Cathe vs. The Firm?

[JenniferAnn]

I know that lot of advanced exercisers use a combination of Firm and Cathe videos. I've been using the Firm tapes (FS/FC and the new infomercial videos) for about 3 months now and would really like to try out a Cathe tape. How different is Cathe from the Firm? Are these tapes much more advanced than the Firm tapes? What are the benefits of Cathe's more intense tapes (and supposedly more "gym style" strength training) as opposed to the Firm's AWT theory?

BTW, I found out really early that there wasn't enough cardio for me in any of the Firm videos so I added some low impact tapes to my rotation but need to do higher level intensity cardio to lose weight. I just got Cathe's All Step with the home step at K-Mart.

Does anyone here use both Cathe and the Firm?

 

[boxermk]

Hi! I use both Cathe and the Firm and both are great. In my opinion, firm tapes are great at burning fat, and are generally effective and fun, but they really won't strengthen muscle or build much Cardio endurance. Cathe's weight tapes sytematically fatigue each muscle group to failure. She works all the muscles much more evenly, while Firm tapes jump around.
I think if you do Firm cardio and Strength, you are more than ready to try out a Cathe workout. While i do feel that Cathe is more advanced than the Firm, those two tapes always challenge me and I find those Firm tapes are just as challenging to do as Cathe tapes, but in a different way, if that makes any sense. I would suggest Power Hour or Maximum Intensity Strength. Both use barbells, but you can easily substitute dumbells for the same exercises. My favorite Cathe strength series is Pure Strength, and the DVD is awsome and very versatile. Just use light weights when you first start out. Cathe's weight tapes move at a slower pace than the Firm, because the idea isn't to raise your heart rate, but to strengthen the muscles, thus the last rep should be challenging.
I hope everything I just said makes some sense and help you out a bit. Either way, I'm sure you will enjoy Cathe's tapes. Check out the video clips on the website to give you an idea of what you're getting.

 

[willpowerAli]

I myself am curious about the same thing. I still didn't buy a Cathe tape because I am still trying to decide which DVD to buy. I do want something a bit more "gym style" especially now that I am doing the BFL challenge. I think Firm tapes can strengthen mucles, but you may have to make modifications. If I am trying to strengthen muscles I try to choose Firm tapes that do the moves slower (or you can do it slow while the instructor does it at a quicker pace). I also keep reps and sets in mind. For a more muscular look you may want to do less reps (6-10) and for a leaner look do more reps (10-16). To fatigue the muscle and work past failure use the highest possible weight you can in good form. A lot of times I like to do at least 2 sets of certain exercises so I rewind and then play that part again. This rewind also gives that muscle a little rest while you do it again one more time. The Firm tapes seem to focus more on the lower body than the upper body (some tapes may omit an upper body part or do all parts with just one exersice for that body part), so this is where I usually make my modifications. The point is that Firm tapes can be as challenging as you want it to be.

With Cathe tapes I don't think I have to make as many modifications. It seems like she does enough exercises for each body part. She seems to make a point to work each body part to failure.

There are some Firm tapes that are great cardio tapes. This morning I did Super Cardio and man did I sweat! It lasted about an hour.

Yeah, the last post did make sense. I think the Firm probably does the moves faster, but if you trying to lose weight this may be a good idea. For great results you must cross train! That is why I like Firm and I am trying to get Cathe tapes. Rotations with both must give great results!!

Alicia

 

[R_Lam]

The Firm helped me lose a lot of weight when I first started out. I liked them better than attending gym classes. Spinning was my main cardio at the time and it compensated for what cardio the Firm lacked. It also helped that they used very little floor space. My favorites were Volume 1. Firm Strength, Super Cardio ( Plyo hell ) Tough Tape and Cardio Burn. I own most of them but those were my favorites. When you are used to Firm style AWT and switched to Cathe ... you might find the pace slower...if you switch from Cathe to the FIRM...you might find the instructors a tad "ODD". Cathe is more like the instructors you would come across in a gym, the Firm instructors "perform". Some do it better like Susan Harris who can make you do anything ... some suck. (Ex. Better Body and Buns trio)other duds are Fat Blaster etc. I find that Cathe's weights make more sense with reps and format. If you try switching back to Firms you'd notice how much stress the speed puts on your joints and how much they seem to emphasize delt work. The Firm offers workouts that are better than most workouts out there...if I did'nt find Cathe's site, I'd probably still be flinging 5 pounders around and squatting 25 lbs.

 

[willpowerAli]

Yeah, I agree there is too much shoulder work with the firm. I am ready for a challenge. That is why I am going to try Cathe.

Alicia

 

[R_Lam]

Her DVDs are awesome! Well, hers were my first workouts on DVD so that when I picked up non Cathe DVDs I was surprised that they were sooo blah compared to hers! Even SC on DVD with its several chapters seemed lacking. Though I'm glad they put it out on DVD.
PS series is very good. I have been on it for a month now and am starting to see delts and triceps.
S&H is really good!!! I love that series. Much more than PS.
For cardio my faves are: CMax and RS. RS took awhile to completely master but it's do-able. I got most of it the first time around and the details fell eventually into place. It's a lot of fun!
PH is like Body Pump ... it's endurance weight training. I find light weights and fast reps make me look skinny faster than 3 day splits. This workout is really awesome and easy to learn. It is very well done.

 

[kweller]

Hi!
I was using a lot of Firm right before I got bit by the Cathe bug. I'd known about her workouts for almost as long as I'd been working out consistently (2 1/2/ years) but never felt 'ready' to try her stuff (despite even having ordered a few of her tapes of this web site!). What I am getting at is that for me, the doing the Firm consistently for awhile, and challenging myself with tapes such as Firm Strength and Super Cardio were the perfect pre-Cathe step. So don't you worry 'bout a thing! I'm sure you are ready to delve in to Cathe.

I started out with MIS and Power Hour, both of which I absolutely love. I also have PS DVD which is another great choice, but I am more of a two-day split girl, so I don't pick up this one too often currently (aside from the lega & abs workout, which I also love and use more often). I also have the S+H DVD but have not used it yet.

Cardio wise, I am working my way up with Cathe. One of the things that initially drew me to the Firm was their simple cardio/step routines. Being in the 'choreo-challenged' group, this made it easy for me to learn new stuff in bits and pieces, as well as getting better on the step. I am currently using Wedding tape and Mega Step Blast, which i think are best to start with, although I hear Step Heat is also great for Cathe Step beginners, and I am waiting on recieving that DVD to add that to the rotation. I also use MIC hi/lo and step (a new addition) Cardio Kicks and Circuit Max. I can take intensity, and the last three are very intense, but not too too complicated.

CTX series looks great to me, but I am waiting to master some of Cathe's earlier stuff before I work on these, as the cardio routines waste no time and use a lot of moves that Cathe-ites are already very familiar with. The upper body on CTX, by the way, is UNBELIEVABLE when used together. YOWZA!!!!!

Good luck, and enjoy your Cathe workouts!!!!

Kathy