Cathe Live Review: Fantastic Elastic (#322)
Fantastic Elastic is a total body conditioning workout using resistance tubing and a resistance loop. As Cathe says, this is definitely a lighter workout and one more for just getting your muscles moving rather than real strength training. It’s also a good travel workout, as you only need minimal space and equipment to complete it.
The routine consists of lots of different resistance based exercises and, as is more usual for Cathe at the moment, there are some interesting new combinations of moves rather than just her standard band-based exercises. I am normally not a huge fan of these types of workouts, as I often find using the resistance tubing awkward, particularly for overhead moves and often feel it in my neck and wrists. However, this actually wasn’t as bad as I was expecting – I think mainly because you are often combining moves and therefore, it is not just one move over and over. I also liked the fact that you do not repeat any of the moves so once it’s done, unless it needs to be done on the other side of the body, you move on to something else.
Cathe used light resistance tubing and a medium tension loop for this workout and I think if you did it that way this would be more at a recovery day level. I used a medium tension resistance band and a heavy tension loop, and still only got an intermediate level workout so it’s definitely not a really challenging routine.
The workout starts with standing moves and there were quite a few fun new moves here, including front lunges with a twist and “stirring the fudge”. I rather liked these, as they worked the core in different ways. None of the moves are very high rep and so I didn’t really feel that I got a great workout but it did get me moving. The whole workout is quite metabolic though, as you are moving quite quickly from one thing to the next and also some of the moves are done at a faster tempo. Also the first moves includes jacks, with the resistance loop around your ankles, so this gets the heart rate up a little more from the outset.
As I used a resistance band without handles, instead of tubing, some of the moves were a little more awkward, particularly where you are changing hand positions quickly, such as, the step-out squat with bicep curl into curtsey lunge with upright row. So it’s something to bear in mind if you are using a band.
The workout ends with mat based exercises targeting the whole body. This includes several core moves, push-ups and outer / inner thigh work. I really liked this section and I was definitely starting to feel the 64 inner thigh lifts at the end!
Overall, a lighter total body workout that’s good for when you are travelling or don’t want to pull out dumbbells or other equipment. I am not sure I would return to this one though, as Cathe has so many other total body workouts that I enjoy much more.
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The Workout
Fantastic Elastic is a total body strength workout using resistance tubing and a resistance loop.
What You Need to Know
(Rating scale – 1= lowest & 5 = highest).
The Moves
Fantastic Elastic is 46 minutes long and originally aired on 12th November 2020 (#322). The workout starts with a 6:30 minute warm-up, using the resistance tubing towards the end, before a quick water break and then moving into the first exercise with the loop around the ankles.
Standing Conditioning
Tap outs (side, angled & back) / jacks – resistance loop (around ankles) – 4 sets (6x 4 tap & 8x jacks)
Step-out squat & bicep curl / curtsey lunge & upright row – resistance tubing – 16 reps each side
3 Chest press / curl & 3 overhead tricep extensions – resistance tubing – 7 sets
Rear lunge & front raise / lateral raise (standing) – resistance tubing – 8 sets each side
Step outs w/ close grip band pulls – resistance loop (around ankles) & resistance tubing (in hands) – 24x step out & pulls, 32x fast pulls only & 8x step outs only
Step outs w/ posture pulls - resistance loop (around ankles) & resistance tubing (in hands) – 24 reps
Bow & arrow (rear lunge w/ rear delt fly) – resistance tubing – 16 reps each side
Alternating front lunge & twist (loop around wrists & arms bent w/ fingers to ceiling; then twist over front leg) – resistance loop – 22 reps
1 Arm bicep curl / 1 arm W curl / side lunge & pull curl – resistance tubing (under 1 foot & held in 1 hand) – 2 sets (2x bicep, 2x W curl & 4x pull curl) & 4 sets (1x bicep, 1x W curl & 2x pull curl) each side
“Stir the fudge” (tubing under 1 foot & held in both hands; rotate arms around in circle, as though stirring something, while lunging side to side) – resistance tubing – 2 sets of 12 reps each side
1 Arm tricep press down w/ hamstring press – resistance loop (around ankle & under 1 foot) & resistance tubing (doubled up & held at shoulder w opposite hand; pull down with other arm)
Mat Based Conditioning
Seated T band pulls (tubing around base of feet, crisscross tubing & hold end in each hand; then open arms out to side) – resistance tubing & mat - 10 reps & 16x pulses
C curve crunches (same position as above; C curve down until back is on floor, then roll up, opening hands/arms) / T band pulls – resistance tubing & mat – 4 sets (2x C curve & 8x T Band pull)
1 Arm back fly (sitting up; tubing around 1 foot; open 1 arm out to side rotating torso) – resistance tubing & mat – 16 reps each side
Bike manoeuvre – resistance loop (around bottom of feet) & mat – 48 reps
Plank tap outs (tapping 1 foot out to side at a time) / push-ups – resistance loop (around ankles) & mat – 4x tap, 6x push-ups, 8x tap, 6 push-ups & 2 sets (4x tap & 2x push-ups)
Clams / side plank outer thigh lifts – resistance loop (around thighs) & mat – 16 reps of each on each side
Inner thigh lifts (lying on side w/ tubing around front leg & held in hands; other foot on top of band; lift & lower front leg) – resistance tubing & mat – 64 reps each side
The workout ends with a 4 minute cool down and stretch.
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If you liked this workout, check out my review of Cathe Live: Total Body Band & Glide (#117) – HERE.
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Completed 12/3/21