awww i tried to hard to like her

[Jonezie]

LadyVintage,

Have you tried Cathe's new TravelFit DVD? It has been GREAT to travel with (you only need a resistance band) and may be a wonderful, less intimidating, Cathe workout for you.

I love love love Cathe for strength training but have a variety of other workout DVD's (from other instructors) for cardio and step workouts. I'm not as advanced as Cathe on the cardio side.

I don't know about you...but I have that same sense of dread everyday when I go to work out. I see so many people on the forum and on Facebook who just LOVE and look forward to working out. And I do love it once I've started (and especially once I've finished). But getting to the moment of putting that disc in the DVD player is always accompanied by a slight residue of dread. I've been working out religiously for 21 years and still deal with this. So don't be hard on yourself...or think you're alone. I'm sure a lot of people struggle with the motivation and belief that they can get through the workouts. But are always so proud of themselves when they do.

All the best to you!

Jonezie

 

[LastTango]

I always try to look at finishing a workout as a challenge. Did I finish it...did I do it better than before....

When I look at it as a challenge, rather than work, there is no dread factor.

 

[bigfarma]

Oh LadyVintage, I assure you we are not all physical trainers!

I buy workouts on dvd because I know they will push me to a level that I would not get to by myself. When you do as many reps as you possibly can, and then Cathe goes on to do 30 more, I can see how that would be discouraging. But it gives you something very solid to work up to.

Personally, if I can do a workout video all the way through the first crack at it, it's too easy and I wasted my money.

I never really got the "dare you to keep up with me" impression of her. I don't know which dvds you're doing, but in the ones I have, she tells us when she's feeling the burn. Keep in mind, she's struggling and she's feeling it too!

Cathe is one of the few trainers that I can stand to work out with, but it could be that she is just not your cup of tea. Ellen Barret is someone that comes to mind- she has easier workouts, still challenging if you're a beginner, and she has a really wonderful personality and presence. Check out some of her clips on collage.

Also possible, maybe Cathe's style of workouts is just not compatible with you. I can tell you that myself, I love her weights and kickboxing workouts, but no trainer could get me to enjoy indoor dvd aerobics. For that I have to be outside, biking, hiking... anything other than a dvd or a gym machine.

If you don't know about Collagevideo (I referenced it above) definitely try it out. They have a 30 day money back guarantee, even on opened videos, so you can try as many Cathe workouts as you want! (Or other trainers )

 

[dorothyrd]

I won't totally eliminate her. I guess I will change it up a bit tho. A friend introduced her to me and I was debating on whether to post here or not because most of her audience seem like personal trainers

Well then maybe we out to tell you what we really are! I am a 48 year old mother of two(now 22 and almost 17), married almost 27 years, computer analyst, who sits in front of a computer all day. I have struggled with my weight since about age 12, and started working out about that age to combat it. I like sports, I like to be active, but there are things I don't like. I am not particularly found of distance running, was a sprinter in my time, but I did train for a half marathon a few years ago, and did complete it, but not real enthused about doing another. I like to swim laps, took that up around age 40, did some competing, but really find I just like to swim, just to swim.

I like Cathe because she works with weights how I used to work with weights when I belonged to the gym. I was about the only woman who used the free weights section in the 80s, but I love gym style lifting. I also love step aerobics, and I like her style, Amy Bento's style, Season's style.

I have done some classes towards being a personal training, thought that when child number two was in college, it might be nice to do on the side, especially focusing on middle age individuals and overwieght individuals, but the community college will not offer the classes in the evening, so I have not completed that. I went to the head of the department, and they said maybe someday, so I am keeping my eye on that. Meanwhile, I am working toward an MBA, taking 3 classes right now while working full time.

So, normal middle age person, battling weight, made fitness a lifelong habit.

 

[Pearlstrand]

How many of Cathe's workouts have you tried? Challenging is good. Challenging makes changes. Step outside of the box and give it a whirl.

I have no dread factor whatsoever to do Cathe's workouts. I love them all. You can always modify or pause the DVD if you need time to recover.

Debbie, I couldn't agree more! I push myself as hard as I can, and expect Cathe to keep raising the bar.

 

[Roxie 1965]

I started with Cathes Basic Step and Body Fusion then worked my way up to LIS before I went full bore. There are some workouts I own of hers that I just don't do like BM2 step DM and Cardio Fusion but some day maybe. You have to start slow and work your way up. I wish I were a personal trainer but I can't train myself little lone anyone else. Give the beginner stuff a try. Pyramids was a pretty gutsy start but if you keep your wts light and just do what you can then I say congrats.

 

[Boingo1]

.

So, normal middle age person, battling weight, made fitness a lifelong habit.

Exactly what I am! (and from what I've seen, a majority of cathe-ites are!)

I think Cathe workouts can be VERY intimidating to anyone who's low/intermediate exerciser. MOST of her stuff is advanced. though she has some good ones for low/intermediate too. Low Intensity Step, and I don't have it, but her Basic Step is also more beginner/intermediate. I think for weight work, Push Pull and Supersets are shorter and intermediate.

I have been working out consistantly for 8 years, and did NOT start out with Cathe. I always loved step, so I did Gin Miller and Kathy Smith. But there are others. Go to collagevideo.com, they categorize the workouts as beginner/intermed/advanced.

 

[Jonezie]

I have been working out consistantly for 8 years, and did NOT start out with Cathe. I always loved step, so I did Gin Miller and Kathy Smith. But there are others. Go to collagevideo.com, they categorize the workouts as beginner/intermed/advanced.

Boingo...I work out with Gin Miller and Kathy Smith, too! And Kathy Kaehler. Do you have the cool Gin Miller Reebok DVD?

Jonezie

 

[Boingo1]

Boingo...I work out with Gin Miller and Kathy Smith, too! And Kathy Kaehler. Do you have the cool Gin Miller Reebok DVD?

Jonezie

YES! My very first Step workout besides Kathy Smith, was Kathy Kaehler. I LOVED the one where she worked out with 3 different "celebrities"!!! I'll always have that video in a special place in my heart. ... The Gin Miller Reebok one was my #2 favorite!! In fact, i did it the other day for a "light workout" and because I was feeling nostalgic (I have it on VHS). ... And my #3 step workout, that I loved and did constantly was Cher's Fitness , the one where she wears that little black suit that looks like a negligee? Loved the music to that one, and thought Cher was a hoot!

 

[Lawnerd]

I'm kind of embarrassed to reveal how many workout DVD's I own

I'm no where near personal trainer status (though I was very fit during my 30's and 40's) as I turn 54 this summer and have quite a bit of weight to lose.
I have workouts by just about anyone who's ever sold one We're all motivated differently. I'm currently doing shorter premixes of Cathe's tougher workouts because they motivate me to improve my fitness level. I used to be able to make it through all of the Imaxes, now, I struggle...but that's okay-I modify. I know that if I do a little more each workout I'll see fitness gains; I'll be able to do a couple of more push-ups, fly a little higher over the step, and do the full workout. If I just do beginner workouts there is no motivation or challenge for me to measure against. I take Cathe's "keep up with me," challenge as a dare.

Honestly, I'm a choreography freak (love Cathe and Christy Taylor step) so I enjoy Cathe step as well as her circuit/strength workouts.

I suggest you go to collagevideo.com and look at different instructor workout clips. Some instructors only sell through their own website, but most have clips of their workouts (my other favorite instructor I haven't mentioned is Kelly Coffey-Meyer). You're sure to find several you click with.

 

[RapidBreath]

I love watching the clips on Collage, its great to get an idea without even ordering a disc through Netflix.

Just to let you know, I'm not a trainer lol, I just thought that was funny. I'm just a 32 year old camera operator, I work and live with my folks and older brother, I'm single, and have been overweight most of my life. I am fighting an endocrine disorder which makes things interesting. I started with Cathe after being in a weight loss plateau for 9 months. I saw her on Fitv and remembered how much fun step was in college. I lost an additional 30 pounds and have kept it off in spite of significant health challenges since then. I do a wide variety of cardio, not just Cathe. I have found jogging to be the quickest way to improve my fitness level. But, hey thats just me.

 

[worseenemy]

I love Cathe's workout I've try some other instructors but no one like Cathe I always go back to her or should I say I never live her alone.. Since I found her all I knew was that I wanted to have all of her dvd's I knew I would love step, but I did not know how hard it was with Cathe choreography anyways once I learn I have so much fun.. and I love them all.

 

[mrsprincess07]

You'll find something!

As someone who has owned over 800 fitness DVDs at one time, now down to just over 300, I can tell you that there are only 2 fitness instructors that I keep coming back to and both are polar opposites:

Cathe Friedrich and Leslie Sansone

I love Cathe's style of lifting and there is no other instructor on the market that does what she does and still smiles through the whole workout effortlessly. Even her cardio DVDs she's very happy and smiley. I have to love that and remember to smile myself as it seems to make the "pain" go away. I will say though that I have gone balls to the wall ith Cathe's DVDs and burned myself out in the past so I can relate to the dread factor. I also suffer from joint issues in my knees and hips so while I'm young, I cannot always do what she does. That said though, I do try and I put in my personal best for each workout. It can be easy to feel as if though she is watching you closely and tend to judge yourself bc of what you can and cannot do compared to her and her crew.

I keep in mind something that I read in one of her personal blogs a couple of yrs ago. She was talking about how she was at a grocery store and saw someone who went to her gym or did her workouts. The person started explaining what and why they had certain items in their cart as if almost being judged or embarrassed that Cathe could she what they bought. She told the woman something like "It's Ok, get your cheese doodles". Basically what it boils down to is and what I walked away taking from that comment was: What Cathe does is not for everyone but she's not going to judge you for what you do or don't do. Give it your all for the workout. If you can walk away from the workout regardless of what it is saying that you are proud of the work that you put in and are comfortable with the of effort you gave, then it's an A+ day!

I started with Cathe Feb 2008 doing the Beginner Step workout. 1 month later I decided to try Rhythmic Step followed by Imax 3 the next day. WOW was I ever in for a shocker. I didn't know about Cathe and her level of fitness and workouts. I bought my stepper from Walmart and just followed the DVD it came with. It was at that point that I decided Cathe was going to give me the challenge I craved but do so in an encouraging fashion.

Try her Low Impact DVDs and her strength workouts. I personally love the Athletic Style DVDs more than the jazzy ones. BM2 is a favorite, but I only, ONLY do premixes unless the full workout is under 60 minutes. Regardless of much I like an instructor, I lose the momentum and motivation to continue ANY workout after 60 minutes. It works for me and that's all that matters. You'll find something and it'll fit you exactly how it needs to. Some ppl are warriors with workouts...don't judge yourself by them!

 

[sweaty1]

I just posted this type of subject on another thread...I love Cathe. For almost 20 years! Still do...but I hit the wall with her. "dread factor" is the exact term I would use. But only just recently. My deal was that after all these years, I am proud to say I am a very advanced exerciser. That means go harder, longer, push, push to keep advancing. OR, change it up. And that is what I did. I took 7 weeks off! Then tried another instructor's program for a bit. (chalean extreme) which is a different teaching style than Cathe but tough (not as tough as C but I needed a break) and not as long of workouts. I never, ever though I would pull away from my girl Cathe...but only for a bit! Cathe is too good for words and really the best instructor out there. She is tough; she expects you to be as well and you have to work for it. And I did, and I will in the future. But like you, I was dreading it all of a sudden...cause you know how hard that woman is going to make you work. And you can't NOT work for her...which is her amazing ability to instruct you time after time on a DVD at your home. Amazing.

But, it is ok to need something else. However, after all I have mentioned, she is THE premier instructor IMO and works you and cares for you like no one else. I will be back to her, I know that. But I needed to get away for a bit. It is OK!