Hardest Videos Ever

[Amy Steppe]

I have used fitness videos since 1986. Tonight after working out to a very hard video, I thought about the hardest videos I have ever done. These are not in any type of order of difficulty. Each one kills me and I know I've worked out when I'm finished. The top five hardest videos ever for me are:

1) Body Max - This one is long, intense and a classic in my rotations. Cathe and cast keep me motivated, even when I'm DYING! By the time I'm doing the pushups in the Upper Body Conditioning section I'm ready to cry!

2) Vol. 2 - Firm -- Challenge yourself with heavier poundage -- you'll never outgrow it. Corny music and Janet Jones Gretsky add to the torture factor. Nevertheless, it's an awesome and highly effective workout!

3) Step Works - This is verrry fast-moving and while not my favorite Cathe workout is IMO her most intense. I don't like the soundtrack or choreography as much as some of Cathe's others, but it's guaranteed to raise the sweat factor. By the third section I'm almost over the edge.....

4) Firm Super Sculpting - This one just slays me. The great music and instructors make it bearable. The step up box routine for the buttocks is really hard -- esp. when you are using a very heavy barbell with all the sets.

5) Interval Max - Cathe is half bunny rabbit

The music is great and Interval 10 done like Cathe does it has become my "Last Fitness Frontier."

So what are your top 5 hardest videos?

 

[cjgraeve]

Cathe=INTENSE

My list of toughest ever is very similar! Cathe definitely is intense, and definitely is part rabbit, otherwise she's hiding springs in her shoes! (should check into those Ryka shoes-that might be the answer...just kidding)
5. the Firm Super Sculpt-my butt's burning after this one, fast paced and fun. I definitely can't use very heavy weights, but the repetitions make up for med. weight.
4. CIA 9905-Franny is FUN! The closest I've found yet to Cathe in terms of intensity and complexity, she really puts me through my paces and I LOVE it!
3. Maximum Intensity Cardio-The two sections separately aren't too bad, but put them together and it's intense. For me the fact that the step music is a little slower than usual really pushes me to make the moves precise and use muscle, esp. with the uneven squats.
2. Body Max-So fun it's you don't notice it is a killer! So many moves put together so efficiently, it's pure genius...but leads to pure insanity when I really focus!
1. Interval Max-my favorite!!!! I can get through the whole thing as choreographed with the most intense moves WITH the exception of the last half of the tuck jumps for which I substitute airborne jacks! The most wonderful words Cathe utters in this workout is "...just 4 more!"
God bless you Cathe and your built in springs!
julie

 

[bkloots]

Funny you should mention Vol. 2

This morning, after I finished Intense Moves (which is the most intense workout I own--but relatively short) I cued up 5-Day Abs and got Janet Jones-Gretsky from Vol 2. I'd forgotten how cheesy the music is on these early classics! And how pastel the set is. Nevertheless, this bit of ab work is plenty challenging, and I can just imagine what the rest of the workout could be like.

 

[srmohler]

FIRM Vol. 2

This is the first time that I've heard anyone else say that Vol. 2 is tough. I have always thought it was a good thorough workout. My arms turn to spaghetti by the time I'm done. When I rate it in my workout log, I always rate it a 5 ( out of 1-5). It is my favorite FIRM Total Body workout. I always try to up the "poundage" to more than Janet uses, and am amazed at how hard it is!

 

[krinalee]

Firm Super Sculpt

Hi all!Can someone tell me which Firm video this is..who the instructor is ...etc. I tried to do a search at Collage and there are a few listed with Sculpt in the title, and of course, I don't have a clue....Any information would be appreciated as I am always looking for a good lower body workout.Thanks,Kim

 

[Amy Steppe]

Super Sculpt is only available from Firm Direct

Super Sculpt is a special edition "For Firm Believers" and is only available from 1-800-THE-FIRM. Or www.firmdirect.com. It's great--great instructors, great music, one of the best of the fitness industry's most recent releases. The buttocks sections leave me in serious muscle failure.

 

[Amy Steppe]

Vol 2 is Great

Vol. 2 is very hard when used with 8 to 12 pound dumbells for the standing floorwork. Oh yes, I use a 25 pound dumbbell for the french press portion. Janet demos with light weight, but she usually instructs medium to heavy poundage. This workout is not for a beginner or the weak.

The set doesn't bother me as much as Janet Jones Gretsky and that hideous music. The music in the floorwork sounds like a funeral dirge to me. Despite all this it is a workout that I come back to when I really want to challenge myself.

 

[betsyl]

Has to be IMax!

That would be #1.
#2 MIC
#3 MIS-if done straight through. The only tape
that has ever made me nauseous from working so
hard
#4 Intense Moves
#5 Body Max

I absolutely love all of these tapes. Need that challenge I guess !!

 

[Amy Steppe]

MIC

You know, MIC almost made my list. I think the only thing that saved it for me personally was the fact that the step portion is a little slower at first. Of course, when I think of that final power blast sequence.........

 

[kellyeli]

MIC IS tough!

Amy, I have to agree with you. I did this today all the way through for the first time in I don't know how long. I usually will do the hi/lo (and love it) with out a problem, but usually when I get to the step section, I'm just too fatigued. Don't know what was up today, maybe I finished because I had pre-scolded myself into doing the whole thing. On the rare occasion I've gone into the step portion, it's usually those shasse repeaters aggravating me or those ENDLESS uneven lunges across the step! Could Cathe have possibly put in any more of those? Ok, I got through it today and actually liked them, so maybe they're there for a reason I previously just didn't want to know about. Ok, enough rambling!

Elizabeth Kelly

 

[Daphne M]

Me too, Betsy L!

These four are very tough for me, but in different ways. I did two of them this morning and yep, they are HARD. (It was one of those rare days where I had an extra hour to workout, a lot of energy and I'm in training for a race, but couldn't leave the house to go for a run.)

Of all of them, I think Body Max wipes me out the most, the cardio parts are fun for me, but by the time I reach the upper body section the workout becomes grueling. I decided to lighten up the weights for that section about 8 months ago, and it's been much more enjoyable since then. But nothing ever makes all those sets of push-ups feel any easier.

Body Max
Interval Max
MIC
MIS (my legs and arms are shaking for hours afterward)

I have more than 70 tapes, but none of the remainder rank up there with these four. A few have their moments: Intense Moves, CIA 9803 and 9905 come to mind.

 

[betsyl]

BodyMax

I've never made it through the pushup section, Daphne. I usually end up collapsing on the floor, trying to talk myself into getting back up unto my hands and trying some more. I am really a wimp at pushups anyway but this one is way beyond me at this point, if ever. How does Cathe (and friends) make it look so easy?

 

[Amy Steppe]

Body Max Pushups

Those pushups are the worst! I can get through them, but by the time those five sets are over, I almost am! I hate pushups, always have and always will. They are my least favorite exercise of all time!

 

[honeybunch]

Just remember, my dear...

....that push-ups, as with heavy weights do, in the words of our guru Cathe, "nice things for you." It's the end result we're after, right? We all love it when we shop for clothes and we have to buy the next size SMALLER!!!!!! Right? Of course right!

Pep talk time.