Mental mindset to make it through Interval Max

shakeubooty

shakeubooty

Cathlete
I've only been doing Cathe tapes since June so I've got a lot of catching up to do with the rest of you. While you guys are all enjoying the new videos, I'm still being challenged by the "old" ones. (I'm going to ask my hubby for the new cross-training set for Christmas though!)

Anyway, I've made great gains in cardiovascular endurance from doing many of Cathe's step tapes. In fact, other cardio tapes (I won't name names) that used to challenge me are now a piece of cake compared to Cathe :)! One thing I've noticed though is that in harder tapes like Interval Max and MIC, it's somewhat a mind game to get myself through the harder parts of the workout. For instance, in MIC I know it's 3 sets of airborne leaps (8 with arms pushing up in the air and 8 with arms circling) so counting these out as I do them helps me get through them. And to get through the 10th interval in Interval Max, I use something I read right here on the Cathe forum with each tuck jump - "Yipee, I made it" and that helps a lot.

My problem is the power scissors interval in Interval Max. I can't seem to make it through this interval without modifying it during the second set of singles. I modify it (actually I think I just stand there for about 5 seconds) and then finish the rest of the interval. Since I know a great deal of these interval workouts is mental, I'm looking for suggestions to make it through. I noticed that Cathe tells you to turn sideways during this interval and wondered if that was on purpose to help you concentrate instead of watching the TV screen.

I used to have a tough time with the plyo jumping jacks interval but since I started doing the sit and stands in PS Strong Legs and Abs, I can do these MUCH easier. So I guess this interval was part mental but also physical for me to get through. Maybe I just need to practice those power scissors some more - UGH!

I also love displaying the run time of the video on my tv screen while I workout. For videos I do frequently, I know exactly how long the run time is, when the warmup is over, when a certain segment is almost over. This, too, sometimes helps.

I'd also be interested in knowing if other people have mental images or methods they use in these or other videos to help make it past a difficult part of the workout. It might be fun to see what mind games we all use :).
 
Hi there!

Power scissors are my worst thing! I got IMAX last May and have been doing it regularly ever since but I get hung up in the same place you do and have to modify. Every time I get to that part of the tape I tell myself (in a determined voice) "this time I'm going to do it no matter what" and then I end up modifying x( . I can keep up with Cathe for the entire tape except for those darn scissors!

Usually I try to mentally picture my muscles working and getting stronger. Also - and this might be weird but it works for me - I picture someone like Michael Johnson or Marion Jones - if you've ever watched them run, they are like well oiled machines with such incredible muscle definition and power - the mental image inspires me to push harder.

You will love the CTX 8 pk. Since doing these tapes my endurance has dramatically improved and so has my strength and muscle definition. When I rotated back to MIS and PS I was able to lift between 5 and 8 lbs heavier than prior to CTX. Plus, they are FUN, FUN, FUN! And guaranteed, when you see Cathe's biceps bulging all over the place you will be inspired ;-) !
 
PLYO SCISSORS

Just thought that you might be interested in knowing that if you are having an exceptionally hard time doing plyo scissors and seeing no improvements after a period of time, that perhaps your genetic makeup contains more slow twitch muscle fiber(reponds well to long and slow endurance type activities) than fast twitch muscle fiber(responds well to fast, expolosive and powerful movements). Wow, that was a long sentence ;-)!
 
Quick follow-up for Cathe

Hey Miss Cathe --

I, too, hate the dreaded plyo scissors and (especially with my bum right knee) have had really tough time with them -- but then again, I also have had a heckuva time getting certain parts (like my biceps) past a weight plateau on slow, heavy endurance work.

So gee, is it possible that your muscle genetics would be NEITHER fast twitch NOR slow twitch? Or do ya think that's just soccer mom fatigue and middle age??? :-hmmmm

Kathy S.
 
RE: PLYO SCISSORS

You're probably right about the slow twitch muscle thing because I can walk/jog 5 miles and feel pretty good but ask me to run an 8 minute mile (or faster - heaven forbid) and I die :-tired! I'm not ready to give up just yet though on those plyo scissors ;-)
 
Another thought

During the Olympics, there was a commercial airing all the time where they showed athletes working out. Do you remember it? It starts with a woman doing ab crunches and counting out the 365th rep and then goes on to show various athletes performing tough reps ("24," "7") I can't recall who the commercial is for, but the idea was that they were working 365 (days per year)/24 (hours per day)/7 days per week.

Well, one of the things they show is someone powering their way through -- POWER SCISSORS!

So now, when I am doing power scissors, I imagine that I'm one of those superfit athletes and that I need to do all my power scissors to train for a big competition.

Of course, even the athlete on TV is only doing TWENTY-FOUR of them. We can kick their butt, right?
 
RE: Another thought

Thanks for the idea of using the Olympics theme. I was so motivated during the Olympics to workout - especially after watching the women's triathlon. What incredible athletes! I really admire their strength and determination.
 
RE: Another thought

This is probably going to sound totally LAME, but oh well here goes. :-rollen
There are a few songs that really motivate me in my on-my-own workouts...
When I am in a tough training interval (running up hill, plyos, scissors, last 5 minutes on the Gauntlet) I distract myself. My favorite is I just sing like a loon. If no one is around, I sing LOUD, too. At the gym I just think it loud in my head.
:-jumpy
Another trick is some simple mental challenge, like, count by multiples of 3 or 6, or name the states in alphabetical order. Even thinking about what you are going to wear the next day to work, your grocery list, or the TV line up for the week that you want to watch will work.
It sounds dumb, but when you otherwise engage your brain while you are powering out repetitive actions like lunges or scissors, you distract yourself and it is over sooner. :)
 
My strategy

When I do Interval Max or Intense Moves, I reason with myself that there are only ten really hard minutes in the workout - one minute for each interval. Then I tell myself that I can absolutely withstand ten minutes of anything, especially ten minutes all broken up. This is what helps me give my all to each interval. I do the same thing with any tough video - for me, MIC is my toughest workout - the step and intensity blast practically kill me. I just break it down - I tell myself I can handle 25 minutes of step no matter what. Then, when the intensity blast comes, even though I really, really want to skip it (I mean I REALLY want to quit at that point), I know it is five minutes and then I am done! So I do it and I am so happy (and exhausted) when it is over!!
By the way, there is absolutely nothing wrong with modifying - especially with a tough workout!!
Good luck!
Erica
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top