Hardcore: Gym Style Chest & Triceps

Cathe Friedrich
Year Released: 2005

Categories: Upper Body Strength



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I like this workout. I tend to use faster-paced circuit style workouts so this is definitely a change of pace for me. The workout starts out tough with drop sets of push-ups starting at 16. Chest press follows, then flys, then we do it on an incline. There are quite a few breaks and the pace is slow. This workout is totally do-able without a barbell as well. Following chest is (obviously) tricep work. We start with tricep dips off the bench as a "warm up" and after 3 times with the workout I still can't complete all the reps. I am getting stronger though! Cathe is very thorough. I love the band work. It really gets in there and finishes off the muscle.
I use a variety of dumbells: 8s, 10s, 12s, and 15s. I could use 20s but I don't have them, although I may acquire them before this rotation ends. You also need a full-sized step and 6' medium+ tension band. Cathy uses a barbell but thus far I've been too lazy to bring mine out of the basement.

Instructor Comments:
Cathe is very motivating- "You are strong" at just the right moment. She is also very predictable. Her crew is amazing as well, in great shape.

Melissa P

03/18/2012

I like this workout. I tend to use faster-paced circuit style workouts so this is definitely a change of pace for me. The workout starts out tough with drop sets of push-ups starting at 16. Chest press follows, then flys, then we do it on an incline. There are quite a few breaks and the pace is slow. This workout is totally do-able without a barbell as well. Following chest is (obviously) tricep work. We start with tricep dips off the bench as a "warm up" and after 3 times with the workout I still can't complete all the reps. I am getting stronger though! Cathe is very thorough. I love the band work. It really gets in there and finishes off the muscle.
I use a variety of dumbells: 8s, 10s, 12s, and 15s. I could use 20s but I don't have them, although I may acquire them before this rotation ends. You also need a full-sized step and 6' medium+ tension band. Cathy uses a barbell but thus far I've been too lazy to bring mine out of the basement.

Instructor Comments:
Cathe is very motivating- "You are strong" at just the right moment. She is also very predictable. Her crew is amazing as well, in great shape.

Melissa P

03/18/2012

I like this workout. I tend to use faster-paced circuit style workouts so this is definitely a change of pace for me. The workout starts out tough with drop sets of push-ups starting at 16. Chest press follows, then flys, then we do it on an incline. There are quite a few breaks and the pace is slow. This workout is totally do-able without a barbell as well. Following chest is (obviously) tricep work. We start with tricep dips off the bench as a "warm up" and after 3 times with the workout I still can't complete all the reps. I am getting stronger though! Cathe is very thorough. I love the band work. It really gets in there and finishes off the muscle.
I use a variety of dumbells: 8s, 10s, 12s, and 15s. I could use 20s but I don't have them, although I may acquire them before this rotation ends. You also need a full-sized step and 6' medium+ tension band. Cathy uses a barbell but thus far I've been too lazy to bring mine out of the basement.

Instructor Comments:
Cathe is very motivating- "You are strong" at just the right moment. She is also very predictable. Her crew is amazing as well, in great shape.

Melissa P

03/18/2012

I did this workout as a part of my first split rotation. Like the other videos in Gym Style, it was through and fast-paced. It started with pushups, in the same descending pattern as Jari Love's GER 1000, starting at 16 and going down by 2 every rep. It worked all muscles of chest and really burned the triceps. I appreciate band work in the tricep areas and think this is the best workout for that area I have done.

My exercise ball developed a rip before this workout and I was able to modify with floor work. I also don't have a full-length step; I used my fanny lifter and the floor with dumb bells and feel I got a thorough workout nonetheless.

I look forward to using this frequently.

Instructor Comments:
Cathe and her team are easy to follow, upbeat and encouraging. The music was disco/techno and could have been better but that is a very small criticism of this wonderful workout.

Sunworshipper

01/23/2012

Initially, I didn't think I was going to like the Gym Styles, but I have been finding myself pulling them off the shelf and doing them often. So, the verdict is, I like them! I can say with certainty that anyone who does each of the Gym Styles once a week is going to see great results, increases in strength and muscle endurance.

This workout is for chest and triceps, and I was surprised that it was about 45 minutes long! There are a lot of exercises included for each body part. What I like about this workout is that she moves slowly enough through the reps to go heavy. I would say that there is too much volume in terms of reps, however. There are so many push-ups at the beginning (she does a pyramid set down), that it burns out the chest before you start using the weights. I found that doing so many push-ups before bench presses and flyes (lots of sets), made me have to pyramid the weight down as the sets progressed.

Cathe covers all the bases for each muscle group. She also adds in the bands for some extra burn-out on the triceps, which I really liked.

This workout is a winner, in my book. I give it an A-.

Instructor Comments:
Cathe Friedrich is a great video instructor, and she does a good job instructing this workout. She is in incredible shape, with excellent muscle definition, and is motivating both in her appearance and her personality. She's very experienced and it shows.

Abbe

07/17/2005