Is Bodymax worth getting?

N

NathL

Cathlete
I have a lot of Cathe's Step DVDs and I would like to get something new to do.
I already have Hardcore Extreme, Low max, Step Blast, BM2, Cardio fusion, CTX, The Classics, Cardio hits, Rhythmic step and the Terminator. I like to do high intensity step. Even though it's older, is Bodymax worth getting ?

Nathalie
 
Hello Nathalie,

I like this one quite a lot and, before all her other DVDs came out later, this one was my primary workout for strength training and cardio. I like MIS and Power Hour that is also on this DVD and have gone back to using them because I do total body weight workouts. I did BodyMax a couple of weeks ago as well and it was tough! I especially like the upper body weight workout for this, in fact I think I prefer this to BodyMax 2 upper body.

I think it is worth getting if you will be doing total body weight training as well, otherwise it is probably not worth getting for BodyMax alone.

Yen
 
Hi Yen,

I'm glad to know that the weight workout in Bodymax is as challenging as BM2. I'm also tempted by Power hour, which I heard was a good endurance workout.

How would you rate the cardio in Bodymax. To which other DVD would you compare it's intensity?

Nathalie
 
I do not rate Bodymax at all, for several reasons.

It is paced too fast. It is the only Cathe cardio DVD that gave me an injury because it is just too damned fast. I sold it and have never regretted the decision.

It belongs to a period of exercise theory that pre-dates the current valorization of HIIT. Cathe makes you slog through seemingly hours of high intensity cardio, which goes against current theory that HIIT is actually the way to go, not only for weight loss but also for cardiovascular fitness improvement. If you love to do ferocious cardio for the longest time, just for the hell of it, you'll like Bodymax. If you believe in "no pain, no gain", this is the DVD for you. If you like nose-bleed cardio, just for the hell of it, buy it. Personally, I don't have anything to prove to anyone but myself and I prefer to workout more intelligently.

The upper body weight work is nothing special, and endurance based, yet again. If you already have plenty of Cathe's endurance work, you are not getting anything new with Bodymax.

The point about Bodymax is simply to push yourself to the limits. You could do the same by combining Imax 2 with CTX upper body. Save your cash for future Cathe releases. I would.

Clare
 
I've really enjoyed Bodymax. During the step section, I'm thinking "this just doesn't let up"!!! When is this gunna stop!!! "I am in HELL"

After reading Clare's reply, I can now see why I thought "this is one tough workout" It is exactly as Clare states, "ferocious cardio for the longest time" I enjoy it, but it is very very tough!

Power hour and MIS are totally worth getting. Power Hour is a bit body pumpish, and MIS is great.

The annoying thing for me is the cost. paying top dollars for something that is dated. However, it appears thats "just the way it is" so I pay the money. (Because like {obviously} everybody else we all "just pay the money" as we LOVE Cathe)

Andrea
 
I like original BodyMax almost better than the new one, just because I love the choreography in the step part! But I never do it all at the same time - It would probably kill me! I prefer to do the cardio part on my cardio days where I want JUST a great, long cardio workout. I like the choreography a lot! But I modify what I don't like.

Then I will do the second half on a different day. Again, I like the way it's put together, and what doesn't feel right, I modify. It's still great Cathe stuff - and she's fairly easy to tweak to your level, dated or not.
 
I like the original Body Max better than the new one also, but I rarely use either of them. 90 min. is just to long for me!! I also agree with alot of what Clare said.

What makes the dvd worth having IMO is PH and MIS great endurance work and always a fun challenge.

Deanie
 
Just did it today for the first time in years, and found it fun and not as fast or hard as I remembered it being.

It's a great way to play catch up if you've missed a day or two of workouts, and I think it has aged very well!
 
Nathalie,

I used to think the workout was tough tough tough!! That and IMAX used to scare me. But since I've been using Cathe's other workous and training a lot harder, I've become a lot and fitter the workout is not that tough. I did it a few weeks ago and the cardio feels good. It did get my heart rate up, but I think BodyMax2 cardio is probably tougher. The upper body weigths however really took it out of me by the end, so I felt I got a thorough cross training in 90mins.

It's definitely good for building endurance strength and cardio. It is dated but none of Cathe's workouts ever feels stale to me - I can do them forever.

Yen
 
Clare,

I'm glad you mentioned the pace of Body Max; I thought maybe it was just me that didn't enjoy the very fast pace (I am a Slow & Heavy girl after all). Now, I really like Body Max, but I do not love it like other workouts. I feel like it's complete endurance, and I do struggle a bit to keep up--even during the step portion.

During the weight portion, I've been trying to track the weights I use for different exercises, but I find the pace very fast and I have a hard time keeping up. There's also not a lot of stretching.

However, the abs section IMHO is awesome. If you want to feel your abs burn, then Body Max has an amazing abs segment.

That said, I think the DVD bundle of MIS/Power Hour/Body Max is worth it, but Body Max is not a workout I would do for the pure fun of it. I find it just too fast paced.

Dawn
 
Hey Dawn:

we are in agreement! Slow & Heavy is also one of my faves! Thanks for the hint about the abs section though.

Clare
 
I hadn't done this one for a while, this thread reminded me and I did it again. I loved it!! I agree with the other poster, it wasn't as hard as I remembered. I say buy it!

Andrea.
 
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