rotation question for jillybean

audreygayle

Cathlete
Actually, I have two questions. First, I've been combing through the old posts here in search of the post of your story of going down 2 dress sizes with the CTX series. That is such an inspiration for me to stop just thinking about my new DVD's and actually use them. :) I've started a CTX rotation today, and am adding the push/pull segment to the day's tape. You've mentioned that you do CTX for 4 weeks, then on to MIS, and other rotations. Do you have any of these rotations posted? I find that I am better about sticking to an exercise plan, When I have one mapped out, rather than winging it each day.

Thanks so much.

~Audrey:)
 
Hello! Here is a brief rundown of my rotations. These rotations don't include the new series, but I can post some of those too if you'd like. I like to do endurance, then mixed, then strength. Here goes:
CTX using 2 body parts per day for 4 weeks
Then onto MIS for 4 weeks:
Sat. MIS
Sun. MIC
Mon. MIS
Tue. Lower intensity cardio such as Rhythmic Step or Step Jam
Wed. MIS
Thu. Cardio Kicks or Step Works
Fri. Rest

If doing MIS 3x's a week bores you to death, you can substitute another total body video but I find that this rotation does wonders for my stamina and promotes definition, as well as building a nice foundation of strength.

Next I do PS for 8 weeks (you can do it for 6 or 4 weeks if you like):
Sat. Imax
Sun. PS CST and PS BBA
Mon. PS SL&A
Tue. Imax (or another super intense/interval workout
Wed. weeks 1,3,5,7 I do PH - weeks 2,4,6,8 I do MIS
Thu. A lower intensity tape such as Step Fit
Fri. Rest

This PS rotation is my favorite. I love starting out using about 40# for legs and by the 6th or 7th week I'm using 50. I also love what doing Imax 2x's per week does for my cardiovascular system.

Next is 3 weeks of S&H.
Sat. S&H L&S and a CTX cardio
Sun. S&H C&B
Mon. S&H T&B and a CTX cardio
Tue. Cardio Kicks
Wed. CTX LL and the upperbody section of Body Max (you could also substitute ME or PH if you prefer)
Thu. Imax
Fri. Rest

Another variation is the following:
Sat. S&H L&S
Sun. Power Max
Mon. S&H C&B
Tue. Cardio Kicks
Wed. S&H T&B
Thu. Imax
Fri. Rest

I generally like to hit up each muscle group twice per week, but sometimes S&H leaves me spent so the above rotation is a more restful one.

Then I go into my endurance rotations, starting with PH 3x's a week for 4 weeks:
Sat. PH
Sun. Cardio Kicks
Mon. PH
Tue. Step Jam
Wed. PH
Thu. Imax
Fri. Rest

Again, if the thought of doing PH 3x's in 1 week bores you, you could substitue ME or MIS or Body Max circuit and upperbody segment for one of the days.

Then I go into a mixed rotation:
Sat. Body Max
Sun. Lower intensity cardio such as Rhythmic Step or Step Fit
Mon. MIS lower body and MIC hi/lo
Tue. MIS upper body
Wed. MIC step
Thu. Circuit Max
Fri. Rest

This rotation gives you a chance to go heavy with MIS since you are splitting the tape in two. It also gives you some endurance with Body Max and Circuit Max. I usually do this rotation for 3 or 4 weeks. Then I start all over with the CTX rotation. One thing I like to do, and have stated this before is do the exact same tapes in the exact same order for at least 4 weeks (S&H is the exception as I only do that one for 3 weeks.) This allows you to a.) see what is working and what isn't. If you change tapes every week, how will know which ones are bringing you which results? I also love setting goals for myself every week. If I do Step Works every Tuesday and mess up on the choreography in section 2 during week 1, then I know to really concentrate on that part next week. By the 4th week, the tape is a breeze so I can concentrate on intensity instead of footwork. It is also nice to start out modifying Imax during the first week of the PS rotation. Just watch - by the 8th week, you'll be making your intervals longer, jumping higher, and lunging deeper! Well, I hope I didn't scare you off with all this info!
 
Scare me off, H*ll no. :) Thank you so much for posting all this. I'm printing it out now. This is great. I have all the DVD's so I can definitely follow along. Where in the cycle would you do an intensity series roation?

I'm getting married on 11/1, and really want to get myself into awesome shape by then. I have my motivation <g>, and now I have a plan. And I like the idea of sticking with the same tapes for a few weeks to see improvements. I had to go to basic stepping today during the Step & Interval, as it's quite painful when one trips on one's own feet and lands on the coffe table too many times, but I'm sure by week 4, I should be able to follow most of the moves with bodily injury. <g>

~Audrey
 
Oh, Jilly, Jilly!

Thanks for this delicious post! It's going in my personal archive folder.

I love CTX.

Julie :+
 
Your welcome Julie! Now I'm afraid to have a MN get together for fear you'll be let down by my appearance. My body is not a reflection of how much I work out. My body is a reflection of how much I shove into my mouth! Anyway, I love CTX too! It was my first Cathe purchase ever so it is near and dear to my heart! I posted my S&H CTX suggestion on the 'suggestions for Cathe's next videos' so here's hoping she takes it into consideration.

As for fitting the new series in, I would try to fit in an ME rotation maybe after the S&H rotation doing something like the following:
Sat. ME
Sun. Imax 2
Mon. ME
Tue. Lower intenstiy cardio video
Wed. ME
Thu. Imax 2 or another high intensity video
Fri. Rest

Another variation that could go either before or after the 'mixed rotation' would be:
Sat. The Gauntlet (assuming you have The Terminator DVD)
Sun. A lower intensity cardio video
Mon. BC/ME bonus premix
Tue. Imax
Wed. BC/ME bonus premix
Thu. Step Works or Power Max
Fri. Rest

And then there are the Pyramid tapes, which would work nicely between PS and S&H or after S&H as a segue into endurance work. This is just a suggestion:

Sat. Cardio and Weights
Sun. PLB and a CTX cardio or half of Imax 2
Mon. PUB
Tue. Imax or another high intensity cardio video
Wed. PLB/PUB bonus premix
Thu. Boot Camp (or a cardio video if you're too sore)
Fri. Rest

Another variation of that would be:
Sat. PLB and CTX cardio or half of Imax
Sun. PUB
Mon. Imax Xtreme
Tue. PLB
Wed. PUB
Thu. MIC
Fri. Rest

This only offers two days of straight cardio (and half a day on Sat., but the Tue. and Thur. cardios are VERY long, VERY intense.)
And I might suggest doing an upperbody flavored rotation in October, so you will look super sexy in your wedding gown. Now this is only an idea, there are many upperbody tapes from Cathe, (including the Tank Top Rotation, I think Marlene came up with that one, can't remember right now, sorry!) but here's a thought:

Sat. CTX upper body (or PUB)
Sun. Imax
Mon. CTX LL
Tue. Cardio and Weights
Wed. Imax
Thu. CTX upper body (or PUB)
Fri. Rest

Some people find that endurance really brings out the cuts so you may want to do PH 3x's a week in October instead (if you're not too tired from planning a wedding!)

There are so many options with these premixes, the sky is the limit!
 
Thank you again for taking the time to post all these. :)

I just started doing the cardio in CTX. I had been doing cardio in the gym or going running and adding in the weights segment each day.. but it's been too cold and snowy here and the dreadmill gets too boring.. so I decided to brave the choregraphy. I am really liking this CTX series. I found myself smiling thru kickboxing today. Something that NEVER happens on the dreadmill. <g>

I *do* have the terminator DVD (hmm... I think I have ALL of Cathe's DVD's now), but wasn't going to go near it just yet. (Yup, that's the sound of fear).

I just mapped this all out on a calendar. I can't believe how perfectly it fits. Today I'm in the middle of week 1 of CTX, if I continue CTX for 4wks, then MIS for 4 wks, PS for 5 wks (we're away for a week and will have access to a gym, but I don't want to count on being able to follow the tapes.. will probably do running for cardio that week and tote a CD player to "hear" PS while lifting in the gym) then a pyramid routine for 4wks, then S&H for 3, ME for 4, and each of the two mixed routines for 4 each, then an upperbody for 4wks. That ends just in time for the wedding. And, I know I'll need the stress relief of working out as relatives start to make us crazy with the planning. <g>

I can't say thanks enough for all the info. :)
 
Hi Jillybean!

Quick question! When you say you do CTX with 2 body parts do you do 1 cardio portion and then 2 body parts or 2 CTX tapes??

I just started my first CTX rotation yesterday doing one tape/body part per day but yours sounds better!

Thanks!

Cathy
 
Yes, only one cardio and 2 upper body parts a day. This is what I did and saw great results!
Sat. Step Intervals Chest and Shoulders (from All Step)
Sun. Power Circuit Back and Bis (from Kickbox)
Mon. 10-10-10 Triceps and Chest (from Step Intervals)
Tue. Kickbox Bis and Back (from Power Circuit
Wed. All Step Shoulders and Triceps (from 10-10-10)
Thu. Leaner Legs
Fri. Rest

I love this rotation. It is less cardio than I usually do, but I never gain weight with this one and I always have so much energy during the weeks I do this one. I love it!
 
Thanks so much Jillybean!! I'm going to try this! Do you find that the cardio portions work your legs adequately along with meaner - I mean Leaner Legs??? Legs and butt are definately my problem area!

Thanks! Cathy :)
 
I've been asked that before, but I find that with the squats and lunges from Power Circuit (I try to load my barbell fairly heavy for that one), the kicks from Kickbox and 10-10-10, and the intervals and stepping from All Step, Step Intervals, and 10-10-10 my legs did not lose any defintion of muscle. If you're REALLY worried you could add the floor work from PLB or PS SL&A, but I never have.
 
Thank you!! That power circuit, as I learned today really does get your legs too!! I'm gonna stick with your rotation!

Cathy:)
 
Jillybean - That was so awesome of you to post all of that info!! I printed all of them out! You include so much variety - you must never get bored!!! My appearance is also an example of what I eat instead of how hard I train!! It's so frustrating!! x( Thanks again for posting all of that!!!
 

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