27 Customer Reviews
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Cathe Friedrich's High Step Challenge |
 Another Great workout!!! |
| This is similar to Cathe's other circuit DVD's yet she somehow manages to make it different and keep it challenging. It sarts out w/ short cardio segments that really get the heart rate up then moves to lower body and THAT keeps your heart rate up too. If you can't do it, simply modify. I workout at 5:30 AM and there are times I just can't keep up so I modify what I need to and I still work up a sweat. The upper body is tough. I don't have a bar bell so I use my free weights. Typical Cathe, she makes it tough and challenging and gives you a fat burner that tones those hard to reach spots. An excellent total body workout!! - posted by Peg on 5/10/2012 |
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| very enjoyable |
| I really enjoyed this workout because there's plenty of variety and it zips along with a wonderful mix of high step kill-your-buns work, short cardio segments and band work. With the cool down it's over an hour but there's shorter premixes. Very nicely done. - posted by Susan W. on 10/1/2011 |
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| Great workout! |
| This workout was perfect. I am a retired personal trainer and workout at least 6 days a week and own many collage videos. I really respect Cathe as a serious instructor who knows exactly what is needed to be effective. Not too hard so I don't have the "dread" factor, but intense enough to feel that I had a great workout and am looking forward to the next time. I think all of Cathe's workout videos are first class, effective, serious but a great challenge and alot of fun! - posted by Sharon on 5/12/2011 |
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| Wonderful and Challenging Circuit Workout! |
| I'm so glad I finally invested in a Cathe DVD. She charges a few bucks more than the competition so I didn't bother. I could always find a bargain with Jari, Kelly and Jillian, plus my 20 year collection of classic Firm and a Rachel McLish tape (remember her? Boy am I old,haha). I thought I was set but I was wrong. I really love challenging workouts and this one fits the bill (pun intended!) It's 68 minutes, because Cathe is thorough and she gives you the opportunity to change the weight levels. Her instruction is perfect and I enjoyed the music and the sweat. It's wonderful to find a perfect workout challenge. This one's a keeper! Please give this workout a try. - posted by Andrea405 on 5/2/2011 |
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| Fast-paced and fun |
| This workout has a boot-camp feeling to it, because you're moving quickly back and forth between cardio drills and working every muscle in the body. The cardio segments are short, but my heart rate gets up there, and halfway through this workout I'm so sweaty that my hair is drenched! The step is used mainly as a bench for leg presses and squats, and a few times for step aerobics at a 6" height. This isn't really a step workout, as others have also mentioned. I don't own a high step, I just use my regular bench-sized step, and it works fine, I just try to squat or lunge deeper since I can't step up as high. I modify some of the higher impact cardio moves, and I still get a great workout. This is a fun, total-body workout that I plan to incorporate into my workout rotations on days when I would reach for a boot-camp or circuit workout. - posted by Bobbi on 8/12/2010 |
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| Oh Yes I Can! |
| I reviewed this DVD on 5/17/2010 and was trying to learn the cardio combos when I took a really bad fall on the first one. I am happy to report that after 2 months, my ankle is finally back to normal and I was able to do the whole workout from start to finish including the core segment with no problems! I was extra careful to make sure I had enough room all around the step, as my workout area is pretty small already. I loved every minute of the workout and the first few songs were pretty good. I think that "Bette Davis Eyes" is gonna be stuck in my head all day! The workout has 5 cycles and each one begins with a cardio, three use the high step, two do not. There is even a little kickbox cardio that uses the step. After the cardio you move into exercises using weights, the band or your body weight The weighted moves range from barbell squats to barbell deadlifts to barbell curls. The band exercises are leg presses on the step, tricep extensions, and scapular retractions. The side push ups are tough. The inner thigh plie squats and the hover squats fried my legs. The core work was tough and effective and I can feel the soreness in my abs hours later. I am just so happy that my injury wasn't severe and that I gave this workout another chance!!!! - posted by Amanda on 8/4/2010 |
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| cathe Basic step |
| The video is great its exactly what I wanted and will purchase videos from this site again. Just a thought though. You should have discounts for return customers or some incentive program. - posted by sarah on 6/26/2010 |
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 Clarification |
| I am not poo-pooing this workout altogether. I am just warning people to be careful. I have the disadvantage of a small workout space and low ceilings and was not even on the high step when I fell and sprained my ankle. I am a veteran advanced stepper usually doing regular step workouts using 3 risers on each side instead of 2. I was simply practicing the very first cardio combo when I lost my balance and took a nasty fall. The fact that my workout space is between my bed and my elliptical doesn't help either. Monday will be 4 weeks since the sprain, my swelling is almost totally gone, luckily I never had a problem where I couldn't put weight on my leg, and I have been able to do the elliptical pain free. I was highly disappointed to lose 4 weeks of my favorite workouts: Cardio Core Circuit, Kick Max, KPC, Banish Fat Boost Metabolism.....I am giving myself another 2 weeks rehab on the elliptical, then will resume my regular mix of high and low impact workouts. I will not give up on this workout, but will use it when hopefully one day I have a bigger workout area. - posted by Amanda on 6/10/2010 |
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| Challenging and fun (and not dangerous) |
| I wasn't going to bother reviewing this DVD because there are so many Cathe DVD reviews it seemed unnecessary, but, I had to clarify that this workout is not dangerous. The only time you are standing on top of the "high step" (5 risers + mini step top) is when you are doing leg press - which isn't a fast moving cardio segment but a strength move. The only other time you use the "high step" is as a seat for tricep dips or shoulder work, or, as a guide for squats. All the cardio is done on the floor or on the mini step with only 1-2 risers. High Step Challenge is a great workout and poses risk only if you have low ceilings when you are doing the leg press! - posted by Jane on 5/25/2010 |
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| Dangerous, Be Careful! |
| I know this DVD has 5 star ratings, but everyone please be careful doing it. I tried it for the first time tonight and took a horrible fall on the first high step cardio cycle. I am hoping that my ankle will be OK tomorrow. I was in pain and immediately iced it and took some ibuprofen and am hoping for the best. Needless to say, I'm going to be on my elliptical for a while after this. I am in very good shape and regularly do HIIT, Cardio Core Circuit, Kick Max, KPC, MMA Boxing and other high impact workouts. I love Cathe, but this workout is unsafe. I don't know if I'll ever be able to try it again and it looks like fun, I recently previewed the whole thing too. - posted by Amanda on 5/17/2010 |
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