treadmill user-- cardio coach?

T

thinsgreat

Cathlete
hello--- i work out on the treadmill for about 45 min/day... i vary the incline and speed , (only run for about 3 min after 10 min.)..will cardio coach help me--- i listened to a clip and it seemed as if he just encourages you.... when he says to bump it up--- are you using heart rate to tell you how fast or slow to go? what is the true benefit of it? also, do most of you buy several cd's at 20 dollars?, (i know there are sales) or do you just replay one over and over? if i just want to buy one, which would you recommend???
 
Hi,

I am pretty new to Cardio Coach, but I am in LOVE with them. I have not done a Cathe cardio workout since I got my first CC. Last week I bought 5 new ones with the buy 3 get 2 free special; it is a super great deal!

Coach Sean does NOT just encourage you, although he is a HUGE part of it. The music and the challenges are the other part!

There are many other people that know far more than I do, but I just wanted to strongly encourage you to get more than one CC!!!! :7 You won't regret it!

Mary
 
You move through 4 Levels based on perceived exertion. Here's a link for a better explanation: http://www.cardiocoach.com/aboutQSG4.php

You follow the Coach's directions from start to finish. For example, he'll tell you to move from a Level 2 to a Level 3 for 2 minutes. You'll increase your speed until you feel you're working at a moderately high intensity. (Again, see the above link for how to figure Levels.) Then he'll tell you to do a Level 4 sprint (super high intensity) for 1 minute. Then you'll pull back to a Level 2 to recover for a couple of minutes or so.

The workout cycles like that. Treadmill users can really take advantage because of the incline feature. When the Coach says you're gonna take that hill at a Level 3, you can increase the incline and really feel like you're running up a mountain. It's pretty cool.

The CC site has a whole section on the benefits of interval training. I know for me personally, I work much harder with CC than I do on my own. And I'm not the type who works out half heartedly, so that's saying something. Plus it beats boredom. I love my music collection, but sometimes I need a break. And concentrating on the Coach's directions makes time fly.

I have Volume 4 only. I wasn't sure if my body would appreciate CC as much as I do :7 , so I decided to give myself some time to adapt to this kind of workout. If I'm still truckin', the joints are happy, and I'm loving it a month from now, I may add more volumes to my collection.

I know many run out and buy more than one volume, but my thought was, "What if my knees don't like it? What if my hip starts to hurt?" You know, those of us who like to work out tend to assume we can do anything, but I've learned the hard way...not every body is the same. Volume 4 is a great workout in a little under an hour, and I can lengthen the workout if I choose by playing any of the challenge tracks again. (My daughter shortens the workout by skipping the last challenge and going directly to the cool down.) Plus I dig the music. :)
 
I can't say enough about Cardio Coach. I did nothing but Volume 4 for the first four sessions until today, when I did #7. I am flat-out amazed at the way, with every new session I can go faster and higher than the last time. I can't explain why it's different than just doing it yourself, but it is. If you've always dreaded those long, drawn-out treadmill sessions you have to try Cardio Coach. It's the little things like when you're so fatigued you can't go another second and, just as you're preparing to reduce your speed, Sean's voice says "Don't touch that button! We have ten more seconds. 10, 9, 8, 7..." It's some sort of psychological thing, and it makes all the difference. You can endure where you never could before. I can't believe what it's already done for my legs!
 
Coach Sean let me try one for free, all I did was email him. After that first one I bought all the rest (except vol 1 and 2) on the special and I am very happy I did. My favorites are 5, 7 and 8.
 
>I can't say enough about Cardio Coach. I did nothing but
>Volume 4 for the first four sessions until today, when I did
>#7. I am flat-out amazed at the way, with every new session I
>can go faster and higher than the last time. I can't explain
>why it's different than just doing it yourself, but it is. If
>you've always dreaded those long, drawn-out treadmill sessions
>you have to try Cardio Coach. It's the little things like
>when you're so fatigued you can't go another second and, just
>as you're preparing to reduce your speed, Sean's voice says
>"Don't touch that button! We have ten more seconds. 10, 9,
>8, 7..." It's some sort of psychological thing, and it makes
>all the difference. You can endure where you never could
>before. I can't believe what it's already done for my legs!

I couldn't have said it better! There's a definite psychological component to CC workouts -- or magic -- or a bit of both. ;)
 
My TM has a lot of really cool programs built into it. I get a good workout using those, or just manual settings. BUT, put CC in my ear, and I pretty much rock the world! It is like nothing you can imagine until you do them. I walk faster than I ever thought I could, hit the hills like crazy, and have even run a little bit (running is SO not my thing). I use CC on several different machines. On the TM, I watched the time go into negative numbers b/c I had passed an hour, and never even knew it had been that long :)
 
I just started using CC and my TM runs have never been so fun and challenging. I purchased all volumes with the special, but have only done volumes 1-4. My favorites are 2 & 4 so far. Sean is amazing :)
 
Hi thinsgreat! Do you prefer hills or more of a sprinting thing? The workouts have both, but some focus more on one or the other. He still has the buy 3, get 2 free deal, and then the buy 2, get 1 free too. So, if you buy 5, you will get 3 free and you can have all 8 if that is something you are interested in, and can swing. But let me know about your preferences and I will do my best to steer you that way.
 
I am not the original poster, but I am interested in trying them as well (but only want to get one to see if I like them). I would like a mix of hills and pace variety. I am NOT a great runner and can only run for periods at a time (usually 1/4 mile). I can jog (at a slower pace) for longer periods of time (about 2 miles). Generally what I want from teh workout is about a 45 minute workout that has me feeling like I did a Cathe tape (that is, sweaty and knackered). ;-)

Any suggestions on whcih one to get?
 
>I am not the original poster, but I am interested in trying
>them as well (but only want to get one to see if I like them).
>I would like a mix of hills and pace variety. I am NOT a great
>runner and can only run for periods at a time (usually 1/4
>mile). I can jog (at a slower pace) for longer periods of time
>(about 2 miles). Generally what I want from teh workout is
>about a 45 minute workout that has me feeling like I did a
>Cathe tape (that is, sweaty and knackered). ;-)
>
>Any suggestions on whcih one to get?

If you prefer a mix of hills then I would suggest either Volume 2 Revised or Volume 4, both of which are personal favorites! V2 is roughly 35 minutes long and V4 runs about 45 minutes. They both include a lot of hills with a variety of pacing as well as a few sprints, but they would easily fit within your stated level of fitness. I don't think you could go wrong with either one of these, and since you use perceived exertion to determine your levels, you should be able to reach that sweaty, knackered state you're looking for! }( :p :7
 
Until Cardio Coach I rarely did cardio because I needed for my heart to be challenged but I'm not a trained dancer, cheerleader, or acrobat (47, with screwy knees means no plyo for me). If you're a Catheite that leaves you with nothing but Low Max, which I love but you can't do it all the time. So, intrigued by all the Cardio Coach chat here (I especially recall Vrinda's remarks making me finally pull out my debit card :)) and reading which workouts were the most popular I ordered 4, 7 and 8. 4 is tough but I felt completely un-ready for the others so I did 4, carefully, three times, before surprising myself by successfully completing volume 7 last night (three cheers for me). I then ordered all the other Cardio Coach workouts and I did volume 1 today, after doing Slow&Heavy Legs/Shoulders. At first, I thought it would be a snap because it's short and the rest periods (steady states) come so much faster than in 4 and 7. But I amped it up considerably to make it tougher, which I could do because I'd been working at a much tougher level on 4 & 7. The short workouts (1 and 2 are quickies, not sure yet about 3) are great for post-weight training and, as Vrinda suggested the other day, for when you need a light day workout. I can tell you I'm glad I started with volume 4, and did it 3 times before moving up, because #4 falls in the middle, intensity-wise. I'm worried that people will get volumes 1, 2 and 3 and later find the others too long or difficult. I don't want anyone to give up. If you can do #4 (and the intensity in any CC workout is all up to you, really) #1-3 will be a relief and #5-8 are within the realm of possibility. If you're not very fit, cardio-wise, but you need to be challenged so that you can get there, #4 is the perfect starting point. I'd say if cardio's not your thing starting with 3,4&5 (or 1,4&8 for a broader range), lowering or raising your intensity to adjust for your needs, you'll have an excellent range of options.
 
wonderful. thanks so much for the input. Is there anything I need to know/read before I buy (or are there "directions" on how to use them before the workout starts?)
 
>wonderful. thanks so much for the input. Is there anything I
>need to know/read before I buy (or are there "directions" on
>how to use them before the workout starts?)

You're welcome! It would probably help you to look over the Quick Start Guide on the CC website, especially steps 1, 4, and 5, because this is where you'll find a complete explanation of the levels and zones Sean talks about in the workouts. Here's the link: http://www.cardiocoach.com/about.php

I'm so glad you're going to give CC a try. I think you're really going to love it :D :D :D . I'm completely addicted. ;-)
 
: ) I bit the bullet and bought #4. I hope I can figure out how to use my Ipod though!! I am totally incompetent when it comes to computers and equipment! (which is why I have had this Ipod for a year and still have not used it yet). x(
 
hi shana,

i do about 45 min on the treadmill at about4.0--- i push to 4.5 several times for about 3 min. each. the incline ranges from 5-10.
so what do you think? should i start with #4? how long is it? do you get bored playing it over and over?

I saw that you like the jari love workouts--- i do too--- love compound moves.

thanks,
cindy
 
>: ) I bit the bullet and bought #4. I hope I can figure out
>how to use my Ipod though!! I am totally incompetent when it
>comes to computers and equipment! (which is why I have had
>this Ipod for a year and still have not used it yet). x(

Oh, me, too! But really, it's so simple. Just open iTunes and drag and drop the file right into it. Your download will come with complete instructions. Just read them carefully and you'll be fine. ;)

ETA You picked a really great workout! :D }(
 
>: ) I bit the bullet and bought #4. I hope I can figure out
>how to use my Ipod though!! I am totally incompetent when it
>comes to computers and equipment! (which is why I have had
>this Ipod for a year and still have not used it yet). x(

Oh my God, you sound JUST LIKE ME. I have the long, skinny 4gb iPOD that I got for Xmas when they first came out. It had no serious instructions and I couldn't figure it out - and that was after it sat in its' plastic box for, like, over a year! Do you know, I could never figure out how to turn the thing off until about two weeks ago, when a co-worker said "Just hit PAUSE then LOCK and it automatically shuts off after about 90 seconds." I'll never struggle like that again because all my co-workers know what to do - and if they don't I head to the Apple store.
 
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