Hi! I'm new... where should I start???

materialsgirl

materialsgirl

Cathlete
Hi y'all!

I have been hearing such great things about Cathe's workouts, I just had to check it out. Watched some of the video clips on this website and all I can say is "WOW!". I have been doing The Firm for a few years now, and I thought those were supposed to be challenging workouts, but after viewing the video clips here, I realized there is a whole new world of bigger challenges awaiting me here. :D

So I'm contemplating where to start. Any recommendations - which Cathe workouts are your favorites? Strength training, cardio, whatever - I enjoy it all.

Do you all really have barbells and high steps and all that equipment? Where do you keep it all? Is there any way to get by without barbells? I've got dumbells (3 to 20 lbs), a Firm fanny lifter, the Firm Box, the Firm sculpting stick, and a stability ball. I really don't have space for anymore exercise equipment, but I'm dying to try Cathe's workouts. What can I do?

Thanks in advance for any advice!
 
I recommend the Muscle Endurance and Boot Camp dvd. Muscle Endurance has a barbell but you can get away with using dumbells...I know because I use to do it that way.

You can use your fanny lifter in place of the "high step", I did for a long time until DH cracked mine my accident (dropped a dumbell on it).

Muscle Endurance is a total body endurance, kind of like Body Sculpt with Jen Carmen (1st series) only tougher and better. Boot Camp can be done with fanny lifter too. That is a cardio and weight combo...it is awesome!

The other dvd I recommend would be High Step Training Advanced. This is an awesome workout, only thing is, it uses the barbell a little more. You can get a barbell set for about 40-50 at walmart...I think.

Sounds like you have PLENTY of dumbells.

I keep all mu equipment under the bed, in the spare office, tucked in the garage.
 
Hi Emily,

First of all, nice to see you. I found Cathe last summer and my collection of equipment keeps on growing (as well has my collection of her workouts!) I have several favorites, Kick, Punch, and Crunch and Bootcamp stand out as two of my favorite fun workouts.

Her new series, Hardcore is getting rave reviews here, I only have the Hardcore Extreme DVD but I'm dying to get the Gym style DVDs.

I can tell you that from my experience, a barbell is not necessary, but I recently got one...and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I used dumbells for several months and the barbell is just amazing. I've found I can lift heavier than with dumbells, squats don't seem to bother me like before, I think my form improved, but that could be just me. Cathe says in some of her workouts that if you want to use dumbells instead, go ahead.

You'll have fun with Cathe...she is the best. I've been "addicted" since the first time I watched one of her workouts! :7
 
Hi, Emily. Sounds like you have a good set up for your workouts. I prefer my dumbells because I can then usually lift heavier. It's just a pain putting them away in the hall closet. I wish I had a rolling dumbell holder.

Leaner legs & the whole cross train express is good. So is the intensity series.

Marla
 
Thanks everyone who responded so far - I really appreciate your recommendations, and am relieved to know that I could probably get by without barbells (at least for the time being).

Thanks so much! :)
 
Hi there,

Welcome to the wonderful world of Cathe. I'm sure that you'll come to love her workouts as much as the rest of us.

As for where to start, I've copied a link to the 'Ultimate Cathe Guide' below. This ranks all of her current, in print, workouts minus the Hardcores which were released after this was completed. What I like about the guide is that it breaks down Cathe's workouts into categories so you can choose workouts in the areas that interest you and it ranks them by intensity so you can choose workouts to match your fitness level (any workout can be made easier or harder by adjusting your weight selection, your step height, taking out impact, etc.). Here's the link

http://69.0.137.118/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=3&topic_id=35826&mesg_id=35826&page=

You don't need a barbell to do the workouts, although at some point down the line you may want to consider one. I would use caution when using the Fanny Lifter for some workouts. For the workouts where a high step is used for weight work, the FL works just fine. For the workouts where the high step is used for cardio, I would not suggest using the fanny lifter (High Step Training Advanced comes to mind). Even with just the purple or blue sections, the FL is not sturdy enough to handle some of the cardio moves, IMO. If you have a step, you can use the end of your step and that should work fine.

Enjoy!
 
Wow! Thanks for the link - that is immensely helpful!

Really appreciate everyone's input. I can't wait to get started working out with Cathe! :)
 
Just saying Hi and welcome Emily

Marion






You have to stay in shape. My Grandmother started walking when she was 60. Today she is 97 and we don't know where the hell she is! - Ellen DeGeneres
 
Me too! Hi Emily, welcome to Cathe.

You absolutely can get by without a barbell, but eventually you're going to want one. You can deal with that then! LOL

Ruth
 
Hi, Emily. If you want an affordable barbell when you are ready, there's one at Amazon for about 23.00 (It was twenty when I ordered it a few years back and it's still there and still cheap!) The shipping is $4.95 and that's a steal for an 80 pound barbell set.

Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, to carry money without spending it, and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.

-Ann Landers
 
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