Please note that I wrote this review probably about 4 years ago; I've copied and pasted it pretty much as originally written. At the time of the review I had done the workout multiple times in the year that I had it.
Although I liked this workout, I've moved away from this type of strength workout (namely very high rep); also, I personally never warmed up to Boot Camp (just not my type of workout), so after I thought long and hard about keeping this expensive DVD for one workout I used occasionally eventually I traded this one away (I think for Push Pull + Supersets).

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General workout breakdown: Decent 6 min. warm up, 45 min. of weights, 9-10 min. of abs, and too short 4 min. stretch. This brings you to a total of about 65 minutes. The pace is good: quick but controlled. None of the moves are too fast, and I never feel like I’m racing around picking up equipment for the next segment. Most of the time Cathe gives you enough time to do that. At the same time, there’s not a lot of down time, except during the Clean & Press instructional segment (after you’ve seen it two or three times, that is), and there aren’t many rests.
I’m glad the moves have already been broken down. I’ll just say most will be familiar to anyone who’s seen or done Cathe’s workouts; she’s nothing if not consistent. It’s a Cathe endurance workout, so expect tempo changes within sets containing a good number of reps. (In fact, for sometimes you don’t even pause between sets.) You switch back and forth between upper and lower body after a couple of moves. For the upper body, the work for one body part is concentrated together (i.e. all of the chest work is done at the same time), but the lower body is broken up. The three different sets of leg presses serve to tie the workout together, more or less.

Level: This is intended for advanced home weight lifters. It is NOT for beginners, as Cathe doesn’t include instruction here except for new moves. Solidly intermediate exercisers can modify this to their level by using lighter weights, choosing the shorter workout premix, etc.
I consider myself a solid intermediate in weights. I’ve lifted on and off over the last decade but only introduced heavy lifting into my home workouts about a year ago. I find this workout appropriately challenging with weights suitable for me (generally 1/2 to 2/3 of what Cathe lifts).

Class: Cathe leads Brenda, Cedie, Jai, and Lorraine.

Music / Set / Other Production Notes: The music is pulsating techno. I actually found it motivating, although I wouldn’t listen to it when not working out. I recognized a remix/remake of “Eye of the Tiger” and an Elvis song. The set is typical Intensity Series: Neo-neoclassical architecture run amok with plants everywhere. At least the studio’s bright and cheery. Of course, the production qualities are terrific here: crisp sound and picture.

Equipment: Cathe and crew use a high step, barbell (Cathe takes off a 10 lb. plate for the leg presses), several pairs of dumbbells (I believe Cathe has a pair each of 8s and 5s), a weighted medicine ball (that 8 lb. orange thing Cathe’s pushing on FitTV), and a mat for the floor segment. I don’t have enough money and space for all that equipment, so here are my substitutions: high step = one-legged squats (use a regular step, Transfirmer, etc., if you have that); barbell = body bar or dumbbells; and weight plate = SmartBell or dumbbell. These are not ideal, but until I win the lottery or at least get a high paying job and bigger space it’ll do.

Comments: You should obviously have enough space so that you can move comfortably and not trip over your stuff. One step to the front, back, and each side should be good for the movements; you should be able to lie down with arms and legs extended for the floor portion.

DVD Notes: This is available with Boot Camp on DVD. You can mix and match segments or use one of the PreMixes (Express Workout, Leg Press, Lower Body Split, or Upper Body Split). There’s a Bonus Combo with parts from both Boot Camp and ME. (I’ve been too scared to try it.) (Note: When I do premixes, I sometimes notice that for the first few seconds Cathe’s voice and mouth are out of synch; this usually resolves itself quickly, however. I don’t think the disc’s defective; it could be my player reading this DVD with so much stuff on it.)

Conclusion: This is my favorite of the Cathe weights workouts I have (ME, BC, PH, MIS, L&G, and BM), but not because it’s the easiest. It seems like it’s ten minutes faster than any of the others. Cathe’s attitude, the moves, and the music just work best for me for whatever reason. I always feel this in my chest the next day, and those glute raises are a nice change of pace. (Imagine a tough Cathe strength move with no equipment!) I’m absolutely definitely keeping this. I don’t care for Boot Camp, so I’m not sure if this is quite worth what I paid for the entire DVD, but maybe someday I’ll come to appreciate BC half as much as I do ME. . .
Oh, I can’t comment on the abs exercises, as I usually skip them in favor of Pilates. Cathe’s abs segments are tough, tough, tough for me, and she doesn’t offer many modifications. One day I’ll work up to these.

Instructor Comments:
I like Cathe’s on screen persona in this workout. She seems relaxed and natural, yet she doesn’t lose sight of the fact she’s teaching a class. She doesn’t offer much form instruction, except for the Clean & Press, but she does include a few pointers. She has fun with her “hard” reputation: she says the low end lunges are “your favorite!” and laughs almost maniacally (“Ha, ha, ha!”) when she has you hold your barbell halfway up during biceps curls. It’s not annoying, frightening, or intimidating, though. Oh, this workout contains the Cathe classic line “You know what cheeks I’m talking about!”

KathAL79