Weights - especially legs - lots of questions!

SRP

Cathlete
Hi, all -
I have been doing weights for several years, using free weights for my arms and a weight bench plus squats for my legs. Nothing huge - I'm not a body builder! But I do have some fairly decent muscle.

I've decided that I want to give Cathe's method a try, mainly for my legs, for a couple of reasons: 1) to see if a change will help to reduce the infamous cellulite, 2) to hopefully slow down the varicose vein thing. I think the pressure of the edge of the weight bench may be a contributing factor. Do you think this will work?

I've been going through all Cathe's videos/dvd's, to see which leg routines I want (I have a good upper body workout devised already, so I want to start with leg videos). Now, can you all please give me some advice as to which ones you think are the best? Detailed comments are much appreciated! I'm looking at:

LEGS ONLY:
Legs and Glutes
Leaner Legs
Gym Style - Legs

WHOLE BODY: (maybe)
Muscle Max
Muscle Endurance

About the high step - in her leg routines, does she switch out the height a lot? The reason I'm asking is, to save some $$, maybe I could build a 14-inch block instead of spending so much on the step... since I already have to buy tapes, ankle weights and a resistance band.

Oh, I want to keep the muscle I have, lose the saddlebags (if possible)and get a full lower body workout.

I almost forgot - last question: I've always just done about a half hour, full body workout every other day. Cathe's tapes are quite different! If I spend a full hour on legs and glutes, there's no way I'd have time to fit in the arms. SOOOOO.... what's a good way to balance out the weights with cardio? How many times a week to you have to work a specific body part to stay fit? I've seen posts where some people just do weights twice a week - is that full body? I've always heard that three times a week is maintenance level.

Oops. That was more than one question. I hope someone is willing to wade through this mess! Thanks!
 
Hi Shannon! Great questions! I haven't been doing Cathe very long, but I'll tell you what I personally do. You will get a lot of good tips on here from more experienced Cathe workout gooroos! I only have Cathe Instensity Series 6 pack (upper body pyramid, lower body pyramid, muscle endurance, boot camp, IMAX 2, and cardio + weights). I love these videos and these 6 really give me a well-rounded workout. On Mondays I do upper body pyramid (which is just upper body weights)and usually go for a run/walk for my cardio, Tuesdays I do an all cardio workout, Wednesdays I do lower body pyramid and go for a walk/run for cardio, Thursdays is all cardio and on Fridays I do all body weights (muscle endurance). I try to take weekends off, but if I miss a day during the week, that workout is now bumped to the weekend. I try to seriously lift weights 3 times a week. I don't know if this helps or not, but this is what has worked for me. I'm interested to see what others have to say too!
 
All I can tell you is that for legs I have gotten great results from doing:

KPC, legs and Glutes. I add in some running and bike riding and my cellulite is almost gone now. Lots of clean eating though goes along ways too.

Charlotte~~
 
Thanks, Robin - sounds like you're doing 2 hrs of exercise on two of those days. Wow. Don't know if I have time during the week, but I might be able to shuffle that routine around a little.

Thanks for reminding me about Pyramid Lower Body. That was supposed to be on my list, too.
 
Shannon,
My favorites are Cross Train Xpress (includes LL) & Bodyblast Timesaver (also has an all legs w/o). I work our 4-6 days a week, get cardio in at least 4 days, & do legs at least twice a week because they are my weak spot (well, one of them anyway). Depending on time, I may only do one UB part per day, but frequently two or more. This seems to work well for keeping me in shape.
I think one of the biggest glut & hamstring benefits comes from step aerobics, although the results are not as fast or dramatic as with weights. I usually use an 8 inch step (Cathe ususlly uses 6"), but then I am 5'6" with long legs. I do drop to 6" on her Max series. To save $, I use a home-made step under my Reebok step to get the height for the leg work.
Hope this helps - "Just do it" - Nike
 
So far Legs and Glutes is my favorite lower body workout - there are shorter premixes on there and lots of premixes with KPC and Legs and Glutes combined! KPC is my favorite Kickbox workout ever!!! I love it and it does wonders for the legs!

There are tons of rotations in the rotation forum and you can search for older ones as well :)

I don't have muscle max yet - but muscle endurance has been one of my favorite total body workouts - that one and power hour!!

I had my dad build me a 14 inch wooden step block and it works great for Legs and GLutes and I just use my step with the blocks up to 8-10 inches for the rest of the workout :)

PUB has an upper body premix which only takes about 25 mins and if you go heavy it gives you a nice afterburn - but I would get KPC/Legs and Glutes bc you can use weighted gloves with KPC and get those arms working really hard as well and its great for toning the upper and lower body and an excellent Cardio workout!!

Hope this helps!
 
This is getting interesting. Thanks to those who have helped! So far, Legs and Glutes has the most votes. I'm glad some of you have had success with homemade 14" blocks!
 
Just another little bump - and a note to tell you all I am HYPED about changing up my routine. Too bad I can't just leave work for the day and go buy a ball and bands....
 
Oh my, you give me WAY to much credit!!! I do NOt work out 2 hours a day when I do a video and a run/walk. My run/walk is usually 20 minutes or so in the morning with my daughter and my dog. I will usually do the video at night once my daughter has gone to bed, that way I know I can get it all in without an interruption!
 
JulieL,

Not much running lately in this heat, to be honest. Sticking with biking more lately in the evening time. I am just not a early riser so that would be the only time to run as I don't want to run in the dark. LOL! I have been trying to stick with running at least 3X's a week at other times. I don't run far. I just try to run for at least 30 mins as I don't need to overdo the cardio.

Charlotte~~
 

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