Cathe Friedrich''s STS Mesocycle #1 (12 DVD set)

What I liked

1. Amazing quality

2. Newer moves

3. Challenging with a lot of variety. Comes with 12 discs.

4. Workouts are mapped out for you. You use 3 discs a week and do 2 days of cardio of your own choice. These workouts are only strength training. This review is of mesocycle 1 only.

What I didn''t like

1. You can''t just push play. This series banks highly on finding your 1-rep max. If you don''t pick a weight that is challenging you''ll probably think this series is to easy. Your last rep has to leave you struggling.

2. Way to much time is spent on equipment set up. If you don''t have a large workout space like me you''ll find this really annoying. The list of equipment is large here. Dumbbells 3-30lbs (depending on your ability), step (and mini step if you have it) with at least 4 risers on each side, barbell (up to 40-50lbs depending on your ability), medium tension band, chair, gliding discs (or paper plates), stability ball, and over the door tubing for pull up style exercises if you don''t have a pull up tower.

3. The music truly disappointed me. I was used to the high energy upbeat music on her other DVD''s. It is hard to explain what it is like but if you want a sample her website has nice previews. That is pretty much what you get as far as music is concerned. It was hardly motivating to me.

4. Price, way to expensive! And to charge extra for a workout guide and abs. I mean you would expect that for this price you''d get more.

5. Packaging is terrible. I foresee this thing falling apart real quick and for the price I had to pay that is truly disappointing.

Summary

Is this a P90X knock off (for everyone that might get offended by this comment lets face it and truth is that Tony''s P90X came out first), . . .well yeah of course it is. I have P90X did one rotation and never did it again (I just didn''t like Tony''s style) so STS is obviously better to me. You''ll notice certain similarities such as the phrase "Get ready set go", the clip board writing down your weight thing, and the stopping to get a drink of water. What I did like about P90X that STS did not have was the fact that P90X did not have a whole lot of equipment needed. I mean it is hard enough to fit in 1 hour a day having to need more money for equipment does not exactly make this attainable for everyone and P90X came with just about everything STS comes with for cheaper. Yes you get more DVD''s with STS (if you buy all three cycles) but I didn''t feel like the variety with all the extra DVD''s was enough to make it worth having to charge more. I preferred having Cathe''s premixes as in other workouts. You will see a whole lot of repeat moves in these 12 discs that it makes you wonder why they just didn''t lessen the number of discs, . . I mean more is not always better. Oh did I mention that set up time is irritating and time consuming.

Is it worth it, . . . .

Unfortunately I can''t say that it is. If you are a true Cathe fan such as myself buy it, but only if you have disposable income. Your library would not be complete. If not and you are wondering if there is something cheaper and just as effective yeah, there is get her Gym Style series, legs, chest, shoulders, biceps, and triceps and back series. This is cheaper and truly effective. You will need a step, dumbbells, barbell, ball, and band though.

Does it work?

Heck yeah Cathe works, I haven''t finished this whole series but I would not doubt its effectiveness. Since I started my home workouts with Cathe back in 2000 I now run 20-25 miles a week can do 40 "boy" push ups in a row and 3 pull ups (okay I''m still working on increasing that to 10) but at 33 I''m stronger and leaner than I have ever been in my life. I have muscle definition in my arms and legs and my kids think I''m "cool." Cathe is totally awesome, but unfortunately I would have to say that this series was not worth the money. Heck you can''t win them all.

Oh one other thing. If you do plan on buying buy from Amazon. This seller actually has a return policy and if you buy from Cathe direct it is all final sale no returns.

All together, I liked this set of DVDs. It provides enough variety for those of us who have been working out for a long time and steps it up a notch. Pros: The workouts are challenging (if not enough, you can always increase weight). Quality is pretty good, all exercises have been labeled and are easy to follow the reps and timing.

Cons: I think the reps are a bit short, 16 at the most. I think for endurance you could go to 24 but then again that''s a personal choice. What I really didn''t like about it was that it seemed like they are the same 3 DVDs(#1 Chest, Shoulders and Biceps #2 Back and Triceps #3 Legs ), just repeated 4 time in 4 sets with minor variations. Ex: all the 4 Leg workout DVDs are almost the same(except for the 10 minute bonus), the only thing that''s different is your %RM. She could have just told you to increase the weight by 5% every week but instead, she reproduced almost the same DVD just asking you to increase your weights. I think that is a marketing scheme which I really didn''t care for. It''s kinda expensive if you are really getting 3-4 hours of really new material but paying for 12hrs.I probably will not buy STS2 if its the same DVDs just higher %RM.

Buy Cathe Friedrich''s STS Mesocycle #1 (12 DVD set) Now

The 12 workouts in this set are the first cycle in Cathe''s Shock Training System. They are endurance-based and most like Cathe''s other weight workouts. I say `most'' like because these are really tough workouts! You will be lifting 60-65% of your one rep max.

Some suggestions to get the most out of this set:

**I strongly recommend doing the one rep max tests so you can really lift your heaviest. I took a few weeks before starting the STS program and incorporated the one rep max tests into my workout so I could truly get to my max weight reps.

**Platemates and micro-loaded weight gloves are a great way to add small weight increments, especially if you''re truly doing your 60-65% one rep max amount.

**Have your equipment laid out and ready to go, especially for these workouts. You work muscle groups one after the other with no downtime.

**Get plenty of rest and eat well. If you''re truly working to capacity, you''ll need both.

**This is not the time to drastically reduce your calories in an attempt to lose weight. You''re burning so many calories with this program; you will run out of steam if you don''t eat enough clean food.

What I loved about this cycle:

**It''s tough and my muscles feel really worked out when I''m done.

**The band exercises after some of the weight work really gets into the muscle and I feel that great burn.

**It works! I just finished my second round of this and I''ve lost inches and pounds.

**it didn''t seem at all repetitive to me, sure each week you may do the same exercises as the week before, but they''re combined with new exercises, so it feels like a totally different workout.

What was a little annoying about this cycle:

**the constant switching of equipment. Since you''re working a muscle group one right after the other, you may have to change weights. I constantly had to pause the workout while I added weights to my gloves or switched platemates etc.

**Overkill on pushups. I''ll admit it, I hate pushups, but I know they work your chest and core, so I''ll do them. However, it''s not necessary to have over 100 pushups in a workout. Granted you''re doing variations of a push up, but still.

In spite of these issues, I highly recommend this set to anyone wanting a tough workout that really works. If you don''t want to purchase the entire 3 cycle set, you may want to consider this one since it''s most like Cathe''s other weight workouts.

Read Best Reviews of Cathe Friedrich''s STS Mesocycle #1 (12 DVD set) Here

I hesitated for some time because of mixed reviews (and price), but finally decided I was going to give this a try. And I''m glad I did. This is way better than I expected. I didn''t find it repetitive or boring. Cathe instructs extremely well, the pace is just right and of course, it helps if you know your 1 rep max. The music, I barely notice, because I''m so busy working out and listening to Cathe, but it''s instrumental with a beat, I did not find it annoying. I admit, there is a large amount of pushups that I could do without, and have now decided to alternate some with ab or plank work instead. Some reviewers complain about the equipment needed, but if you''re used to Cathe workouts, chances are you have most of it already. Personally, I have a dedicated workout area where all the equipment is easily accessible, but I can see if someone tries to do it in their living room, how it would be a pain. It seems that the original sets had some flimsy packaging, this is no longer the case. The quality of the DVDs and cases is just fine. I also really like the workout pdfs that are available for free on her website that you can download and/or print. If you log your 1 rep max, it even prints out personalized which makes it very easy to record your stats and you don''t need the book in my opinion. It is designed to do just 3 DVDs a week, but I like to work upper body muscle groups at least twice per week, so I repeat Chest/Sh/Bi and Back/Tri DVDs again after a "rest day" of cardio. I didn''t like her Gym Style series at all by the way, but love this. Cathe is more up-beat and fun in STS. Price aside, this is great.

Want Cathe Friedrich''s STS Mesocycle #1 (12 DVD set) Discount?

Once again Cathe does it. A+++++ She has been part of our Fit TV exercise world for years and has many DVD''s to help us get fit.

Not only does she provide a sensible/do able weight routine but she explains the exercises completely. (the band is a great addition to weights, a must have for the workout routines) No going to the gym and a pleasant Cathe and crew to boot.

She explains the set up to the next exercise very well and if you find there is too much time for set up in between exercises a second set would fit in nicely.

No complaints. Amazing set of DVD''s and VERY happy with my purchase. Worth every penny. Shipped very fast.

T.B.