Thanks Beavs and TATA2GOOD!
When I started the Beginner Rotation, I had been walking the dogs regularly for two years and I was doing some of the All-Star Workouts on FitTV, so I thought I was in pretty decent shape. I lurked on these message boards for a while before I bought the step, so I knew that Cathe was an advanced exerciser. Even with all of that, I was blown away that Basic Step was considered beginner level. I was able to keep up and finish it, but only with several water breaks in between! However, more than Basic Step, the Upper and Lower Body Weight Add-Ons were what really humbled me. I found out quickly that I wasn't as strong as I thought. I had to take all sorts of breaks to let the fire dissipate. However, I was stubborn enough to pause and rewind until I had completed every repetition that Cathe and crew did (I think those 20 minute workouts probably took me more like 30-40 minutes to complete at first). It was such a great feeling when I started noticing that I could keep with the DVD and even add a few extra repetitions for good measure!
My best advice would be to follow her rotation and push through the work outs as much as you can. You may not be able to do 100% right away, but that will come with time and perseverance. Also, don't be afraid to take extra rest days if you need them, or to totally repeat a week. The first time I did the rotation it took me 13 weeks to complete it because I got sick and just didn't feel like I could keep up with Cathe. Good luck!
Janine