Maximum Intensity Cardio and Maximum Intensity Strength is a cross training set. Each tape is modular so you can essentially design your own workout. You can do only the hi/lo section or just the step or the entire tape. In Maximum Intensity Strength, you can work upper body, then lower body. Teacher that she is, Cathe always tells you to listen to your body and take the day off if you need to after doing vigorous exercise.

MI Cardio begins with the warm-up and some basic low impact aerobics consisting of grapevines, L steps and big arms movements. If this sounds boring, she does have to turning away from your tv set and ending up of the right side. This is really an extended warmup for mixed impact which has some classic floor aerobic moves. Then comes all out high impact "making a comeback" as she says. This is the "boot camp section" Tough, challenging, and gets the job done. Cathe could get a following of floor aerobic fans too! The step follows the same format, getting tougher and ending with all out high impact and plyometrics.

MI Strength is my favorite of the two. Besides the Firm, there are few serious weight training video workouts. There are weight training intruction, but not the same as a do along video. This does both. Even a beginer can learn proper form just using a 9 lb bodybar, 5 lb dumbells and doing just one set. Cathe uses a 35 lb barbell and 10, 15, and 20 lb dumbells; athletes and bodybuilders can probably go much heavier.

There's a brief but invigorating step warmup and a stretch to get the muscles ready to work. Lower body is first with classic squats and variation of lunges and dips.

The upper body is divided into chest, back, triceps, biceps , shoulders and then abs. The pushup -benchpress -pushup is grueling, straight outta the gym while those barbell crazy 8s will definately five you some GI Janes arms. In all section Cathe does two sets of 12 to 16 reps so you'll really feel your muscles work. There are also excellent stretches between each set. Even though your heart rate will rise, THIS IS NOT AN AEROBIC WORKOUT! This is to build muscular strength and endurance. It's nice for the heart in a way, but proper form and control is essential. She works the negative and positive , lowering the weight is just as important as lifting the weight. In weight training, you can take a rest and shake your muscles out. Never compromise proper form. But Cathe tells you all of this.

All in all these are two videos that belong in any video exerciser's library. A+ and Thumbs up.

Instructor Comments:
I'm a Cathe Friedrich neophyte. I've beeen doing video exercise for about 2 1/2 years. One doesn't do video exercise for long before hearing Cathe Friedrich mention over and over and over again. Her videos are not available in stores. Collage Videos rave over her advanced step aerobis. The fitness magazine constanly give her video high ratings. Kacy Duke, a fitness expert herself and who write the reviews for FIT MAGAZINE write glowing reviews. So I decided to see what the hubbub was about and ordered Step Fit because it had a longer stretch section and the end. I was hooked. Yeah, she whoops and hollers and never lets ups and somehow manages to keep you on the right foot "Get on the right lead." Her cuing is flawless and above all, viewer friendly. She is aware of the challeges of the home viewer try to do complex choreography. So beginner and intermediates take heart, you'll get there. I consider myself an advanced intermediate and Cathe just makes you wanna take fitness higher.

jean leslie wakefield