Is it just me or is Cathe the standard you judge all other workouts by?

N

nkuangel

Cathlete
Hey everyone,
I have been recently researching other home video instructors and none of them even begin to stand up to not only the intensity but also the quality of Cathe's. I just got off the Amy Bento website and previewed some of her workouts. They were awful!!! You think Cathe's choreography is intricate Amy's was spastic, intricate, dangerous not to mention she has to be one of the most irritating instructors I have ever heard!!

If you google Amy Bento you can get to her homepage and check out some of her workouts. I would like your opinions on these videos just so I know that I am not crazy! Please check these out because after reading the reviews on amazon I am starting to feel like I am missing something.

The reason why I am asking is because I have read the reviews of her and Jari Love on amazon and they are all 5 stars!! I was the only one who put 1 star and wanted to give them no stars but there wasn't an option. I guess what I am saying is THANK GOD FOR CATHE!!!!
 
I own one of Jari Love's dvds (the one that claims you will burn 1000 calories). It is very tedious and the cardio segments are just awful (unoriginal and uninspiring). However, I did feel it the next day, but no more than I do after doing a Cathe workout.
 
Cathe is the instructor I judge all others by. No-one comes close. I bought and sold Jari Love very fast. The only other instructor for kick box I do like is Kimberly Spreen, especially for a day when Cathe is just too tough to do, I can still do a Kimberly Spreen workout and feel like at least I have done something. I don't do her very often though. I don't know anything about Amy Bento workouts.

Yes Thank God for Cathe!:)
 
RE: Is it just me or is Cathe the standard you judge al...

Though I do think Cathe is exceptional, I like to try other people as well so as not to get bored. If you like athletic workouts Sharon Money Twombly's interval workout All Body Attack CIA-2704 is challenging and inventive; I've also recently discovered Seasun Zieger for step and bosu workouts - if you like intensity with your complex choreography she might be worth checking out. I've never tried Amy Bento, I was put off by a preview of her kickboxing dvd as her form is very poor. I do like Jari Love for the days when you want to get the job done and don't want to think too much, the straigh-forwardness of her workouts can be appealing. However, I have to admit in the end it's my Cathe dvds which hog the shelf space.
 
>
>Hey everyone,
>I have been recently researching other home video instructors
>and none of them even begin to stand up to not only the
>intensity but also the quality of Cathe's. I just got off the
>Amy Bento website and previewed some of her workouts. They
>were awful!!! You think Cathe's choreography is intricate
>Amy's was spastic, intricate, dangerous not to mention she has
>to be one of the most irritating instructors I have ever
>heard!!
>
>If you google Amy Bento you can get to her homepage and check
>out some of her workouts. I would like your opinions on these
>videos just so I know that I am not crazy! Please check these
>out because after reading the reviews on amazon I am starting
>to feel like I am missing something.
>
>The reason why I am asking is because I have read the reviews
>of her and Jari Love on amazon and they are all 5 stars!! I
>was the only one who put 1 star and wanted to give them no
>stars but there wasn't an option. I guess what I am saying is
>THANK GOD FOR CATHE!!!!
>
>

I think Amy's a great instructor, and a nice alternative to Cathe.

If you are happy with Cathe all the time, fine.

No need to get all worked up about it.
:)
 
I only buy Cathe's workouts and only do Cathe's workouts! I can't find an alternative that I like. Her workouts are very similar to what I used to do at the gym.
Ellen
 
>I only buy Cathe's workouts and only do Cathe's workouts! I
>can't find an alternative that I like.

I couldn't have said it better! Once I found Cathe, no one compares. She is the advanced level I need and enjoy. No one else comes close:)

Deanie
 
I do think Cathe sets the standard.

I started with the Firm and still enjoy them. I originally purchased Cathe because I liked the way she ran her business (especially compared with the old Firm).

Now I do mostly Cathe, The firm, P90X- no rotation just work it in, and Tracie Long's functional fitness.

I have always been one who likes alot of variety.
 
Cathe is my number one instructor. No one else compares to her in quality of dvds, imo she gives you the most bang for your buck. Cathe is excellent with cueing and has great form.

That being said I do like other instructors to mix it up a little.

I like Amy Bento I have 2 of her workouts, Kickbox Xtreme which I love, is much different than anything of Cathe's. And I like her Hi/LO Xtreme, Amy is fun but she has a lot to learn, she is a new comer on the scene.

My other instructor is Tracey Stahele. I like her step style it is different from Cathe's so it keeps it interesting.

Each instructor is so different from one another that you really can't compare it is a personal call from one exerciser to the next as to what they like. They all have different styles, and personalties.

I try not to judge others by the standard of Cathe, because they just can't compare. Cathe is the best, her premixes are always awesome, her dvds are flawless.

Jenn
;-)
 
I like other instructors such as Patrick Goudeau, Billy Blanks, and that Xflowsion guy. Can't think of his name. I do stick to Cathe most of the time because it is the most advanced and the most intense. I do not like Amy Bento at all although I know a lot of others here like her. I just had a hard time following her and she uses a lot of space. If you want more variety, check out the clips on collage.
LD
 
Yes, Cathe definitely sets the bar high for other instructors. But don't be so quick to write off Bento--I also have HLX & KBX & they're two of my favorite workouts. When it comes to intensity they're about as close to Cathe as you can get--in fact, more intense in most cases. I also really like Bento's personality, she's fun & seems down to earth.

I also love Tony Horton--I never did the P90X program but I have Kenpo X & Plyo X, they're intense & fun. Plus Tony has a great personality & is very easy on the eyes.
 
I bought Amy Bento's Kickbox Extreme and was very disappointed. I didn't even finish the workout. What is up with the abs section? Maybe she is new and has potential, but for right now, I'm not feelin' it!

I was recently lent a copy of Jari Love's Get Ripped 1000. I previewed it. I've never done and I have no interest in doing it. It looked boring to me. Maybe that's not a fair assessment, but I have no excitement for the workout whatsoever.

Cathe is by far the best. I have yet to find anyone that compare's. I do think that Karen Voight is an exceptional instructor, but she does not produce videos that are advanced enough for me. I did Tae-bo with Billy Blanks for a LONG time and at the time, I loved it. I would still probably rather do that than Kickbox Extreme.

In the end, Cathe rocks!
 
I guess Cathe is the cardio instructor I judge others by, but Tony Horton is the weight instructor I judge others by, including Cathe.
 
Yes, I also compare all step aerobic workouts to Cathe's. However, I do like AMY BENTOS step routines and her hi/lo routines. I like a lot of Amy Bento's music also. But Cathe is the only instructor I have seen whose moves and transitions between moves are so seamless and natural. I have been working out to her cardio for over a year and now I can preview her stuff and it just makes sense to me.
 
I adore Cathe and think that she really is one of, if not the best for advanced workouts. While I have more Cathe workouts in my collection than any other instructor, and she's the one I work out with the most, sometimes I crave something a little easier. On those days I go to Minna Lessing and Michele Dozois. I also like Keli Roberts, Gay Gasper, and Jari Love. I wouldn't say that I judge ALL instructors by her; I like the others for their own merits and because they ARE different.

Hope you find that mix that works for you!
 
I do love Cathe and Tony. Could you imagine the workout babies they'd produce if those two hooked up and didn't end up killing each other from being so different, yet so very talented and strong? :7 The thought of a cage match is killing me!}(

Wendy
 
Hey all,

Thanks everyone for sharing your opinoins. Cathe is really the only home video instructor I do. Mainly because I don't have the time for anyone else and haven't found anyone that I like as well as her. I also teach aerobics 4 days to 5 days per week which leaves little room for my workouts.
I guess after watching Amy Bentos's kickbox xtreme I was really shocked because she truly was doing some moves that looked dangerous. For instance the jump kick which in all my years of aerobics teaching and taking I have never seen an instructor do a jump kick to the side, this not only looks akward, dangerous and uncomfortable but how is that effective?
I just couldn't believe the reviews on amazon and needed a little reassurance.
nkuangel
 
I had the same issues w/Bento at first (sequencing, unusual moves, etc.). And her style is very different from Cathe's, or any other home instructor for that matter.

But, after doing her workouts enough to get used to it, I now find the sequencing flows very well & am more used to her style. Now it's just fun fun fun!

I took ju jitsu for several years in my 20s & we did do jumping side kicks--I don't find them awkward or uncomfortable at all but that could be b/c I'm used to jumping kicks (we did jumping back kicks as well, they were pretty tough). I'm just a wee bit older now & modify some high impact moves when I'm not feeling at the top of my game. But that's the case w/many instructors, not just Amy.
 
>Yes, I also compare all step aerobic workouts to Cathe's.
>However, I do like AMY BENTOS step routines and her hi/lo
>routines. I like a lot of Amy Bento's music also. But Cathe is
>the only instructor I have seen whose moves and transitions
>between moves are so seamless and natural. I have been working
>out to her cardio for over a year and now I can preview her
>stuff and it just makes sense to me.

I agree. I bought some Christy Taylor and Seasun Zeiger and their style is very different from Cathe. Their moves are alot more complex, but can be done with time. However, I sometimes feel a move is not quite right, for instance I would automatically step up on my right leg when they are using left. They are both good challenges choreography wise, but not physically.

I enjoy the different step styles of these instructors though and they are very good for lighter days. I also have Jari Love Get Ripped To The Core, Slim and Lean and like both her workouts. She is high reps low weight, but they are good. They compare to ME, MM or PH.

I will consider buying workouts from other instructors but I would not buy them until I get feedback from this forum. I think Kimberly Spreen will be next.

Yen
 
>and none of them even begin to stand up to not only the
>intensity but also the quality of Cathe's.

ITA!!! I was wondering about this very thing the other day. I can't think of a single instructor that matches Cathe.

Also, I do need easier workouts from time to time. I tried beginner/intermediate workouts, but they are just to boring, so I learned to modify Cathe's workouts to remove some of the intensity when I need to. Works great for me!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top