Cathe Friedrich's Imax 3 DVD

by Cathe Friedrich

Product Features

• Intense hour-long step aerobics with blasts to increase effectiveness
• Interval training has been proven to burn the most calories while providing a fun, intense workout
• Led by popular fitness instructor Cathe Friedrich

Product Description

This is a fast paced 60 minute workout consisting of a 9 minute warm up, 10 mini step combo's alternated with 10 interval blasts, and a cool down complete with a stretch. For the most part, each step combo will be familiar moves put together in a refreshing way. A couple of new moves will be mixed in here and there to keep you on your toes. Keeping with tradition, the 32 count step combo's will each be repeated 6 times before moving into the intensity blasts. The intensity blasts are at times longer than the step combo's themselves. Each blast consists of a combination of about 2 to 3 intense moves (per blast) that repeats itself about 4 times (per blast) and gradually brings you to your lactate threshold. You will find that all the blasts vary in length and intensity keeping your muscles challenged and inspired. To really up the overall challenge, we have even reduced the recovery time between some of the "milder" intervals. A cool down will follow the last blast and then a relaxing stretch will complete the workout.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 7.5 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B0007YYKCS
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,116 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb instructor and workout :-o, August 6, 2006

By 

Little Miss Cutey (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Cathe Friedrich's Imax 3 DVD (Misc.)

Cathe is one tough cookie. As I've said in other reviews of her workouts, she doesn't stop from start to finish. She's tough and efficient and yet still makes the workouts fun. She has a pleasant manner and isn't too over-the-top.
This workout is non stop and very, very challenging. Don't think for a minute that this will be a walk in the park. It really is geared for advanced exercisers and there is complex choreography. There are ten cycles of aerobic and non-aerobic segments. Each of them begin with cool and unique step routines and then you go into active recovery. I like the music in here (it motivates you) and I also like the fact that if you aren't in the mood for a cardio blast, you can pre-program the dvd not to include them.
Believe me; this is tough but it is doable if you try and stick to it a little. You do need to be somewhat fit to begin with, because obviously that's an advantage. Stick to it, and you'll see results in your body and your fitness. This is great.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars my first Cathe workout was this one :) became a diehard fan instantly!, June 17, 2007

By 

L. Barnes - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cathe Friedrich's Imax 3 DVD (Misc.)

I was looking for a good workout video for the days when work keeps you from making the gym, and I was so encouraged by the high ratings for Cathe Friedrich, I gave 3 of her dvds a try.

This workout is MERCILESSLY hard core...I am recovering from a back injury, hence I modify it a bit (especially parts which involve standing jumps or travelling standing jumps with a turn!) but still, it is one heckuva workout. Definitely one you want to do when you have slept well, have had your coffee, and have not done a high-impact exercise the day before. Nice long full workout. Every interval seems doable no matter how insane it is because of the fun breaks you get in the medium-complex choreography in the step routine segments. (No breakdown. Those who don't like choreography will probably find this hard--I have been taking step for years and am a dancer and found I needed a good 3-4 tries to get it right. I love complicated choreography! Keeps me from thinking about how hard I'm working out! ;))

I give it 4/5 since it is a bit too high impact for my tastes (I prefer Imax 2 a bit more, it felt ~70% as intense without being as jarring to the back and knees). However, those without a back injury would probably be fine.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The toughest cardio I own, February 27, 2006

By 

E. Evans - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cathe Friedrich's Imax 3 DVD (Misc.)

Imax 3 is part of Cathe's "Hardcore" series and it well deserves that moniker. After a warm-up, Cathe alternates relatively simple step combos with intensity blasts to press your heart rate sky-high. Ten of these intervals are followed by a well-deserved cool-down and stretch.

One of the best benefits of Cathe DVDs are the premixes which take the workout and rearrange it into shorter, different combinations. I use the premixes on this DVD extensively.

Interval training has been shown to be one of the best ways to burn calories. After you complete this KILLER workout, you will know this is true. It actually would kill me, probably, if I didn't take extra rest during this intense workout. I recommend this workout to advanced exercisers looking for a challenge.