Videos limit you???

Limiting?

I used to go to a GYM but prefer working out at home now. I'm quite happy to be able to do cardio and weights with the little equipment I have collected. Quite PROUD of it actually. Although I am the first one to GROAN when Cathe puts in hover squats and tempo changes in lower body workouts...she is still a FAVE. I just don't do the workout often or substitute the move with a regular squat or lunge. I'm just not fond of tempo changes or endurance lifting particularly for the lower body because my legs are skinny and need size. So it depends on goals really. I don't mind tempo changes for the upperbody because those aren't as hard. I LOVE PLB because of the selection and the sets and no holds or hovers. I also like S&H legs because it's short and makes me feel strong. I hardly ever touch LL or PS Legs and I modify L&G every time. I don't do those lunge hop things at all.
I absolutely refuse to do a leg workout that's 75 minutes. If your legs need that...go run for 30 minutes. Do cardio then tack on a decent half hour of weights.
 
I have to agree with most others here, Janice, it that it depends on your personal goals. If you want to look like Chynna, then you'll have to train like she does I suppose. Most of us simply want to build muscle and keep it, and stay toned and fit. That's where I am, and I don't find videos limiting at all. I also don't find the tempos in Cathe's workouts to be all varied. For instance, the Pyramids are done at the same tempo for all exercises, as are the Slow & Heavy series. As for the others, it's the variety and changing-up of the exercises that produce the muscle confusion needed to keep getting results. I'm 46 years old and I have better muscle definition now than I did in my early 30's, when I was using the Firm. That's because of Cathe's workouts. I suppose if I aspired to look like a WWF phenomenon I would train differently, but somehow I can't see myself caring about something like that ...:) I'm very happy with videos, and with Cathe! I respect and appreciate your post though, and I think if your goal is to look like Chynna, you should find out how she trains. No stones, just practical advice.

Carol
:)
 
Janice-
I am completely hooked on Slow & Heavy, and have been on a S&H rotation now for at least 6 or 7 weeks and still going strong. It is now my absolute favorite and I am getting good results. I too feel that this is my preferred method of strength training.

Editing to say that I have been using my husband to spot me for squats. So far, it's the only exercise where I go heavy enough to need spotting, but I know that he is always available if I grow enough to need him for other exercises. Obviously, this is a great help, and I feel essentially unlimited because of it. (Fortunately for me, he's always happy to help).

Long story short, I sympathize with what you are saying. :)
 
RE: Maximize your training?

Two 35-lb dumbbells? You are using 70 lbs for squats? Wow. I'm suitably impressed Irisheyes!:eek:
 
I am in the same boat. While Cathe's videos are the best weight training workouts on the video market they only take you so far. My goal for 2004 is to be stronger in less workout time. That's why I've started the Slow Burn method of weight trainint. I don't want to go to a gym so I'm trying to figure out how to do this at home.
 
Wow, I am so impressed with how much wieght you can lift. Next, I don't know who Chynna is and I am not sure I want to know who she it.
I just have to say that last week due to my long hours away from home, I worked out at the small gym at work and tried to do the 3 set of 10-12reps with the wieghts. I found I missed my weight videos due to the fact I was distracted from focusing on form and weights because I had to count the reps and in addition I was making sure my workout was well rounded by doing all the exercises. I was also much less motivated by myself than when I am doing it with Cathe. I think a trainer at the gym would be optimal due to the individual focus, movtivation and spotting, but prohibitive due to cost like most have mentioned. So in the end, I am very happy with my videos and I feel like I get better rounded workouts than when I was working out at the gym in the past years due to same reasons other have mentioned such as waiting for machines, work out instructors leaving or changing. I am also fairly new to Cathe, starting using her just a few months ago and I am thrilled with the ball workout and her innovation.
 
I workout in a gym and at home. I honestly feel that I get a better workout at a gym than on the video (were talking weight training here, not cardio, Cathe wins hands down on that one). If I use a Cathe vid for weights I know that it won’t compare with the gym…and because of that I stick mainly to Cathe Cardio at home and do weights in the gym. Even the Cathe Pyramids deals mainly with endurance and not muscle building, though it is bloody hard work and I was sore for days and day and days…lol But being a man I’d probably prefer the gym anyway due to the variety and environment. But Kick Punch and Crunch…ouch now that kicks my butt better than any cardio machine I know!
 
Thank you everyone for your replies. I am really enjoying reading all your feedback. I am just wanting to maximize my muscle gains and strength in the least amount of time.

Just to further clarify, I think Cathe is awesome. Her workouts are always hard, even for me now. I may keep gaining some strength, but I really must say that I have not put on any good size for a long time. It is this fact that leads me to say all her workouts end up being endurance for me---except S&H. It is also my hands-down fav and I will be focusing in on it this week...

I think I will go out and see how Chynna trains.:) However, I am sure my schedule does not permit for her training schedule!! I am going to try that < 20 sets total body thing, for a max number of 60 total body sets per week. I figure I can still do S&H with that mantra, just add up the total sets and make sure I don't exceed that for the week. Of course, I won't work total body in one day, but that is OK. After a few weeks S&H, I may go try it out in a gym with the total body thing. My friends are relying on me now and since we all lost some strength over the holidays, I don't want to let them down...gotta get em pumpin' again!!!

Janice
 
Not to glorify our own AJOCK here, but her routine is an example of how less is sometimes more in regards to weight training and total body routines.....(excluding all that crazy cardio she does)
:):)

Janice
 
Janice I think you make an excellent point about how less can be more. I believe as we become more sophisticated, if you will, and educated about what works and what does not for each of us as individuals, we can streamline our own workouts to achieve our personal goals more efficiently. I wish you the best of luck with yours!! Thanks for posting this - it has raised a lot of stimulating points, and I've enjoyed reading everyone's responses to your original question as well!!

Carol
:)
 
Hi, Janice (or Ajock). Can you tell me what kind of weight work out Ajock does? Is it posted somewhere and is there a picture of her somewhere? Her posts about cardio are very inspiring.}(
 
I know AJock is pretty private with her routines, but I know she does not follow Cathe's tapes for her strenth training. I believe she sticks to no more three sets mantra for each exercise (if that) and just focuses on increasing her poundage. She notes in another post that her poundages for most all exercises is currently two 21.5 pound dumbells (I beleive). Do not hold me to this. AJock has been kind enough to help me in the past when I was having a very similar "plateuing" issue. I hope Annette is not upset with me for having shared this with you. I guess any additional info you will have to get from her. She does not post pictures.:)But I guess we know from some of her friends here that her physique is a direct reflection of the hard work she puts in.....



Janice
 
RE: A-Jock Speaks

Hey, Janice and "Sunnyside"! Thanks for your kind words! I'm not sure how "private" I am about my lifting routine so much as how bland and repetitive I am with it. Rather than relying on Cathe's strength workouts as produced, I "do my own thing" and simply steal Cathe's lifts as I see fit and work them into my own program.

It's important to note that I do two aqua sessions per week, and my aqua work (including shallow- and deep-water instruction AND solo pool drills) is very crucial to my muscle development. Aqua is so good for muscle endurance that I don't have to really worry about making a spot for ME work in my land training. Also, aqua is such a joint saver even when you're doing impact work in the shallow end that I can afford to be more aggressive with impact cardio on land.

As far as my weight work goes, I'll bore you with my current upper body set:

35 straight leg decline push-ups
12-14 pec flyes 21.25-lb dumbbells
12-14 bench presses 21.25-lb dumbbells
20 straight leg higher-decline push-ups

12-14 supine triceps extensions palms facing each other, 21.25-lb DBs
12-14 supine triceps extensions palms facing OUT, 21.25-lb DBs
20+10 triceps dips with 25-lb barbell across hips
12-14 triceps kickbacks 21.25 lb DBs (these don't do much for me)

12-14 supine overhead (lat) presses, 21.25-lb dumbbells each hand
12-14 standing bentover back presses, 21.25-lb DBs
12-14 standing bentover barbell rows palms down 52-lb barbell
12-14 standing bentover barbell rows palms up, 52-lb barbell
12-14 standing bentover one-arm rows arm adducted, 36-lb dumbbell
12-14 standing bentover one-arm rows arm aBducted, 31-lb dumbbell

12-14 Seated rear delt flyes palms facing back, 21.25-lb dumbbells
12-14 Seated rear delt flyes palms facing each in, 21.25-lb dumbbells
8 + 8 Standing lateral raises 21.25-lb dumbbells
8 + 8 Seated anterior delt raises palms down, 21.25-lb dumbbells

Seated overhead presses, reducing sets of 14, 12 and 10 reps each, 21.25-lb dumbbells

Standing biceps curls, 8 + hold for 5
Standing hammer curls, 8 + hold for 5
Reducing sets of these 6 reps each, then 4 reps each
20 lb dumbbells

That's it for upper body lifting. I do tweak things every now and then, but I like that set and that order of muscle groups worked. Don't think there's any magic to it, just adding weight load CAREFULLY AND INCREMENTALLY over time. I don't do anything fancy with the lifting speed or tempo either.

FWIW . . .

A-Jock
 
This is such a great thread!! I have just been kinda thinking the same thing--really wondering if adding some regular gym workouts
to my schedule would make a big diff.

Special thanks to A-Jock for sharing your upper body work with us. I have just completed my first half marathon,and would like to keep going to do some full ones, but its so hard to get all the running miles in and do strength training (which is really my first love). I can easily break that schedule down to one body part a day, and have ample time to get all my runs in.

Thanks to Janice too for the info on the book your reading, it sounds very interesting--please let us know how your "experiment" works for you.

Jayne
 
Hey Janice,

I can identify with what you're saying. My problem is I'm a hardgainer and the slow/heavy, one or two body parts a day approach seems to be the only way I can make any muscle gains. I love Cathe's workouts and it's been really hard for me to admit to myself that total body, endurance type training isn't doing anything for me.

I use the Slow & Heavy and Pyramids the most. I modify the Pyramids by doing up only and working as heavy as possible on the last set. I also have my husband spot me on squats.

I was so excited about Push/Pull and Supersets and couldn't wait to try something new, but I have to say they're really not what I need. It's certainly a very individual thing, and I know I'm in the minority.

Angela
 
I think we're all fooling ourselves if we think we can look like Chyna just by lifting heavier and longer. Chyna and 99.5% of other women can NOT gain muscle like that without using steroids. Even the "fitness" competitors use roids, as do some of the "figure" competitors. It's very, very hard for a woman to naturally carry that much muscle while going very low in bodyfat. Just go to a natural bodybuilding show and compare the women to the ones you'll see at a show that isn't natural.

I have trained at a gym and was into powerlifting for a few years. I learned the proper techniques and can lift a whole lot of weight over my head and onto my shoulders. I now train at home and when I'm lifting heavy I don't use Cathe, but when I need a change there is no way I can push myself as hard as she does during endurance training. Your muscles become acclimated and need change. Even big bodybuilders lift light ever so often.

My body is so much tighter and more defined since I've added Cathe's high rep, tempo changing workouts. I moved into an extremely rural area about five years ago, and I was a little worried I'd lose my drive to workout, then I found Cathe. She helped me get my drive back. I bought tons of weights and still get a great workout, with or without Cathe at home. I understand not everyone can lift heavy at home, and I agree with the lady above who suggested a good squat rack.

PEACE!
Protect
Enviroment
And
Children
Everywhere
 
Great to add, BobDylan1....yes, I am sure steroids were an integral part of Chynna's training program....atleast for a while!!

I guess all I really want is to walk down the street and have poeple go "Whooooaaaaa!!!!!", and kind of be afraid of me. I think that would be cool, but that is just me. I love having muscles and the bigger the better as long as I don't completely lose my boobies (it'll be a cold day in hell, but we could hope).

Angela..I do agree with you on Cathe's new tapes. I like them for their variety and think they would be great to work into my routine every few weeks, but they would not be the mainstay of my routine. Does seem like a lot of foo-foo, for lack of a better expression, but they do have their place. Cathe and her ingenuity have given me many great ideas to take to my own training.

I would recommend Cathe to any and every intermediate, as well as begginner, exerciser. I guess I am just "growing up". :):)

Janice
 
One thing I HAVE to ask AJOCK....
How in the world do you do rear delts with 21.25 pounds per hand??!! That seems ridiculously heavy!!I am printing your routine out so I can analyze it and review it (that sounds freaky, but don't worry:)). Maybe I could try it for a while and see what it does for me. I want to see how many total sets it is..

And....why is everything 21.25#'s. That seems strange that all your body parts would be so similar in strength..

oh, and thanks for joining the topic. Always good to hear from you!


Janice
 
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