Rotation advice needed

[Stacy]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Feb-03-02 AT 10:52AM (Est)[/font][p]Hi everyone. I'm feeling like I'm in a bit of a rut. Let me start by explaining my previous rotations....a few months ago, I did a rotation that used Power Hour twice a week, then either Circuit Max or the Body Max once a week with the other days being various step tapes (all Cathe). Then I changed up my rotation and did the PS series each once a week, with MIS upper body once a week then did various cardio including Cardio Kicks at least once a week. For the last two weeks, Ive been doing a CTX rotation but neither the cardio nor the strength seem like enough. I love the strength portions of the CTX series (would love them more if I had a DVD player so I could move thru them quickly), and I just feel guilty doing such short cardio sessions since my previous rotations seemed much more intense. So, basically I'm just bored and need something new!! Ive been "dieting" since the 1st of the year and have lost 4 lbs though the last 2 weeks have been less than stellar with my clean eating and my workouts seemed to have not been much in the intensity category. So, now I'm just feeling a little discouraged with my progress and I need a new jump start. Any ideas for a new fitness rotation?? I have all of Cathe's VHS tapes, and I have about an hour a day to workout (some days I can stretch it to an hour and 15 minutes). I also have a recumbent bike, but it honestly bores me. I wouldnt mind keeping with the CTX strength portions, but I guess I need to increase them to twice a week or maybe add a total body day???? Help!! I've lost my motivation!

Thanks,

Stacy

 

[bebop]

Just a suggestion. Why don't you try adding in pilates or yoga once a week? From what I can understand from your post - you are doing just weight lifting. Yoga doesn't use weights and most pilates tapes don't either. I try to do at least one a week in between weight workouts. This would give flexibilty to your muscles and give you new challenge. I like Moira Stott -and I also have both the Denise Austin Pilates tapes - both have a 20 min. yoga and pilates routine so they are easy to fit in to a busy schedule.

You also could give Cathe a rest and try another series - maybe the Firm? Then when you get bored again you could go back to Cathe.

Also, about that bike - I agree with you, it is boring but what I did was purchase a cardio mix tape from Collage and bike with that tape - also, sometimes, if I read while I am on the bike. Just suggestions.

Good luck.

 

[honeybunch]

If you feel the CTX cardios are too short, could you do one and then hop on your bike for an extra 15 minutes? I try to make sure I have interesting TV on when I ride my bike....that's my best way to ward off boredom.

Also, if you are doing your CTX cardios that require a step and you're using a 6" step, increase it to 8". That's what I did.

 

[Stargazer]

Hi Stacy,
here is another suggestion...

Day 1 - Do the Kickbox/biceps ctx tape and add on the weight work only from the ctx triceps tape (actually I think what I did was kb then bi's then tri's then planks and abs - it requires tape queing and switching
Day 2 - Step tape or MIC or other 60' cardio tape/workout
Day 3 - CTX Step & Intervals/chest and add on CTX back
Day 4 - Leaner legs add on shoulder work
Day 5 - IMAX
Day 6 - MIS
Day 7 rest.

Now the problem is this will push you into the 75 minute range more often than not and it requires setting up your tapes so you can switch them easily during your workout. Also it is pretty intense so I wouldn't want to do it for more then 2 or 3 weeks. You can change which cardio you do as long as you don't put power circuit on the day before or after leaner legs. You can also split MIC in half and use the cardio on two different days with the ctx weights (more tape swithing)

Best of luck with your rotation search!
-joy

 

[KathyH]

Hi Stacy! Some weeks you just have to do a more moderate type workout in order to see results. You've been intense for quite some time and your probably reaching a plateau. I too was getting very bored with 2 different routines I had until Honeybunch came to my rescue with her rotation. It sounds like you do need to give Cathe a rest and try different instructors. That's what I did even with the weight training. Honeybunch's rotation looks like this:

Monday: PS chest/shoulders & 30 min. cardio
Tuesday: PS SLA or S&H Legs or Leaner Legs/Abs
Wednesday: PS back & 30 min. cardio
Thursday: S&H tris & bis/abs
Friday: OFF
Saturday: OFF
Sunday: 60 - 90 min. of cardio

I've also used Janis Saffell's Brand New Butt and More, Charlene Prickett's Serious Curves or a routine that was listed in Muscle & Fitness Hers magazine w/Susie Cury. It was a superset and very hard and challenging. This just keeps the boredom away. Try different weight training and cardio or like the posters suggested just do pilates or yoga. Good luck! Kathy

 

[jillybean]

The only Cathe tapes I own (but I plan on getting all of them!) are the CTX series. I too felt guilty about the shorter cardio sessions. So I really pushed. Like Honeybunch said, I put my step at 8". I really thought about giving it my all when Cathe said 100%! I will admit, the Step Interval tape has 21 min. of cardio so I added 9 min. of a Firm video on to the end the first week, but my ankles hurt the next day so now I just stick to the CTX tapes the way they are. I have already lost a size (in about a month's time) and I have been eating the same (fairly clean) and working out less than I did before I got them (I used to do 70-90 min. of The Firm 6/wk). If you are bored, then by all means try something else, but I thought my improvements might motivate you a little, and for me, motivation is a serious boredom buster!!! Good luck!