Cathe Friedrich Fitness

Cathe Friedrich has been a leading innovator of the home exercise video industry for over two decades. With over 600 workout titles to her credit, she created one of the first “step” aerobic videos in 1989, and continues to this day to produce fun, intense, and challenging workouts for all body types and fitness levels. Her workouts are distributed on DVD and via digital downloads and streaming. Cathe holds a long-time ACE primary certification and has specialty fitness certifications in Indoor Cycling, Body Pump, Kickboxing, Boxing, Prenatal Fitness, Resist-A-Ball, Yoga Fit, Silver Sneakers and more. Her award-winning fitness workouts have been featured in the New York Times, Dallas News, and the Philadelphia Inquirer and have appeared in articles in the magazines' Shape, Oxygen, Self, Health, Fit, Consumer Digest and Fitness. Cathe has also been featured on Fox Business News, CBS, and QVC. Cathe is the mother of two boys: Eric, age fourteen, and Kyle, age twelve.

Cathe’s August 2020 Workout Rotation

August 2, 2020 by Cathe Friedrich

Cathe Friedrich

Hi Everyone, This month ( August 2020 Workout Rotation) we’ll focus on alternating weight and cardio challenges to keep our muscles pumped and our endurance up. Add an additional rest day if needed at any point throughout the month! Remember, eat well, stay hydrated (especially in these hot summer…

If You Have Diabetes or Prediabetes, You Need Strength Training. Here’s Why

August 2, 2020 by Cathe Friedrich

Cathe Friedrich

Everyone needs to strength train, regardless of age or health status, but if you have higher than normal blood sugar levels, it’s even more important to work your muscles against resistance, whether it be bodyweight exercises, weights, or resistance bands. With the growing number of people who have prediabetes and…

Relative Strength: Why You’re Stronger Than You Think You Are

August 2, 2020 by Cathe Friedrich

Cathe Friedrich

How strong are you? You might assume you aren’t as strong as someone else who can bench press 120 pounds, but that’s not necessarily the case. Relative to your size, you might be as strong or stronger as that person who can bench press that much, even if you can…

Can resistance training help prevent cardiovascular disease?

Can Resistance Training Alone Lower the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease?

August 2, 2020 by Cathe Friedrich

Cathe Friedrich

When people refer to exercise as being good for the heart, they’re often speaking of aerobic exercise, exercise that boosts heart rate for sustained periods of time. It’s clear that aerobic exercise benefits heart health by: Making the heart a more efficient pump Lowering blood pressure Improving how blood vessels…

Can Thrifty Genes Make It Harder for You to Lose Weight?

August 2, 2020 by Cathe Friedrich

Cathe Friedrich

The obesity epidemic continues to escalate. With obesity affecting almost 40% of the population in Western nations, it’s a problem you can’t ignore. Most experts believe the reasons obesity is so common these days is multifactorial. Environmental factors such as the easy availability of ultra-processed food and lack of physical…

Can Probiotics Improve Seasonal Allergy Symptoms?

August 2, 2020 by Cathe Friedrich

Cathe Friedrich

Seasonal allergies are a nuisance! Millions of people experience the sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes that go along with seasonal allergies. The trigger for seasonal allergies depends on what you’re allergic to. For some folks, it’s ragweed or other plants or it could be animal dander. But the underlying…

Could a Few Pinches of Cinnamon Help You Shed Belly Fat?

August 2, 2020 by Cathe Friedrich

Cathe Friedrich

Ah! The lovely aroma of cinnamon. Unfortunately, cinnamon is often synonymous with cinnamon buns and desserts rather than healthier fare, but there are better-for-you ways to enjoy this luscious spice. This woody spice, harvested from the inner bark of the evergreen tree, is also a tasty addition to coffee and…

Is This the Most Important Training Factor for Weight Training Success?

July 26, 2020July 26, 2020 by Cathe Friedrich

Cathe Friedrich

If you’re training your body, you expect results over time. Many factors affect the return you get from your training, including genetics, diet, and the way you train. Still, you might wonder what the biggest factor is in determining how much strength you gain or how much muscle you gain…

The Benefits of a Deload Week for Muscle Hypertrophy

July 26, 2020 by Cathe Friedrich

Cathe Friedrich

It’s easy to focus on the “work” part of a strength-training routine and too little on the “rest” component. Rest is an important part of the muscle-building equation. You challenge and stress your muscle fibers through working your muscles against resistance and then allow them to repair. During the rest…

Are Bodyweight Squats Effective for Building Strength and Muscle Size?

July 26, 2020 by Cathe Friedrich

Cathe Friedrich

A bodyweight squat is a squat you do without weights. Therefore, the only resistance is your own body weight. Most people start out doing bodyweight squats until they perfect their form and get comfortable with the movement. At some point, most move on to doing squats with a dumbbell in…