taking a break from Cathe-long

M

Mikkia

Cathlete
I am taking a break from Cathe. I think I need a twelve step program to assist me here. I have been training with her since 2003 non stop (except for pregnancy, colds, injuries, etc). I was beginning to hate working out period, didn't want to even look at my step or another weight. So I put myself on a 6 week no Cathe "diet"(its been a week). Maybe after 6 weeks I will be more energized? I am only going to do non step routines for 6 weeks, I pulled out some old Taebo (the ones that were actually a good workout) and I have Amy Bento. Has anyone tried a Cathe hiatus, and do you have any advice for me? I am also taking a break from clean eating. Not a "break break" but just letting up a little, like eating 3 meals a day again with snacks if I need them.
I guess I feel like my exercise and eating schedule has taken over my entire life and I am sick of it. I eat every 3 hours, and really never like what I am about to eat, because it is for muscle building or what ever. I am always eating different food from everyone else and I am always cold. I think I need a break. Anyone else been here?
 
Hi Mikkia!

I have definitely been there, and not just with Cathe. I tend to do something for a good while as my main rotation. For the last couple of years it's been P90x, which I am going to be taking a break from soon.

I think what you are going through is really normal for longterm exercisers. Doing anything, even clean eating, can get tiresome, especially with the mental energy we expend on a daily basis with the "can I get this workout in" and the "hmmm, is this the right balance of protein and carbs?" stuff we put ourselves through. So again, normal normal, IMO.

My only advice is to listen to your body/mind. Wellness is not always about pushing ourselves to the absolute max. Sometimes it's about listening to our bodies and minds when they say, look, we need a break or a change here. So, go for it and enjoy it! You can always go back to Cathe and clean eating again. :)

And you know the one thing I've discovered for sure in almost ten years of devotedly working out is that it's the fitness journey that matters, not the individual stops along the way. The totality of your fitness across a life time is what is important, not the two months here or the six weeks there. Does that make sense?

HTH!

Sparrow

ETA: just wanted to say too that since I've stopped obsessing over diet and exercise I am healthier, happier, and look better physically than I ever have! Go figure!



Even after all this time the earth never says to the sun, "you owe me." Look what happens with a love like that.

It lights the whole sky.

- Hafiz
 
i've been doing my own thing now as well. i made my own circuit and got back into running. I just got completely burnt out from Cathe. As far as eating, I only eat 3 meals a day. When i eat 6 i never feel satisfied and i obsess with food. Its the total cals at the end of the day that matter. As long as you don't have a blood sugar problem you will be fine. I'm actually leaner eating 3 meals a day and its nice to have a life and not carry or think about food all the time but everyone is different. I hope this helps you some.
 
Yeah, you're burned out...and Cathe's old stuff is extreme and not current with today's training suggestions (less, more intense training)...take 6 weeks and relax..... Lots of us have been there.....avoiding life by centering our lives around our diet and fitness rather than having diet and fitness enhance our lives! Sounds like you're already getting on top of the nuttiness! Good for you!
 
I'm always switching things around. Right now I'm into kettlebells and in fact plan on a few weeks of strictly kettlebells and cycling, as soon as I get my tired fixed - this weekend. I've been doing Cathe's older step on my BOSU. I love Amy Bento as well. If I were to do one thing and one instructor for a long period of time, I'd go nuts. As for eating, I eat 4 meals a day - that seems to work best for me - three leaves me wanting to eat my desk about 4PM, so I have a lighter snack. It's working - I'm 12 pounds down (14 yesterday, but today is my official weigh in - so we'll see).

Enjoy your break - branch out and explore other instructors and other ways of training. Cathe isn't going anywhere and will be here when you get an itch for her.
 
I have been there/done that and I think you are 100% normal. Enjoy your break.

With the clean eating thing, I can really relate. I had a show date last August and was so incredibly strict about my eating that my family (and friends even) didn't like to eat with me. After the show date passed I continued with it and got a very bad case of depression - it was very strange and quite scary - I had obsessed with my eating for such a long time that I had forgotten that I actually enjoyed food.

It took a few months but I'm at the place now where I eat what I enjoy - and don't obsess on the macros - I don't even care really what they are - I am ten times happier as things are. I still eat clean probably 75 - 80% of the time but I have relaxed so much my husband will actually take me out to dinner sometimes :D

Enjoy your break - enjoy your life - be happy - fitness is in you no matter what you do and how you do it.

Travis
 
Hi Mikkia,

Breaks are good things. Total monogamy to one fitness instructor isn't a good thing in my opinion. Variety is really important.

You definitely sound burnt out in your post. Have thought about doing something completely different like getting away from videos completely - i.e. checking out some group classes, maybe some sport specific activities, etc? Something like that can be a nice "re-charger".
 
>Breaks are good things. Total monogamy to one fitness
>instructor isn't a good thing in my opinion. Variety is
>really important.

I agree!

And I would get tired of ANY instructor if I had to do them exclusively. I start seeing the repetitiveness of what they do (even if it isn't THAT repetitive), and going to a different instructor feels fresh and different (until I get more and more of their workouts and do them for a while, then they start seeing repetitive).

Now sounds like a good time for some 'recovery' type workouts, like Tracey Staehle's weight work, or the TLT's or some other system that focuses more on functional strength. Even Gilad's newer workouts (and he's definitely easy on the eyes, at least IMO!).
 
Listen to your body and take care! I'm an instructor and personal trainer, so I know how it feels to burn out on the same old thing. Sure, some of the traditional training works, but you gotta cross train and keep it fresh with new ideas.

In the past year, I've gotten into yoga and Pilates more. However, I remind myself all forms of exercise are important to honor your body's balance and different daily energies.

Don't hesitate to take a break when you need one. One of my favorite mottos: "Seek movement for the right reasons"

Take care,
Caroline
 
I just wanted to thank you all for making me feel so much better about my break...and yesterday I felt better than I have in months. I think that you all are right, breaks are just as important as the work.
 
I can totally relate to your post. I had begun to really start dreading working out. Just the thought of getting all my equipment out to workout was annoying me each morning. And, I'm also not excited at all about Cathe's new system. It just doesn't sound like a good "fit" for me. I think part of the reason is that I don't want to become more compuslive and obssessive about working out than I already am....and I think this new system would do that. So what I've decided to do is branch out with other instructors a couple of times a week. I noticed that most instructors do not lift half as much as Cathe does, but also look just as great. I'm looking for workouts that are not more than an hour, intense, but not "Cathe" intense, yet still fun. I also noticed that when I cut down on my cardio workouts to do more strength training, it effected my mental state. I was becoming a little depressed. I even went back to doing some Firm workouts which I swore I'd never do again because they were too easy. But, I have to say, by adapting them to my needs (using heavier weights than they recommend), I'm enjoying them again.
Good luck,
Paula
 
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