Which DVD for newbie?

Brit-Josie

Cathlete
Hi Cathe,

I'm currently using various dvd workouts to help me lose weight and tone up - I am a classic pear shape and really need to slim down my hips and thighs, BUT, I would also like to build up my upper body.

At the moment, I'm doing various step workout dvds, the firm (older ones) and winsor pilates every day.

I've been checking out the dvd workouts on your site and would like to purchase some - but there are SO many - what I'd like to know is which workouts would you recommend I purchase to help achieve my goal of shifting that "pear" yet building up. I'd say my fitness level is intermediate right now.

Please note that I can't afford to buy too many workout dvds right now!

At present, I'm simply going through my current collection of workout dvds in a rather haphazard manner - I've no idea about rotation or anything. The rotations you have for your workouts look great! But as I said, I can't afford many new dvds right now, but if I bought a couple of your workouts, then I'd also be grateful for advice on how I could incorporate them into my current set of dvd workouts.

Sorry for the length of this post. I'd really welcome any help or advice in achieving my goals. I am from the UK and must confess that I've never seen such a great set of workout dvds as this - we just don't have anything like this over here and I've become very frustrated by the lack of choice on the UK market. I hope you ship overseas :)

TIA
Josie
 
Hi Josie, and welcome to the world of Cathe! If you want both strength/ endurance and cardio in 1 DVD then I recommend the Power Hour/ Maximum Intensity Strength/ Body Max DVD. It has a good endurance workout (Power Hour and the upper body segment in Body Max), good moderate strength workout in MIS and cardio in the Step and Leg Circuit segments of Body Max and Body Max can be broken down into 1,2 or 3 workouts depending on the day. You can do the step alone, the step and leg circuits, the step and upper body or the whole tape or the upper body alone. You do get a cruel but doable introduction to Cathe's step(it is fast and intense) but I started out on it and since the step segment is only 24 min. long it is doable and quite learnable.:) I have it down pretty good now, though I do have to psych myself up to do it, and I have never done it in it's entirety before.:+

I can't think at the moment of another DVD that has this diversity within it. I do not own any of the newer workouts. Her older step tapes are supposed to be good for beginners or intermediate but they don't offer strength in them. Maybe others will give you others to think about. But my vote stands for the Power Hour + DVD!!!!!:7

Hope that helps some!:D
 
Imax 2 is great because it can be split up. Plus the choreography is easy on this one. It is such a fun workout despite the fact that it's a killer...plus you can use Cardio and weights which is an easy workout and a gradula intro to Cathe. I love this DVD set. It is just FUN. Then you will get hooked and buy everything. The Blast series is so awesome too...it's like any other DVD purchase is a waste because no one can compare to the BB chapters and premixes!
 
I would also have to recommend the Power Hour/MIS/BodyMax dvd if you are short on cash. Granted, it doesnt contain all the premixes like some of Cathe's newer dvd's but it's a great bang for your buck. Of her newer dvds, I'd suggest one of the following: BootCamp/Muscle Endurance, Pyramids or possibly even her Terminator dvd which has premixes from her Intensity Series. The workouts on the Terminator dvd tend to be longer, but some days I'll shorten them by skipping a step section etc.

:) Stacy
 
Thanks everyone for those replies - gosh, you guys are so enthusiastic about these workouts - they must really be good, can't wait to try them out now!

Think I will try out Power Hour/MIS/BodyMax dvd initially and see how that goes.

I have just one more question though - and this one is aimed at overseas buyers of Cathe's workouts: on the customs declaration on the package, will Cathe's distributor mark the package as a "gift" - I ask because otherwise I will have to pay UK customs duty as the dvd costs more than £18 sterling which is the maximum that we are allowed in without duty, unless the package is marked as a gift!!

Thanks again everyone - I'd just like to say that there's a great bunch of people on this forum - I just wish I could meet similar like minded people here in the UK! :)
 
Well hello there to another UKer!

Afraid you will get stung for the import duty and it can hurt, big time! Unlike Collage, SNM don't label the shipments as educational, even though I have asked them to do so for past shipments,

However, there are nothing like Cathe's workouts available in the UK market directly, as you know, so we don't have a lot of choice.

Cheers
WebGirl
 
Thanks for that WebGirl....I'm glad to know that Collage help out with the customs....shame SNM don't...but if that's the price we have to pay!!
 
Hello!

Another UK Cathe fan here! I just received my first Cathe DVD (the classics) for Christmas, and I'm so looking forward to doing it tomorrow. It's great to know there's other UK Cathe fans, all my friends think I'm crazy to pay the customs duty on DVDs from America. What's this about them being labelled educational, does that mean there's no import tax to pay?

Hope you enjoy the workouts!

Emmdee
 
Hi Emmdee

Yep - if the package is labelled educational then there doesn't appear to be any import tax payable. Same goes if it is labelled "optical material" which another overseas dvd provider uses. But they also ship all items individually to keep the shipment value down - no real help on Cathe dvd's due to their high unit costs.

It is great to find other Cathe addicts in the UK!

Cheers
WebGirl
;-)
 
I'm glad to see that there are some Cathe fans in the UK - all of my friends think that I am crazy as they've never heard of her!
 
>I'm glad to see that there are some Cathe fans in the UK -
>all of my friends think that I am crazy as they've never heard
>of her!

Tee hee! They just need to be educated I guess. And WHAT an education!
 
Well, unfortunately, the majority of the people I know or work with have no interest in health and fitness....for some, all they can manage energy wise is a visit to the pub! For others, they are too obsessed with work to want to go home early... And me? I can't wait to get home and workout! :)
 
I know what you mean.

NOBODY in my office works out apart from me - I even get hassled as I cycle to work each day. They are so ill so often and I'm rarely sick (even though I caught a serious case of the flu from that sickly lot before Christmas) but even that doesn't seem to click with them.

Ho hum - at least one can chat to like-minded people on this forum and not feel such a lepa.

My hubby is very supportive though. He bought me a boxing/kickboxing heavy bag and gloves for Crimbo - just need to get it "installed" in my workout room and I'll be happy.

Also, I've just ordered the BB series including the Timesaver tonight - oh the sheer decadence of it! Late Xmas pressie to myself... :7

WebGirl
 
Yes, I'm also lucky to have a husband that really doesn't even bat an eyelid whilst I'm stepping, or FIRM-ing or whatever! He's very encouraging actually, which is good and says NOT a word when he sees me buying some new workout dvd or new dumbells! I think he's mainly relieved that I have an interest that is keeping me healthy - this time last year I was quite poorly and stressed out with work.

I've yet to try out any Cathe workouts....I've just bought a couple (Terminator and Timesaver) to try out....so no doubt I will post my experiences later!! Looking forward to it actually, although no doubt I will be looking like this during the workout: x(

Many years ago, I was really super-fit...but through work and laziness, I managed to let myself go. Now I am a lot fitter and healthier and even managed to avoid the recent bouts of colds/bugs that have been floating around!

And why not indulge yourself with BB?!! I probably will eventually....
 
I must admit I do waver every now and then and I am most certainly NOT mega fit but I keep working on it. Gotta keep trying right?!
 
Well, my personal view is that as long as you try and maintain some sort of fitness over a period of time and keep that as a long term goal, then the odd "waver" shouldn't matter - a rest is every now and then can never be a bad thing!

Take care
Josie
 

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