favorite Cathe full body toning workouts

berry99

berry99

Cathlete
Hi everyone-

I currently have KPC DVD, Kick Max DVD, and Rhythmic Step video. I rotate through the aerobic sections on these workouts about once a week and then the rest of the time I do spinning classes or treadmill workouts at the gym. I think that my cardio is okay (though I could be wrong). I have been trying to do weights at the gym and it doesn't really seem to be helping much. I also tried a toning class at the gym, but it is kind of whimpy.

I guess my question is, what are your favorite full body toning workouts? Or your favorite upper and lower body workouts? Also, I currently do not have any weight equipment (barbell, etc...) and I don't want to spend a ton on this equip. Does anyone have any suggestions about where to get the equip necessary for the DVDs that are recommended.

Any help is appreciated and thanks in advance.

Karin
 
i got just about all mine at wal-mart and play it again sports. start small and build up over time. i believe for $25 you can get a barbell set with 80-100lbs of weight at wal-mart. i just get extra plates at play it again sports b/c they sell new and used stuff really cheap. i have 3 pairs(3,5,8)dumbbells and the rest i use an adjustable set(dh got at wal-mart in a set,believe they were $25 as well).the only trouble with adjustables is that you have to pause your workout to set the right weight. but i don't have a lot of space so i use these. i might get another set of handles myself.

as for favorite total body workouts i have the power hour combo dvd. its has 3 workouts for total body weight conditioning. i don't have it on dvd but would like to is the muscle endurance workout. i used to have on vhs but i think with the premixes and a second workout(boot camp) its much worth the $45 for the dvd.


kassia



When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be
disappointed to discover they are not it -- Bernard Bailey
 
Power Hour is a good one. And the DVD also has Max Intensity Strength (another really good one), and Body Max (which is totally a blast - when you have 90 minutes!). I also really like the Pyramids as they are more focused and a split routine. Either of these DVD's or both would be good investments.

As for weights... A lot of the routines can be done with dumbbells only, so don't worry about getting the barbell right away unless you get a good deal. Like mentioned before, go to Play it Again Sports - they tend to have good deals. Now, I have the adjustable dumbbells, and out of sheer frustration, just went and bought heavier stand alones, because I just hate switching weights all the time. But I lift pretty heavy now. You'll need, for sure 2 of each - 5 lbs, 8 lbs and 10 lbs. I would also get 12 lbs. You can always double up the dumbbells for heavier work, and just add as you need them.

PS - if you do decide to go the dumbbell only route to start, hold the dumbbells like they do the barbell in the videos - the exception being for leg work. There you can either rest them on your shoulders, or hold them at your side (or infront of you for plie squats).
 
Hi Karin,

My favorite total body workout is Power Hour. I also like pyramid upper body and leg and glutes. Slow and Heavy is a good series also. I've been working out to Cathe videos for almost a year and I still don't have a barbell, I just use dumbells. I agree you should have 5's, 8's, and 10's. Three lb dumbells can be handy for some shoulder work, Cathe uses 3's in PUB. Good luck with your workouts!

Amy
 
My favorites are Pyramid Upper/Lower Body and Muscle Max.

I agree with the other poster to hold off on the barbell for now and just invest in some dumbells. It's easy to sub dumbells when Cathe uses a barbell. I've bought most of my dumbells at Dick's Sporting Goods for $0.49 per pound.

Lori
 
favorite full body workouts: PH, MIS, MM
favorite upper and lower body workouts: PUB/PLB, CTX-UB split/LL, PS series and Gym Styles

I got my barbell from fitness1st.com because the ones I saw at the local stores were either too long or had the screw-on things at the ends instead of clips. Since I got just the barbell instead of the whole set, I didn't have to spend that much. I bought most of my db's and plates from Wal-mart.

Pinky
 
Hi Karin,

On Monday I purchased a barbell with 120 pounds worth of weight at Wal Mart on sale for $19.96 or 97 or something. It was on sale from $27, which still isn't bad. They must have been popular - I got the last one!

Good luck!

Susan
 
Fave total body: Muscle Max or Supersets, simply because the music in the latter is so motivating and I can sing along.

But I do split routines mostly. Leaner Legs and Gym Style legs for lower and only Gym Styles and SLow & Heavy for upper body because I have long skinny arms that are hard to define.

What to get depends upon your goals. It is good to start with total body workouts if you are new to weight lifting. After you have a base of strength, then split routines can help you go further in acquiring muscle mass, stregth and definition. But the split routines vary also in their ratio of endurance versus stregth building aims. Ptyramids are more edurance. Gym Styles and S&H are more strength based.

Clare
 
If you are very new to weights, total body sculpting (on the low impact step DVD) is very good and only 30 minutes long. After that (in this order of difficulty), I would say go for push pull, maximum intensity strength, and muscle max.

Power Hour, although one of the most fun, did nothing for me in terms of results because it is so high rep.
 
I've got the 100lb barbell from Walmart, too...I also have 3's, 5's, 8's, and 10's...When you have the barbell, to get higher weight dumbbells, just buy the little hand barbells (with no weight) and make your own...Did that make sense??? I paid about $7 a piece for those (at Walmart) and can make my own as needed...

I like Pure Strength and Slow and Heavy (for "seperation" workouts), and of the ones I have for a full body (at one shot) would have to say Supersets...

MJ
 
I got my barbell set, a similar set Cathe uses on most of her weight training workouts from fitness first. It is the troy light set. The bar is 5 lbs and it comes with a set of 2.5, 5 and 7.5 plates. I purchased a set of 10 lb later down the road. The set was extremely reasonable and I like that I can clip the plates on and off quickly. This set can handle up to 80 lbs in weight. The starter set with all above, except the 10 lb plates is 49.95.

http://www.fitness1st.com/Troy-Bars.html

I would start with 3, 5 and 8 lbs to start, as in dumbells. You can get these @ Walmart, Costco, etc or even Sport Authority which run sales quite regularly, buy one get one free. As you endure and strengthen, you will know when to start adding on heavier dumbells.

I have Cathe's PH, ME, MM, and her Gym Styles (all on DVD). All of her workouts are beneficial. But if you have little equipment, I would not suggest SS or PP, which require more equipment. I would start w/PH (the DVD), because if you do not have a step bench, you can use the floor. The other titles require high step, medicine ball, step bench, stability ball, dyna band. And if you are just starting, to me, the one with the least equipment is the PH DVD (which also has MIS and BM).

Hope this helps.

Linda

"We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated."
Maya Angelou
 
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