Re: How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3

[Guest guest]

Yay!  You are really stepping up to the plate this week, !! W00t!  I haven't done this one yet (surprise, surprise)

 

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's  " No More Trouble Zones " down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

 

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

 

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future. 

 

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much, ! It feels unbelievably good to be working out again! I think you would LOVE this! Challenging without beng overwhelming and good music too!

Re: How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3

Yay! You are really stepping up to the plate this week, !! W00t! I haven't done this one yet (surprise, surprise)

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]

I need to pull this one out, but like you, I have a dread for it. I'm not surprised that you have some sore legs. PLB can do that to you. **----- Reply message -----To: <exercisevideos >Subject: How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3Date: Thu, Sep 15, 2011 10:55 am I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too. After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout. Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future. I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]



I'm surprised to hear you dread it, ! But it makes me feel better too! :-)

Yep, very sore legs. Just odd feeling it mostly in the quads. That's okay though, they need the work too. Awesome workout, I love the Pyramid workouts!

How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3Date: Thu, Sep 15, 2011 10:55 am

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]

Nice job ! I don't have this one, but from your description, it reminds me of the step portions of the CTX express series. I also like the way she builds the combos.  Enjoy the lovely lunch with your daughter!

 

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's  " No More Trouble Zones " down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

 

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

 

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future. 

 

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

 

 

[Guest guest]

I love PUB. I think its my favorite upper body workout that I own.**----- Reply message -----To: <exercisevideos >Subject: How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3Date: Thu, Sep 15, 2011 2:41 pm



I'm surprised to hear you dread it, ! But it makes me feel better too! :-)

Yep, very sore legs. Just odd feeling it mostly in the quads. That's okay though, they need the work too. Awesome workout, I love the Pyramid workouts!

How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3Date: Thu, Sep 15, 2011 10:55 am

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]

I love PUB. I think its my favorite upper body workout that I own.**----- Reply message -----To: <exercisevideos >Subject: How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3Date: Thu, Sep 15, 2011 2:41 pm



I'm surprised to hear you dread it, ! But it makes me feel better too! :-)

Yep, very sore legs. Just odd feeling it mostly in the quads. That's okay though, they need the work too. Awesome workout, I love the Pyramid workouts!

How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3Date: Thu, Sep 15, 2011 10:55 am

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]

I love PUB. I think its my favorite upper body workout that I own.**----- Reply message -----To: <exercisevideos >Subject: How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3Date: Thu, Sep 15, 2011 2:41 pm



I'm surprised to hear you dread it, ! But it makes me feel better too! :-)

Yep, very sore legs. Just odd feeling it mostly in the quads. That's okay though, they need the work too. Awesome workout, I love the Pyramid workouts!

How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3Date: Thu, Sep 15, 2011 10:55 am

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]



I think it is probably mine too! It is tough but I don't dread doing it, instead I get energized from it!

How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3Date: Thu, Sep 15, 2011 10:55 am

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]



I think it is probably mine too! It is tough but I don't dread doing it, instead I get energized from it!

How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3Date: Thu, Sep 15, 2011 10:55 am

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]



I think it is probably mine too! It is tough but I don't dread doing it, instead I get energized from it!

How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3Date: Thu, Sep 15, 2011 10:55 am

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]

Hope you had a nice lunch w/ Miriam - I try to enjoy my time now, too, b/c before I know it she'll be off w/ friends and wanting me keeping a respectable distance!

Part of growing up, I guess!Donna

Subject: How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3To: exercisevideos Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011, 10:55 AM

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst

thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total

body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]

Hope you had a nice lunch w/ Miriam - I try to enjoy my time now, too, b/c before I know it she'll be off w/ friends and wanting me keeping a respectable distance!

Part of growing up, I guess!Donna

Subject: How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3To: exercisevideos Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011, 10:55 AM

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst

thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total

body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]

Thanks, ! I'm not familiar with any of those workouts. Maybe I'll check them out sometime (but Cathe step generally scares me). I did end up having a nice time at school overall. We had to eat quickly and shop the book sale fast too and when I left she looked a little upset. Sure enough, less than 10 minutes later I got a call from her saying her stomach was a bit upset and she had a headache. I told her I thought we just had to rush a bit too much and she was was probably a little unsettled from that but that she'd be fine too. When I told her she could call me in a while if she was still not feeling good she seemed to brighten up. She didn't call again and was fine. I think she was just missing me more than anything (which both thrills me and breaks my heart for her). She's still so young and I forget that sometimes. She's in a brand new school (she's a 5th grader in a school with only 5th and 6th grades) and still learning the ropes and her way around too. But, the rest of the day went fine. I remembered why I rarely eat lunch at school with the kids when I was there. It was all very under control (which is different from some lunches I had with my son when he was little) but it was so LOUD!

Re: How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3

Nice job ! I don't have this one, but from your description, it reminds me of the step portions of the CTX express series. I also like the way she builds the combos. Enjoy the lovely lunch with your daughter!

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]

Thanks, ! I'm not familiar with any of those workouts. Maybe I'll check them out sometime (but Cathe step generally scares me). I did end up having a nice time at school overall. We had to eat quickly and shop the book sale fast too and when I left she looked a little upset. Sure enough, less than 10 minutes later I got a call from her saying her stomach was a bit upset and she had a headache. I told her I thought we just had to rush a bit too much and she was was probably a little unsettled from that but that she'd be fine too. When I told her she could call me in a while if she was still not feeling good she seemed to brighten up. She didn't call again and was fine. I think she was just missing me more than anything (which both thrills me and breaks my heart for her). She's still so young and I forget that sometimes. She's in a brand new school (she's a 5th grader in a school with only 5th and 6th grades) and still learning the ropes and her way around too. But, the rest of the day went fine. I remembered why I rarely eat lunch at school with the kids when I was there. It was all very under control (which is different from some lunches I had with my son when he was little) but it was so LOUD!

Re: How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3

Nice job ! I don't have this one, but from your description, it reminds me of the step portions of the CTX express series. I also like the way she builds the combos. Enjoy the lovely lunch with your daughter!

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]



It was nice, a little rushed but nice anyway. I'll probably do it again for her birthday in October when we don't also have to fit in a visit to the book fair (we'll go out on the playground together for a bit). Right now, she is a total mommy's girl, total. I know that won't last and might go the completely opposite direction for a while so I am trying to take advantage of it while it lasts! :-)

How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3To: exercisevideos Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011, 10:55 AM

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]



It was nice, a little rushed but nice anyway. I'll probably do it again for her birthday in October when we don't also have to fit in a visit to the book fair (we'll go out on the playground together for a bit). Right now, she is a total mommy's girl, total. I know that won't last and might go the completely opposite direction for a while so I am trying to take advantage of it while it lasts! :-)

How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3To: exercisevideos Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011, 10:55 AM

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]

Yes! It is going to be hard to get used to when they push us away, but it is part of growing up and I think if you establish a good relationship you'll come back together in the future at a different place w/ a more mature relationship. At least I hope so!!

BTW, are sleepovers really big in your area? It seems that everyone wants to invite you over for a sleepover. Maybe I'm an overprotective mom but I'd like to start at "playdate" and then, once I know the family more and feel comfortable with them, move into the sleepover thing. To me it seems like going all the way on a first date! I'm not sure how to tactfully decline sleepover invites from families I don't know that well....sticky situations! I'm fine w/ a playdate until I get the lay of the land at their house....and feel comfortable with them.

Take care -

Donna

Subject: How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3To: exercisevideos Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011, 10:55 AM

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst

thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total

body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]

Yes! It is going to be hard to get used to when they push us away, but it is part of growing up and I think if you establish a good relationship you'll come back together in the future at a different place w/ a more mature relationship. At least I hope so!!

BTW, are sleepovers really big in your area? It seems that everyone wants to invite you over for a sleepover. Maybe I'm an overprotective mom but I'd like to start at "playdate" and then, once I know the family more and feel comfortable with them, move into the sleepover thing. To me it seems like going all the way on a first date! I'm not sure how to tactfully decline sleepover invites from families I don't know that well....sticky situations! I'm fine w/ a playdate until I get the lay of the land at their house....and feel comfortable with them.

Take care -

Donna

Subject: How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3To: exercisevideos Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011, 10:55 AM

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst

thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total

body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]



started pushing me away a bit last year, now it is "Don't you dare volunteer at school!" (too bad kid, I will anyway, I'll just try to choose things that don't put us in super close proximity). He still enjoys our family nights every Friday and other activities we do together so it is okay.

Yes, sleepovers are very big here too. I think Miriam started doing them when she was close to 8. I wasn't sure about it at first either, I tend to be overprotective too, but a lot of us seemed to feel that way and we did play dates first. With it started later (maybe because they were boys, I'm not sure). Now we're starting to get into other families wanting to take the kids on weekend trips with them or at least away overnight and I'm not completely sure about that at all. In the case of their best friends, and I know the families well, then I might be okay but even then I struggle with it. The topic came up a few times this summer but never materialized so we'll see. Sigh... kids need to come with an instruction manual!!

How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3To: exercisevideos Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011, 10:55 AM

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!

[Guest guest]



started pushing me away a bit last year, now it is "Don't you dare volunteer at school!" (too bad kid, I will anyway, I'll just try to choose things that don't put us in super close proximity). He still enjoys our family nights every Friday and other activities we do together so it is okay.

Yes, sleepovers are very big here too. I think Miriam started doing them when she was close to 8. I wasn't sure about it at first either, I tend to be overprotective too, but a lot of us seemed to feel that way and we did play dates first. With it started later (maybe because they were boys, I'm not sure). Now we're starting to get into other families wanting to take the kids on weekend trips with them or at least away overnight and I'm not completely sure about that at all. In the case of their best friends, and I know the families well, then I might be okay but even then I struggle with it. The topic came up a few times this summer but never materialized so we'll see. Sigh... kids need to come with an instruction manual!!

How to Get In Shape for Your Wedding & FIRM Abs 3To: exercisevideos Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011, 10:55 AM

I was dreading this one, which is probably why I haven't done it (according to my log, which may or may not be right) since August 2008! I also wanted to do it because I remember liking it too. It is long (55 minutes), a step workout and the 2nd part of it has, for me, fairly complicated choreography. I'm not sure if I've ever made it all the way through the 2nd part before either. I haven't done much cardio this summer so I just used the step without risers and that worked out really well for me. There's a lot of propulsion moves and Cathe keeps you moving the entire time (except for one heart rate check). She does have you do the low impact version of each move for a bit before she introduces the power option and emphasizes that you can keep it low impact if that works better for you (but encourages you to give it all you've got too). I did all the power moves. The choreography in the first part is fairly simple, the worst thing for me was rocking horses, I think. I always mess those up! In the second part, you turn the step so it is vertical to the TV and she heats up the choreography. It is mostly high impact too. I was surprised at how well I did with this section. The ricochet move (turning and jumping over the step) was really confusing for me at first but I think by the end I finally had a reasonable version of it. It helps that she builds the combinations slowly and does a lot of repetition. Other people might find that maddening but it was great for me. This is on VHS and there's also a strength training workout on the tape that I know I've only done once because it was too easy (much easier than the step workout, which I found kind of strange that she'd have a tough cardio with a fairly wimpy strength workout on one tape). I'm thinking about doing it again sometime soon anyway just because it might be fun (it was enjoyable, just light). Tomorrow is a total body strength training day and I have Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones" down. I'll probably do that though because it is a virgin. I'm previewing it as I type and it looks really good too.

After Cathe I did workout 3 from FIRM Abs. This one emphasizes obliques. It seemed extremely tough to me. I'm not sure if that's because I hardly worked my abs this summer or because I was really tired from the cardio or both. I really need to try and do core before cardio sometime to see if there's any difference in my performance. I was trying to follow the beginner and still doing miserably with it. The moves weren't complicated, just hard and even harder when you follow using the sculpting stick for resistance. I definitely want to do all the workouts on this tape again. I'm going to have to get it on DVD sometime. If you do all 3 workouts at once it would be one heck of a 30 minute abs workout.

Note from yesterday's lower body workout:: My quads are really sore today but I don't feel much of anything in my glutes which further convinces me I went too heavy on the leg presses yesterday (and put too much weight forward as I lifted onto the step). Will definitely pay more attention to that in the future.

I'm off to Miriam's school for lunch with her and then shopping at the book fair. I don't like eating lunch at the schools (don't like the food most of the time and it is just too noisy for me) but it is important to her so I'm going. Besides, my 13 year old DS doesn't want me anywhere near his school at this point and I'm sure she'll be feeling the same way in a few years so I'm taking advantage of her still wanting me around while it lasts!