new to Cathe and need video advice

[tillard]

I posted an introductory post on the open discussion board with a DVD question at the end. I won't repeat all of the introductory stuff again, but I thought I should maybe pose that same workout related question on this board as well.

Long story short I've got really skinny legs (like freakishly skinny ). I want to bulk them up. What is/are the best workout(s) for this fitness objective?? I've gotten all the hardcore series but Low max, stretch max, and high step challenge (I think that one's in there). Oh and I didn't get hardcore extreme. I purchased the body blast series, and the intensity series. But didn't get the Timesaver or Terminator DVD's. I'm hoping you guys will tell me I've already purchased the best ones for the job, but knowing my luck that won't actually be the case and the video's that will help me most are one's I don't have yet :-( .

Thanks for any advice you may be able to give me. I'm so psyched I found Cathe and this forum. Great stuff!!

 

[Aquajock]

To build muscle mass in the legs, go for the Gym Styles Legs workout, the Intensity Series Pyramid Lower Body workout (in its entirety; it has briefer pyramid up and pyramid down premixes), and the Body Blast Legs & Glutes workout (on the same DVD as Kick Punch Crunch). Do any two of the above with 2-3 days between; for example, do Gym Styles Legs on Monday and Pyramid Lower Body on Thursday; do Legs & Glutes on Monday and back to Gym Style Legs on Thursday. The third week, do Muscle Max lower body only twice in a row on Monday, and either Body Blast Supersets or Push-Pull leg drills only on Thursday. Then give your legs a break on the fourth week.

Good cardio workouts that help you build muscle mass in the legs are those that include a lot of plyometric ("plyo") drills. From what you have, these could include I-Max 2 from the Intensity Series and I-Max 3 from the Body Blast Series. Other leg shapers that are mostly cardio are Kick Punch Crunch and the cardio/lower-body only premix from Boot Camp.

Alternate your cardio days and your leg days so your legs will be fresh for some serious mass building.

HTH -

A-Jock

 

[tillard]

Wow...thanks for all of the advice.

While I definately need advice on rotations with the ones that I own, I want to make sure I have in my collection the ones I need to do the job. So are the ones I already own the best ones in your opinion, or are there other titles out there that may work better than the ones I have? I just want to make sure I've got in my arsenal that which is going to give me the best results. I got my DVD's thus far just on looking at the individual titles...I didn't discover this forum until I'd already placed the order. So if there is one out there that would be better than the ones I have for the whole "leg-bulking" thing let me know. I can't buy a bunch more right now...well at least not without risking divorce by my husband...heehee, but I could buy one or two more.

I figure we aren't renewing our gym membership because we never go, since we seemed to have acquired our own gym at home (I've done a bunch of the beachbody programs...currently on my second round of the X), so I can use some of that money on new DVD's. So if there are one or two more that you feel would be an asset to have let me know.

Thanks again for your help!!

Deni

 

[Aquajock]

Hello again, Deni!

If you're in a mood to spend even more sheckles on good Cathe DVDs, and if you're wanting to build muscle mass in the legs, I would suggest you got the Slow And Heavy Series. This series, produced in 2001, is a 3-workout split-set routine that is very focused, very intense and has produced very good mass-building results for its customers. It's called Slow And Heavy because Cathe incorporates a very slow count for the reps in most of the exercises, and the leg stuff is a real burner. People tend to use the S&H series in shorter rotations (maybe 3-4 weeks max) because the workouts are a bit of a time hog AND it's just very intense. But the results have been very gratifying.

Cathe's produced so many strengthening workouts (total body and split-set) that it's tough to limit the suggestion to just one. But that's mine, and I think with your current DVDs and S&H you'll see some real results.

A note about equipment: a barbell is a must, a neck pad for the barbell can do you some good for comfort's sake, be prepared to trade up to heavier dumbbells over time, and consider investing in a weight vest (weight vests are available from a number of companies; I have one that can go up to 40 lbs). Mass building and leg strengthening (in terms of absolute strength, the heaviest weight you can lift) kind of go hand in hand, so you're gonna be investing and reinvesting in home equipment.

HTH -

A-Jock

 

[tillard]

Thanks Annette...I think I'm definately going to invest in the S & H DVD. After looking at it further and reading so many glowing reviews of it I could use it in my collection.

Thanks for the heads up. I'm by no means a stranger to weight lifting and have quite a collection of dumbbells, as both my husband and I are doing P90X and we are both working in the heavy lifting zone of 8 to 10 reps, so I think I'm good for a while on that regard. I'll look into the weight vest...I've never heard of such a thing, but it sounds intriguing. And my last purchase will be the barbell and weights, I don't have them yet.

Thanks again for all of the great advice. It's very much appreciated.

Deni

 

[catwoman]

Don't forget about Lowmax. It's a great cardio workout and leg workout in one. You'll burn fat AND build muscle!