Question for the Cathe and aerobic veterans. . .

[Southernfit]

O.K. I have been trying to figure out the answer to this question on my own and I'm tired of not getting any answers.

About five years ago I started doing Step Aerobics (at a gym) for the first time in my life and I LOVED it. I was 22 at the time and had never really been into fitness. After about 9 months, I started noticing that when I would wear my normal pants, I had lost inches in my waist, but my legs (mainly my butt and thighs) had gotten bigger and therefore my pants were tight in those areas. So, I eased off the step (did more hi-lo which is NOT what I enjoy doing), cleaned up my diet, and did notice a change. I eventually stopped the aerobics all together b/c I had a baby and time was not available for classes, so I started using cardio machines.

I got back into Step Aerobics (and I truly love it)--mainly Cathe tapes about 7 months ago and guess what? I'm noticing the same thing happening to me--my waist is losing inches, yet my butt and thighs are getting bigger (and this is not something I particularly like). This time I am including Muscle Endurance Lower and Upper Body tapes in my weekly workout schedule in addition to my cardio. I have continued to watch my food and caloric intake and really feel that I cannot lower my calories any more. My personal opinion is that this is my body has alot of natural muscle tone and builds easily--I think genetics is playing a role also.

Has anyone else out there experienced this? I've always heard that muscle weighs more than fat, but is more compact, therefore you will lose inches. How long does that take to happen?

Any input, opinions, advice would be greatly appreciated.

I will end this by saying my cardio endurance is the best it has EVER been and I feel more fit and happier--just want to know if my glutes and thighs are something I have to accept and move on!!

THANKS A MILLION!! I love learning from this forum.
Jessi

 

[tetons]

Hi Jessi

I have the same problem and I also LOVE stepping. My solution, and it has worked, to to keep stepping, but LOWER my step height. I now step on a 4 inch board, no risers, for Cathe videos. My other videos I can use the risers - must be sporadic enough not to make a difference... who knows. Anyway, that worked for me. My legs thined down right away after I stopped using the riser and now I just really focus on the expolsive movements.

Good luck.

 

[Aquajock]

In addition to lowering your step height, also consider adding in kickboxing (CTX Kickbox, Cardio Kicks, and a couple of other CTX cardio routines that have kickbox segments) as a good variation to your cardio program. It works the legs in different ways, and what could be happening is that you've just gotten too good - thus too efficient - at step and thus are losing a bit of the cardio "edge" as well as varied challenge to the thigh muscles.

Also, you haven't mentioned which Cathe step routines you're doing right now, but if they're all primarily steady-state cardio routines, consider bringing in Interval Max 1 and Interval Max 2; interval training really pushes you to your cardiovascular limit, and Cathe's interval training incorporates a lot of plyo moves which can be excellent leg leaner-outers, believe it or not.

Also, consider if you're not already doing so, bringing in circuit-style training, a la Body Max's step-step-circuit routine, Circuit Max, Cardio+Weights, Boot Camp and the Terminator DVD (Terminator is only available in DVD format) from the Intensity Series. Circuit style training incorporates weighted resistance cycles into the unweighted faster-paced cardio segments with the intention of keeping your heart rate elevated.

Also, consider investing in the Slow and Heavy Series; slow heavy leg strength training often has the surprising effect of leaning out the muscles rather than "bulking" them out.

Finally, it is more accurate to state that muscle is denser than fat, as opposed to the oft-repeated statement that muscle "weighs" more than fat. A pound of muscle weighs as much as a pound of fat; but as you said, it is denser and thus takes up less space . . . as well as being much healthier for you.

Hope this helps!

Good Luck!

A-Jock
Ph.D in Spending Other People's Money