Allison! (crazystpr)

LauraMax

LauraMax

Cathlete
I think you & I are the only ones around at this point. Probably everyone else is too wiped from the new DVDs. :p

Anyway, I tried Tracey's hi/lo this morning & OMG, I just did not get it! It took me 15 minutes until I gave up in frustration. Boy is her choreography complex! I know you're in her KB & step workouts (I'm not even close to being courageous enough to preview the step, much less attempt it), but how often do you do the hi/lo? How long have you been working out w/Tracey, & how long did it take you to get these moves down? Lord have mercy!

On the one hand it makes me nuts that she doesn't really teach any of her moves. On the other hand I'll probably be glad should I ever actually be able to do the workout in an effective way.

After 15 minutes I popped in the KB, which I love. You look great in that DVD BTW, & it was nice to see that sunny smile on this gray morning! :)
 
Are we talking about Tracey Staehle? I have her Step Sweatfest workout. I've previewed it but haven't tried it. It looks awesome!
 
That's the one! :) I am so scared of Step Sweatfest! I got both Sweatfests a few weeks ago & love the KB, but that's all I've been able to do so far without feeling like my head would explode! x(
 
I can't wait to try it. But I will -- until my stupid calf heals completely. Maybe I'll preview it again this weekend. Now get out there and try it for me, and tell me all about it!
 
NO! :+ One workout at a time! I will not move on to step until I get the hi/lo down. I'm usually pretty good w/hi/lo, but this one has me totally stumped.
 
Oh, all right. But I'd rather you ditch the hi-lo for now and tell me more about the step. ;)
 
Ok, here we go. Sorry it took a little while to respond. I was at lunch....:) hehe

Laura--I have been waiting to hear your reviews of these workouts! It's funny because Tracey is well aware that you bought them and keeps asking me if I've heard what you think!!

Anyhoo, here's the lo-down. I am NOT in the hi-lo. I'm not much of a hi-lower. I can do step until I drop and pick up the trickiest moves in one try, but throw me a hi-lo tape and I'll break my neck tripping over myself. (Or I'll break my tv when I throw the remote at it in frustration...) I am also NOT in the KB dvd's. I only do kickboxing in the privacy of my own home. Trust me--it ain't pretty. First of all, I hate kickboxing. Second of all, my punching form is so ridiculously bad, you'd pee yourself with laughter if you saw me doing it.

On that note, I'm going to be honest when I say Tracey does frustrate people because she does not breakdown her moves. She throws them right at you which can be really difficult and frustrating. I have done the hi-lo (again, something I do ALONE in my house....;)) and after doing it a few times with the remote in my hand, I got it down and now I really enjoy it. I'm not a very persistant person and if I don't get it right away I'm pretty likely to throw it out the window. But when I find an instructor that I like (i.e. Cathe, Tracey, um...that's about it...) I will keep at it. I met Tracey by taking her classes at my gym and just loved her style. She doesn't baby you and she doesn't bore you.

I am in Tracey's step workouts and sculpting workouts. Her Step Sweatfest and HISM2 are Tracey's best work and two of the most fun workouts I own. Sadly, I do them all the time at home. (Hey, it's like having Tracey come to my house to teach a class instead of me having to schlep to the gym!).

I guess I didn't really give you much advice. I'm sorry. If you don't like the hi-lo right now, put it to the side and come back to it, or if you have the time preview, preview, preview. I remember watching Tracey film this one and I just loved the music. It's pretty dancy so it may not be your cup of tea, and that's fine. Tracey is going to be so excited that you tried them! I have to call her right now and let her know! (We're the biggest dorks you'll ever meet....) Hang in there with the dvds. If you like step, try those (not only are they really fun, but of course I'm in them which makes them SUPER cool...;)) hehe.

Allison
 
LMAO! You're not any dorkier than I am, & I'm flattered Tracey has asked......

Personally I prefer hi/lo to step, & I don't mind the dancy moves at all--I think it's fun! (however KB will forever remain my favorite) There's nothing like a good cardio workout with unique moves in it. Frankly as long as a workout busts my butt I'm gonna be happy with it.

Are Tracey's older workouts a good prep for the more recent ones, like Cathe? I know if you're a beginner you can start w/Cathe's old stuff, get used to her style, & transition to her more complex stuff. I mean, I really like that Tracy's workouts are advanced & well worth the time, but I'm not the most coordinated person in the world & I'm afraid it'll take me forever to get this down! It took me about a year just to get to the end of Rhythmic Step, but I am glad I kept at it since it's become one of my favorites.
 
I have Tracey's Step Sweatfest and love it, but didn't at first. I got frustrated with her lack of breakdown too, but now I'm glad to not "waste time" with learning the steps. Meeting both Tracey and Allison was almost as good as meeting Cathe and her crew. They are both sweetie pies. I'm looking forward to the new Step workout, even though I'm in big doo-doo with DH for pre-ordering it.

Allison, I'm totally with you on step. I could do it all day, every day. My DD laughs at you (in a good way) for being such a crazy-stepper!
 
Unlike Cathe, I don't think Tracey's earlier workouts are any more "introductory" or "transitional" into her style than her newer ones. Like I said, she really just jumps into her stuff and it's up to you to pace yourself and learn it (which I love--once I've done a workout a million times the breakdown and monotony of learning the moves gets to be sooooo annoying to me). If you can get through the early learning phase of trying a new instructor, I think you'll really like these and do them often.

And I'm glad you like dancy hi-lo--cuz that's what you're gonna get with Tracey!

You said you stuck with Rhythmic Step and eventually got it and now love it, so you sound like you'll do well with Tracey's if you're willing to give them the same effort. Good luck and thanks for letting us know what you think!!! :)

ETA: Oh my god, Robin I just saw your post and I'm dying laughing! I'm pretty insane when I step. What can I say? Much like Cathe, I LOVE being airborne. Thanks for your sweet comments. To hear someone say that meeting Tracey and me was almost like "meeting Cathe and her crew" is the sweetest, most amazing thing to hear and I am sincerely honored and moved to receive such a compliment. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Allison
 
Don't worry chicky, I'll stick with it. Once I set my mind to something there's no stopping me, even if I'll be old & gray before I catch on! Plus I just love a fitness challenge. After 19 years of it I'm always looking for something new that'll get my blood pumping.

Also I heard this rumor that there might be a get-together planned for this area--keep me posted, I'm starting to recover from not making the cut for Cathe's RT, but I'm really sorry I missed meeting you guys, especially after Robin's rave review! :) I think a night out in NYC is long overdue........;)
 
Oh I'm so glad you're going to stick with it! You'll get it, (and love it!) I can feel it in my bones....

You were genuinly missed at the RT, Laura. I was so certain you'd make it and was so sad when you didn't! We definetely need to plan some sort of get together in this area. I'll tell Tracey to get on it. She's loves planning stuff like that. ;)

Allison
 
>(We're the biggest dorks you'll ever meet....) Hang in there
>with the dvds. If you like step, try those (not only are they
>really fun, but of course I'm in them which makes them SUPER
>cool...;)) hehe.
>
>Allison

Hi Allison!

You may be dorks, but you're both very sweet dorks! ;-) I agree with Robin...it was great meeting both you and Tracey at the RT! I am also a step addict, so I bought Step Sweatfest from Collage. I previewed it last week with the Atlanta Cathe Fans at Tess's house, but I have to admit that I haven't tried it yet. And now that the new Cathe DVDs have arrived, wellll....Sorry Tracey! I will get to it soon, I promise!

And Allison, I just have to say that I love reading your posts here...you're always so funny and sweet! I'm always chuckling at something you've written.


Jodi
 
>And Allison, I just have to say that I love reading your posts
>here...you're always so funny and sweet! I'm always chuckling
>at something you've written.

Wow, Jodi, what a compliment! I am so humbled by all of the nice things you are all saying to me today. I really feel like I have made such good friends here and have such a connection with all of you. I was so afraid that you would all hate me once you found out that I was in some of Tracey's videos.

Thanks again guys. *tear* You've really made my day.

Allison
 
Hi Allison; excuse me for jumping in here but I just wanted to say how amazed I am that you can make Tracey's step routines seem so effortless. I have both of her step tapes and I've preordered her new one. I haven't been able to "get" the choreography yet though. Very frustrating! I think part of what my problem is I've been doing Cathe exclusively for several years now and have gotten used to her teaching style and Tracey's style of teaching is so different than Cathe's. I know once I get it down I'll enjoy it it's just getting past the frustration.

Jacque
 
>what my problem is I've been doing Cathe exclusively for
>several years now and have gotten used to her teaching style
>and Tracey's style of teaching is so different than Cathe's.

I have this same problem though I've only been doing Cathe since April--but I also only learned step aerobics since April and it's been almost entirely Cathe. I find it hard to adjust to a new style. I now have both Cardio & Step Sweatfests and I have done the kickboxing but have trouble with both the hi/lo and the step. I've also preordered Tracey's new stuff so I'll have a lot to learn still with the Sweatfests I haven't yet mastered and the new HISM2! I'm really looking forward to the Parts Series as well. Looks like fun and I have a new Bosu to play with!

Allison, I didn't even realize you were in Tracey's step workouts--I'll have to pay attention next time I try one. :)

[font face="comic sans ms" font color=teal]***Lainie***

My fitness blog: http://web.mac.com/lainiefig/iWeb/Site/Exercise/Exercise.html
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I own StepSweat and the first HISM they are both so much fun. But there is more of learning curve with Tracey then with Cathe IMO. Tracey is a lot of fun, and Alli you are hoot, you have such great chemistry with Tracey. Time flies by and its like working out with friends. I can't wait for the new wo's.

Jenn
 
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