Need Advice on Muscle Training

[Amy Steppe]

I have been using all Cathe's heavy weight workouts and now I don't like all the bulk.

How can I keep my tone without more bulk?

I need advice! I am a loss as to how to keep my tone but getting my muscles leaner.

 

[Davidj]

More reps, lighter weights?

A non-expert here (and I hope no reader flames me on this, but), what I do is to just lighten the weights and do more reps. This week I am doing the first 40 min of S&H (on alternate days), and what I do is to lighten up on the weights, and to sneak in 3 or 4 reps during the 1-minute breaks.

Cathe says that the point of S&H is to "increase strength", and this is true. But I try to do more reps anyways. I enjoy S&H a lot so this is why I approach the program this way.
-- David

 

[syzygy314]

That's a good idea! Another is to work with the circuit DVDs. Those tend to work with lighter weights and higher reps or even Muscle Endurance. Check ShopCathe for more of the endurance weight workouts. You really can't go wrong with the circuit ones though. I haven't done all of Cathe's workouts yet, but I'm sure some of the others here can give you more ideas on the titles of more of the endurance DVDs.

 

[Amy Steppe]

Great Ideas!

I own almost every DVD Cathe has done! I even own Mega Step Blast and the Wedding workout!

I never thought about going back to workouts like Bootcamp, etc.

I think some of the circuits like Cardio & Weights, Cross Train Express, etc. will work great too.

I've been doing STS (Meso One is still OK I am sure - but Two and Three are a different story), Gym Styles, and Slow and Heavy. I love Gym Style Upper Body workouts - but it is time to lean out some.

All I can say is if anybody wants to build definition and add bulk, if you push yourself with weights and push yourself - you WILL have great results.

I saw a photo of myself the other day and I look like a Linebacker - which is not a look I want.

But I always remind myself my body is burning more calories even at rest when I have muscles!

 

[Amy Steppe]

A non-expert here (and I hope no reader flames me on this, but), what I do is to just lighten the weights and do more reps. This week I am doing the first 40 min of S&H (on alternate days), and what I do is to lighten up on the weights, and to sneak in 3 or 4 reps during the 1-minute breaks.

Cathe says that the point of S&H is to "increase strength", and this is true. But I try to do more reps anyways. I enjoy S&H a lot so this is why I approach the program this way.
-- David

David for the fun factor for muscle workouts, slow and heavy I tend to prefer Slow and Heavy.

I am addicted to Gym Styles, STS Meso Two in particular and Slow and Heavy.

But I think I have hit a plateau and I am too bulky. So your advice is great!

Thanks!

 

[Elle_p]

I agree that lower weights/higher reps would be the way to go. Muscle Endurance is great for this. I also think Cathe's circuit workouts would do the job: Low Impact Circuit, High step Challenge, etc...

 

[pressju]

Hi Amy. How I did it: HIIT cardio once or twice a week, plus different resistance training including pilates, resistance band workouts, no wieght resistance work (thanks to a creative trainer I have), several weeks of higher rep lower weight workouts, and with Cathe Boot Camp (my all time fav), Power Hour, Cirucit Max, Drill Max, etc.. It worked. I only do heavy weight workouts here and there for the challenge. If I did STS for three months, I would be too hulky bulky!

Good luck!

 

[Fit_mommy]

I always found high rep low weight is what leaned me out too though things like Muscle Endurance were never quite enough for me. I need things like Jari's w/o's, Slim Series, etc. in order to get the job done.

I love heavy weight training for the upper body too though and alternate between the two.

I just started STS and am excited to see what it does for my upper body. On the other hand, I am doing meso 1 legs only. After that I will do things like Tonique, BBL and Butts and Guts Lower Body Blast for legs while doing mesos 2 and 3. I personally hate it when my LOWER body gets bulky as opposed to my upper.

 

[RapidBreath]

How about circuits and a barre workout? I also put on a lot of muscle extremely easily (I got biceps from carrying my camera, I'm not kidding, I would flex my guns but it might frighten small children.) I don't do just weights. Circuits are great, I really like CW, LIC and Bootcamp. Since you have already built your bulk you don't need to continue with GS. How much cardio are you doing? Is there a layer of fat on top, making it more bulky than it really needs to be? I have that. The most slimming activities for me are running and yoga.