All I can say is, this video puts the Firm to shame! Those tall box leg presses are NOTHING compared to what Cathe puts you through in the leg/butt section (and the rest of the workout, for that matter). This is an A+++ workout from start to finish. I almost don't want to do my Firm videos anymore because they simply don't compare to this. After doing this video for the first time, I was sore for about 3 full days. I haven't been sore after a Firm video in years. Come to think of it, I don't think I have EVER been sore after a Firm video! And I use some really heavy weights. Oh well, here's the breakdown:

Cathe starts out with a funky step warmup to some new music that has a great beat. The first section is for the legs and butt and it is a killer. She starts out with 2 sets of sqauts, then static lunges on each leg, then plie squats, then regular lunges, then dips off the back of the step, and maybe something else (I can't remember too well, maybe it was from all the sweat dripping into my eyeballs!). And it feels like you are doing about 50 of each move, but it is probably only about 16-24 of each. She does all of this with a 35-pound barbell!!! Can you believe that? I could never imagine using that much weight. I used 2 12-pound hand weights resting on my shoulders throughout the entire leg section which lasted about 20 minutes. It was tough, no doubt about it.

Then comes the upper body workout split up into each muscle group. I used hand weights again for all the upper body exercises and I just varied the weight depending on the exercise. She definitely spends more time on the upper body as a whole than the lower, but that is just fine with me.

She starts with chest work doing pushups, bench press while lying on the step, barbell flys, then repeats that whole series. Then moves to the back with 2 sets of lat rows for each arm, barbell rows with an over hand grip, barbell rows with an underhand grip, and reverse flys. Then some shoulder work with upright rows, side lateral raises, overhead presses, and then something else I think. Next she moves to biceps doing some curls with the barbell and some other curls with hand weights. Next comes triceps, with french presses using the barbell while lying on the step, and then 2 sets of tricep kickbacks for each arm. I may be missing some of the upper body exercises--there were so many!!

Finally, she ends with a really intense ab section. She somewhat neglects the obliques and lower abs, but since I get an overkill of that from Firm workouts, I don't mind just concentrating on the upper abs.

After all that, she does a nice relaxing stretch, and believe me, you will need it. Make sure that you stretch a little longer than she does if necessary, because like I said, I was super sore for several days since the intensity of this workout is more than I usually do. However, after I did the workout a second time, I was only slightly sore. Also, she puts quick stretches and rests in between each set of weight lifting. These small breaks are definitely needed!

All in all, it is an incredible, hard, intense, rewarding workout. I recommend that everyone get a copy of this if you want to take your weight lifting routine to the next level. You won't be disappointed. This tape is sure to hit the Hall of Fame in record time!!

Instructor Comments:
Cathe looks AMAZING!! She is looking more toned and athletic than I have ever seen before. If I can look like that after doing this video twice a week, I'm all for it!!

Cathy