BRAND new to Cathe - Help me Choose DVDs

C

CTCook

New Member
Hi all...so glad to have stumbled upon Cathe's workout this weekend (I just got Digital and have been glued to FitTV)...saw Cathe's kick punch crunch on Sat. morning and decided to work out along with it...I was so impressed, today I feel it in all the right places so happily, I'm IN.

I went to her website and am so confused as to where to begin. I'll share a little about myself & what I'm interested in acheiving so maybe you 'regulars' can direct me with a plan.

I'm about intermediate level. Have been working out since I was 16 (am now 41).

Am used to Gilad's 6 day per week Quick Fit System plan (cardio, body sculpting and weight training) - not afraid of daily commitment.

I do NOT like step (not that coordinated). I prefer a mix of cardio (definitely heart pumping cardio), weight training (preferablly not a barbell but free weights instead) and stretching (core work, etc)

I have free weights, a mat and several medicine balls.

Is there a rotation or program that you could recommend? I'd love to get started RIGHT away and could truly use your expertise. Thanks very much for taking the time to help me!!! :)

Rose
 
Welcome!

I would recommend a kickbox workout like KPC or KM.
Then onto a muscle endurance tape, LIC, ME, DM...
Then a total body weight workout tape, S&H for added lean mass, or the Pure Strength series, or Muscle Max.

Good luck! There are alot of very smart people who give great advice here, so I am sure you will get a ton of replies.
 
Hello there,

If you have dumbbells and no barbells then the workouts you want would be:

Circuit Max DVD - this has kickboxing workout using no equipment and circuit training with floor aerobics and some (only little bit) stepping and weights with dumbbells. This is old but very good.
Kick Max - kickbox only.
Kick Punch and Crunch - this has Legs & Glutes which again uses no dumbbells and is a great lower body workout.


All the others uses dumbbells and step, so not much for you to choose from. Maybe you could try stepping and start off with a beginner's workout to learn the moves. You can find them on DVDs section, where you can view clips before deciding.

Yen
 
I am sure Yen meant to write that Kick Punch and Crunch also has Legs and Glutes that again uses no *barbell.* Legs and Glutes does use dumbells. Just trying to help.:)

If you do decide to try step, the dvd called Basic Step and Body Fusion (all on one dvd) is a great place to start. You can even learn the moves on the floor first without a step. It also includes toning.

Hope this helps! And Welcome!:)

Sandra
 
Hi and welcome! First off, most of Cathe's cardio workouts contain step to varying degrees. If you are at all interested in reconsidering step I'd purchase her Basic Step/Body Fusion dvd. It has very basic choreography that is taught a little at a time. As far as weight workouts go....any workout that uses a barbell, you can easily substitute dumbells for, and if you every want to purchase a barbell (one of my favorite purchases) I'd consider starting with the Troy Lite set. Cathe's weight workouts use a step bench as a weight bench, but I started just doing bench presses on the floor first, but as I got stronger that angle got increasingly more difficult and unsafe.

Cathe's workouts contain alot of "premixes". If you arent familiar with the term, it's basically a different version of the original workout, sometimes shorter, sometimes longer, spliced together in a different order to give you more bang for your buck with each dvd. Only her later workouts contain premixes.

Her non-step kickboxing workouts are: Kick Punch & Crunch/Legs & Glutes dvd; KickMax and Cardio Kicks. Cardio Kicks takes alot of floor space.

Her Bootcamp dvd has no step and weights can be subbed for barbells very easily. Another great one is Drill Max which uses a step for some portions but in a more athletic or "drill" sort of way, no tricky choreography.

Basically any of her weight workouts can be done with free weights. It all sort of depends if you want a full body workout or a split workout. A few of her weight workouts do contain leg presses on the step though. I think the Pyramid dvd would be a great one to purchase. The upper body portion uses all free weights, and the lower body uses a barbell, but many people prefer to sub free weights, which is what I do. Her Pure Strength series a great set, a little dated, but solid routines. Her Gym Style series is an "updated" version of Pure Strength. A somewhat easier weight dvd is Supersets/Push Pull. This dvd, in my opinion is better if you do have a stability ball (another great purchase).

You mentioned core/stretch workout. Her CoreMax dvd is great, it does incorporate a medicine ball and a stability ball, but does have premixes that use neither (there are a total of 6 workouts on this dvd). Her Stretch Max dvd is good as well.

Hope that helps some. You can view alot of her workouts on her site and also on collagevideo.com.


Have fun choosing!
 
Hi Rose and Welcome!

I am 45, advanced cardio and intermediate weight lifting (prefer lighter weights/higher reps to heavy strength training).

Both my girlfriends and busy moms really enjoyed starting out with Bootcamp/Muscle Endurance. Just substitue dumbells for barbell anytime and get the same great workout.

I know both my friends are still trying to figure out the world of "premixes" and until I actually show them in person I'm not sure they'll get it because of their newness to Cathe.

Hang in there, read this thread "Video and DVD Questions", do an advanced search on subjects that interest you and you will soon be in the Cathe Family.

Enjoy your workouts!

X
 
If it's the step that you don't like, but you like the cardio, just do the workouts without the step. It sounds like you enjoy floorwork like KPC and the Gilad workouts, so maybe if you didn't have to worry about that big old step being there to keep you extra-coordinated, just don't use it. I don't use the step in Cathe's step routines and get a great workout. I can put my feet wherever I want and never have to worry about falling off the step! It feels a lot like Gilad without the step...just a bit more intense.
 
Welcome Rose! I am aslo one who doesn't use high step very often and I like athletic workouts. Below are some I have, Slim Series can be boring but it does work & it's cardio & light waits. I also LOVE Drillmax & B+G. Powerstrike 1 & 2 are great workout and doesn't use any, just lots of kicking & punching. Not sure if you are only looking for Cathe so hope this helps.

Cathe - B&G, Drill Max, Kick Max, KPC & L&G, Boot Camp+Muscle Endurance, Cardio Kicks & Circuit Max, Cross Train Express and I have the following on the way: the DVD w/ 3 workouts on it)

Slim Series by Beach Body - i use all but Cool It Off

Power 90 Master Series - Sweat 5-6, Cardio Intervals, Core Cardio, UML, & PLYO Legs

Power Half Hour- Bun Shaper & Thigh Trimmer

Cindy Whitmarsh Ultimate Fat Burner - 45min good for days when I don't have much time (www.ultrafitnutrition.com)

Powerstrike 1 and 2
 
WOW...Thanks so much for all the helpful info.
Jen, I ordered Slim in 6 series last year and almost fell asleep to it..but if you say it works (I like to hear it from someone outside a testimonial on the web) then I'll definitely try it. Got a vacation coming up mid-July and need help FAST!!

The other ones (DrillMax) etc. sound good too. I think I'll look them up. LOTS OF HELP...REALLY APPRECIATED.

p.s. I ordered Jazzercise (sculpting and Pure Jassercize) - tried it this past weekend...and it's definitely waaaay too low key for me. I need something a little more 'ramped up'...wasted over $75 unfortunately.

I guess it pays to ask first, right? Thanks again. Slim in 6 gave you good results then??? :7 x(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top