desertambrosia
Cathlete
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. I don't have it, but I need a lot of variety in my workouts.
Oh my! So many workouts what's a girl to do??
- Thread starter wonderwoman
- Start date
nckfitheart2009
Cathlete
Got it Jen
I have looked at Mark Lauren stuff... Hmm it looks very good.
Great pointers. Thanks to your enabling post
112toGuru--that is a good question. I do follow systems but I don't really prefer to follow them. It depends on a lot of things. I have workout ADHD--so systems are hard for me to follow. I get bored and want more variety. But if I feel there is a real benefit to following one and real results will only happen with the kind of consistency following specific training method for period of time will give, then I will follow it. That's why I followed STS, Body Beast and PiYo--because I wanted the kind of results that I would get from sticking to those systems. Other systems tho, I followed and I feel I could get similar or even better results from creating my own rotations using the workouts within the system but including lots of other elements. Insanity and TurboFire are perfect examples--both contain excellent workouts, but to do nothing but the system rotation is missing a lot of important areas of fitness, IMHO.
In the end, I want to create my own rotations in which I switch off between periods of metabolic strength workouts and periods of heavier/hypertrophy strength workouts; but I also want to incorporate adequate HIIT, kickboxing and flexibility throughout. I have so much to choose from I could create endless variety within an ongoing rotation. And like I mentioned before, I just discovered Mark Lauren's EFX and now I feel I MUST include more bodyweight training. I was already really getting into bodyweight training from Weider Ruthless, PiYo and BodyFit 360--but he takes it to a new level. BTW--I'll be posting the review of EFX on Friday.
Jen, I just wanted to give a shout out to you, because I am a regular reader of your blog and reference it all the time. Thank you so much for sharing all your hard work with us!
wow, you sound really super excited about Mark Lauren, what ever could have made you go in that direction?
do tell...
Jen....I love your blog and also visit it regularly. It's incredibly detailed and somehow allows me to "see" the wkout without an actual video clip! But I'm politely asking you to stop mentioning other instructors.....because once you do.....my credit card makes an appearance. LOL. I'm kidding of course! We seem to have similar taste in wkouts so if you blog it......I buy it. Crazy!
jengollf
Cathlete
thanks ladies! I'm so glad my blog is helpful! It helps me a lot, too. I try to record my thoughts as soon as possible after doing the workout, so that I can refresh my memory when I haven't done a workout in a while. And I am an enabler! Haha! I learned it on this site. I now own every single Cathe workout. I did not have the intention of buying every single one, but every workout that was brought up here sounded so awesome, I had to have it! And you ladies were always right. Cathe is still my favorite trainer. This forum also introduced me to Kelly Coffey-Meyer, another new favorite. And convinced me to buy PiYo--which, when Beachbody tried to sell it to me via their emails, I had zero interest. But the reviews here made me want to try and I am so glad I did! Oh and Body Beast, too!
112toGuru--in answer to your question, I posted my review for EFX today. I am enamored of the program and already have You Are Your Own Gym DVD on order and his other two DVD programs on my wishlist.
112toGuru--in answer to your question, I posted my review for EFX today. I am enamored of the program and already have You Are Your Own Gym DVD on order and his other two DVD programs on my wishlist.
Hi Jen,
Based on your review, I'm interested in EFX. But I'm just wondering how you would compare it to PiYo. Does the latter have more flexibility work? Would you consider the two programs to be different in fundamental ways? Do you prefer one over the other?
Thanks in advance,
Roz
jengollf
Cathlete
Hi Roz, tho they are based on the same basic concept--body weight training--I found them very different. PiYo combines pilates and yoga into something very flowing (for the most part; each workout is different)--so you get strength and flexibility. EFX I found to be much more challenging. For one, in PiYo everything is always moving. Not so in EFX; you are putting your muscles under tension and doing everything in a slow and controlled manner. In EFX form is one of the most important things. I am not saying form isn't important in all workouts we do, including PiYo, but not like it is in EFX. In EFX it is fundamental. It is the most challenging bodyweight training I have ever done--more so than PiYo and BodyFit 360 (tho I love all of those workouts and will still do them). As for flexibility, you actually get a lot in EFX. The workouts themselves are strength, but the warm up and especially the 12 minute cool down will stretch you out very deeply. In fact, some of the stretches in the cool down were uncomfortably deep for me. It may be just my opinion, but I really felt like in EFX, the cool down was an essential part of the training program and would never skip it. So even tho PiYo incorporates the flexibility aspect throughout and EFX doesn't, if you are doing the warm up and cool down in EFX, you are getting 16 minutes of deep stretching to your entire body every time you do the workouts.
So in the end, if I had to choose between PiYo and EFX, I would choose EFX every time.
So in the end, if I had to choose between PiYo and EFX, I would choose EFX every time.
catwoman7631
Cathlete
Jen, I also have to say how much I love your blog! It's a permanent open tab on my iPad! I'm always going back to refresh my memory on workouts. Speaking of new workouts...I just saw on FB that Jillian Michaels has put out a follow-up to Body Revolution called Bodyshred. Any plans to add that to your collection?? I watched the preview clip for it and some of the exercises just look crazy!
jengollf
Cathlete
Yes, much cheaper than PiYo. I personally like having all of them because they are so different from each other. More variety. But I also think EFX is the best. I am reading his books right now and I think I am even going to start one of his non-DVD programs 3 times a week. If I follow it and keep at it, progressing through the steps he lays out, I should be able to do pistol squats, pull ups, one hand push ups and two other really advanced exercises by the time I reach the end. It has 5 areas and you progressively move up to harder bodyweight exercises in each area until you reach 5 very advanced exercises.
Catwoman--yes! I saw Jillian's new program launched! I listen to her podcast so I have been waiting for it to finally be released. I do plan to get it, but watching the preview was pretty daunting. That looks like the hardest program/workout she has ever created. I'm a little scared! I won't be getting it right away tho. I just started RwH this morning (and LOVED the first workout--Upper Circuit + Abs 1), then I have a bunch of other new programs I want to try (including Insanity Max 30), so I won't be buying it right away, but probably early next year.
Catwoman--yes! I saw Jillian's new program launched! I listen to her podcast so I have been waiting for it to finally be released. I do plan to get it, but watching the preview was pretty daunting. That looks like the hardest program/workout she has ever created. I'm a little scared! I won't be getting it right away tho. I just started RwH this morning (and LOVED the first workout--Upper Circuit + Abs 1), then I have a bunch of other new programs I want to try (including Insanity Max 30), so I won't be buying it right away, but probably early next year.
Wow, Jen, that's impressive! I love it. It's so empowering to be able to do advanced bodyweight stuff. I miss that feeling from when I had a daily yoga practice. Definitely want EFX now!
Roz
catwoman7631
Cathlete
Jen, I think I may be asking for EFX and BodyShred for my birthday in February. Thanks for the enabling!
I saw that too...and caved like a glacier in summer. All I could think after seeing the clips was " a bad day for the ego is a good day for the soul ". I think my ego is definitely going to have a few bad days...it says intermediate to advanced, we'll see.
lisa_la_machina
Cathlete
Jen, Catwoman, or 112toGuru: help a girl out! Would one of you mind posting a link to Jillian's BodyShred workout? I'm dying to see some clips and I can't find it on Google for some reason. Enable me, please!
bayerngirl
Cathlete
Jen, Catwoman, or 112toGuru: help a girl out! Would one of you mind posting a link to Jillian's BodyShred workout? I'm dying to see some clips and I can't find it on Google for some reason. Enable me, please!
getbodyshred - which I totally hope is not against the rules, so weird, I was just asking jengollf about this in that other thread and shazam, it was released. Now you, help a girl out, when I was looking at Body Revolution, thinking I would start with that one because the price has dropped, I started thinking, I don't even know how to tell if those reduced price copies are legit or bootleg, can you (or anyone else) tell me how to verify the genuine article, of these, or anyone else's Dvds including Cathe's?
I've gotten a couple good deals, thinking well, they weren't "new" releases, but, started thinking, I better find out. TIA.
lisa_la_machina
Cathlete
112to Guru,
Thanks so much for the link! My understanding is that a person is 100% allowed to post links, clips, and his/her own personal feedback on other workouts/instructors on Cathe's forums so long as one is not personally profiting from the review. You can't be a seller posing as a regular Cathlete or anyone who works for a particular company that sells/produces videos. That kinda thing. And I don't think that's you...you seem to be just a regular home exerciser like most of us here.
In terms of reduced price videos, I'm not sure where you are looking. I personally avoid eBay because I have heard too many horror stories. I stick with sites that I have had good histories with: Totalfitnessdvds, Amazon, and Cathe.com (I'm a pre-ordering junkie). I have also purchased videos from other instructors' websites directly, like Michelle Dozois's website and KCM's website. This is what works for me. Maybe others can help you out more. Thank you so much for helping ME out!
Lisa
ETA: At totalfitnessdvds.com, you can always enter coupon code 10OFF for 10% off of whatever you are ordering.
112to Guru,
Thanks so much for the link! My understanding is that a person is 100% allowed to post links, clips, and his/her own personal feedback on other workouts/instructors on Cathe's forums so long as one is not personally profiting from the review. You can't be a seller posing as a regular Cathlete or anyone who works for a particular company that sells/produces videos. That kinda thing. And I don't think that's you...you seem to be just a regular home exerciser like most of us here.
In terms of reduced price videos, I'm not sure where you are looking. I personally avoid eBay because I have heard too many horror stories. I stick with sites that I have had good histories with: Totalfitnessdvds, Amazon, and Cathe.com (I'm a pre-ordering junkie). I have also purchased videos from other instructors' websites directly, like Michelle Dozois's website and KCM's website. This is what works for me. Maybe others can help you out more. Thank you so much for helping ME out!
Lisa
ETA: At totalfitnessdvds.com, you can always enter coupon code 10OFF for 10% off of whatever you are ordering.
Thanks for the info, yes that's correct, I do not sell/produce/ or work for any companies that offer videos. Thanks again for the tips on avoiding the counterfeits.
Cupcake
Cathlete
Sometimes I look at my collection and think I'm pathological. I even have old VHS Firms ... which I can't use anymore but I remember being 26 and collecting them along with that Firm padded barbell! Sometimes I even wonder what to do with all of them. My frozen shoulder has derailed everything though and it's so frustrating. I stare at my KBs longingly and hate looking at my skinny fat arms. Are there any workouts out there without planks or burpees ormountainclimbers? It's tough to dothose when your shoulder won't move.