Intimidated by Cathe Cardio

C

ColoradoSooner

Cathlete
Hi all,

This is my first post, although I have been a longtime lurker.

About 4 months ago, I converted from Firm-ism to Cathe-ism. :D I had been doing the Firm for about 2 years and had gotten great results (having never been much of an exerciser before) but decided it was time for a challenge.

I wish I had converted earlier because I am NUTS about Cathe. I have the GS series and wow...what a difference it's making. As budget allows, I plan to add more because, well, I think I'm addicted. ;)

Anyway, I absolutely loooove lifting weights but have always been a cardio-avoider. I know I have to do it so currently I do two Firm cardio step DVDs a week. I'm not terribly coordinated and it took me a bit to catch on to these but now I could probably do them in my sleep.

I wanted to shake up my cardio so I ordered Low Max, thinking for some crazy reason, that because it was Low Max it wouldn't be complicated. Well, I watched it last weekend and I am REALLY intimidated! I was like..."holy choreography, batman...how am I going to EVER do that?"

In my head I know that if I just do it, I will eventually catch on but I guess I need some encouragement from all you Cathe cardio survivors that this is really true. I keep putting it off and I need someone to tell me just to jump in the water and it'll be fine. <whimper>

Thanks for reading this incredibly long email and thanks for any words of encouragement, support, advice or sympathy you have to offer.:eek:
 
Believe me, you aren't the first person to watch the choreography and think, "Huh?!"

When I start a new routine, I try to get the basics down first. If anything seems too tricky for me, I'll skip learning it for the time being and modify with a basic step or a move that is easy for me but still keeps my heart rate up.

Once I get more comfortable with the routine (which could take weeks!), I start adding in some fancy stuff, a little at a time. :)
 
You will get it, you will, you will!!

YES, YOU WILL GET IT!!!!!!

How's that for encouragement?? :)

Seriously, though, if you stick with it, you will! I take FOREVER to learn choregraphy, trip on my feet, ect. but I find if I do it enough--and don't get frustrated with myself--I eventually get it. It took a month but this week, I just NAILED the LIS part of the 4-Day Split. So do your stepping, allow yourself to end up on the wrong side of the step/wrong foot, stop and stare at the screen with a Scooby Doo "HUH?" expression. If you give yourself some time to learn--and practice patience--you can get it.

And you can always start with an easier Cathe step, like Low Impact Step, and work up to more challenging combos.

But you can totally do this!!! Good luck and let us know how it goes!!
 
Hi, I know exactly what you mean. I started doing Cathe workouts after I grew tired of the Firm and wanting a new challenge. When I got the Hardcore Extreme DVD I watched it and wanted to scream HELP!! lol. I attempted it and gave up halfway through! But I also bought the DVD Step Blast/Step, Jump and Pump so I tried that one which was a little easier. Yeah I was tripping over my own feet and staring at the TV thinking `What are you doing now!`for the first few attempts but aftter sticking with it a while I got the steps down and now they are two of my favourite workouts. So don`t give up, you WILL get it!! Good luck.
 
Keep at it, you'll get it!!! I promise. I am hopelessly uncoordinated. Just don't let frustration get the better of you. The more frustrated you get, the harder it gets. I've spent my fair share of time staring at the tv with a WTH??? expression on my face. For the interval workouts, I found it easier for a while just to do the step-only premixes, to get the footwork down. The intervals themselves are normally pretty straightforward. Once you get the step part down, the whole shebang will go much smoother. I promise!!!

Nan
 
Low Max was my first Cathe workout after being a FIRMie for years and from the start I was hooked. That's not to say that it didn't take me about 90 minutes to get through it the first time because I was rewinding and repeating so much trying to get the choreography down. And believe me, at the end of that session I still didn't have it by any means. But I loved the challenge. A couple of years (I think -- wish I had written down the date I started) and owning most of the workouts now later I'm glad I stuck with it. Just remember that you probably didn't catch on to TheFIRM workouts the first time and may have thought they were complicated, too. It just takes practice.
 
Ah another Firm convert! I was too, once upon a time, a Firm believer. After finding Cathe, I feel like I wasted time with the Firm.

The first time I tried Cathe's step, I was lost. It gets a little easier every time you do it. Just remember the next time you do it, it won't be as hard as the last time. There is a big learning curve here, but once you get used to Cathe's moves and vocabulary, you will fall in love. Trust me, it's worth the investment of time. Hang in there - you can do it. We all have to start at the beginning.
 
Can totally relate. I was so mad when I started doing the videos because I couldn't get the steps down, and I felt like I was getting a lousy workout. I had to keep rewinding and putting it in slow motion, all while swearing like a sailor. Shortly thereafter I went on vacation and when I got back to doing the workouts I couldn't believe I was getting the steps down. Just give it some more time, and with more practise you will be right into it. Good luck.

Marta
 
You can definitely get LowMax!
Just give yourself permission to learn a little bit at a time. You can learn one step segment after your workout for the day, or learn one step segment, then do all the blasts (much simpler), probably with some marches in between.
Once you catch on, your cardio time flies by.
Happy stepping,
 
Low Max was one of my firsts too! Now, I love Cathe's workout style...and once you learn one...it's much easier to learn the rest.

I say go for it! You wont regret it...after the first couple workouts...smile.
 
We are here with you!!!

I was also a firm believer for 4-5 years until I found Cathe, no ofense to the Firm, but I wish I could find Cathe earlier!!

My first cathe dvd was body max 2.. I was sooo confused! thinking I will never get the routines and I even tougth about selling it on ebay! Glad I didnt!!! Im slowly colecting her dvds, and I will never go back.

You will definitely have "some" hard time learning, it takes some learning curve with cathe, but it goes really fast because you are having fun.

Be encouraged, you will get the steps down and after that is PURE FUN!
 
Thanks you guys. Your words of encouragement really do help. I think I'm going to give it a go on Saturday so that I'll have time to rewind and figure out some of the steps. Like I said, I know in my head that I will get it with practice. I just needed to hear it from people who have "been there, done that." You all ROCK!
 
I say to you, throw in that DVD and get into it. The best thing about Low Max is that the intensity blasts in and of themselves are not too complicated so if you are really focusing during those you will get a great cardio workout. So I didn't worry so much about the whole routine the first times I did it. You can do it too!!!!
 
You will make it and it would be so much fun!

My first step workout with Cathe before about 5 years was Step Blast. It has one of most complicated choreography, so you could imagine how difficult it was for me, having in mind that I have never been stepping before and that English is not my mother language, so it was difficult for me to even catch what she was speaking.

But I did it one combination an a time and repeat it until catch it. Now I adore Cathe cardio. It is so much fun!

You will make it too! Just keep trying!
 
I was intimidated by Ctahe's cardio for a long time when I first staretd with her. I am so glad I gave it another & another try & eventually got it. Now I absolutely LOVE it. When I have a hard time with one in particular I just stick with it & eventually nail it. What an awesome feeling when I can finally do it.
Stick with it, you'll nail it too!!
 
I know how you feel, but unlike everyone else who's responded, I didn't keep doing it. I tried Low Max twice and then sold it on Amazon. I just cannot figure out step workouts. I do, however, love KPC and I will NEVAH sell that one. It's actually the only Cathe cardio I have.
 
Another tip is to try the shorter premixes. Doing only the first half or only the second half a few times. It makes it less daunting, IMO, when done this way. I used to do that when I first started Cathe. One day, you will be amazed at yourself and wonder what was so complicated?
 
Don't give up! You will get it. I was doing the Firm for years and thought I was in tip top shape! Then I met Cathe. What a humbling experience. I remember standing in the middle of my workout room thinking "WHAT?" I got so frustrated, but I was determined not to give up. It does not take long to catch on to Cathe's moves and style.
 
I started with the oldies but goodies to get used to Cathe's style. I have never looked back. Once I watched her and did Step Works and Step Max etc. I was able to move right on. She is challenging but sooooo much fun. trust me, you will get it. And love it. That's why there are so many of us Catheites and road trippers. She's addicting. YOU CAN DO IT :D:D:D:D
ellie
 
A lot of times w/ a new Cathe WO I will not use the step at first (to avoid falling off the step & turning my ankle). After a couple tries I start using the step and pretty soon it's there!

I found LowMax a little intimidating at first too. After 4DS HIS/LIS it seemed a lot easier though (similar choreography). Personally I found LIC and BM2 to be the easiest to grasp, but that's just me :)
 
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