I'm thinking of selling some of my new dvds

[Amy Steppe]

I didn't realize how high the intensity was and I am thinking of selling 3 out of the 4 I ordered unopened. I wonder how much damage Cathe, her crew and anyone doing these leaping up onto a 14" step, etc. is going to affect their knees, etc. about 20 years down the road. I realize I am no spring chick at the age of 66 but I want to prevent any break downs in my body from doing things I don't think I should be doing?

I am going to preview them on Cathe's site after my son fixes my speakers and then I might change my mind and keep them if I figure out some other way to do them without damage.

What is your opinion on these high intensity dvds with all the leaping and high jumps, etc?

Well, I am 55 years old and have been active all my life.

Unfortunately I also have really bad exercise induced asthma - some days are better than others.

I don't use 14 in for the box jumps. I use between 8 and 10 inches. I modify the moves. Cathe even suggests modifications in the videos I have previewed and/or done.

I think you should give them a chance before just selling them.

I am not setting out to be a hero - I will NEVER do box jumps at 14 inches. So far, the box jumps on 14 inches is the only problem I am having with the entire series. I think that is way too much for almost any person unless they are trying out for Cirque de Soleil in Vegas or the Olympics.

 

[JULSCARVER]

intimidated too

I too previewed these tapes with some trepidation. I consider myself intermediate/advanced. On most of her vidoes there are parts I must modify be it lower impact, lower step height or other ways. I can never lift as heavy as cathe can. I just putter along with my little weights .
I did "step moves" 1st because I thought I could do that one without stressing myself out. I thoroughly enjoyed the workout; it will take a few more times for me to master some of the moves.
I did "cardio core circuit" today. I found it hard but doable. She frequently showed modifications, and I added a couple of my such as jogging in place rather than jumping jacks. Once I was done I felt very proud of myself!
So I say go for it and give the dvd's a try!

 

[kathryn]

Since you haven't opened them yet, you do have the option of sending them back for a refund.

You've already been given lots of suggestions for modifying (I'd also include: ALWAYS step down from the step to the floor rather than jumping down).

IMO, jumping up onto a 10-12" step isn't half as much impact as jumping down onto the floor, or jumping over the step (I plan to modify that move by jumping onto the step, stepping down, then walking back into a plank and back again, unless I feel like adding more impact at some time).

I think you have to ask yourself if you would enjoy having to modify a workout so much. Frankly, if I had had a chance to preview the entire workouts before buying, I don't think I would have bought them, but now that I have them, and have opened them, I'm going to give them each at least one run-through (and that will take a while, since I can't do these kinds of workouts regularly without my knees complaining. When I previewed them yesterday--marathon preview day!--I was thinking they looked more doable than I'd previously thought. Then reality set in this a.m. and I realized that my knees would be aching if I did these very often, so 1-2 per week is the limit for me!)

I think one reason Cathe and crew can do these workouts without problems (besides their fitness level) is that they are on a VERY forgiving floor. Close-ups of their feet on the jumping drills in the boxing workout show that the floor is actually springy! I doubt that many of us have springy floors at home---I truely envy anyone who has a dedicated workout room with flooring like this--and I'd compare their doing the moves on that flooring with us doing the moves on typical floors (wood floors, carpet over cement would be even worse) to them doing the workouts on the grass while we do them on a paved driveway! (for those working out on carpet over cement, it would be more like working out on a cement driveway).

I also think that, because of their shorter length and because there are no continuous step moves between intervals, these may actually be kinder to the body (knees, hips and other joints) than the IMAX workouts.

 

[workingToBeFit]

Kathryn, I want to thank you for making that point about the very forgiving, specially constructed floors that Cathe and crew are on. I had never even thought of that! After reading your post I immediately loaded up MMA Boxing and yes I can SEE the floor springing up and down underneath their feet, even when they are not doing anything that drastic in terms of impact. This has to have a major effect. This actually makes me feel much better about having to make my own modifications

 

[smiles4383]

MODIFY

MODIFY.....It's pretty easy to modify any Cathe workout....even taking it to the floor will give you a great heart pump on those days when high energy just isn't possible.

I live in a mobile home and never jump off the ground on any of her workouts.
There is always a modification that gets the same muscles and gives me a great pump!

Good Luck!

T