Beginner
- Thread starter Sally K.
- Start date
Hi Sally,
Are you wanting aerobic/cardio suggestions or weight training suggestions? Here's my two cents.
For pure cardio you might consider one of Cathe's older step videos like Step Heat or Step Jam. She spends more time breaking down the moves and the moves in general are not as complex as some of her newer offerings. Don't get me wrong, it will still be a challenging workout, just not so complex that you're likely to get frustrated with the choreography. Another consideration if you have pretty good cardiovascular endurance is Imax 1 or 2. These are interval style workouts where you do some high intensity moves to get the heart rate up there and then you bring it down a bit for a short while to recover and then repeat. The moves are a bit simpler in Imax 1 although Imax 2 is not super choreographed and the general consensus is that Imax 2 is a bit more fun and has better music.
For strength, I think starting off with the Pure Strength series is a good plan. If you are looking for more muscular endurance type lifting then Muscle Endurance or MIS are great places to start. Whatever you choose, almost any Cathe strength tape can be modified by starting with light weight to a beginner type level. I would not start with the Pyramids simply because there is some ball work and you may not wish to purchase the additional equipment until you're sure you like Cathe and her style.
If you want both cardio and weights, Cardio and Weights or Bootcamp would be excellent.
Hope this helps you somewhat. If you enjoy Cathe in no time you'll be wanting all of her offerings.
Are you wanting aerobic/cardio suggestions or weight training suggestions? Here's my two cents.
For pure cardio you might consider one of Cathe's older step videos like Step Heat or Step Jam. She spends more time breaking down the moves and the moves in general are not as complex as some of her newer offerings. Don't get me wrong, it will still be a challenging workout, just not so complex that you're likely to get frustrated with the choreography. Another consideration if you have pretty good cardiovascular endurance is Imax 1 or 2. These are interval style workouts where you do some high intensity moves to get the heart rate up there and then you bring it down a bit for a short while to recover and then repeat. The moves are a bit simpler in Imax 1 although Imax 2 is not super choreographed and the general consensus is that Imax 2 is a bit more fun and has better music.
For strength, I think starting off with the Pure Strength series is a good plan. If you are looking for more muscular endurance type lifting then Muscle Endurance or MIS are great places to start. Whatever you choose, almost any Cathe strength tape can be modified by starting with light weight to a beginner type level. I would not start with the Pyramids simply because there is some ball work and you may not wish to purchase the additional equipment until you're sure you like Cathe and her style.
If you want both cardio and weights, Cardio and Weights or Bootcamp would be excellent.
Hope this helps you somewhat. If you enjoy Cathe in no time you'll be wanting all of her offerings.
intensitylisa
Cathlete
Also, if you can get a hold of some of Cathe's older videos such as "The Home Step workout" or "The Wedding video" these videos are great for beginners!If you are a beginning using a Cathe step video, use a 4-inch platform (no risers) as this will help you become more comfortable learning the choreography and speed of Cathe's workouts. I started with Step Heat and learning it on a 4-inch platform made it very doable and fun. Good luck! Everyone else suggestions sound great, too.
I think CTX 10-10-10 (or any of the CTX cardio/weights workouts) is a great intro to Cathe. You get a very doable cross-section of her hi-lo, step, kickboxing and weights work. And they are in shorter segments so the workout goes faster. I know when I was a beginner, I was a clock watcher. Doing everything in 10 minute increments was a real help.
Hi Sally,
Everyone here loves Cathe, and we sometimes forget to ask important questions to newcomers, because we want others to share in our joy!
However, I think we need some important information from you before we suggest any videos, Cathe's or not...
Are you new to exercise?
Are you new to exercise videos?
Have you ever stepped before?
Do you pick up choreography easily?
Have you ever used weights before, and if so, where and with whom?
After you answer those questions, we'll be able to give you an educated answer!
Wendy
Everyone here loves Cathe, and we sometimes forget to ask important questions to newcomers, because we want others to share in our joy!
However, I think we need some important information from you before we suggest any videos, Cathe's or not...
Are you new to exercise?
Are you new to exercise videos?
Have you ever stepped before?
Do you pick up choreography easily?
Have you ever used weights before, and if so, where and with whom?
After you answer those questions, we'll be able to give you an educated answer!
Wendy
Sally K.
Thanks for all the imput. Here are some answers to Wendy's questions.
-I have been walking about 5 times a week since April, and can walk 2 miles in 30 minutes.
-I have been doing strength training at home since may, with increasing weights. I am now up to 15 pounds dumbells and also use ankle weights-5 lbs for a lower body workout. My workout is anywhere from 60 to 80 minutes. I have been using "The Everything Weight Training Book" which I like very much. I try to strength train 3 times a week.
- I have never stepped before, and I think I "stoved-up" my back the first time, because I was trying to keep up too much. I have a reaccuring back problem, but it is muscular,not disk problems.
-I do pick up choreography pretty easily, but at 47 I think it is getting a little harder!
-I am getting to a good weight for me, but still want to lose 15-20 lbs. I have lost 41 since Oct. 2002 on Weight Watchers Online. Yeah!
Thanks for the help. Sally K.
Thanks for all the imput. Here are some answers to Wendy's questions.
-I have been walking about 5 times a week since April, and can walk 2 miles in 30 minutes.
-I have been doing strength training at home since may, with increasing weights. I am now up to 15 pounds dumbells and also use ankle weights-5 lbs for a lower body workout. My workout is anywhere from 60 to 80 minutes. I have been using "The Everything Weight Training Book" which I like very much. I try to strength train 3 times a week.
- I have never stepped before, and I think I "stoved-up" my back the first time, because I was trying to keep up too much. I have a reaccuring back problem, but it is muscular,not disk problems.
-I do pick up choreography pretty easily, but at 47 I think it is getting a little harder!
-I am getting to a good weight for me, but still want to lose 15-20 lbs. I have lost 41 since Oct. 2002 on Weight Watchers Online. Yeah!
Thanks for the help. Sally K.
Hi Sally,
Congratulations on your weight loss and consistency with your exercise program! You should feel so good
I personally think Cathe is one ofthe best, if not the best instructor on video. However, I do not recommend her cardio workouts to beginners to step workouts. The speed of Cathe's workouts tends to be very fast (in some cases faster than safe guidelines, I think...), and with your history of hurting your back and the recurring back problems, I would suggest that you start with someone a bit slower. Please look up some videos by Gin Miller, Kathy Smith, Keli Roberts or Karen Voight at Collagevideo.com. There are good reviews of these and other tapes at videofitness.com as well. I think any of these instructors will challenge you for several months, if not longer, and then you can ease in to Cathe cardio when you have become aquainted with basic step choreography.
I would recommend any of Cathe's strength training tapes to all levels of fitness. I think the perfect place to start is with either Maximum Intensity Strength or the Pure Strength Series. Give either one a try, and use weights you are comfortable with.
Good luck, and have fun!
Wendy
Congratulations on your weight loss and consistency with your exercise program! You should feel so good
I personally think Cathe is one ofthe best, if not the best instructor on video. However, I do not recommend her cardio workouts to beginners to step workouts. The speed of Cathe's workouts tends to be very fast (in some cases faster than safe guidelines, I think...), and with your history of hurting your back and the recurring back problems, I would suggest that you start with someone a bit slower. Please look up some videos by Gin Miller, Kathy Smith, Keli Roberts or Karen Voight at Collagevideo.com. There are good reviews of these and other tapes at videofitness.com as well. I think any of these instructors will challenge you for several months, if not longer, and then you can ease in to Cathe cardio when you have become aquainted with basic step choreography.
I would recommend any of Cathe's strength training tapes to all levels of fitness. I think the perfect place to start is with either Maximum Intensity Strength or the Pure Strength Series. Give either one a try, and use weights you are comfortable with.
Good luck, and have fun!
Wendy
Hi Wendy,
Thanks for the suggestions. I will be looking into those videos. I did receive the "All Step" video with the step that I purchased, and that is the one that I tried. I'm glad I did get it though, because my 17 year old daughter is using it and almost has all the moves down, and is really enjoying it.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Sally
Thanks for the suggestions. I will be looking into those videos. I did receive the "All Step" video with the step that I purchased, and that is the one that I tried. I'm glad I did get it though, because my 17 year old daughter is using it and almost has all the moves down, and is really enjoying it.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Sally