Need advice from the educated crowd- increasing weights and rotations

C

ChicagoJen

Cathlete
Hello all,

I'm sure that everyone is just loving the intensity series as much as I am! How awesome! I can't say it enough. Anyway, I need some advice about increasing my weight loads safely, yet effectively.

I've been using Cathe tapes for about 6 years now. I consider myself to be in good shape, yet I want to get much more cut than I am now. Of course, diet is important and I've been working on that. Kind of... ;)

How do you know when to increase your weights and by what increments? I think that I'm just sinking into a comfort zone and I'm not really progressing anymore.

My body responds better to lifting heavier weights, I've learned, yet I just get in this rut where it's constantly 10,12,and 15 dumbbells for upper body and a max of 50 lbs for lower body. ARGH!!!

For the past 6 years,I've always just done random workouts with a weights video one day and cardio the next. I've recently started using the rotations from the fitness video fanatics website, as well as writing down the weights that I use. I'm sure that this will help me break some of these plateaus.

Also, what is this I'm reading about catalogs that break down Cathe's videos? Am I out of the loop or what? : ) How do I get my hot little hands on these?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much and keep on working out! : )

Jen
 
Hi Jennifer,

You've asked an excellent question. One that many of us have wondered about.

Personally, there is no way I could go from a 15 lb dumbbell to a 20 lb dumbbell. Recently, I have found a couple of things that have helped me to increase my weights slowly. I've invested in a bunch of magnets for my dumbbells. You can get some good sized magnets for $3 or $4 in the "hardware" section of Home Depot. Put a magnet on each end of your dumbbell & weigh it. Add a magnet until you've reached an appropriate weight. Or invest about $25 for 2 Platemates (http://www.fwonline.com/) to increase your dumbbells 1.25 lbs--yes that means $50 for 2 dumbbells.

For increasing your barbell in small increments, you can invest in 1" washers from your local hardware store or http://www.mcmaster.com/. I have also found 1.25 lb plates at my local Omni Fitness store. They are $0.49 each. They are so darned cute. Putting one of these little babies on is less intimidating than a bigger weight.

By using both of these methods, my strength is increasing quickly & pretty "painlessly."

Good luck.

Deborah--formerly known as GettingFit, now the Fitness Goddess thanks to Cathe! LOL [link:www.mindundermuscle.com/web%20pages/hawver|http://www.mindundermuscle.com/HB.gif]
 
I am curious about these magnets? Just how heavy can one get them? It sounds like a very good idea as long as they don't come in ounces. Also, what section do you generally find them in?
Thanks for the info.
 
I am curious about these magnets? Just how heavy can one get them? It sounds like a very good idea as long as they don't come in ounces. Also, what section do you generally find them in?
Thanks for the info.
 
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jan-17-03 AT 11:57AM (Est)[/font][p]Hi Jen!
One thing I have done that has worked is doing transition workouts. Similar to Slow and Heavy but with even fewer reps per set. I'll go right along with Cathe, but use the next heaviest weight and do, say, only 3 reps or however few I need to do with good form.

Part of training with a heavier weight is just getting into a new groove in your brain, with the new forces on your fingers and supporting muscles. This type of transition low rep workout helps get you into that new groove.

Also, I sometimes speed up the reps to 3-3 or (faster than the S&H count) from Slow and Heavy with some of these. Actually I have done workouts like this with just some music on, too. But I find Cathe's tapes keep me from branching out too much into too many exercises at once.

So grab a 20 pound dumbbell in each hand and try 3 beautifully formed overhead presses.

As for the catalogs, whenever you buy something from this site it is sent with a catalog that says "Cathe 2001" or "Fall 2001" on it. In it is a list and breakdown of every Cathe DVD. You could probably request just a catalog from this site.
HTH!
-Connie
 
Hi Connie,

Thanks for the great ideas! So simple, yet I just never thought of slowing down the reps and going heavier. I'm such a regimented person when it comes to working out, Connie. Thank goodness for your creativity. I think you've just helped me kick my rut. Hurray!

Regarding the catalogs, I've been ordering via the website for the last 5 years and no catalogs... : (

Oh well, I'll just get them all now. Life is good!

Just out of curiousity, what is your weight selection on slow and heavy? You sound like you're really strong!!! Keep up the hard work.

Take care,
Jen
 
Hi Jen!
Me- on Slow and Heavy I have a log here... Note that I can do more weight with 6 reps than with 8 reps.

Chest- bench - 25's. incline flyes- 15's.
Biceps- curls- 15's. bar curls- 25. (ez bar)
Shoulders- seated o-h press- 15's.
Triceps- seated French press- 20. kickbacks- 8.

These are all at 8 reps.

By the way I only know of one small catalog, but I have more than one copy. Fall 2001.

The weights above-- I can do dead lifts at 30-40 pounds but I can also do 3-4 good dead lifts with 60 pounds. Every once in a while I'll try to lift my heaviest weight.

I have seen where lots of people on this forum really have me beat in weight! But I have only been at it a year. It takes time to get strong (and coordinated) and... patient.
Have fun!
-Connie
 
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