Which Cathe dvd gives the best BACK workout? r/o...

B

beachgerrrl

Cathlete
I've been doing both the Pure Strength and Slow & Heavy dvds, in 3-4 wk rotations, for a few mos now. I've increased muscle mass in all areas, except for my BACK. In back, I've actually seemed to decrease in lat size. ?

I used to do weight work on my own, with a combo of free wts and station work. I did really work lats out quite a bit on the station (lat pull downs, chin pull ups, seated rows, etc). I go as heavy as I can with S&H, but I find the very fast count in PS just doesn't allow for me to use a heavier wt. Nonetheless, I'm on the 4th wk of yet another S&H rotation, and zip for my back.

1-Which Cathe dvd is best for back work?

2-Should I also just tack on a few station exercises to the end of a Cathe back w/o, too? I really do not want to permanently lose the back definition I had. My lower back muscles have remained the same (good). Those superman movements are great! :) So, it's just my uppper back mass/definition that is suffering now.

thanks for all help :)
 
RE: Which Cathe dvd gives the best BACK workout? r/o.....

I agree-you cannot get the superior back development with Cathe's routines. You have to use the chin-dip, lat pull down and seated row machines to really get good definition in this area. I had a way better looking back when I went to the gym. However, now I am just happy to have a healthy back that doesn't hurt, which Cathe does provide. Her routines all use the low back as a stabilizer. This is great for functional fitness, but it means that you can't go nearly as heavy on the weight as a machine or risk injuring your low back. None of her DVD's will add anything to PS or S and H. There is some band work on gym styles but I don't thank that would be sufficient.
Beth
 
RE: Which Cathe dvd gives the best BACK workout? r/o.....

Except that it can be useful to add on the rows, both barbell and one armed with dumbells, from the Gym Style DVD. I especially like the GS ones on which I can go heavier and with the weight going a little further forwards than usual.

Clare
 
Hi-

I agree with you that S & H is a little light on back work. I usually sub in pullups in the part where she does the overhead pulls.

Have you ever tried P90X by Beachbody.com? Hands down that is one of the best series around for back development. The back work centers mostly on pullups, and LOTS of them. I was blown away by the gains I made on my back w/ this series. ( However, I am a diehard Cathe fan, and really like what she does for the rest of my body!)

Take care, Lynn M.
 
I typically do two of Cathe shorter back routines back-to-back and find this to be effective. Do Muscle Max's back section followed by the back work from HSTA. Or do MIS's back work followed by C&W's back work.

I find Gym Style's back work makes me quite sore the next day.

Also, I think CTX's back work is quite effective. I go slower and heavier than Cathe for the barbell rows and for the drop sets, I use 25-20-15 lbs instead of 20-15-10 lbs.

Another thing that worked for me in terms of definition (though perhaps not mass) was kickboxing. All those punches really helped my lats.
 
thanks girls! :D I'm glad I wasn't just imagining things, on the back w/o.

Great ideas about adding on other dvd back w/o. Now, just to figure out what the heck HSTA and C&W are. lol I'll go look them up.

I don't have CTX yet. That's a xmas present...I hope. lol I do have Gym Styles, which I found to be a bit fast in tempo, but I'll try it again. I think I know what MIS is, but I don't think I have that one-- not sure though. I have a bunch of Cathe's dvds, but have only used a few so far. I want to get them all. hehe

I think I will tack on a bit of station work to the S&H, at least until I get these other Cathe dvds.

I haven't tried that other fitness dvd, as I am so hooked on Cathe. But I'll keep it in mind. Thanks! I agree, Cathe's workouts have done an incredible job on really sculpting my physique, in a relatively short amt of time--compared to all the time I'd been training on my own. I wish I would have known about her years ago.
 
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