Slow & Heavy, Bi's, Tri's and Abs

C

catwoman

Cathlete
Yowza! I have been working out faithfully to Cathe for the past 4 weeks or so. Before that, I had been doing mostly her cardio workouts, but 4 weeks ago, I developed a Cathe rotation that includes not just her cardio, but her weight training workouts, too.

I had focused primarily on the Pyramid Upper Body and Pyramid Lower Body workouts for my weight training, but this weekend I decided to attempt the Slow and Heavy workouts for upper body. Yesterday I did the S&H Chest and Back, and I don't know if I just didn't push myself hard enough, but I really didn't feel much soreness afterward. Okay, not so with this morning's workout. I did S&H Bi's, Tri's and Abs...and within a few hours, my triceps were talkin' to me, and by this evening, my biceps were joining in. WOW! It usually takes 24-48 hours for the muscle soreness to really hit me after a workout, so I am astounded at how quickly my biceps and triceps got sore today! This workout is truly awesome for developing arm strength, which has been my biggest challenge. Maybe that will change now.
 
Catwoman, besides Imax 1, which I just ordered yesterday on DVD, I think this is the only Cathe workout I don't have. Is it really that good? I must admit, I don't have patience to sloooowllly move a dumbbell, no matter how beneficial. When Cathe does a four count stationary lunge, I have to make a concerted effort to slow it down. Do you like this workout?

Marla
 
If you did Chdest and Back yesterday, then the biceps were worked as synergists with the back, and the triceps were worked with the chest, so they basically were pre-exhausted a bit before you did the bi/tri workout.

I sometimes find that with SH, I don't get much DOMS, even though I know I'm working hard and lifting heavy. I think perhaps the stretching in between sets really helps with that.

Now PH, THAT'S a workout that that gives me DOMS big time!
 
Hi Marla, I'm not catwoman, but I had to respond.

I love the Slow and Heavy series. I only do it for a 3 week rotation every other month or so when I want to shake up my workouts. The results are amazing in terms of muscle definition. It is hard to do the slow moves but well worth the concentrative effort, and since you know you won't be doing the workout for a long period of time, that might help. I actually go lighter than some of my other workouts because you are holding the counts for so long and focusing soooo much on form that you really can't go super heavy - at least I can't!!! Maybe you could also break up the workouts even more - for example cardio and then the triceps from S&H and then the next day cardio and then biceps. This is a great series. Give it a try......

Deb
 
Perhaps it WAS the combination of doing chest and back one day then doing bi's and tri's the next that super-fatiqued my bi's and tri's yesterday...but that was really strange for me. I've done chest and back before and just really didn't feel anything. I'll have to do the bi's and tri's without doing the chest and back the day before to see if I still get the same "burn".

I must say, though, that my muscle tone in my arms is markedly improved! Wow!

If you haven't tried these workouts, give 'em a shot. Maybe the trick is to do them on back-to-back days or something. All I know is that I was feeling the burn last night and I was lovin' it, being that my arms are my most challenging body part. At least it got me a massage from my husband. :)
 
You know, it's really weird - I don't get muscle soreness anymore. I do lift as heavy as I possibly can and finish the sets, too, but I don't have the aches the next day.

Should I be trying to lift heavier?
 
I'm no expert, but I rarely get DOMS from any weight workout, unless I've been neglecting weights for a while. I would think that if you lift to failure--for me it's when my arms start shaking and I can barely get out the last few reps--then you're lifting heavy enough. I never judge a workout by DOMS!

Just my 2 cents! :)
 
DOMS? OK - that's an acronym I'm not familiar with. I tried to add some weight to my biceps this morning, and although I was able to lift it - it felt like my form kind of stunk. Oh - and last night, I had some bad pain by my elbow when doing heavy triceps. I've never had THAT before, so I just stopped. I'd hate to have an injury that stops me from doing triceps cuz they're my fav.
 
Hi Donna (we keep running into each other)-

I've been told (by a trainer) that if you work muscles out frequently, the chances of you getting sore decreases. Even if you are challenging the muscle, he added. I don't know if he was correct or not, but it sure did seem like I was working those muscles hard, and not getting sore.

I worked out Monday for the first time in 2 weeks (due to a trip and then a foot injury) and I CAN HARDLY WALK today.

Just what I've heard...
 
When I started up again, I couldn't straighten my arms out after doing biceps! I felt like the Tin Woodsman. "oil can. oil can."
 
I felt like the Tin Woodsman. "oil can. oil can."

LOL!! Thanks for the great visual image & laugh Donna.:7

I've read many times that as you work out over time the soreness will appear less & less, as long as you remain consistent. From my own experience, that's true. Occasionally something new will make me sore, but not much.

But the very first time I did a Cathe workout (MIS)...YOWZA! I couldn't walk down the steps nor lift anything. Woohoo!

Ruth:)
 
Isn't it kind of sad how happy we get when our bodies feel a little painful after a good workout? I find myself a little disappointed if I am not because I feel like I did not push myself enough!
 
You'd be surprised how many people think they didn't get a good workout if they're not REALLY sore the next day. I always wonder how they can forget how hard they were working! At least with Cathe.;-)

Ruth:)
 
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