass her. Good luck and don't get frustrated. If you do it, it will come.

Lois

"Don't forget to breathe!"

 

[WD]

I don't care if I can do the whole thing at first. I want something harder than what I am doing. That is where the challenge comes in. I am still working on the levitation move. I am sure I will get this move. It seems more like a balance thing. My daughter came in here and just did it. Hmmm. I must be something wrong. She rides her recumbant bike every night but that is it. As well as a job that probably means some arm muscle endurance. Actually I did this yesterday evening I think I am closer. I know I will get this unless Cthe finally has me whipped! I love a challenge. So far I have found men, extra weight to lift have a hard time. I just pull out the computer and say look at this can you do it? But I am a light weight so should be able to get it

Diane Sue

 

[rcook]

RE: How do you feel if you can't do all the moves in a ...

Doesn't bother me a bit, maybe I can finish it or do the moves the next time... I got lots of time to get the hang of it..... Rhonda:7

 

[scm]

RE: How do you feel if you can't do all the moves in a ...

I just posted about this, working up to LM. With the weight workouts I like it when I can't do as many reps as Cathe, and when I finally do ~ I feel so proud of myself. Some of the 15lb. shoulder presses are very tough for me.

Susan C.M.
Nothing should be jiggling, unless it's jiggling off.
You've gotta work hard for what you want. - Cathe in HSC

 

[teedums]

RE: How do you feel if you can't do all the moves in a ...

I get a little frustrated....especially when I have to stop and
rest during a set. But I try to keep in mind that Cathe and her
crew have been exercising for many many years, where I have
been a regular exerciser for less than 2 years. I can match
her weight in some exercises but certainly not all of them. It
gives me something to work up to, hopefully I will be able to
match her weight and get through the workouts easier. Don't beat
yourself up though, we are all doing a good thing for ourselves.

 

[wutherhi]

RE: How do you feel if you can't do all the moves in a ...

I like the challenge and wouldn't really want to be able to do all the reps the first time, I don't think. But I do still get frustrated when I can't do them after a long time.

For example, even after five years, I still can't hold a plank as long as Cathe and my pikes on the ball are . . . well, not pretty. I still can't do a big boy pushup, not even one and a pull up without modifications is out of the question. I still have to stop and rest and catch my breath after lunges, almost all lower body endurance work really, and even some shoulder work.

I have yet to get all the way through a Cathe step workout without stopping to catch my breath, although I'm excited because I completed a Christi Taylor vid for the first time all the way through without stopping or modifying, which was a breakthrough for me.

I tell myself I'm 43 years old, I smoked (a lot) for nearly twenty years, I was once 150 pounds overweight, and I'm just NOT going to have the endurance of a twenty-year-old (or a forty-year-old Cathe) and it's ridiculous to even try, but it's STILL frustrating, and I still DO try, and by golly I'm still getting better and better, but it IS aggravating.

Shari

 

[wutherhi]

RE: How do you feel if you can't do all the moves in a ...

I like the challenge and wouldn't really want to be able to do all the reps the first time, I don't think. But I do still get frustrated when I can't do them after a long time.

For example, even after five years, I still can't hold a plank as long as Cathe and my pikes on the ball are . . . well, not pretty. I still can't do a big boy pushup, not even one and a pull up without modifications is out of the question. I still have to stop and rest and catch my breath after lunges, almost all lower body endurance work really, and even some shoulder work.

I have yet to get all the way through a Cathe step workout without stopping to catch my breath, although I'm excited because I completed a Christi Taylor vid for the first time all the way through without stopping or modifying, which was a breakthrough for me.

I tell myself I'm 43 years old, I smoked (a lot) for nearly twenty years, I was once 150 pounds overweight, and I'm just NOT going to have the endurance of a twenty-year-old (or a forty-year-old Cathe) and it's ridiculous to even try, but it's STILL frustrating, and I still DO try, and by golly I'm still getting better and better, but it IS aggravating.

Shari