Cardio & Weights

Cathe Friedrich
Year Released: 2002

Categories: Circuit Training (cardio and weights) , Step Aerobics


I'll start out by saying that I really like the concept of putting together cardio and weights in a time efficient manner. But for me, this workout didn't deliver.

During the weight sections Cathe does compound moves such as lunges with overhead triceps extensions. That causes problems for me because I use much higher weights for lunges than I could for the triceps work. For that matter, I don't do overhead triceps extensions at all because they bother my elbows. And my coordination is limited so I didn't like worrying about hitting myself in the head with the dumbbells while trying to maintain my balance in the lunges. Bottom line is that the compound moves always had some upper body component so the weights never challenged my lower body.

Also, I question the order of some of the exercises. Shoulders, triceps and biceps were worked early in the workout so they were prefatiqued before the back and chest work. Since chest work generally hits shoulders and triceps pretty hard and back work often hits biceps, I like doing the larger muscle groups first so I can properly challenge the larger muscles.

And some of the moves are questionable in safety. I substituted regular overhead presses for the Arnold presses. I substituted dips for the lying triceps extensions. I'm concerned that if someone didn't understand the risks associated with some of the moves she does on this video you could get hurt. I modified throughout the weight sections.

Now, the core stuff was good. There was a lot of oblique work in this one and it was challenging. I found that it's pretty difficult to so the plank/downdog/side plank combination in sneakers on a wood floor because I was slipping all over the place. In order to go from plank to downdog I had to jump my feet up because they were sliding backwards the whole time! I recommend taking off your shoes or using a yoga mat or something for this section. Interesting leg positions during the more traditional ab work but some of it could really bother your back if you're not all that strong to begin with or if you aren't careful about keeping your core stable.

The cardio sections were ok. I was very happy that there were no power sevens or 15's. The intensity wasn't quite as high as most of Cathe's cardio workouts but that's fine with me. It's fairly high impact but most of the impact is on the step. The choreo just didn't flow all that well for me though -- it seemed as though my feet were often in the wrong place to transition to the next move but I think this will get better over time. And at the beginning of the cardio sections she was cueing as she did the move but this got better later in the workout. I think stringing the cardio sections together would make a good workout.

Instructor Comments:
Cathe is her usual self in this workout. Cathe and crew look very buff. Cathe called reps "sets" in a couple of places on this workout.

Anne V

02/10/2003