Is there another workout like KCM's Cardio Blast?
 

I've reacquired a step.
I'm seriously considering reacquiring KCM's Cardio Blast.

I did it one time a loooong time ago. I remember having a "blast" and being sweaty but exhilarated and challenged...but I parted with it. IDK why. Cause I'm fickle or moved on to something else. But that's beside the point.

Anyway, I have been looking at step clips and am noting how unique KCM's CB appears to be:
simple choreography
not dancey at all
fun boxing/kickboxing moves thrown in
athletic moves
low-impact modifier shown
short format (30 min!)

I can't find anything else like this. I am choreo-challenged. Gilad's Step tripped me up. I can't do any turns, reverses, mambos, over the top...that is WAY past my mental-physical collaboration.

So, IS there anything like Cardio Blast? What about KCM's Step Boxing? (is that one of hers with the terrible cueing?)

Cathe's Intensity is one of the closest, but she does not show a low impact modifier, so you'd have to modify on your own.

Hi Alison! I don't step much but I :love: Cardio Blast. I'm clumsy and need step to be very simple, but then it runs the risk of being mind-numbingly repetitive. ;) Anyway, I have a short list of step workouts I'll do (though only KCM completely fulfills your requirements).

My must-have's:
~KCM's Cardio Blast (of course!)
~Cathe's Basic Step (She teaches this very well - I was shocked to find I could do "around the worlds"!)
~Debra Mazda's Let Get Stepping! (very simple, fun music, I love it)

Others I like. Haven't done them in a while so don't recall their details, but they're either a bit more complicated/dancey or longer (or both). Some I'm still learning. :o:
~Kari Anderson's Go
~Christi Taylor's Mission Possible
~Cathe's Low Impact Step
~Keli Roberts' Ultimate Step (on VHS)
~Gilad's Step (but I know you didn't like it)
~Cher's New Attitude (also with Keli, also on VHS)

As you can see I don't experiment a lot when it comes to step so I'd love to hear other, newer recommendations. :)

Re: KCM's step-boxing workouts: I adore her but really can't recommend her earlier step workouts; I found they moved way too fast and were too complicated for me. :( You might have an easier time, of course.

Quick question: was it you who once claimed that step aggravated her varicose veins? I ask because I have a vein 'situation' as well and was/am concerned. I definitely don't want to aggravate mine either. I haven't seen a correlation but then - as mentioned - I do step very infrequently.

I can't help you on comparisons to kcm, but if you are looking for super simple step choreography that's intense...get cathe's new intensity DVD...I love it! Simple, but INTENSE! I can't say enough about what a great workout this is! Hth

Does Intensity have premixes, or can it easily be shortened?

ETA - ok, just looked it up on Collage and see that the step section is only 25 mins! :)
ETAA - According to Cathe's site it has a bunch of premixes:
1. Maximum Intensity – 70.21
2. Step Only – 36.30
3. Step + HiiT (Hi) + Boot Camp – 59.09
4. Step + HiiT (Lo) + Boot Camp – 60.23
5. Timesaver - Step + HiiT (Hi)- 46.26
6. Timesaver - Step + HiiT (Lo) – 47.40
7. Timesaver – Step + Boot Camp – 49.13
8. Timesaver - Double HiiT and Boot Camp – 45.44
9. Timesaver – HiiT (Lo) + Boot Camp – 35.49

Neatski & Fit Mommy~ Thanks for that rec, I'll go check it out, especially since I'm just getting interested in Cathe!

Thanks for the suggestions Gina (and actually, I do like Gilad's step...but it gets a little repetitive and I still end up clumsily fumbling through it).

Yes, I did think step bothered my varicose veins. When I bought my step last year, I did several step workouts (3-4 in a week, maybe). I had had NO vein issues/pain before that...and then, quite suddenly, I did. Felt like a connection to me, but who can say? I actually sold my step & step videos right away b/c I didn't wanna take the chance.

Fast-forward, LOL. I got a cheap step ($20!) on craigslist to use as a weight bench for Jari Love workouts, etc. Started fondly remembering Cardio Blast....and well...here we are.

What a slippery slope. :D
I don't plan on doing A LOT of step, maybe 1x a week or so. So maybe Cardio Blast is sufficient for that.

(Sorry for the book ;))

Dissenting voice: I did not care for Cathe's Intensity. Too many recycled moves & not that intense IMO.

Joan

Wow, you must be fit! I just got back from previewing it over at Cathe's site and I was thinking it looked a little too intense for me!:eek::o

Maybe I'll just stick with Cardio Blast...:)

I don't have it, but how about Tracie Long's Step Forward? Does anyone know if that 'qualifies'?

Smart girl!! ;)
My tendency has always been to overbuy (of course :p).