another newbie needs help!

D

desertbriez

Banned
WOW! what a great site and great forum! and the videos!.. just WOW!

i've been working out to videos since February (and on the south beach diet since january). in my quest to find more videos (i was actually planning on getting some firm videos)... i ended up here! i've been reading the forum and watching all the great video clips!

the only problem is.. i'm more confused now than i was before i started! :(

i've never done step but i'm willing to try as long as it's low (i'm no spring chicken!) i've been using 5-8 pound hand weights with my current videos depending on the exercise. (my favorite video is tamilee's i want that body and the buns section still kicks my butt!)

i like to alternate a cardio day (normally on the elliptical) with a toning (full body) work out. however that is changeable to accomodate cathe vids. i workout in the morning before work and usually have 45 min to an hour.

my problem areas are my thighs and abs pooch.

now.. with all that background.. can anyone suggest where i should start with cathe?

should i start with the brand new beginner/intermediate? or should i start with something else?

from looking at the clips i really liked the look of push pull/supersets and also boot camp. since i want to target my legs i really like the look of the legs & glutes video but wasn't crazy about the kick punch on the dvd with it.

i've read all the posts about how great pyramids and pure strenth are.. and of course they would target my legs..

see what i mean about being confused.. if i can only buy one or two at the most.. which one(s) should i get?

sorry to ramble on.. i wanted to give a decent background so you could give a good answer!

:)
 
Hi there!

Although I've not received Cathe's latest workouts yet, I would certainly recommend that you start off with her beginner's step dvd because some of her previous step workouts contain quite complex choreography.

I would also certainly recommend Kick Punch Crunch - in my opinion it's one of the best kickbox workouts out there! :) It also has Legs and Glutes on it which is fantastic!

You mention Bootcamp - again that's a great workout. Muscle Endureance also comes on that dvd, which is a good all over muscle conditioning workout.

Alternatively, forget all of the above and just purchase the CTX series for now - this one is great (and very effective IMO) and will get you hooked on Cathe for sure!

Good luck!
Josie
:)
 
hi josie!

the reason i didn't pick the ctx series.. cuz even though i'm willing to try step if it's included on videos.. i wasn't looking for that to be my main course of action.. or maybe i need to go back and take a look at ctx cuz i'm got it wrong! i do know it has lean legs.. but i thought the rest were all step aerobics moreso than toning...

i'll go check it out (which will just confuse me more! lol!)
 
CTX has a bit of everything - step, floor, kickboxing, and strength training. I would also suggest the new beginner ones except you don't want step so then I would say CTX will be the most versatile and give you a chance to try a variety of cardio as well as weights.

Also - we just started a check-in for beginners &/or those needing to lose a bunch of weight. If you would like to join in, it is under Success Stories and called Beginner's Rotation Clean Eating/Weight Check In.
 
ok... i went checked out ctx.. and i know why i discounted it the first time around.. it's mainly cardio with just a few minutes of toning (with the exception of lean legs).

what i'm more interested in is toning. if i get a cardio along with what i choose.. i'll try it.. and cpmtinue to do it if i like it.. but i have my elliptical for cardio. i don't think i'll mind circuit.. as long as it's more than 10 or 12 minutes of toning (which is all ctx seems to allot to toning)

i'm still contemplating getting the new beginner tape (bit of everything)... but what i mainly need is toning.

but i guess i'm back to trying to decide between the ones i listed..

maybe i'll get the new one and pure strength for now.. then order more later?
 
>ok... i went checked out ctx.. and i know why i discounted it
>the first time around.. it's mainly cardio with just a few
>minutes of toning (with the exception of lean legs).
>
>what i'm more interested in is toning. if i get a cardio
>along with what i choose.. i'll try it.. and cpmtinue to do it
>if i like it.. but i have my elliptical for cardio. i don't
>think i'll mind circuit.. as long as it's more than 10 or 12
>minutes of toning (which is all ctx seems to allot to toning)
>
>i'm still contemplating getting the new beginner tape (bit of
>everything)... but what i mainly need is toning.
>

I checked in the Cathe catalog, and the number of minutes spent on each body part is almost the same for both CTX and Pure Strength. For some body parts, it's the same length of time spent on a particular body part, for example 10 minutes for biceps, chest, and shoulders.

Triceps exercise is 5 minutes longer in CTX, but for leg work, Pure Strength is longer by 15 minutes.

Since the two are similar in terms of the length of time spent on each body part, I ordered CTX first. I wanted the versatility of combining different types of workouts together to create no step cardio workouts, all step workouts, or a combination of the two. Also this series give you a taste for the three types of cardio workouts Cathe does and some aspects of the cardio choreography can be found on her longer cardio workouts, so if you ever decide to buy some of her longer cardio workouts, you could branch out by getting longer workouts that have similar choreography.

I don't know how the strength workouts differ on CTX and Pure Strength, but if you have a programmable DVD player, using CTX Disc 2 you can program your DVD to create strength exercise combos like in Pure Strength:
back, biceps & abs
legwork & abs
chest, shoulders, and triceps

Just some food for thought.

Allyson
 
Hi again,

If you want to concentrate on firming up, then I would recommend either the Power Hour workout or the Pure Strength series. The Bootcamp/Muscle Endurance and Kick Punch Crunch/Legs and Glutes DVDs are certainly good ones to have also.

HTH!
Josie
 
The CTX DVD has both Leaner Legs and Upper Body Split which I like if I want to separate my upper and lower body workouts for something a little more intense. I also love Power Hour. Originally bought the DVD for MIS but now PH is my favorite on this DVD. I don't have Pure Strength yet but read good things and it is on my list to purchase soon.
 
ok... after all the time i spent telling you i didn't want ctx.. guess what i ordered!?! yep.. ctx and the new beginner dvd.

however.. that's cuz i'm changing my workout routine.. my computer in the garage that i have hooked to my elliptical died.. i find the elliptical on it's own without ifit.com's workouts boring... and since i'm still within the return time.. i'm returning the elliptical and now need aerobics!

i can't wait to get my dvd's! i chose 2nd day and hope they ship tomorrow so i have them friday so i can start my rotation this weekend!

i also ordered my troy lite and it will be here friday!

i can't wait to do my new cathe workouts!

thanx for all your suggestions and help!
 
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