My STS Preview Review!!!!

[Miss Lee]

Hey Michele and Heather,

I thought it appropriate to chime in here and offer myself as a human bridge -- a mediator/cheerleader in your cardio-weights arguments -- a fitness diplomat, if you will. I love love love love love (can you tell) the Gym Styles, all of them, and Rhythmic Step is my all-time favorite Cathe steady-state step video. As a matter of fact, yesterday I did GS: BSB and Rhythmic Step -- how cosmic is that??? See how well qualified I am to step in here???

I've been laughing for a solid 5 minutes!!

Kathy, if Cathe saw me trying to execute her moves on the step, she would march right over here and confiscate my DVD's AND step -- I'm THAT bad!

 

[MAYNARDSMOM]

Great review Heather, thanks for taking the time to inform us all.

 

[pixiesis]

Thanks Heather for clearing that up--you are right that I didn't know it was a sort of "inside joke" and now I do understand better. I get that there is humor and lightness there, and I get that it gives us a frame of reference to better understand the review.

But I still think that there might have been a nicer way to say it. Cathe reads our posts and I know she's a tough lady (to say the very least ), but I think about all the blood, sweat, and tears she put into GS (like everything she does) and I hate to imagine her reading about someone who she knows personally wanting to "burn it". Maybe I'm a spoil sport, but it's how I feel. Even if I didn't care for GS (which I do, and Rhythmic Step ), I don't see the point of such harshness for the sake of an inside joke. I guess it's a manners thing for me.

 

[Liann]

Thanks Heather for clearing that up--you are right that I didn't know it was a sort of "inside joke" and now I do understand better. I get that there is humor and lightness there, and I get that it gives us a frame of reference to better understand the review.

But I still think that there might have been a nicer way to say it. Cathe reads our posts and I know she's a tough lady (to say the very least ), but I think about all the blood, sweat, and tears she put into GS (like everything she does) and I hate to imagine her reading about someone who she knows personally wanting to "burn it". Maybe I'm a spoil sport, but it's how I feel. Even if I didn't care for GS (which I do, and Rhythmic Step ), I don't see the point of such harshness for the sake of an inside joke. I guess it's a manners thing for me.

Luckily, Cathe knows Heather pretty well and would know it was not anything personal. In fact, I have no doubt Heather would say the same thing to Cathe in person and Cathe would just laugh with her. It's the nice part about knowing people from personally meeting them. Some of this stuff doesn't translate well over the forum.

 

[jansherman]

Heather,

Thanks for the review! I didn't pre-order because of a tight money situation, so decided to treat myself to one mesocycle at a time. I'm looking forward to your review of the other 2 mesocycles, as that will help me decide which one I can't live without. I think right now I'm leaning toward the second one (hypertrophy), but am also interested in the heavy/plyo legs dvds on #3. Was waiting and waiting for youtube clips on this one, but so far, nothing. Can't wait to hear your take on them!!!

 

[pixiesis]

I'm probably being too touchy here now that I think about it. I know Cathe is a big girl and can probably take some joking critical remarks, and it's certainly not my job to police her forum. Sorry for taking issue--I think I'm feeling sensitive about how much work goes into these projects (a few of you will understand why). I actually got to meet Cathe this summer and she was such an AWESOME person to work out with and sit down and talk with--I had such high expectations for what she was like and she still blew me away. What a lady!

Anyway, thanks again for the glowing review of STS. You may just have talked me into buying it--now that the presale is over of course !

 

[morningstar]

Hmmm, now I love Gym Styles and hate cardio... this should be interesting!

You know what I'm really looking forward to? That I know Cathe and how she works - her particular style of kicking my butt, that is! That knowledge allows me a little bit of comfort going into this new and challenging workout so that I feel safe in her hands - that she will push me but not so far that I can't take it. That being said, I have never done one of her cardio workouts!!!

 

[BelovedHeather]

Forum Communication

Cathe knows Heather pretty well and would know it was not anything personal. In fact, I have no doubt Heather would say the same thing to Cathe in person and Cathe would just laugh with her. It's the nice part about knowing people from personally meeting them. Some of this stuff doesn't translate well over the forum.

Liann, you are right! I have in fact laughed with Cathe about this subject, and Cathe has also shared her thoughts with me about those workouts. If I thought this comment would hurt Cathe's feelings in any way, I would not post it here. When I wrote this late last night, it never crossed my mind that anyone would take my comment about burning DVDs as a serious remark. I do not want to burn the DVDs literally. I could have sold them years ago if I wanted to get rid of them. When I wrote my intial review of the Gym Style upper body workouts, I joked about using the DVDs for frisbees. I was poking fun at myself and my lack of love for serious weight workouts. I knew that if anyone could get me to love weight workouts, Cathe could. I just had to wait a few more years for the right series to arrive. The 4-Day Split was a great start. It appears that STS will totally win me over!

Amy, I love Cathe and have so much respect and admiration for her. She is an amazing woman! I can think of no other instructor on this earth who could inspire me to take a leap of faith with something like STS. My feelings about the Gym Style upper body workouts are a reflection of my feelings about weight training in general. When I find a weight workout like STS that inspires me and makes me believe I can actually enjoy the journey and not just do it because it is good for me, I know that I have found something special! The Gym Styles are plain veggies to me. STS is a veggie dish prepared by a gourmet chef! Some people are disciplined enough to eat plain raw veggies just because they are nutritious. I need a good raspberry vinaigrette dressing on mine!

Blessings,
Heather B.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).

 

[Kathy G]

Thanks for the review, Heather! I'm sure Cathe understands that not everyone will love each and every workout (although Gym Styles are some of my favorites!) I like Rhythmic Step but still haven't mastered the last combo so I can only do the first two twice, lol (and I know that's your favorite step workout!)

Kathy G

 

[JonStephMom]

Heather,

Have you seen the muscle animations that Cathe talked about when they were making the series? I was really interested in that, and I was wondering if you found it helpful.

Thanks!

Blessings,
LaDonna

 

[LaughingWater]

Thank you for the review! All these great responses will help me sell the idea to DH!

 

[rjroubi]

Heather,

I loved your review and please don't ever change your writing style. I don't know you personally, but I knew your comments about the Gym Styles were totally tongue-in-cheek. Heck, after all those push-ups I'm not going to say I didn't, at times, think about using them as frisbees either. You're a natural writer and I can't wait to read your next review.

PS. I get STS on Friday, but I want to read more of your reviews first.