I did Imax 2 for the 1st time this morning

[honeybunch1]

And here is what I thought of it....FUN! TOUGH! Not for sissies! Not to be done on an 8" step!

The choreography was easy for me because I'm a Cathe step veteren, but the intervals were a little tricky, especially the plie jumps, or whatever they're called. I DID NOT have to modify, just get on track with the moves.

Great music, too! I always love it when I finish ANY Cathe step tape, because that means I'm in darned good shape!

Two thumbs up!:7

 

[LizzieLiz]

Glad to hear you liked it Honeybunch! I'm impressed that you did not have to modify. ;-)

I found it tough too - but sooooo much fun. And how about that music!? I don't know what it is but I find the music SO incredibly motivating. I also like the fact that it is so loud in this one - I recall Cathe saying that she pumped up the volume of the music in this one intentionally, good call Cathe!

There is one interval that I found absolutely impossible to do on an 8" step and that is the one with the power-3's over the step and into the really fast step-taps. It was also super hard on my knees so I think I'll have to modify to something else there.

All in all, so much fun that I actually look forward to doing an interval workout.

 

[Cbelle]

I finally got my tapes last nite and did Muscle Endurance. I'm not sure about that one.....some of the exercises I need to up my weights that's for sure. And I'm not sore today which disappoints me. But today is IMAX 2 and I'm SCARED! I just finished previewing all of them and MAN! Its gonna be a TOUGH week! The abs look absolutely EVIL! After I'm done here on the computer I'm headed down to the basement for IMAX 2....

 

[letswork]

Hi LizzieLiz

I am also having problems with those darned fast step-taps. And it's not something that I feel good doing. Could you let me know how you modify that interval...I could really use a good suggestion.

 

[jillybean]

My first Intensity Series experience was ME too. Please don't give up on this tape. Use a barbell instead of the plate for your leg presses and use a 20# barbell for the one arm rows instead of the (2) 8# db. Also, go heavier for chest work too. I too used the same weight as Cathe the first time but once I made these adjustments, it was tougher than Power Hour! Have fun!

 

[annie2867]

RE: Hi LizzieLiz

I will tell you how I modified mine; instead of doing the taps from side to side over the bench, I stayed on the front part of the bench (facing the (TV) and just alternated each foot doing the same tap motion at the same speed.

 

[sharonm]

RE: Hi LizzieLiz

I love Imax 2. The music is awesome and the intervals are more interesting than the first Imax. I like the variety. I may be in a minority but I love the 3 repeater quick taps. One way to modify is do a slow hop back and forth over the step, lifting the knees, sort of like a big ski hop. Does that make sense? At the end your right knee should be in the air, ready for that 3 repeater again.
How about those Jeannie hops? I hate those so I've put double jogs there and the last one I single it so I can be on the right foot for the next move. Those sumo squats, I did those yesterday on my step like quick squats side to side. OMG, more intense. Anyone else adlib during this workout?

 

[Cbelle]

RE: Hi LizzieLiz

Ok, I'm still dripping from my first experience with IMAX 2! VERY tough workout! One of those, oh my god am I going to puke? kind. Some of the moves were tricky but I just did whatever worked at the time.

Jillybean, thanks for the advice on the ME tape. I think one thing that kinda disappointed me was the leg presses. I've been doing those with Firm tape with 20# (each) dumbbells so 10# really felt like NOTHING! I'll up that weight for sure and the back and chest as well. My biceps were SCREAMING (lots of strength there but not much endurance).

You always expect the first week of doing new tapes to be a learning experience...what weights to use, what modifications etc. I'm looking forward to a wonderful weightloss coming soon! LOL

 

[cmoroney]

RE: Hi LizzieLiz

Letswork,

When I do IMAX2 on an 8" step I have to modify on the fast step taps, too. What I do is just hop over the bench straddle style like Cathe is doing - but I just hop from one side of the bench to the other that is 8 times, then you end up where she is.

This is as high impact as you would like depending on how you choose to jump from side to side.

Cheryl

 

[LizzieLiz]

Hi Letswork,

Letswork - I will certainly let you know what I end up doing for that interval, I'm scheduled for IMax2 tomorrow night. I will probably try something similar to what Sharonm has described since it sounds like it's a slower pace but would still get my heartrate up there.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

Lizzie ;-)

 

[LizzieLiz]

RE: Hi LizzieLiz

That sounds like a plan to me!

 

[AndreaL]

Me too HB!

I also did IMax2 for the first time this morning. I always use a 4" step cause of my knees. I still had to modify some of the intervals, but I could do more of them unmodified than in IMax1. Fun!

Andrea

 

[dani21496]

RE: Me too HB!

I did IMAX2 for the first time last night also. I absolutely loved it! What an awesome workout and I used a 6 inch step, it won't go any lower!!! It was hard for me to stay centered on those Jeannie hops, but I was able to do all of them. Those step taps were a killer, but in a good way.

About Muscle Endurance and using the 10 lb. plate for the leg presses. I've always used about 20 lbs for those leg presses in the FIRM workouts but Cathe moves MUCH quicker on these leg presses, so my heart rate really was up there. I think the 10 lb. was fine, just because of how fast we have to do them.

Danielle

:+

 

[kitkat]

RE: Me too HB!

Just to jump in here, about the leg press in ME, Cathe also gives us double the sets, the firm usually gives 2 sets Cathe did 4 sets, my legs are sore today!

 

[pace1987]

RE: Me too HB!

Hey I just order the Imax 2 with the cario & Weights, This sounds like a challenge. What does interval mean in her program, Im a little confuse? Does that mean the moves? I have the all step that came with the step that I just brought last week, it is a little confusing, I have to get use to it because I do this at the gym 3 times a week, which is totally different then doing it in front of your tv. The tape quality was awful though, it had to keep tracking, that is why I just order dvd....Barbara

 

[jillybean]

RE: Me too HB!

You know how in All Step Cathe says, "We're gonna throw some intervals in here - just to jack it up a bit," and then she goes into hitch kicks, ricochets, heal, toe, jacks, etc. without giving you a break? It's like that. Cathe will do a mini combo, like a knee corner to corner, then an over the top, then a basic, then a hop turn, then repeat this mini combo 5 more times for a total of 6. This usually takes about a minute and a half. Then for another minute and a half (give or take) she'll go into an interval, like airborne jacks, plyo jacks, whatever, just something that takes your heart rate sky high so that you are no longer aerobic but rather anaerobic. Then she has you do a brief recovery, such as marching, side stepping, grapevines, and then the whole cycle repeats itself. It is a blast! I personally LOVE the first Imax, but Imax 2 is different and great too. Hope you like it!