Need Help in Choosing Cathe DVDs

princessbear

princessbear

Cathlete
Hi all. I'm new here. I've been using the "Ripped" DVDs, but find Jari very very boring. I do catch Cathe on FitTV and love her energy and the workouts that I watch parts of (but have never tried). I'm looking for weight training workouts and with all the ones out there, am wondering which ones I should start with? Any suggestions before I purchase? Thanks!!
 
>Hi all. I'm new here. I've been using the "Ripped" DVDs,
>but find Jari very very boring. I do catch Cathe on FitTV and
>love her energy and the workouts that I watch parts of (but
>have never tried). I'm looking for weight training workouts
>and with all the ones out there, am wondering which ones I
>should start with? Any suggestions before I purchase?
>Thanks!!

Hello and welcome to Catheland! What are your goals and what are you looking to acheive? That will help to make recommendations for you.


beth6395

"You didn't pause your dvd and go make popcorn did ya"
-Cathe Friedrich

http://www.picturetrail.com/juicyfruities2002
 
Out of all of her workouts, I love the Gym Style series the most! Actually, I guess its the Hardcore series really but the Gym Styles are all weight workouts. Everytime I use them, I get sore...doesn't matter how often I do them! Always have DOMS!
Some people enjoyed the Body Blast series but I have to tell you, I have never been sore from those workouts. I rarely do them but don't want to part with them just yet.
Pyramid Upper body and Lower Body are also great workouts. If I were you, I would choose one of those. If you want something more up to date, get the GS series! Good luck!

Lori:)
 
My goals - oh yes, that would help wouldn't it? I want to tone up (and maybe even re-build some of my muscle). A little history - I was a competitive (natural) bodybuilder and quit that in 2000...long story but the lifestyle was just too much for me to keep up - and I realized there was more to life than spending every spare minute in the gym, watching food intake (obsessing, actually). So I completely went the other direction and couldn't even bring myself to get to the gym for a long time. Last year, I set myself up with my own "home gym" with a Treadclimber, TotalGym, weights and bought some videos. Like I said - I find Jari very unmotivating, but like the idea of working with weights and a video. Cathe is energetic, motivating, and she looks AMAZING! So, my goals are to lose some of that layer of fat covering the muscles I know are under there and to achieve that "ripped" look (but not to the extreme I did in the past). I currently do 5-6 days a week of cardio with a Jari video here and there,alternating with periods on the TotalGym (say, a month of video workouts, a month of TotalGym workouts).... Does that help at all?
 
With your background in bodybuilding, which tells me you're already skilled with lifting and know about form and appropriate weight loads, I'd suggest going whole hog and getting the entire Hard Core Series, which includes straight-up intense cardio (I-Max 3, Kick Max, Low Max), cardio circuit (High Step Challenge), split-set strength training (the Gym Styles 3-part set), core training (Core Max), total body training (Muscle Max), and flexibility training (Stretch Max). Hard Core Series also offers a compilation disc of 3 intense cardio workouts comprised of footage from the step and kickbox workouts mentioned above.

With this series, and with suggested rotations for this series that you can find on the Rotations forum (I myself came up with a rotation called The Hard Core Faux CTX Rotation that you can call up), I'll bet you get very close to your goals and have a lot of fun in the process.

Welcome to the Gang, where we're all about spending your jack for you!

A-Jock
 
I should have mentioned that my workout room is limited with respect to space - so I can't do most aerobic-type workouts that require alot of floor space ... I was thinking of the Hi Step workouts, incorporating Gym Style DVDs. Most of my cardio is from Treadclimber, walking, and running.

Thanks!
 
> Out of all of her workouts, I love the Gym Style series the
>most! Actually, I guess its the Hardcore series really but the
>Gym Styles are all weight workouts. Everytime I use them, I
>get sore...doesn't matter how often I do them! Always have
>DOMS!
> Some people enjoyed the Body Blast series but I have to tell
>you, I have never been sore from those workouts. I rarely do
>them but don't want to part with them just yet.
> Pyramid Upper body and Lower Body are also great workouts. If
>I were you, I would choose one of those. If you want something
>more up to date, get the GS series! Good luck!
>
> Lori:)


Thanks! I was actually leaning toward the Gym Style series. Saw your pics - you look GREAT!!! Is that primarily from Cathe vids?
 
>I should have mentioned that my workout room is limited with
>respect to space - so I can't do most aerobic-type workouts
>that require alot of floor space ... I was thinking of the Hi
>Step workouts, incorporating Gym Style DVDs. Most of my
>cardio is from Treadclimber, walking, and running.
>
>Thanks!

I think Gym Styles would be great for you. I would also check out muscle max for total body. It is a lot funner than Jari's total body I think.
 
I agree with Aquajock...the whole series would come in handy! Again, my fav by far!
As for me, I only use Cathe workouts but I also run alot, especially this time of yr. I have a 15 month old and he loves it in his stroller so whenever the weather is good, Im hitting the pavement. I have been working out with Cathe for about 9 yrs now and have all of the workouts so I know what Im talking about when I suggest the HC series. When I started working out again after DS, I started with the HC series...and running!:) Had all of my baby weight gone in 4 monthes (50 lbs of it...eeeeeck!)
Lori:)
 
With your weight-training background, I'd suggest the following:
If you don't mind a bit dated look (the sweatband!), Pure Strength is an excellent 3-day split, and actually is better paced (as far as rep speed and recovery periods) than some of Cathe's later workouts, IMO.

Muscle Max (if you like total-body workouts)

Gym Styles (motivating and effective workouts, and great when used straight through, but some of the chaptering points are poorly done, occuring before or after the most logical place. This also affects premixes, and some, like "Back and Biceps", are unusable without pausing the DVD player to give onessel enough set-up time between moves. If you don't intend to chapter back or forward, or don't mind pausing the DVD player when doing premixes, then that wouldn't be a big deal).

Slow and Heavy

Be sure to watch the clips, and if you like what you see, go for it!
 
Cool! Another former bodybuilder!:) Sounds like you are at where I was, or actually am right now. In order for me to stay super lean I have to be totally obsessive about food and training to the point where everything else in my life takes a back seat.

Welcome. I love the GS series as well, but also the 4DS workouts, Cathe's newer ones that are shorter, but use heavier weights. Interesting, but I worked with a trainer who trains Monica Brant, and other pro competitors, my weight training program was much shorter with less sets than most of Cathe's weight workouts, and I got better results, maybe it was because my diet was so clean, but I found it interesting.I like to hit the weights hard, keeping my sessions as short and to the point as possible, I spend more time doing cardio, at least 50 minutes each morning.

Anyway, either GS workouts, or like Aquajock said the whole Hardcore Extreme series is a good investment. Slow and Heavy is okay too, and I know alot of people who have gotten great results with it.
Again, welcome!
 
I agree that the Gym Style Series is great. I also love the Pyramids. Slow and Heavy is nice for variety, but can be a bit boring if you're not in the right frame of mind or lifting heavy enough. It's good to have when you want to change things up though. I just got Bootcamp & Muscle Endurance and find them to be challenging and fun...and Butts and Guts is a new one for me too. I did it for the first time yesterday - it seemed easier than I expected but then it whipped me good! I'm pretty stiff today. :D

What I enjoy about Cathe is that no matter what workout I'm doing or how many times I've done it before, if I do my part (as in consistently trying to do better, go heavier, use my best form, etc), at one point every day I will think, "I'm not sure can do this"...I love the challenge!

Have fun shopping!!!

Ginny
 
Thanks ladies for all your advice. I'm ready to SHOP! One more question - does anyone do the Hi Step workouts? I'm wondering if I should purchase a Hi Step with the DVDs that come with it - I know it will come in handy during some of the leg workouts - and I DO need to tone up my legs as well....
 
I really like my high step!! I have 6 risers but usually only use 5 for most of the exercises.

I do have both High Step Training Advanced and High Step and High Step Challenge - both have their fans see a couple of the numerous threads discussing them here

http://69.0.137.118/dc/dcboard.php?...ic_id=70010&mesg_id=70010&listing_type=search

http://69.0.137.118/dc/dcboard.php?...ic_id=68391&mesg_id=68391&listing_type=search

These workouts are definitely good for small spaces and would give you an alternative cardio option.

I also use the high step in place of a regular step for Muscle Max
 
Well, I broke down and bought:

High Step "Bundle) - with the 3 DVDs
The 3 Gym Style DVDs
MuscleMax
CoreMax

That should get me started. Of course, I couldn't wait for regular shipping so did 2-day UPS. Can't wait to get started!

Thanks, again, ladies for all your suggestions.

I'll be back!
 
Have you pre-ordered STS? If not, that series look like a perfect choice given your extensive fitness background and future goals. Have fun!

Jonahnah
Chocolate IS the answer, regardless of the question.
 
When is it being released? I want to wait until I get "back in shape". Even though I have a strong background, I am really just coming back to working out after a 3 year hiatus. So I'm starting with the DVDs I've ordered and will see what happens from there. I'm very excited to get them. Jari Love's Ripped set is going on ebay ... She is monotonous and unmotivating.
 
I agree about Jari Love, I was so bored to tears doing her workout I actually stopped and put in a Cathe workout instead! Besides she has a very strange look about her, not healthy.
 
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