Professional advice please!

[B.GATES]

Cathe,
I Have been Doing aerobics and weight training for years but have not been able to achieve that hard muscular yet femanine look you have. My trainer says I over train to much and should only be doing cardio 2 days a week. I love doing your dvd's, I look at the monthy programs you post and say to myself that looks like overtraining to me. Please help.. Do you take supplements?


Bridget Gates, [email protected]

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Bridget! We are all very individual and after all of the appropriate steps have been taken, our genetics will have the final say in how we look and feel.

My suggestion is to consider talking to your current trainer (or even a new trainer) about your concerns and goals in greater depth and ask him/her to be more specific as to why you should or shouldn't do something. Then of course always listen to your body. Nobody knows your body better than you do. If something doesn't make sense to you or feel right to you then re-evaluate it, or modify it (or simply don't do it) so thats it suits your needs.

Good luck and thanks for visiting!

 

[B.GATES]

Thank you Cathe for taking the time to answer my question. I guess I didn't give you enough info. I work out at the gym 3 days a week working a muscle group hard once a week . My trainer is certified and a pro bodybuilder. he says if I do more cardio I will be using my muscle as fuel. He has me on a 1200 calorie diet 40/30/30. I'm 5'4 120lbs. It may be good genetics that allow you to do so much and still look muscular and lean? I guess I'm just getting frustrated because I'm not as hard as I want to Be? Thanks for your time!!!!

 

[charlotteyochem]

Bridget:

In 1990, when I started law school, I also started working out at a local boxing gym every afternoon to up my exercising ante and try something totally new that always looked like the ultimate workout to me. This was a little Mexican boxing gym in San Antonio, TX. First, I was told, NO. That I had to have a sparring partner. So, I asked my best friend (also an athletic amazon) and together we started something that literally changed our lives and totally changed our bodies. There was a huge sign that said, "No Girls," at the entrance to the gym. But within a matter of weeks, we weren't considered girls. We were guys. It was such a rush and such a new challenge and cultural experience for us that we never noticed what the training was doing to our bodies. Then one day I was shopping with one of my sons and a total stranger said, "My god - look at her arms..." then she asked me if I was a professional swimmer. (??) You get going in the routine and do what the coach says to do, for the amount of time he says, and try not to look wimpy to the boxers who are REALLY training, and the next thing you know your muscles have definition and you are a calorie burning monster. Every afternoon and evening we worked out on the heavy bags, the over/under bag, the speed bag and jump rope for 2 hours. We went directly to a bar to drink beer after working out just to replace calories!! Insane!! At the time, I was 30 years old and have never been in better shape. Ever. And talk about confidence... Fast forward to the real world after law school: trying to keep up that level of workout inevitably lead me to Cathe's tapes. Awesome, as we all know. But I still have a boxing gym (at my house now) to let loose on regularly. I still get carded. Now I'm 44 years old and recently was thought to be my son's wife...

Sorry - very long winded. (But this crowd will appreciate this!) The point I want to make is to suggest that perhaps you might look for a local boxing gym (watch out - they smell) and shock yourself with that level of upper arm work to get your definition started. Cathe has us covered with the upkeep forever! }( Thank you, Cathe!

Charlotte