How long to get to Cathe's tapes

[AmyT]

I am new to this forum, although I've been "lurking" for a while. I am currently a 27 year old intermediate exerciser - I've been doing step videos for about a month consistently, but only off and on before that.

My question is - I know I'm not ready for Cathe's tapes yet, but I've ordered a couple and watched and I can't wait to get there. Can anyone give me an idea how long it takes to get to that level?? I realize everyone is different, just looking to the future, and hoping to get an idea!

Also, I've always heard that exercise should help your sleep, but I've noticed I haven't been sleeping as well, even though I work out in the morning. Is this an adjustment period? Appreciate anyone's two cents!

 

[DebbieH]

Hi Amy!

I am fairly new here also and you will love joining the group. They are a super group of people! As far as Cathe's video's go, I had never done step before. I just got sooo motivated by reading everyone's post on this forum and went for it and bought 4 videos right off the bat! I WILL admit that as far as coordination, it took me a good 3-4 times to start getting the steps down, but once you do, you will love them. You can always modify steps if they are too hard for you. The same with her strength(or weight tapes) you can just use light or no weights at all. You can just listen to your body as you go and modify where you need to. As far as not sleeping, it is strange since you are doing your workout in the morning. Are you sure there isn't maybe caffeine involved or maybe you are too sore to sleep comfortably from your workouts? It is hard to tell what would cause this for you. Maybe a Dr. would have a good suggestion for you. Good luck Amy and WELCOME!!! Debbie-A Friend-in-Fitness

 

[AmyT]

Thanks!

Thanks so much for the response. You're right, I can already tell I'm going to love this forum!

 

[Nancy C]

Careful Amy

Because once you start with Cathe's tapes...there's no going back

!

Debbie gave you great advice and said pretty much what I would have said, so...ditto.

Just watch your sleeping problem. It might be unrelated to your fitness program but it could also be a sign of overdoing. I know when I have a heavy schedule, I tend to get a little more hyper than usual and it shows up in my sleep patterns.

Enjoy your tapes! Which ones did you get? Inquiring minds want to know. My all time fav is PowerMax, it was one of my first tapes and it took me a little while to conquer it

. I also like to combine the step sections of BodyMax and MIC.

That is a good way to workup to a tape too. Just plan one or two sections (maybe the warm ups) of Cathes with one of your tapes that you have been doing the last month.

Have fun and let us know how you make out

nancy:O)

 

[audrey]

Hi, Amy

When I started doing Cathe's tapes, I had been doing step only a couple of months and was probably also at the intermediate level. I was doing Kari Anderson's Fitness Formula and Keli Roberts' Ultimate Step on an 8" step (I don't know if you have either of those tapes). When I got my first Cathe tape (PowerMax), I intended to save it for a while, but it looked like fun, so I went ahead and tried it. I just put my step down to 6" and stayed at that level for a few weeks, then raised it a section at a time (i.e., I would do the first section on 8", then the rest of the tape on 6", then the next week I did the first two sections on 8", etc.). This worked fine for me. You could also try starting with some of the early tapes (StepHeat, StepJam), which are a little less complicated in terms of choreography and a little lower in intensity than the later ones. Also, in a lot of Cathe's tapes, the last section is short but very intense, so you could just leave that out until you feel ready for it. Hope this helps,

Audrey

 

[AmyT]

For inquiring minds like me!

I ordered the DVD of Cathe's, Cardio Hits, which has PowerMax, Step Works, and Step Fit. Guess I jumped in with both feet!

I could tell by reading the reviews on video fitness that I would love her tapes, because I like complex choreography. After I get a few down, I want to try the BodyMax. It's good to know that you don't get tired of them!

I think you are probably right about the sleeping, I may be overdoing it a little, can't slow down at night! You know how the brain feels like it's on a treadmill.

 

[AmyT]

Thanks Audrey!

Sounds like we are very similar. I do have Fitness Formula and a lot of Kari Anderson's tapes. I can only do them on a 6" step, because of my fitness level, and I've noticed my knees start to ache if I go higher.

I can already tell a difference, though, just after a month, and this forum really motivates me!

Thanks again!

 

[audrey]

Hi, again!

I didn't mean to suggest that you needed to be at a particular step height to try Cathe's tapes, just that you drop the step below what you're used to in order to make the transition. So if you're more comfortable with a 6" step, then you could go to 4" when you first start out, and gradually work your way back up to 6". (I have a Reebok step, so 6" is as low as it goes.) I just had to convince myself at first that lowering the board wasn't a step backward, since I was using more intense tapes. I still use a lower board than I normally do on the most intense tapes (MIC, BodyMax, IntervalMax) to help me ease into them.

Good luck,
Audrey