I still use DVDs, so I don't know what's available on Cathe Live or Cathe Demand. I now own most of Cathe's DVDs. I'd been doing Cathe's step for years, but not strength. So, when I decided to add that to my exercise routine, I started at the beginning. She used to have a workout called Total Body Sculpting (which uses a stability ball and light hand weights) 30 minutes. It came on a DVD with her Low Impact Step. Another DVD called Basic Step came with Upper Body Sculpt (20 min.), Lower Body Sculpt (20 min.) - (both require resistance tubing, mat, step, and light hand weights), and Stability Ball Abs 10 min. I don't know if you have the ball or tubing, but if you do, these are a great place to start. I started with Total Body Sculpt (2 times the first week). The 2nd week, I did Total Body Sculpt 1 day, Upper Body Sculpt another, and Lower body another - with the Stability Ball Abs on one of my cardio days. The Third week, I did Upper and Body Sculpt with the Stability Ball Abs (50 min. total for all 3 workouts) twice that week. Then, I moved on to Cathe's more challenging strength workouts - often using less weight than she did when I first started. I've now been strength training with Cathy for a lot of years. Since I began, she has come out with 2 intermediate series (LITE and ICE - both of which I now own), and I would do the strength workouts on them (after the beginner workouts that I mentioned) before moving to her more advanced workouts. I can't think of a single strength workout that she's put out that you wouldn't be able to start off with by lifting lighter, modifying, etc. The reason that would suggest spending a bit of time on her beginner workouts is that you can work out your entire body in a relatively short period of time while not having to master a lot of moves in order to do it. So, you can really focus on your form. Her intermediate workouts (ICE and LITE) use a larger variety of moves, but you'd be fine using them next, because Cathe is great about giving form pointers. She does a wonderful job with form pointers on all of her workouts, but because ICE and LITE) were created with less advanced exercisers in mind, I feel she did an even better job with her form pointers than usual. If you train at the beginning using proper form, you'll be less likely to develop little habits and quirks that most likely won't cause a lot of issues at the beginning, but over time or with heavier weights could become a problem. It will also give you a chance to experiment with how you want to fit strength in with your existing workout. My normal week is 3 days cardio with 2 total body strength workouts between the cardio followed by a "light" day of an extra ab workout and a long stretch, with my "rest" day being mobility, Tai, Chi, gentle yoga, or whatever my body needs at the time. About once a month, I spend a week splitting my strength workouts, just to shake things up, but my preferred method is total body. It suits my schedule best and I enjoy it that way, so that I can really focus on my cardio on my cardio days. Anyways, you'll figure out what you like. Also, I didn't start investigating Cathe's premixes until just a couple of years ago. I don't know if she has them on her Live and Demand or not, but if she does, they are worth checking out. Her timesaver premixes are great for my husband who just recently started strength training. She makes it really easy for someone just starting out to do her advanced workouts, because there is usually a time saver premix that has less reps (ex. pyramid up OR pyramid down, rather than pyramid up AND pyramid down). I know it's not about looks - it's about health, but... I've got to tell you, step and cardio kept my legs looking nice, but I didn't realize how nice arms could look! I thought I was in good shape before, but adding strength training has made me physically stronger and I am very happy with the body that it gave me. Have fun!
