Review - Cathe Workout Downloads

Do you like working out at home in your pyjamas? Good news - home fitness queen Cathe Friedrich has just launched Cathe Downloads.

Her entire 150+ workout catalogue is now available in digital format, so you can watch your downloads on any computer or video-enabled mobile device, like an iPod.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post or a PR conspiracy. I wanted to share this as I know many of you are fellow home workouterers. Cathe doesn't even know I'm alive! Sniff sniff.

I wasn't terribly excited by the Download idea at first - what's wrong with old-fashioned DVDs? But it's proved to be very, very handy:

• No more shipping or customs fees - more affordable than DVDs, especially for non-US residents.
• Extra lazy option - When I work out at home I usually play the DVDs on my computer, and cranking up a DVD takes so many seconds, man. Downloads are a mere double click into action!
• Good for travel - a couple of workouts stored on my laptop squashes those feeble dang I left my DVDs at home! excuses.
• Tailored to your taste - all Cathe's multi-disc series are broken down into the individual workouts - you don't have to purchase the whole set. I can skip stuff I don't dig (like high-impact Step) and just buy the bits I enjoy.

For example:

• I got a fab 15-minute Stretch routine for $3.97 that is a wee component of her massive Shock Training System series ($299 for 40 DVDs). I like Cathe stretches when I'm not in the mood for proper, la-di-da yoga. Also good for a quick stretch when I get home from kickboxing.
• I got the Kickbox part of her 4-Day Split series, $15.97 - I've wanted this one for ages but wasn't willing to fork out $79.99 plus shipping/customs fees for the entire 4-disc series.

Shopping
You can browse all the workout categories via the Products menu. There's sample video clips too. You can purchase with PayPal or a debit/credit card. To download the workouts you need a good internet connection. If you buy before December 25, there's discounts for ordering 3+ workouts.

Viewing
To view the downloaded files you need a computer or a video-capable mobile device, like a phone or MP4 player. Apparently you can watch them on television too if you have an iPod/Phone and an AV cable. There's plenty of support and tutorials on the website.

Quality
I'm not a technical person but the video and audio quality was great on my MacBook and Gareth's aging PC laptop. The workouts have chapter points like the DVDs, so you can skip past any too hard bits.

I haven't tried them on my iPhone yet - I don't know when or why I'd need that. Perhaps if I could listen to a weights workout while I lifted at the gym? Or watch a workout on the train and wiggle my feet around a bit?

Conclusion
I like my Cathe downloads - they're more affordable, convenient and ideal for trying out something a different, since you don't have to buy a bigass DVD series.

If you'd like some ideas, here are my favourite Cathe workouts:

• Pyramid Upper Body
• Kick Max
• Kick, Punch & Crunch
• Butts & Guts
• Muscle Endurance

And some ideal for beginners:

• Low Impact Step
• Basic Step
• Body Fusion
• Total Body Stretching

Comments

[1 · Posted by Joanna Sutter (Fitness & Spice) · November 27, 2009 at 01:10 PM]

Interesting! I've always wondered about downloading workouts to my Macbook...especially for travel.

Good 411. Thanks!

[2 · Posted by Shauna · November 27, 2009 at 01:12 PM]

You are on fire Joanna! You commented about 11 seconds after I hit publish :)

[3 · Posted by Douglas · November 27, 2009 at 05:50 PM]

Thanks for the heads up about the videos

I just got a new iphone and was looking for downloadable workouts

[4 · Posted by Shauntay · November 27, 2009 at 10:02 PM]

as usual shauna, you rock! thanks for sharing the workout download info. hope your holiday was magnificent!

[5 · Posted by Kada · November 27, 2009 at 10:12 PM]

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAALLLL!

Sorry, Fan Girl moment.

Once I acquire enough fitness to be able to take on Cathe again, you know I'm gonna be ALL over this!

And with the old switcheroo pickaroony that you've described, I reckon this'll enable me to get reacquainted with Cathe even sooner than I'd dreamed. HOORAY! Thanks bunches, Chickybabe.

[6 · Posted by All Women Stalker · November 28, 2009 at 10:09 PM]

Downloads are the way of the future. :D

-meream

[7 · Posted by Marla · November 29, 2009 at 12:52 PM]

Ooh you know I love Cathe. I used to videotape her workouts (is that illegal?). Loved Pyramid, loved Kick Scratch 'n Bite, although eventually I found it too repetitive. The downloading is a great idea.

[8 · Posted by PastaQueen · November 30, 2009 at 07:04 PM]

It would be awesome if you could get Cathe to be a guest on your podcast!

[9 · Posted by Jody - Fit at 52 · December 02, 2009 at 01:30 AM]

Cathe is awesome!!!! I have watched her on FitTV for years but they are old ones!

[10 · Posted by FitFunk · December 02, 2009 at 04:59 AM]

Awesome info - I have a couple from FitTV on my dvr, but have to fumble around for the remote to fwd through the (many) commercials.

[11 · Posted by joc · December 03, 2009 at 02:32 AM]

... "Extra lazy option - When I work out at home I usually play the DVDs on my computer, and cranking up a DVD takes so many seconds, man. Downloads are a mere double click into action!"

ROFL You are a complete crack up Shauna, thanks for the info, off to check out the site now :-)

[12 · Posted by Diana (Soap & Chocolate) · December 14, 2009 at 08:10 PM]

I appreciate this tip, as an avid home worker-outer myself. I haven't gotten into downloaded workouts much either, but since my DVD player is bustocated at the moment I've been having to play the DVDs on my computer. NOW I think I could definitely do with a few digital copies! I could really do without the ready-for-liftoff whirring noise while I exercise.