When you first started Cathe.....

P

Pollytc

Cathlete
When you first started working out with Cathe, did you notice weight loss and/or inch loss without changing your diet? If so, were you working out prior to Cathe or did you just jump right into her? I don't have any idea why I thought of this............lol. But in any event I am curious and would love to hear.

Kim
 
When I started Cathe, I had already been working out for 15 years, doing weights, running, biking, and some videos from the Firm and a few others, Karen Voight and G-Force I recall. My first Cathe was PowerMax and I just added it in as an occasional cardio cross-training experience, then when MIS came out in Collage I bought it. That is what really made the difference the "brutal" Cathe weight work. I had been doing it on my own, but not pushing it as hard as Cathe does. It made a difference but not much as I was already in good shape. It just made me like the workouts better and feel that they were more effective. I have learned a lot from doing many Cathe workouts, the forum, the internet, etc, and now am thinner and have bigger muscles from fine-tuning what I do.
 
Yours is rather a loaded question...can you lose lbs and inches without changing your eating? Well, that depends on what you eat!

I agree with mogambo that Cathe's more advanced workouts are killer and you will burn the calories...one poster at Collage said she burns the most cals doing Rhythmic Step and MIS...according to her monitor.

So, that said...if you are a person who doesn't eat alot of crap, high fat foods/desserts...and you start doing more advanced workouts plus weight training...then yes, you should see a difference in inches without changing your diet.

But you also bring up a good point. Sometimes when you are reconditioning after time off from regular exercise it is better to gauge your success by body measurements and not necessarily by the bathroom scale. Muscle weighs more than fat so when you start a new program/lifestyle change you may not see the pounds melting off right away but you will see a change in how your clothes are fitting because you're firming up and replacing fat with muscle.

Okay, lecture over. Dismissed!
 
I didn't notice a big change but there was change. I had been working out with the Firm for not quite a year and a half when I found Cathe's workouts. My first workouts were the Pyramids--I was sore for days afterwards, but did them twice each that first week (probably not the wisest way to go, but I LOVED them and was excited and it didn't matter that I could barely walk, LOL). I lost a couple of pounds (but I was already really close to my goal (just a couple of pounds away) and maybe an inch or so (again close to where I should be), but the biggest changes were to the definition of those muscles. I had made great progress with the Firm, but I am seeing more definition with Cathe. I had already made changes to my diet, so these changes were due to the workouts themselves.
 
I'd been exercising on and off between pregnancies and babies for about 15 years (mostly with the Firm) and was pretty fit and very trim. Since I started working out with Cathe 2 1/2 yrs ago, I have lost weight (which is not a good thing for me), but gained strength and definition overall, particularly in my troublesome abs. (They are still flabby though.) I have also experienced a lot of fat loss in my hips and butt, which was not where I needed it! Oh well! My diet has not changed at all, BTW.
 
I have been exercising for over 25 years. I've belonged to gyms, hired personal trainers, etc. About 8 years ago I discovered Cathe and added Body Max to my workout schedule once a week. I walked a lot and did Body Max and thought that was enough. Couldn't figure out why I didn't have a hardbody!

Then I started reading these forums and finding out that to really change your body, it takes a lot of commitment and hard work. For the past three years, I have been working out faithfully four to five times per week (sometimes six) utilizing the great information that Cathe, Aquajock, Jillybean, the many Kathies:)7 ), Marybeth et al. have given. Have I lost weight? Three pounds in three years. That's it. Have I changed the shape of my body? You betcha! I dropped a size (I am smallish to start, so I didn't have a LOT to lose) and gained a lot of strength. I eat a pretty healthy vegetarian diet, and the only thing I try to be mindful of is my sweet tooth. But I would rather work out harder than eat less. LOL! During this three-year period I also learned that working out hard may never give me the body I desire (if I had only appreciated myself at 20!) but it is giving me a body that will take me through to old age gracefully. A neighbor of mine who cannot be more than early 50's (I'm 46 this year) cannot carry her grocery bags home from the market! I do not want to be this way and find this more of a motivating factor to work out than inches/weight loss. It takes a lot of hard, hard work, and there is no quick fix (not that that's what you were asking). All of this to say, it's taken three years of dedication, but I feel and look better than a lot of people my age, and that I am proud of! So thank you everyone who has given such great advice! And sorry I hijacked your thread for a post that answers not one bit of your question!
:7
 
It was so entertaining, I didn't notice until you mentioned it that you had hijacked the topic. So, well...what started when you first started Cathe?
 
I was on a 2 month weight loss plateau when I started Cathe. I lost 2 inches from my hips and waist before the scale ever moved after starting Cathe. Yes I was working out (at the gym) befor I started Cathe.

Needless to say that hooked me on the quality of her training!
 
I haven't changed the way I eat, vegetarian with daily cheese and chocolate habit. But, with Cathe I managed some reshaping. I lost inches gradually around hips, thighs, added some upper body shape. I have never needed major fat loss, just to gain some lean muscle. I am like A-Jock: I sincerely believe that when you gradually up the intensity of what you do, and incorporate some regular, mean weights work, your body changes and reshapes, with more lean muscle tissue without you having to go on starvation diets, probably without any major dietary changes at all, unless these are motivated by your body's own needs for more calories due to higher expenditure and more muscle growth and the body's innate drive to eat more healthily. Tend to the exercise and increasing intensity levels graually and the weight takes care of itself. I am always around the same weight, 128-130 pounds. All that changes is the consistency of that 128 poundage: less jiggle on the thigh, more muscle, tighter around hips and waist. THose are the signs I look for, and also enormously increased energy and pep in my step. I don't own scales, never will. Won't have them in the house with 2 growing lasses.

Did this give any sort of answer to the question? Hmmmmmm


Clare;-)
 
Hi Kim! I started w/Cathe 12 years ago to MegaStep Blast. I was already what I considered an intermediate/advance exerciser. I used to do all of my weight training in the gym & just used Cathe's cardio tapes at home. When my situation changed 3 years ago that's when I decided to stop going to a gym & work out at home. I must admit that I was afraid of losing all of my strength gains but Cathe has far surpassed all of my fears. I have so much definition all over. I changed my diet but gradually; I didn't change the diet all at once. My diet has evolved over the years w/much learning from the people on these forums as well as talking to experts at global-fitness.com. HTH, Kathy:D
 
I just have to add that having met Gretzky, she really does have the body of a twenty-something person, with a tiny little waist to die for and she looks like a million bucks!

Hope I didn't embarass you, Gretzky! :D

-Nancy
 
Aww Nancy324! You are so kind! Now if I could just get rid of the junk in my trunk! :7

But don't get me started on Nancy's great legs! :) And you've been drinkin' from that fountain of youth yourself, young lady!!! }(
 
As someone who has never really LOST weight doing Cathe tapes, (other then maybe 5 lbs.) I just have to jump in here to say that NOT doing Cathe has taken a real toll on my body the past 5 months. (Me, the whiner with the knee injury!) Even though the scales didn't changed (but a pound or two up) after doing NO cardio, my body has changed tremendously. I have lost all muscle tone and the inches have changed. I have lots more fat and less muscle. I am not burning fat like I used to. Now, my reason for saying to stick with it, is because I am one of those types of gals who was never happy. I always worried about a jiggle here or a jiggle there, but I'd trade it in a heartbeat for the comparison of the two. I truly know that I am hard on myself and now, it has taken this setback to see what I had and how much I needed to appreciate it. Am I making any sense here? I guess what I am trying to say, is it is not all about the scales or how far we have to go but to just keep at it & be the healtiest we can be. HOPEFULLY, I will be right back at it soon. I feel some healing vibes coming my way! :7

Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
Debbie-you can't be much of a whiner, because I didn't even know you had a knee injury. So sorry to hear it!

I know what you're saying, when it comes to fitness, the only time I appreciate what I have is when I start to lose some of it. Maybe you should take your own advice and appreciate yourself right now. After all, 5 mos. isn't that long, and I'm sure you still look great compared to others your age. Have you really lost ALL muscle tone? I bet whatever you've lost will come back very quickly once your knee is healed and you get back to it.

Sending lots of healing vibes your way!!!

-Nancy
 
I discovered Cathe in a Collage catalogue in the late nineties. I was looking for moderate choreography in an advanced workout. Running was my main focus and I used Firm and KV for strength and cross training but I craved something more challenging. Cathe's workouts wowed me. The PS, IMax and then StepWorks, MIC and MIS were all so incredible, I was awestruck and delighted to find an instructor who gave me what I wanted. It made my running faster and better and once we got our computer and I started visiting the forums, I was completely addcited to Catbe, the workouts and her fans. I've always been lean but Cathe made me stronger than I knew I could be and she continues to be a part of my daily life and such a wonderful part too!

Hi, Debbie! Nancy is absolutely right! I had a terrible foot injury which defied treatment until I opted for surgery and I was out of the loop for over a year. Once I got going again, I was very happy to realize that bodies that have known training pick it right back up and come back stronger tahn ever! I'm sending my healing vibes too and I feel for you! Keep your diet lean and clean and get in what activity you can without exaccerbating your knees and once you get them healthy again you'll be back and better than ever in no time!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
 
>(Me, the whiner with the knee injury!) Even
>though the scales didn't changed (but a pound or two up) after
>doing NO cardio, my body has changed tremendously. I have lost
>all muscle tone and the inches have changed. I have lots more
>fat and less muscle. I am not burning fat like I used to. Now,
>my reason for saying to stick with it, is because I am one of
>those types of gals who was never happy. I always worried
>about a jiggle here or a jiggle there, but I'd trade it in a
>heartbeat for the comparison of the two. I truly know that I
>am hard on myself and now, it has taken this setback to see
>what I had and how much I needed to appreciate it. >


DEBBIE H - My god, my knee injury made me come to the same revalation! I realized that I was fine the away I was and that I was being way too hard on myself. After some recovery I got back to where I was before and decided that was a great place to be :eek:)
 
Nancy, Bobbi and Timber!

Thank you! That makes me feel better. I just have this feeling it will take months and months to get back there again. Also, I am still not able to do what I want to do at this point. (It may be a while til I can.) Just curious...I have always dealt with LOTS of cellulite in my past. It has taken me a good 3 to 3 and 1/2 years to finally make it look not soooo bad. I just was dealing with a bit up high near my glutes and top of thighs. Cathe's tapes (L&G's was a Godsend) have helped me tremendously and also many great nutrition tips I have learned here. Sorry this is sooo drawn out. I'm trying to put this into words and it's not easy! Anyway, my legs have completely gone to pot, very "rippley" and more cellulite almost to the knees. As someone who had just about beaten this problem for the whole past year, will it go away much quicker this time around or...is it going to take me 3 and a half years again??? Does this make sense??? I know part of it is definitely genetic but I also know that my hard work had finally paid off. Can I expect it to "go away" quickly when I do start back to my normal intense workouts? Whew! Sorry guys. Any advice or tips would be appreciated. I am trying very hard to eat clean. Not always successful, but I try. (Timber, could you share your knee story with me and also the recovery time?) Thanks you guys for everything.
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
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