Cathe Live Review: Blazing Bootcamp (#252)

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Cathe Live Review: Blazing Bootcamp (#252)

Blazing Bootcamp is an express cardio and strength workout consisting of four rounds. Each round has a double shot of cardio – one on the floor and one on the step – followed by a mix of lower, upper and compound exercises. On previewing this workout and listening to Cathe’s intro, about the focus being stamina and cardio capacity, I thought this routine was going to be pretty tough. However, in reality I found it much easier than expected. It was much more at an intermediate level than some of Cathe’s other bootcamp workouts. The fact that it is so short, at only 42 minutes, probably didn’t help either but I must say I felt a little disappointed by this one.

The cardio moves are all straight forward Hiit type drills, including those on the step – so no choreography here (and if you have done any of Cathe’s other step bootcamp workouts all the moves will be very familiar). With the exception of snowboards, none of the moves are done for that long. Also some of them include a low impact version, of the same move, during the drill (plunge lunges & swim lunges) so these are a little less intense than usual.

This workout had some technical difficulties during the original broadcast and so was not actually broadcast live but posted on her site later in the day. I don’t know what the issue was but for some the camera work, in this one, seemed a little off – a lot more shaky than usual.

Cathe takes the time to show far more modifications than usual in this routine and even shows some low impact alternatives for the cardio step moves, as well as easier versions for push-ups etc. Cathe walks around during the exercises, far more as well, which causes the class some issues as they think she has finished a move before she actually has! So just be aware that, for example, there are 3 sets of push-ups in a row, as she gets up after the first set! I did modify one step cardio move – straddle jumps - as I really don’t feel safe doing these any more so I just used the step with one riser each side.

The strength moves were all done using fairly light weights and generally were not that high rep. This certainly would not count as proper strength training – it is definitely more to keep the heart rate up a little higher than anything else. Some of the moves are also done rather fast, such as, the one arm overhead squat press, which actually felt a little out of control. In future I think I will just count the 16 reps at a slightly slower speed.

The warm up for this one felt a little rushed for me, however, as the first cardio drill is a little lower intensity, you do have a chance to warm up a little more before doing some of the higher intensity drills, such as, snowboards (round 3)!

Overall, this was a nice little workout but definitely more for a lighter day. It would have been nice to have had a core section, at the end of this routine, as I felt like it ended a little too soon and as Cathe mentioned at the start that it was supposed to be a total body workout... However, I just added my own core work on afterwards instead.

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The Workout

Blazing Bootcamp is a cardio and strength workout in a bootcamp style. The routine consists of four rounds of 2 cardio drills and a mix of lower, upper and compound exercises. Cathe and class use dumbbells and a full size step, with 2 risers each side, for this workout. However, you could always modify the step moves to the floor, if you prefer, or don’t have a step.

What You Need to Know

(Rating scale – 1= lowest & 5 = highest).

The Moves

Blazing Bootcamp is 42 minutes long and originally aired on 20th June 2019 (#252). The workout starts with a 4 minute warm up before moving into the first cardio drill. (Make sure you have your weights handy as sometimes Cathe starts the next exercise very quickly!) All moves using the step are done on 2 risers (each side) unless specifically mentioned below.

Round 1

• Touch down jacks & plie jacks

• Plunge lunges off the step (these start low impact) - step

• Squat off side of step – one 15# dumbbell & step

• Front swing & overhead press – two 10# dumbbells

• Push-ups – mat - 3 sets of 8 reps

• Chest flys with leg extensions – two 15# dumbbells & step

Round 2

• Icebreakers

• Straddle jumps on step (jump down / up & double jump on top of step) – step

• Elevated lunges – two 12# dumbbells & step topper – 8x singles, 7 pulses x2, 4 singles & 7 pulses

• Alternating rear lunge & lateral raise – two 8# dumbbells

• Rear delt flys – two 8# dumbbells – 2 sets of 10 reps

• 1 Arm squat & overhead press (these are very fast) – one 15# dumbbell – 16 reps

• Overhead press / squat press – two 10# dumbbells – 8 reps of standing overhead press then 8 reps squat press

• 8 Point bicep curls – two 10# dumbbells (I used 12’s) – 4 sets & 8 singles

Round 3

• Snowboards – 32 reps & 16 reps

• Jump wide on step & jump down / 180 turn & power 3’s – step

• Alternating side to side sumo squats – one 15# dumbbell (singles & 1 pulse at bottom)

• Crossback lunge & hammer curls – two 12# dumbbells

• Pullovers – two 15# dumbbells & step (4/4/ count & singles)

• Tricep dips with leg extended – step

• Tricep overhead extensions – two 12# dumbbells

Round 4

• Pop squats / jump rope / jacks

• Swim lunges (these include low & high impact) – step

• Step-ups – two 12# dumbbells & step

• Squat & abduct with 1 arm upright row – one 8# dumbbell & step (although Cathe does say after the 1st side that this is light & she should have used a 10# dumbbell)

• Tricep lying extensions – two 10# dumbbells & step

• Dynamic front lunge raises (front lunge & knee raise with lateral raise) – two 5# dumbbells

• Lateral ‘U’ raise – two 5# dumbbells

• Supermans - mat

The workout ends with a 3 minute cool down and stretch.

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