How good is Cathe Friedrich's DVD's!

[Melindaxl]

I've watched some clips of them and think they look good! I want a toned body like hers! So I was just wanting to know how good they really are before I order any? Are they as good as they look? I like how she does alot of cardio and alot of weights! I't looks like a good workout and not a easy one and that's what I want!!

Thanks have a fruitful day!
Melindaxl

[RawLibrarian]

I've watched some clips of them and think they look good! I want a toned body like hers! So I was just wanting to know how good they really are before I order any? Are they as good as they look? I like how she does alot of cardio and alot of weights! I't looks like a good workout and not a easy one and that's what I want!!

Thanks have a fruitful day!
Melindaxl

I have used Cathe's DVDs for years (I started using her stuff when it was VHS only). I only use her strength routines--her cardio is too high-impact for me--and a lot of her newer strength routines require more equipment than I feel like purchasing (and I don't have the space anyway). So what I am about to say is only about the workouts of hers that I have used myself.

Cathe is a really good video instructor. She cues well and is encouraging without being too fluffy or cutesy. She is concerned with good form and safety. There is always a background exerciser who shows modifications. She puts out videos that you can definitely grow with. Until Tony Horton put out his Power 90 and Power 90X routines, Cathe had the most advanced workout videos for the home market. There is not a one of them that I would call 'easy', although the workout of hers with zero dread factor for me is one called 'Push/Pull'.

The first routine of hers I ever bought was Maximum Intensity Strength, followed by Pure Strength, BodyMax (for the strength work only), her Pyramid workout, and a really nice 45 minute full-body workout called Push/Pull. All of these are available on DVD now, and the really good thing about Cathe's DVDs are the pre-mixes--shorter workouts edited from the longer workouts. I simply don't have time to do a 72 minute strength routine (that is how long Maximum Intensity Strength is) but thanks to pre-mixes, I can do portions of her workouts as add-ons rather than having to do the whole thing.

The only equipment I have are dumbbells (from 3 lbs up to 20 lbs), a couple of body bars (stand ins for barbells), a step (which I use as a weight bench) and a little step that I use for leg presses (it is in 2 sections-8" and 4"--both together are 12 inches. I generally use the 8" step because my knees are shot). When I got Maximum Intensity Strength, all I had were the dumbbells, and I was able to do the workout just fine--I just modified the exercises that called for a barbell. I had never done weight work before so I did the whole thing with 3 lb. dumbbells and numerous rests, and as I got stronger I upped my weights and needed fewer rests. Of course, if you have a barbell, you won't need to modify those exercises.

I don't use my Cathe workouts much these days, since I do a whole lot of yoga, high-rep/low weight strength routines (not really Cathe's forte), and barre workouts, but I keep Cathe's workouts because I know that at some point I'll want to switch up my routine and I really like her as a strength instructor. If you want to build serious strength and muscle, you can't go wrong with Cathe.

If you go to the Video Fitness website (http://www.videofitness.com/), click on 'Instructor's index' on the left and look for Cathe, you will find tons of reviews of her videos. Video Fitness is a consumer-only site (so you don't get shills from the instructor's production company raving about the products) and people are brutally honest about likes and dislikes. If you are interested in exercise DVDs, Video Fitness is a great resource.

Hope this helps.

[Melindaxl]

Thanks for all your info! You helped me alot! See I got P90X, but to me it's boring and not as fun as Cathe's look!! She just incourages me! I look up to her alot, by how fit she is and she's got my dream body!!!! I would look forword to doing her exercises!!! I've ordered so many other video programs and etc. that I have everything I need for her exercise routines!! Those strength exercises is what I want!! I want to loose my last 20 lbs of fat and build a nice toned fit body like her's!
Thanks again!

Melindaxl