Body Blast Series VS. Intensity Series

H

HeatherRH

Cathlete
HELP!!!!!!!!!! I'm sorta new to Cathe. The only DVDs I have are the Hardcore Series. I have fallen in love w/ her and are selling all of my firms to raise up some money for another series. What do you think would be best to get first (i'm eventually going to get all of them) Should I go w/ Intensity Series or Body Blast Series? Thanks for your advice!!!

Heather :)
 
I think the Intensity Series is Cathe's best series ever! A must for anyone's Cathe collection. I have all 6 of the workouts (excluding the compilation disc.) The series offers so much variety: a great split routine (PLB/PUB : PLB rivals with GSL as my favorite lower body workout of all time); a "boot camp" workout that combines cardio and weights; a Cardio and weights workout; a fun interval workout (IMAX2: which I just reacquired after figuring out I can modify it quite a bit to remove some of the excessive-for-me impact); and a challenging full-body workout (ME). Though it may be trivial to some, I LOVE Cathe's outfits and hair styles on this one (from cute pigtails on IMAX 2 to a pretty up-do in ME). The premixes on this series are great as well: a good selection without having too many.

I have 4 of the Body Blast workouts. KPC is one of my favorite kickboxing workouts, and my favorite of Cathe's. Supersets and Push-pull are nice full-body workouts, incorporating some stability ball work. Many people seem to find these more "intermediate" than advanced. The premixes are especially effective, IMO. I wasn't impressed with Step Jump and Pump (or whatever it was called) and Step Blast so got rid of those. Also, Cathe and crew look strangely orange in some of the workouts from some self-tanner. And a lot of the songs--vocals which are not my preference--have "poor needy woman" lyrics).
 
I'm a former Firmie too. I can't speak for the Intensity series yet because I just started with the Body Blast series and it's worked for me. Keep in mind I just had a baby, so this is plenty a challenge for me.

If you were doing the newer Firms where the cardios seemed to be easier than the original ones, BBS will be a higher level of fitness. Plus, Cathe's step choreography is far more complex..and fun. It could be me, but even the music is much more inspiring.

When I first started, people on this forum suggested starting with the BBS or even the CTX series. Good luck with your choice. I'm totally enjoying Cathe's videos. The free forums are great too!

Allison
 
I would buy the BB series first, then the Intensity. BB is easier. You'll eventually get them all (everyone does :p ) and if you go with the Intensity Series first you may be disappointed with how easy BB is.

Does that make sense?
 
You know you'll end up with both, I personally would probably pick the intensities if you want harder or BB if you want easier, which might be a good combination with the HC series, so you have both ends of the spectrum.
 
I like the weight workouts from the Intensity Series (the Pyramids and Muscle Endurance), and the cardio workouts from BodyBlast (KPC and Step Blast).

So you see, I'm no help to you at all!

:p :p :p

Diane
 
I'm in total agreement with Diane.

The only workouts of the BB series that are 'easier' than the ones in the I-series are the weights ones (SS and PP), the cardios of BB are excellent (KPC and SB).

Clare
 
I have to echo FoodieSue's Kathryn's comments. You never now what you feel you have to reach for after an unexpectedly long day. Intensities equal fun, with a great Imax2, RS everything. It's an awesome series!!! BB took me about 3 workouts to get used to. I thought I really disliked them at first! Now, I LOVE SB & SJP for the variety & the fun factor, KPC/L&G just because KPC is that much fun & hard, L&G because I tend to forget my inner/outer thighs. P/P, well, I wasn't that impressed, but honestly, I probably pulled it out 1-2 times & that's not fair because as I said previously, I hated SB/SJP up to the first 3 times!

Like my DH once told me, "why don't you just sign over your paycheck to Cathe each week?"

Marla
 
I agree that you should go with the Intensity series, most of the workouts are more challenging than those in BB. I would also spring for the Terminator compliation of circuit workouts. Of the BB, I would get KPC and SJP. I love circuits and SJP, although not a fav, is still a good circuit that I use every so often.
 
Wow thanks for the advice on the selection. I'm still torn. Hopefully I can raise enough money to buy BOTH series. They sound like so much fun!:)
 
Actually, I'd suggest the Body Blast series first and then the Cross Train Express (CTX) Series (her halcyon release from 2000), and if you can swing it with the CTX Series also get the Circuit Max / Cardio Kicks DVD as well (you get a price break if you get CTX and C-Max/C-Kicks in one gulp).

CTX has some great upper-margin cardio, single-muscle upper body training, Leaner Legs for lower body training, great ab/core work and it's well-chaptered enough that you can make some interesting mish-moshes of your own. And Circuit Max remains one of my alltime favorite workouts both for intensity AND fun factor.

A-Jock
 
My vote is for the Intensity Series, because it has Imax2, Cardio & weights, bootcamp, ME, the Terminator, the Pyramids, etc. I would only get KPC and Legs and Glutes from the BB series.
 
Hi Marla,
Get out push/pull and do the premixs! You will love it! I did the three sets of upper body from that dvd and it works upper body for 53 minutes. EEEK did I feel that!

Terri
 
Thanks, Terri! I will do that. I have never tried the premixes on push/pull so I must be missing out on something.

Marla:)
 
I love that premix.I am currently doing it and it is one of my favorite cathe wt work.I only do 8 reps so I can go heavy.
 
I've got both series. I would definitely recommend getting the Intensity series with Terminator. I've done these workouts so many times...they are fabulous. The pyramids are excellent for working lower and upper body. Cardio & weights is a lot of fun. Imax 2 has fantastic choreography. Boot Camp gives a killer workout if you push yourself. I especially like circuit workouts and the Viper and the Gauntlet are awesome!
I find I like parts of Body Blast. Super Set and Push Pull are way too easy. I really like Step, Jump and Pump and Kick, Punch and Crunch. The mixes add a lot of variety.
I would actually get the Xpress series and Interval Max before getting Body Blast.

Hope this helps.
 
I USE to think ss/pp was easy-not anymore.The workouts as is are easier than most of cathe's wt work.But they are still a good workout if using the right wt.The premixes however are really good workouts.I did the ss lower body blast yesterday with a 51 pound barbell for everything except lunges 25 on them and my legs were on fire and in only 33 min.SS upperbody blast is also a burner and of course my fav. pp premixes 3 times thru.The intensitys are all great use them all.Of the body blast I love kpc-ss/pp-timesaver the others I didn't care for.
 
Hi! I've been using Cathe less than a year and the information here is true: It's addictive! I have most of the Hardcores, all of Body Blast, Intensities and CTX. You really can't go wrong with any of them. I've heard repeatedly that Body Blast is easier but it is so much fun. Also, for me, none of them are easy-your workout is what you make of it. And personally, I love Supersets and Push Pull because it is fresh with the stability ball work.

HTH,

Cheri
 
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