MIC Video

B

Bernard

Cathlete
Hi everyone,

Just wondering what this video is like ? Is it wise to split the 2 routines up if starting out with the video ? Is it possible to do the whole tape in one day ? I thought it looked OK, until I realised I was watching the warm up, and not the actual cardio bit ! :eek:

many thanks

Anna
 
The MIC video is great! Yes, I've done the whole workout straight through, and several others here on this forum do it straight through routinely. You can also slice it up so that you do the hi/lo segment one day, and the step segment on another day (just use another Cathe step warm-up before you launch into the MIC step segment - I like to use either the I-Max warm-up or the Rhythmic Step warm-up).

IMHO, what makes the MIC workout tough if you do it straight through is the DURATION of the workout (over 60 minutes of cardio) rather than the relative intensity of each of the segments. There are no weighted circuits in MIC, and there are far fewer interval blasts (which are what I thrive on for real cardio intensity) and these interval blasts are much shorter than others that Cathe has produced.

I really like MIC, especially the hi/lo segment because it's such a nice change from slower-paced stepping and lower-impact kickbox. I do hope someday (say . . . 2003?!?!) Cathe returns to "good old-fashioned hi/lo"!

Anna - you really seem like you're getting into Cathe in a big way! Good for you, my London Lady!

a-jock
 
Hi Anna:

In my humble opinion, MIC is the toughest of all Cathe's cardio-only tapes -- even tougher than IMax!

I've have done MIC in its entirety several times and it is intense. I save it for Sunday's when I a) have the extra time and b) when I have the energy! And that's only when I have the nerve. Sometimes I promise myself if I just do the hi-lo, I don't have to do the step. Then I make the step voluntary -- a kinda "What the heck. I've started, might as well see if I can finish it"!

If just starting it, I suggest only doing one section at a time.

Just my 2 cents!

Good luck with MIC!

Patricia
 
Hi Anna

I have only recently started doing this it is a great vids but lots of work it keeps you going the way it is leveled you can more easly pick the bits you want i.e. doing the warmup and low impact sections to start with and building your way up. Cathe lets you know when she is going to the level.

Its tough I have done it 4 times all the way thorough with mods I was planning on getting my sister to do the low impact bits as a start.

Babs
 
Hi Anna,

I started a thread entitled MIC revisited about a week or so ago.Read through that and you'll get some ideas of the intensity of MIC! I can get through IMAX and CircuitMAX with no problems...MIC seems to be awfully tough for me.:-wow As other posters have said, I think because it's so loooong.
BTW, welcome to the forum! You seem to be on your way to a wonderful and healthy lifestyle!
I've always been enthralled with Brits. Wish your accent came through on your posts! lol. Have a wonderful day!

Sherry
 
Hi Everyone, thanks for your advice :), I am having a hard time deciding what videos to go for next. I definitely want IMAX, would love cardio Kicks but wondering if it might make my sciatica play up (?), and the third one I just can't make up my mind !

Anna
 
Hi Babs,

Sciatica is where a nerve that runs from the lower back, through the hip and on through the leg gets trapped. When playing up, it can make your hip and leg seize up, for hours. Sometimes I find if I bend over to pick something up, I can't straighten up. This is a condition that came on in my last pregnancy, and though its got better, it still plays up. I get it from pushing the shopping trolley around the supermarket.
Howver since having my last baby, I have found out that it seems it runs on my dad's side of the family (great !) so I guess it is something I will have to live with !

It sometimes comes on when I do a lot with my upper body, and not an awful lot with my lower body, and as Cardio kicks looks like it is quite intense upper body work, I am wondering if there is a lot of moving about of the legs ?

Anna
 
Okay thats better Cardio Kicks does have a lot of leg work there are knees, and front, side, back kicks (although back kicks only appear in the warm up)and round house kicks (lean over to the side hip up and kick)the way to kick is to lift your leg with you knee bent then kick out return to knee position and lower leg. The second half startes with drop kicks (Cathe calls them power kicks. Oh and there is a lunge and kick in the warm up.

With kickboxing the focus and power for kicks is out of the hip on side kicks and round houses again power comes from the side of your body (you can lean over and kick).

This might be meaningless if you have done kickboxing before but if not I would recommend on of Billy Blanks tapes one of the basic ones just so that you get the moves and then Cathe. You don't have to 'do' the tape just get an understanding of how the workout should be done and how it will affect your sciatica.

I think a friend of mind developed back problems after having her 4? (I'm not sure she has six children).

Babs
 
RE: M(an) I('m) C(razy)...

for attempting this tape! Just kidding. Hey Anna! Just wanted to jump in here and say that I added MIC to my current 6 week rotation. It is not an easy tape. In my opinion, tougher than Imax due to the lack of breaks. I did all of it the 1st week, all of it with about a 3 min. vacation in between hi/lo and step the 2nd week, and I couldn't make it through this, the 3rd week. Instead I used a combo Aquajock posted: MIC's hi/lo and the intervals from CTX's Step Intervals. It was a good workout, but I felt as if I had cheated myself. I whole heartedly applaud anyone who does this tape in it's intirety. You go girls!
 
Hi Anna,

I just got MIC last week and jumped right in....It's tough to do the whole thing, but I did it. I just didn't want to quit and I thought it was over so many times before it really was. Cathe would start to slow down and I would think "oh good, we're cooling down" and then we would speed up again and into another routine!

I have split up the routine, but I like to challenge myself and do the whole thing---it's long so you need time!

Donna M
 
Anna:

I have this video and I only ever get it out wheen I do the hi/lo section and am taking a wee break from step. Unlike Annette, I hate the step section. I am not enamoured of the moves and the music bores me. I don't care to do it all the way through, because if it's intensity I want, I'll go for interval work each time, i.e. Imax or equivalent. I am bored by the prospect of doing MIC all the way through, sorry.... There are other, more interesting challenges out there in Cathe's vid library, like Bodymax and circuit max, etc.

Her best step for me remains Powermax and it is intense and long, 45 mins cardio, power cardio. Try reviewing this one as your third choice.... the music is great and it is the Cathe video I most look forward to doing, smile throughout, get runner's high at different moments of each of the three sections... My six year old loves it when I do it too, she hums the music through the house and for some reason approves when I choose this video to do!

Well, it gets my vote!

CLare
 
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Oct-05-02 AT 10:50AM (Est)[/font][p]Hi Clare,

Yes, I think Powermax might just be my third choice, I have just reviewed it on the video clips thing, and it looks brilliant. So, looks like I will be ordering IMAX (the music in this video is fantastic !), CARDIO KICKS, and POWERMAX ! :-jumpy

EEEK !! Wish me luck !

Thankyou for everyone's input. I might just give MIC a wide berth for the time being ! :)

Anna
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top