this is my life. i am the mother of four children. my 9 and 8 yr are autistic and i have a 3 and 4 yr old. i work a full time job and support my husband going to school full time. did i mention i work full plus time for the mentally disabled. i have exersized for over a year and i went from a size 11 and 156lbs to a size 8 and 146lbs. my question is i am short of time. but i would like to be what i see on the cathe videoes. i have butts and guts, drill max, and 4 day split. people have typed look at whatever rotation, but for some reason i can't access it when i try. i want to know when is this i can take over the world feeling is supposed to hit? some of you are you are so focused and i'm just trying to get through my day. i even got bashed on this thing for doing the buts and guts everyday when i was just happy doing something. it's hard but i'm here. i even started clean eating. i do think you guys should start a recipe page to help all of us. i am 5'6.5 and weigh 146. i would like to be 132 and strong. please help
my life
- Thread starter JUSTCRAZY
- Start date
allwildgirl
Cathlete
Welcome! It sounds like your life is very busy and challenging.
I'm pretty sure that nobody would "bash" you for doing Butts and Guts every day, but when you're doing strength training of any kind, you need to give your muscles a rest in between workouts (48 hours or so) to recover. You can access all Cathe's rotations by going to the Video and DVD Rotations forum. Go to the bottom of this page, where it says "Jump to forum" and click on that. You'll see a list of all the forums and you can click on whichever one you want to go to. I believe Cathe set up a 4 day split rotation that you would be easy for you to use with the DVDs that you have.
A very large part of weight loss and muscle building is your diet. How is yours? People say it's about 80% of the equation. You can exercise all you want, but until the diet gets cleaned up, then you won't see optimal results.
I hope that helped some!
I'm pretty sure that nobody would "bash" you for doing Butts and Guts every day, but when you're doing strength training of any kind, you need to give your muscles a rest in between workouts (48 hours or so) to recover. You can access all Cathe's rotations by going to the Video and DVD Rotations forum. Go to the bottom of this page, where it says "Jump to forum" and click on that. You'll see a list of all the forums and you can click on whichever one you want to go to. I believe Cathe set up a 4 day split rotation that you would be easy for you to use with the DVDs that you have.
A very large part of weight loss and muscle building is your diet. How is yours? People say it's about 80% of the equation. You can exercise all you want, but until the diet gets cleaned up, then you won't see optimal results.
I hope that helped some!
Sunshine 1528
Cathlete
Another welcome - and don't ask me how you can even walk after doing B & G every day ! I can only do it once a week and then barely make it up and down the stairs at work !
Hope you find a rotation or plan that works for you.
Keep posting questions, 'cuz as you can see, many here will help in anyway they can.
Great job and have fun with your exercising !
Hope you find a rotation or plan that works for you.
Keep posting questions, 'cuz as you can see, many here will help in anyway they can.
Great job and have fun with your exercising !
maddiesmum
Cathlete
There is a wider range of personality types and approaches to fitness on these forums than might first appear. We are not all gung ho. I know of people who do way less than the gung-ho crowd and are very happy with their workouts! There are others who do very little for a long spell, but still frequent the forums for friendship, chat and motivation. I still came on here even when I didn't work out for a full year a couple of years back. So, please don't get the wrong impression and think we are all in training for Ms. Olympia contests or about to appear on the pages of Muscle & Fitness Hers, any day soon!
It may be true that it is what we aspire to (peak fitness and fabulous bodies) that unites us around here, rather than what we do (3 hour workouts 6 days a week!?!?!?!).
So, don't for a second compare yourself to anyone else. OK? You are here, you have a certain amount of time each week and a certain amount of drive and energy and you can be the best "you" possible with a little encouragement from us and consistency, as much consistency as you can manage. Put like that, we are all in the same boat. Some of us have more time challenges and energy-drainers than others, but more or less, we understand where you are coming from.
You are going to have to cut yourself some slack, really. Pat yourself on the back right now for the tremendous job that you do, in all areas of your life. Your daily reality 'aint easy but you keep showing up to the table, and I respect that. You have already shopped yourself into a much better shape and should keep congratulating yourself for finding the time and determination to get healthier. Bear in mind that the first few pounds are the easiest to lose. Once you have already lost some, your metabolic rate slows down a little to get in line with your new lower weight: a lower body weight requires fewer calories to maintain. That's why those last 10-15 are the hardest to lose. Hardest, but not impossible: right?
It is hard to recommend any particular rotation for you with the few DVDs that you have. I think you would find it frustrating to follow any of Cathe's set rotations because there will be so many DVDs used in them, as suggested workouts, that you don't yet have. But that doesn't mean you can't do a damn fine job with what you have. The 4 Day Split in itself is a rotation. With 4 cardio workouts, daily strength training and all those premixes, you could stay with that for a few months before you need to buy anything else and get excellent workouts.
I think also that you are going to have to get your husband involved more. Since you work a full time job and are primary care giver for the kids at weekends, you need to negotiate with your husband that every Sat and Sun he gives you 1-2 hours where he takes over and is Mr. Mom and you dedicate this time to yourself. Please don't go easy on him and say that he needs all weekend to work on his academics because this is not true. I have been there with my husband through exactly the sane thing. He can schedule time away from the books, and he needs to. He needs to do it for you, for his relationship with you and to build his relationship with the kids. Please forgive me if he already does give you plenty of "me" time at weekends. I know how hard it is to decide who gets what time when both parents are so busy and one is studying.
Bottom line is: with all that you do, if you don't get some serious and regularly scheduled "me" time, you are going to burn out big time, or get depressed or start resenting your responsibilities.
In an ideal world, using what you have, you could do something like this:
Mon: 4DS
Tues: 4 DS
Weds: Off
Thurs: 4 DS
Fri: 4 DS
Sat: Butts & Guts
Sun: Drill Max
But, your life is not ideal, so try to shoot for covering certain bases if you can. Aim for the following each week:
Cardio workouts - 3
Lower Body Strength Training - 1
Upper body strength training - 1 per week per muscle group
Then, if you can do that much, you have covered all the bases for health. Maybe perfection is still a way off, but then, it is for nearly all of us!
If you have to miss a workout, just let it drop. Don't sweat it, don't try and double up the next day because usually that just makes you feel more intimidated about all you have facing you the next workout session. If in doubt and faced with time crunch, select weight training over cardio, every time. It does more for you in the time it takes, and creates a bigger calorie burn for longer after exercise than cardio does.
I don't know what else to tell you except, keep on doing what you are doing. You are an inspiration, really. And if anyone ever criticized you for doing B&G "too much," well, what the hell do they know anyway? Have they ever walked a mile in your shoes? I find it always helps me to imagine such people with their trousers around their ankles......
Cheers to you,
Clare
It may be true that it is what we aspire to (peak fitness and fabulous bodies) that unites us around here, rather than what we do (3 hour workouts 6 days a week!?!?!?!).
So, don't for a second compare yourself to anyone else. OK? You are here, you have a certain amount of time each week and a certain amount of drive and energy and you can be the best "you" possible with a little encouragement from us and consistency, as much consistency as you can manage. Put like that, we are all in the same boat. Some of us have more time challenges and energy-drainers than others, but more or less, we understand where you are coming from.
You are going to have to cut yourself some slack, really. Pat yourself on the back right now for the tremendous job that you do, in all areas of your life. Your daily reality 'aint easy but you keep showing up to the table, and I respect that. You have already shopped yourself into a much better shape and should keep congratulating yourself for finding the time and determination to get healthier. Bear in mind that the first few pounds are the easiest to lose. Once you have already lost some, your metabolic rate slows down a little to get in line with your new lower weight: a lower body weight requires fewer calories to maintain. That's why those last 10-15 are the hardest to lose. Hardest, but not impossible: right?
It is hard to recommend any particular rotation for you with the few DVDs that you have. I think you would find it frustrating to follow any of Cathe's set rotations because there will be so many DVDs used in them, as suggested workouts, that you don't yet have. But that doesn't mean you can't do a damn fine job with what you have. The 4 Day Split in itself is a rotation. With 4 cardio workouts, daily strength training and all those premixes, you could stay with that for a few months before you need to buy anything else and get excellent workouts.
I think also that you are going to have to get your husband involved more. Since you work a full time job and are primary care giver for the kids at weekends, you need to negotiate with your husband that every Sat and Sun he gives you 1-2 hours where he takes over and is Mr. Mom and you dedicate this time to yourself. Please don't go easy on him and say that he needs all weekend to work on his academics because this is not true. I have been there with my husband through exactly the sane thing. He can schedule time away from the books, and he needs to. He needs to do it for you, for his relationship with you and to build his relationship with the kids. Please forgive me if he already does give you plenty of "me" time at weekends. I know how hard it is to decide who gets what time when both parents are so busy and one is studying.
Bottom line is: with all that you do, if you don't get some serious and regularly scheduled "me" time, you are going to burn out big time, or get depressed or start resenting your responsibilities.
In an ideal world, using what you have, you could do something like this:
Mon: 4DS
Tues: 4 DS
Weds: Off
Thurs: 4 DS
Fri: 4 DS
Sat: Butts & Guts
Sun: Drill Max
But, your life is not ideal, so try to shoot for covering certain bases if you can. Aim for the following each week:
Cardio workouts - 3
Lower Body Strength Training - 1
Upper body strength training - 1 per week per muscle group
Then, if you can do that much, you have covered all the bases for health. Maybe perfection is still a way off, but then, it is for nearly all of us!
If you have to miss a workout, just let it drop. Don't sweat it, don't try and double up the next day because usually that just makes you feel more intimidated about all you have facing you the next workout session. If in doubt and faced with time crunch, select weight training over cardio, every time. It does more for you in the time it takes, and creates a bigger calorie burn for longer after exercise than cardio does.
I don't know what else to tell you except, keep on doing what you are doing. You are an inspiration, really. And if anyone ever criticized you for doing B&G "too much," well, what the hell do they know anyway? Have they ever walked a mile in your shoes? I find it always helps me to imagine such people with their trousers around their ankles......
Cheers to you,
Clare
janiejoey
Cathlete
Just Crazy,
Welcome to the forums. You will get lots of information. Also congratulations on the weight you lost. You are on the right track.
Janie
The idea is to die young as late as possible
http://www.picturetrail.com/janiejoey
Welcome to the forums. You will get lots of information. Also congratulations on the weight you lost. You are on the right track.
Janie
The idea is to die young as late as possible
http://www.picturetrail.com/janiejoey
nancy324
Cathlete
Well, justcrazy, you make me feel like a slug in comparison. I have no kids, let alone kids with disabilities, yet I rarely find time to exercise during the work week. How do you do it? Your weight sounds very good to me. It sounds to me like you've already taken over the world! You're asking for recipes. Don't tell me you cook too???? I, for one, am in awe of you. I think it's we who should be asking you for help. 
DebbieH
Cathlete
Well said Nance! She is AMAZING!!!!
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!
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!
lainiefig
Cathlete
Hi and welcome, JUSTCRAZY. I admire how you manage your life. I am a stay-at-home-mom with just two kids. Sometimes if you're really busy just any workout is impressive. Like someone else said, there's a wide range of personalities and abilities on here. I've been working out with Cathe for almost a year and I still have weight to lose and strength to gain. The best advice I've gotten so far on working out is that the best workout for you is the one you will do. Generally as far as a rotation, I usually try to do 2-3 days of weights and 2-3 days of cardio, not doing the same body part two days in a row so that part can rest. If you have 4DS, that's another great way to organize workouts--just do one workout from the 4DS each day or do rest days between each one. Or if you don't have time for that (you seem pretty busy)--break it down even further and do something like 4DS Kickbox on day 1, then the leg section from that workout the next day, then 4DS Higher Intensity on day 3, and the weights from that workout the next day and so on. Then you'd only be doing a half hour a day or so. I don't know if that's an ideal rotation or not, but it might be an option.
As far as recipes, I have started putting together some that you can download on my blog. Look on this page http://web.mac.com/lainiefig/iWeb/Site/Exercise/Exercise.html at the one that says "Recipes for BFL.doc" It's a word document with some clean, healthy meals. They are for use in a program called Body for Life, but they are also good for clean, light eating in general. There's another recipe document on there but only one recipe on that so far (need to round up some more, but sometimes I work slowly).
Hope that helps, and again, welcome.
[font face="comic sans ms" font color=purple]***Lainie***
fitness blog: http://fitnessfig.blogspot.com
dream blog: http://dreamerfig.blogspot.com
http://bestsmileys.com/exercising/7.gif
If you want to give God a good laugh, tell Her your plans.[/f]
Generally as far as a rotation, I usually try to do 2-3 days of weights and 2-3 days of cardio, not doing the same body part two days in a row so that part can rest. If you have 4DS, that's another great way to organize workouts--just do one workout from the 4DS each day or do rest days between each one. Or if you don't have time for that (you seem pretty busy)--break it down even further and do something like 4DS Kickbox on day 1, then the leg section from that workout the next day, then 4DS Higher Intensity on day 3, and the weights from that workout the next day and so on. Then you'd only be doing a half hour a day or so. I don't know if that's an ideal rotation or not, but it might be an option.As far as recipes, I have started putting together some that you can download on my blog. Look on this page http://web.mac.com/lainiefig/iWeb/Site/Exercise/Exercise.html at the one that says "Recipes for BFL.doc" It's a word document with some clean, healthy meals. They are for use in a program called Body for Life, but they are also good for clean, light eating in general. There's another recipe document on there but only one recipe on that so far (need to round up some more, but sometimes I work slowly).
Hope that helps, and again, welcome.
[font face="comic sans ms" font color=purple]***Lainie***
fitness blog: http://fitnessfig.blogspot.com
dream blog: http://dreamerfig.blogspot.com
http://bestsmileys.com/exercising/7.gif
If you want to give God a good laugh, tell Her your plans.[/f]