Inspired by the Hotness Poll (long)

Miss Lee

Miss Lee

Cathlete
I was inspired by the "hotness" poll to share my Cardio Coach conversion. Sean's hotness aside, his workouts have meant the world to me. I’ve been very vocal on these forums about how much I hate cardio workouts http://www.pic4ever.com/images/184.gif . I'm an absolute klutz and I just can't slog my way through complicated choreography, and I have a plate and 6 screws in my neck that don't appreciate much in the way of high impact activity. For YEARS I neglected this very important aspect of my fitness -- my heart -- and I've paid a certain price for it.

And then I discovered Cardio Coach. The audio clips on his website piqued my curiosity. I bought a download even though I didn't have any way to use it at the time -- I don't run, I didn't own an MP3 player, and my gym membership had expired so I didn't have access to machines -- I just sat at my computer and listened to the entire workout.

Confident that I had found something that I would use and maybe even enjoy, I went out and bought an iPod and a very pricey Precor Elliptical. And while my darlin' DH was a tad skeptical about my compliance, and with good reason http://bestsmileys.com/blushing/7.gif , he forked over the money and offered his complete support. :*

I have been using Cardio Coach workouts consistently for about 2 years now. Sean works me hard and he helps me focus my attention on the task at hand. Instead of watching the clock to see when it will be over, I'm oblivious to the passage of time and caught up in the middle of a great adventure! He's a gifted motivator and not the least bit condescending. He’s holistic in his approach with an emphasis on health and well being, encouraging you to be the BEST that YOU can be, rather than trying to entice you with promises of a hot body.

I know I'm always going on and on about Cardio Coach, but I can't help it. These workouts have made a big difference in the quality of my life and I just can't recommend them strongly enough. The whole Cardio Coach experience has been great -- the workouts and the customer service are top notch!! Sean is so personable and approachable and he comes across in his email correspondence exactly as he does in his workouts! You really can't go wrong. ;)

So while I heartily agree that Sean is HOT, please know that there is real substance to this man and his workouts.
http://www.pic4ever.com/images/greenstars.gif
 
Michele, I totally agree about your comments on Sean and Cardio Coach. And I love hearing how you love cardio now. :p

Due to some very annoying repeat injuries, I've been forced to acknowledge that I need to reduce the impact in my cardio workouts. I used to run - had to stop. I found step, and all of Cathe's wonderful plyo moves. I haven't had to stop those totally .... yet... but I can't do them all the time. Low impact step is, naturally, lower intensity.

So, I bought an elliptical. BLECH. How boring. Standing in place and mindlessly pedaling.

Then, at your recommendation, I invested in a few Cardio Coach workouts. They just blew me away. Sean not only keeps me on that elliptical, but he makes me LOVE it. I get an incredibly intense cardiovascular workout, and I think it pushes my cardiovascular capacity even further than Cathe's plyo moves.

You're right. Sean is very, very motivational, and obviously very knowledgeable. His timing and instruction are perfect, and he knows how to get the most out of me without making me feel like I have to kill myself in every workout.

I've had a few email conversations with him, and he seems like a very genuine, good person.

So yeah, you really can't go wrong with Coach Sean!
 
Amen Michele! Ditto on everything you said. I never thought I'd find anyone who came close to Cathe but they make the perfect pair! They compliment each other so well.

http://www.postsmile.net/img/9/931.gif ATHE +

http://www.postsmile.net/img/9/947.gif EAN = PERFECT!!!


Jogging is one of the best workouts for my body to help in leaning me out and CC makes me go above & beyond what I would do on my own while jogging. How blessed are we to have found the two best instructors in the whole wide world??? VERY!!!


http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid8692709


Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie") http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/aktion/action-smiley-066.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance, I Hope You DANCE!
 
Michelle,

I'm new to all this. I want to make my first purchase and I'm not sure what volumes to buy. I want to start with the 3 download special.

I know I want to buy vol 8. I'm considering 7. Can you tell me what shorter volumes are best?

Thanks!

Oh, I own an elliptical.
 
>Michelle,
>
>I'm new to all this. I want to make my first purchase and I'm
>not sure what volumes to buy. I want to start with the 3
>download special.
>
>I know I want to buy vol 8. I'm considering 7. Can you tell
>me what shorter volumes are best?
>
>Thanks!
>
>Oh, I own an elliptical.

For a short workout I LOVE the revised volume 2. It's awesome!! I love the 3rd challenge in that one and I often use it in my own custom play lists. :D

ETA that 7 and 8 are both excellent choices! ;)
 
Cuz! Of course I turned you on to Cardio Coach -- after all, you're family!! :*

I'm so happy that you found something that will give you the intensity you crave without harming your calf muscle!

Oh dear God, I'm out of the closet for sure now! :eek: :p
 
I loved your post Michele. Sweet and sincere.

My story is nowhere as remarkable, but I want to share too.

When I decided to weight train at a gym, I could not make time for cardio at home. So I started using the treadmill or the elliptical. I used my iPod and my favorite music to counter the tedium, but yet, 45 minutes on a cardio machine felt at best like 45 minutes on a cardio machine.

I was already used to advanced cardio DVD workouts but I found I could not run for more than 5 to 6 minutes without needing to take a walk break. Finally I was running at between 5.4 miles per hour for 30 to 45 minutes and I told myself "Not bad for a 34 year old."

Then I discovered CC. An hour on the treadmill whizzed by.
I realized because of the pacing in CC worouts, I could push my speed and incline setting significantly more. Because I liked CC so much I was also doing cardio more often.

At age 41 I am in the best cardio shape of my life. I now do sprints at 8.7 miles per hour and my steady state speed has increased from 5.4 miles per hour to 6.8 miles per hour. I know that isnt impressive in absolute terms. But I have never felt athletic and I did not dare aspire for what I can do now.

For me CC was the like a workout DVD, except it had no video and the same workout could progressively guide me to get better and better.

I discovered Sean to be a sincere, generous human being who truly cares for his customers, someone who does not make you feel your performance is not good enough. His pursuit of perfection and drive to pursue his dreams inspires me in fitness and in my life.

~* Vrinda *~
 
>Michelle,
>
>I'm new to all this. I want to make my first purchase and I'm
>not sure what volumes to buy. I want to start with the 3
>download special.
>
>I know I want to buy vol 8. I'm considering 7. Can you tell
>me what shorter volumes are best?
>
>Thanks!
>
>Oh, I own an elliptical.


Not Michele.

I love Volume 2 best of the first 3.

All CC volumes can be short workouts. Each challenge is a separate track and you can up the intensity and opt out before the last challenge to make a short workout. You can even create your own premix by mixing tracks across volumes to make a workout as short/long/intense as you want.

~* Vrinda *~
 
I've been thinking about it for a while now, and plan on getting CC for the elliptical. Do you have any advice as to what sort of settings are best for different sections? I know it's totally dependent on each person's fitness level, but on the elliptical (as opposed to treadmill) do you still do sprints? Or do you up the resistance/incline at certain points? It just seems like sprints would be awkward on the elliptical.
 
Hi Nadja!

When I was using my daughter's Elliptical while she was pregnant, I would just go faster for sprints. It is very doable on an elliptical. I saved the inclines for hills. I usually pace myself to the beat of the music. Does that make sense?


http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid8692709


Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie") http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/aktion/action-smiley-066.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance, I Hope You DANCE!
 
>I've been thinking about it for a while now, and plan on
>getting CC for the elliptical. Do you have any advice as to
>what sort of settings are best for different sections? I know
>it's totally dependent on each person's fitness level, but on
>the elliptical (as opposed to treadmill) do you still do
>sprints? Or do you up the resistance/incline at certain
>points? It just seems like sprints would be awkward on the
>elliptical.

Oh yes, you can do sprints on the elliptical. Like Debbie said, you just decrease your resistance and increase your speed. My elliptical has an adjustable ramp and I vary the settings on it to switch things up, but most of the time I sprint at the default setting, or slightly lower to simulate running. My Precor has an adjustable ramp which makes this possible.

ETA that for hills you just increase the resistance and/or incline, according to the features available on your elliptical.
 
Oh Vrinda, trust me -- you're one of the most remarkable and extraordinary women I've come to know on the forums. ;)
 
I just purchased volume 2, 7 & 8.
I'm so excited!!

I'm listening to vol 8 right now. It sounds great!
I'm going to do vol 2 later this afternoon(after hair appt:)).
I just finished a full body workout with Jari Love, so I'll do volume 8 tomorrow since it's my non lifting day.
 
>I just purchased volume 2, 7 & 8.
>I'm so excited!!
>
>I'm listening to vol 8 right now. It sounds great!
> I'm going to do vol 2 later this afternoon(after hair
>appt:)).
>I just finished a full body workout with Jari Love, so I'll do
>volume 8 tomorrow since it's my non lifting day.


I think you made some very wise choices! Please post after you've had a chance to do them and tell us about your experience. :D
 
Thanks Debbie and Michele!

Yes, that makes sense. I guess I was hesitating since I wasn't quite convinced that it'd be as effective on the elliptical as on the treadmill (even though I know it says "any machine" on the website). And being a recovering runaholic with the knees to show for it, I'm trying to stay away from the treadmill (just one little sprint...) Okay, I'm convinced. And you know, I'm going to *have* to get 3 of them because of that special going on right now. :p
 
"Michele, I totally agree about your comments on Sean and Cardio Coach. And I love hearing how you love cardio now."

Shannon, I didn't actually see the word "love" in there anywhere. ;) :7 But obviously when it comes to Michele and cardio, Coach Sean is as good as it gets. :D
 
>Thanks Debbie and Michele!
>
>Yes, that makes sense. I guess I was hesitating since I wasn't
>quite convinced that it'd be as effective on the elliptical as
>on the treadmill (even though I know it says "any machine" on
>the website). And being a recovering runaholic with the knees
>to show for it, I'm trying to stay away from the treadmill
>(just one little sprint...) Okay, I'm convinced. And you know,
>I'm going to *have* to get 3 of them because of that special
>going on right now. :p

The elliptical is GREAT for CC workouts! I have never done them on any other machine, but I'm getting ready to convert my little used bicycle into a stationary bike for a different experience. :D
 
>"Michele, I totally agree about your comments on Sean and
>Cardio Coach. And I love hearing how you love cardio now."
>
>Shannon, I didn't actually see the word "love" in there
>anywhere. ;) :7 But obviously when it comes to Michele and
>cardio, Coach Sean is as good as it gets. :D

Nance!! I have to sing his praises. He's the only instructor who has held my interest and kept me coming back for more cardio. I think my status as an avowed cardio hater gives me a certain credibility. :7 :p
 
You are such an inspiration.

I'm a techno-idiot so whenever I've read the words "Cardio Coach" in the past I've always kind of glazed over and moved on because It required me to pay attention (I swear I have adult ADD, big time) and figure out what's being discussed. Now, I feel I really need to check this out because I, too, have always hated cardio and require serious coaxing to do it.

Thank you for sharing your story.
 
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