SRP
Cathlete
Back when the ICE series was first announced, I didn't jump on the pre-order bandwagon because I have to be pretty selective about what DVDs I purchase now. Strength training workouts are especially tough to choose because of the arthritis in my hands. So initially, I only pre-ordered Low Impact Sweat and Metabolic Total Body.
Then, as I read other people's reviews and really studied the clips, I decided that maybe I could try a few more in the series, so I ordered Chiseled Upper Body, Chiseled Lower Body Blast, and Boot Camp Circuit. I didn't get Rock 'Em Sock 'Em or To the Mat because I'm not interested in kickboxing or floor-based workouts.
So, I've played around with the five that I have and thought I'd post reviews based on how I'm able to use them with some age-related issues.
Low Impact Sweat - Love it! It's right on par with Cathe's other low impact workouts, and I'd say it's about as advanced as a low impact workout can get. That doesn't mean it's truly advanced as far as effort goes ... my thought is that low impact can get up to maybe "high intermediate" at best. But it's an excellent workout with some great functional moves that keeps me going. Low impact is the key, and this sort of workout is the core of my exercise routine. Part 1 is perfect, although those forward-marching sumos bother me for some reason - I have no idea why. So I modify. Part 2 is interesting, since I don't have a step. I sold it to remove all temptation, since stepping destroys my arthritic feet. But most of the moves are still quite effective on the floor, and on a few others, I "modify" by hopping on my elliptical for a totally no-impact sprint. I always do one of the "double it" Mishmosh premix, but instead of doing it all the way through, I stop after repeating Part 1.
Metabolic Total Body - It's replaced Super Cuts as my all time favorite metabolic workout, and believe me, that says a lot, because Super Cuts is fantastic. MTB ... it's in a class by itself. I love this workout! I don't need lifting hooks for the weights since they are so light, and right now I can't think of anything that I need to modify. I like doing the premix with the Blizzard Blast for some added oomph. It's just perfect.
Chiseled Upper Body - I did this one a couple of times before passing judgment. It's official - I like it. The pace is slow enough that I can switch weights using my hooks, and that's key. One reason I am so selective with purchasing weight workouts is because using the hooks is very clunky, and I can't keep up with Cathe's usually quick transitions. I find myself doubling her weight, on average, and get a darned good workout. I like the premix with Core #2. I also like the more functional moves. It works my upper body in a way I usually don't get, especially if I let myself get stuck in a rut of doing my own thing. This one will definitely be a boredom blaster! One problem I did have, though was that she keeps all her chest work together. That's always been the hardest on my hands because I can't use hooks. And yow, the bear crawls are a no-no! I haven't quite worked out what I'm going to do there yet.
Chiseled Lower Body Blast - I did this one all the way through without modifications (except for the higher impact cardio) the first time, and I really paid for it. All those lunges KILLED my feet. But oh my goodness, was it FUN. I totally enjoyed every minute, even when I felt my toes start to protest. Thanks to 2Lazy4theGym, I now have a printed out list of all the exercises, and I've written notes on where I need to change. So I'll be replacing the lunges with friendlier-to-me options ... forward leaning, gliding on the discs, or maybe switch to squats instead. Some of Amanda's modifications worked for me on the cardio, but I've been making so many modifications myself to other workouts that I was able to use them as well.
Boot Camp Circuit - Even though this one did seem the easiest of the five as far as effort goes, it was the hardest for me to adapt to, and I almost regret buying it. But again, thanks to 2Lazy4theGym, I was able to print out the exercises and take notes. I'm going to use my elliptical for all of the cardio. Cathe uses the step, and because her moves are already geared to intermediate, when you bring them to the floor, they're not very hard at all. So I'm going to push it on the elliptical, which should bring the entire workout up a notch. I like the strength exercises, and especially the standing abs. One of main problems I had with this, though, is that it moves pretty fast, and transitions with the hooks were tricky. But I think with a little more practice, I can make it work.
So overall, I really like ICE. I didn't want to get an intermediate series, because I don't want to be an intermediate exerciser. But really, as I'm sure some of you are discovering, we can make these more advanced simply by increasing the weights and so on. And of course Cathe gives us the Blizzard Blasts and Muscle Meltdowns to up the intensity. If she decides to do another intermediate series, I just may preorder the whole thing!
Then, as I read other people's reviews and really studied the clips, I decided that maybe I could try a few more in the series, so I ordered Chiseled Upper Body, Chiseled Lower Body Blast, and Boot Camp Circuit. I didn't get Rock 'Em Sock 'Em or To the Mat because I'm not interested in kickboxing or floor-based workouts.
So, I've played around with the five that I have and thought I'd post reviews based on how I'm able to use them with some age-related issues.
Low Impact Sweat - Love it! It's right on par with Cathe's other low impact workouts, and I'd say it's about as advanced as a low impact workout can get. That doesn't mean it's truly advanced as far as effort goes ... my thought is that low impact can get up to maybe "high intermediate" at best. But it's an excellent workout with some great functional moves that keeps me going. Low impact is the key, and this sort of workout is the core of my exercise routine. Part 1 is perfect, although those forward-marching sumos bother me for some reason - I have no idea why. So I modify. Part 2 is interesting, since I don't have a step. I sold it to remove all temptation, since stepping destroys my arthritic feet. But most of the moves are still quite effective on the floor, and on a few others, I "modify" by hopping on my elliptical for a totally no-impact sprint. I always do one of the "double it" Mishmosh premix, but instead of doing it all the way through, I stop after repeating Part 1.
Metabolic Total Body - It's replaced Super Cuts as my all time favorite metabolic workout, and believe me, that says a lot, because Super Cuts is fantastic. MTB ... it's in a class by itself.
I love this workout! I don't need lifting hooks for the weights since they are so light, and right now I can't think of anything that I need to modify. I like doing the premix with the Blizzard Blast for some added oomph. It's just perfect.Chiseled Upper Body - I did this one a couple of times before passing judgment. It's official - I like it. The pace is slow enough that I can switch weights using my hooks, and that's key. One reason I am so selective with purchasing weight workouts is because using the hooks is very clunky, and I can't keep up with Cathe's usually quick transitions. I find myself doubling her weight, on average, and get a darned good workout. I like the premix with Core #2. I also like the more functional moves. It works my upper body in a way I usually don't get, especially if I let myself get stuck in a rut of doing my own thing. This one will definitely be a boredom blaster! One problem I did have, though was that she keeps all her chest work together. That's always been the hardest on my hands because I can't use hooks. And yow, the bear crawls are a no-no! I haven't quite worked out what I'm going to do there yet.
Chiseled Lower Body Blast - I did this one all the way through without modifications (except for the higher impact cardio) the first time, and I really paid for it. All those lunges KILLED my feet. But oh my goodness, was it FUN. I totally enjoyed every minute, even when I felt my toes start to protest. Thanks to 2Lazy4theGym, I now have a printed out list of all the exercises, and I've written notes on where I need to change. So I'll be replacing the lunges with friendlier-to-me options ... forward leaning, gliding on the discs, or maybe switch to squats instead. Some of Amanda's modifications worked for me on the cardio, but I've been making so many modifications myself to other workouts that I was able to use them as well.
Boot Camp Circuit - Even though this one did seem the easiest of the five as far as effort goes, it was the hardest for me to adapt to, and I almost regret buying it. But again, thanks to 2Lazy4theGym, I was able to print out the exercises and take notes. I'm going to use my elliptical for all of the cardio. Cathe uses the step, and because her moves are already geared to intermediate, when you bring them to the floor, they're not very hard at all. So I'm going to push it on the elliptical, which should bring the entire workout up a notch. I like the strength exercises, and especially the standing abs. One of main problems I had with this, though, is that it moves pretty fast, and transitions with the hooks were tricky. But I think with a little more practice, I can make it work.
So overall, I really like ICE. I didn't want to get an intermediate series, because I don't want to be an intermediate exerciser.
But really, as I'm sure some of you are discovering, we can make these more advanced simply by increasing the weights and so on. And of course Cathe gives us the Blizzard Blasts and Muscle Meltdowns to up the intensity. If she decides to do another intermediate series, I just may preorder the whole thing!
