Does anyone think MIC is harder than the Imax's??

I worked my way up to doing the whole thing this summer. I was immensely proud of myself. I too think it's harder than the IMAXs, but in a different way. The impact is really tough, especially on my middle aged body (I don't have a good floor surface). I find impact on the step more tolerable so I sometimes substitute CTX Step and Intervals or the step portion of Body Max for the hi lo.

When I first got it, I used to split it up and do it on alternate days with the upper and lower portions of MIS. I wish these two were on the same DVD.

My hat is off to anyone who does this one on a regular basis. Aquajock, I bow to you oh fitness goddess! You're an inspiration.
 
Jane!

I've never, ever become comfortable with the MIC hi-lo section, and in fact I've decided that I plain don't like hi-lo. Perhaps I might have, had I found Cathe's hi-lo before the onset of my 40's and my creaky knees & ankles. :) But it's step, kickbox or some kind of cardio equipment (my bike or elliptical etc.) for me. My hat's REALLY off to you for sticking with MIC until you could do it all.

Interesting you mention your substitute combos -- One of my all-time favorite cardio days is to do CTX Step & Intervals warm-up, then follow it with MIC step, then finish off with the rest of CTX Step & Intervals so that I'm completing my hour with the three intervals. Now THAT's a fun hour of step! Those are my two favorite step segments of all my Cathe's, except for Rhythmic Step which is a stand-alone solid gold on its own. :)

http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif Kathy S. http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/spezial/spudniks/spudniklifter.gif
 
RE: Jane!

Hi Kathy,

Is Cathe's the only hi-lo you've tried? I ask because in my opinion, Cathe's hi-lo is so unchallenging choreographically, and so HIGH impact, that I just can't will myself to do it! (Especially MIC) However, Christi Taylor's hi-lo is so choreographically challenging, and also not as bone-jarringly brutal on your body. Makes me like hi-lo.

If you've tried Christi's (or other's) hi-lo and still don't like it, just ignore me :)
 
RE: Jane!

Hi Wendy!

It's been years since I tried anybody else's hi-lo since I can happily fill up my cardio time with something else. But I've been toying with the idea of trying Christi for a long time.

I actually did borrow one of her early tapes a very long time ago (I believe it was Hi-Lo Heaven -- is that a title?) but I had become so enamored of Cathe at that point that I didn't give Christi's tape a fair try. I think I watched it once and returned it. Since then I've often heard exactly what you're saying -- that it's more dancy and a little less, as you so correctly put it, bone-jarring. :) Which one would you recommend I try, if I were to buy one? I bet I could find one inexpensively on eBay, especially if I just got a VHS tape.

http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif Kathy S. http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/spezial/spudniks/spudniklifter.gif
 
Christi

Oh, it is so hard for me to tell you which one to get! I love them all, but I notice that people's opinions really differ on this... Let me list all of them, and then I'll try to figure out which one to recommend...

CIA 9801 (there are actually 2 other's before this, 5004 and 7001(?), but I haven't really done either of them so can't comment)
Happy Hour Hi-Lo
Hi-Lo Heaven
Still Jumpin'
Totally Hot Cardio (please excuse the title, it wasn't my idea!)
Solid Gold Cardio

Ok, I would say the most complex is probably Hi-Lo Heaven. Next down is 9801, then Happy Hour, then Still Jumpin', then then Solid Gold Cardio, and finally Totally Hot Cardio. But in reality, I am probably way off!

My list of favorite to least favorite:

Still Jumpin'
HLH
SGC
THC
9801
HHHi-Lo

You can get (I think) the Fantastic Four DVD set(includes Still Jumpin and Still Steppin, as well as Hi-Lo Heaven and Step Heaven **my favorite step workout of all time**) for under $30 from Collage or taylordfitness.com She also has just released Humble Beginnings (9801, 500? and 700? on DVD) and I THINK Terrific Trio (Happy Hour Hi-Lo, Stepping Zone and Strength, Balance and Flexibility) DVD, too.

Good luck-- I hope you love Christi as much as I do! Her step workouts are great, too.
 
MIC and MIS were my first Cathe videos-purchased years ago. I absolutely love MIC. It's a long and tough cardio workout. When doing it for the first time, I remember thinkin in the Hi/Lo Section at the leap to right and left etc, OMG does this lady ever give up, then we had the jumps to do AAAAHHHHHH. But I do MIC on fairly regular basis since it is one of my favorites.

It is much harder than the Imax's since it is a steady state cardio vs an interval workout. Changed my mind-maybe the same as Imax 1, but definitely easier that Imax2-another one of my favorites.

Keep at it-it really is great workout!

Diana
 
RE: Christi

If you like complex choreography, you'll LOVE Christi Taylor! I have the Fantastic Four DVD - quite a bargain for $30.00. And as they say, a party in a box!:)
 
Today I substituted in the first half of Kick, Punch and Crunch for the MIC Hi Lo. There was less impact, but I still got a great workout.
 
Diana, I agree w/you. I end up doing MIC at least once a week to feel like I really got an accomplished workout in, but I also like that the hi/lo is simplistic choreography so I don't have to think about it.

Wendy, how does Step Heaven compare to Cathe's step workouts? I love Step Blast and the Imax's but did find them tough to pick up the first few times. I'd love to find another challenging step workout- especially if it qualifies as an all-time favorite!

Brenda
 
I generally have done this workout as two seperate cardios. Now that I have it on DVD, I love the suggestion of doing the warmup, then the step, then the high low.

Love, love, love what you can do with DVD's!
 
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