What is your go-to workout when you're stressed, tired, and pressed for time?

T

TurquoiseEyes

Cathlete
I'm curious as to what Cathe strength-training or cardio + strength premixes or shorter workouts everyone uses when time is of the essence, particularly when you're already stressed and/or tired? I find myself reaching for cardio DVDs way too much right now, because my workout time is very late at night, I am under a lot of stress (a death in my family that is incredibly chaotic to deal with + college work is nuts), and cardio takes less energy/thought/equipment than weight-training workouts do (for me personally). When 60- or 70-minute weights workouts are out, what still gives you all great results?
 
My dad also passed away unexpectedly just recently so I certainly know what you're going through to a degree. I had to use workouts that allowed me to zone out as I couldn't cope with having to think about choreography or weight selections. So any high rep light weight or bodyweight workouts were helpful for me. I personally was using a variety of Horizontal Conditioning/ Tonique/Mindy Mylrea and KCM. If I were to use a Cathe workout I think I would have used Turbo Barre or even the low impact Hiits as they really work my legs. It's hard to fit it all in some days, and don't feel guilty if you miss a few workouts, it's not the end of the world.
Jamie
 
jamie vaughn said:
My dad also passed away unexpectedly just recently so I certainly know what you're going through to a degree. I had to use workouts that allowed me to zone out as I couldn't cope with having to think about choreography or weight selections. So any high rep light weight or bodyweight workouts were helpful for me. I personally was using a variety of Horizontal Conditioning/ Tonique/Mindy Mylrea and KCM. If I were to use a Cathe workout I think I would have used Turbo Barre or even the low impact Hiits as they really work my legs. It's hard to fit it all in some days, and don't feel guilty if you miss a few workouts, it's not the end of the world.
Jamie
Click to expand...

I'm sorry about your dad passing away. :( My grandmother died on Tuesday, and her affairs are a mess (long story). My mom is stuck trying to sort everything out, I am her caretaker, and I am incredibly frustrated + overwhelmed. I wish Turbo Barre had some shorter premixes, but that is a good suggestion since it has little equipment.

For weights I have been turning to my workouts from The FIRM the past couple of weeks, since I know them so well and they have shorter sessions that I am able to get through with greater ease. But I miss my Cathe sessions! No one gets me results like her, and her attitude is more enjoyable to me than FIRM instructors. My upper body is really going downhill ATM. Like you said though, I should drop the guilt. I've been exercising at midnight or later, so I think my discipline is pretty high to even do that. With working out, at least. Diet is another story!

I find split-style, heavier weights training enjoyable. However, I also find them quite taxing mentally and physically...I really can't afford three days of DOMS right now, either. :)
 
I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles. Death is never easy and it takes it's toll on everyone . Eventually you will feel better and overcome! Do what you can to stay strong both mentally and physically. X10 has short wkouts but you DO need energy to get through them. If you have Crosstrain Express.....it offers a mixture of cardio and weights that are less than an hour and not terribly taxing (physically) . When I'm uber stressed I get on the treadmill and run like a gerbil on the wheel! I do intervals of going as fast as I can then slow it down then repeat until I feel better. My IPod has music that gets me going and lifts the fog and negativity. Just do what you feel you need and what your body can handle. Good luck and God bless!
 
Yoga is the fastest for results. The cardio only premix on CW is just 30 minutes and fun. But, you get results from 15 minutes of yoga. It relieves stress and moves your circulatory system as well as helps your glands work properly. And, you don't have to get sweaty. So, you could do it before bed.
 
So sorry for your loss. My cardio choices for stressed out are any boxing/kickboxing or even the RWH low impact Hiit. Weights, I like High Reps, and usually will do just upper body and abs, or the upper body premix of Muscle Max or Muscle Endurance.
 
Sorry to hear about your loss and the stress. Exercising is such a great stress reliever for me too. Workouts I turn to are my favorites: PUB to "get a lot done in very little time" as Cathe says. High Step Training Advanced has a cardio and legs premix that I add to the straight cardio premix that clocks in at 40 minutes with warm up and cool down. I also like CCC-no equipment, hits the abs, and has HiiT thrown in! Leaner Legs from CTX is like 35 minutes for the leg portion and has minimal equipment. I also really like to do the Rockout Knockout and Hard Strikes wearing the boxing gloves for a good cardio with a little upper body thrown in. Someone mentioned X10 and I have to agree-fun and can be as long as you want.

Beth
 
Beth-B-Fit said:
Sorry to hear about your loss and the stress. Exercising is such a great stress reliever for me too. Workouts I turn to are my favorites: PUB to "get a lot done in very little time" as Cathe says. High Step Training Advanced has a cardio and legs premix that I add to the straight cardio premix that clocks in at 40 minutes with warm up and cool down. I also like CCC-no equipment, hits the abs, and has HiiT thrown in! Leaner Legs from CTX is like 35 minutes for the leg portion and has minimal equipment. I also really like to do the Rockout Knockout and Hard Strikes wearing the boxing gloves for a good cardio with a little upper body thrown in. Someone mentioned X10 and I have to agree-fun and can be as long as you want.

Beth
Click to expand...

I don't know why, but I always forget about PUB. I will have to remember that one! I thought about CTX Upper Body Split the other night, but I was so freaking tired, I think I chose a total-body workout (not a long one) instead. And I like PUB- thanks for the reminder. :) I have Pure Strength, too...ought to use that. Jeez, so stressed and tired I'm forgetting the very basics, including stuff I already own on DVD (as opposed to On Demand). Yikes! Must force brain to cooperate with a balanced workout plan...
 
RapidBreath said:
Yoga is the fastest for results. The cardio only premix on CW is just 30 minutes and fun. But, you get results from 15 minutes of yoga. It relieves stress and moves your circulatory system as well as helps your glands work properly. And, you don't have to get sweaty. So, you could do it before bed.
Click to expand...

I often do Stretch Max (one segment) before bed, or just stretch my lower back and lower body when I'm actually in bed. But yes, true yoga for 15 minutes would be nice. Anyone know if Yoga Max or Relax has shorter premixes on the DVD versions? I haven't seen any shorter Cathe yoga segments On Demand, although I could've easily overlooked them...
 
jamie vaughn said:
My dad also passed away unexpectedly just recently so I certainly know what you're going through to a degree. I had to use workouts that allowed me to zone out as I couldn't cope with having to think about choreography or weight selections. So any high rep light weight or bodyweight workouts were helpful for me. I personally was using a variety of Horizontal Conditioning/ Tonique/Mindy Mylrea and KCM. If I were to use a Cathe workout I think I would have used Turbo Barre or even the low impact Hiits as they really work my legs. It's hard to fit it all in some days, and don't feel guilty if you miss a few workouts, it's not the end of the world.
Jamie
Click to expand...

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family (((HUGS))
 
TurquoiseEyes said:
I often do Stretch Max (one segment) before bed, or just stretch my lower back and lower body when I'm actually in bed. But yes, true yoga for 15 minutes would be nice. Anyone know if Yoga Max or Relax has shorter premixes on the DVD versions? I haven't seen any shorter Cathe yoga segments On Demand, although I could've easily overlooked them...
Click to expand...
No, I don't think she has a short premix. Stretch Max with the resistance band is 17 minutes.
 
TurquoiseEyes said:
I'm curious as to what Cathe strength-training or cardio + strength premixes or shorter workouts everyone uses when time is of the essence, particularly when you're already stressed and/or tired? I find myself reaching for cardio DVDs way too much right now, because my workout time is very late at night, I am under a lot of stress (a death in my family that is incredibly chaotic to deal with + college work is nuts), and cardio takes less energy/thought/equipment than weight-training workouts do (for me personally). When 60- or 70-minute weights workouts are out, what still gives you all great results?
Click to expand...

My sympathies for your loss. My father passed away in March and that whole month was just a wash-out, crying overtook me at odd and random moments. It's a hectic, confusing time when just about nothing feels right and nothing is normal. Add college to that and you have major stress for sure. My mother is about to come stay with me for 3 weeks to get away from her sadness, so I understand entirely the bhit about, "still dealing with other people's grief and troubles.'

I always like the whole of Cardio & Weights if pressed for time because it is fun, the music is lively so it boosts your mood right from the get-go, and the amount of weight training is just enough to feel like you can tick off a weights day for the week. I also like Low Max because it is cardio, good music, choreography I know by heart so don't have to think much and it's heavy on the legs so you could count it as a leg day too, in a pinch! Apart from that, when majorly stressed, I do one of 2 things: if an indoor workout, I choose one purely for the fun factor, so usually Step Blast. If an outdoor workout, earbuds in and head off powerwalking because being outside gives me a boost: sunlight (vit D), seeing greenery all around me, people-watching around town as I stride by and the proven power of up-tempo jams to brighten anyone's mood.

Hugs to you Turquoise eyes to get you through this period of stress, grief and needing to be everywhere at once and everything to all people. Take care of you too,

Clare
 
I just want to thank everyone for the very kind e-hugs, thoughts, and prayers. I appreciate all of you greatly, both the sentiments about my grandmother's passing and the time you each took to answer my question about short workouts. :)
 
Just want to let you know you are in my thoughts and prayers. My brother passed in the last year (he was single) and he left a huge mess with his estate that we are still dealing with, so I can sympathize.

I wanted to let you know that both Yoga Max and Yoga Relax each have two premixes of about 28-34 minutes.
 
catgirl said:
Just want to let you know you are in my thoughts and prayers. My brother passed in the last year (he was single) and he left a huge mess with his estate that we are still dealing with, so I can sympathize.

I wanted to let you know that both Yoga Max and Yoga Relax each have two premixes of about 28-34 minutes.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the kind thoughts, and for letting me know about the premixes. Another reason I still love to get DVDs. :)

I'm sorry for your loss, too, and having the thankless task of handling your brother's affairs. :( It's astounding how CRAZY and complicated all this is, and she only passed away a week ago.

I'm single myself, but left behind extremely specific instructions, a living will, a DNR, made sure all of my beneficiary forms in order- but I began working for an insurance company at a young age. So I figured out early that those things are extremely important. I think everyone should do this. There ought to be a class in high school on how to handle these affairs, both for ourselves and for others...
 
Somehow I still manage to stay active through stressful periods. Even 2 weeks ago while I was traveling for my beloved brother-in-law's funeral, I did RWH cardio in the hotel room and Burnsets with the weights in the little workout room. I also went for a lot of walks even though it was FREEZING outside. The thing that really gets my mind right is hiking. Pure and simple; listening to birdsong and immersing myself in the solitude of the woods helps consolidate a frantic mind, and the physical activity reminds me that I am still alive and I will press on because I am a survivor!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top