Cathe Live Review: Lift It Hiit It Legs (#79)
Lift It Hiit It Legs is a cardio and strength workout focused on the lower body. This routine is based on Cathe’s DVD of the same name, which is one of my favourites, and this is just as good as that one.
As with the DVD, this workout alternates Hiit drills with strength exercises for the lower body. The cardio intervals are all very straightforward – just one move repeated for a set number of reps. Unlike the DVD though, you are usually doing at least two and sometimes three sets of each drill. They really got my heart rate up nicely and provided a good challenge in between the strength moves. The structure of the exercises is based on contrast training so within each round the strength and cardio moves are aiming to hit similar muscle groups. So for example, you do squats for the strength move and follow these with squat digs for the cardio. (The other difference to the DVD is that you start with cardio rather than a strength move here). There are eleven rounds in total with a few jacks thrown in as an intermission or ‘just because drill’ as Cathe calls them.
The strength exercises are all heavy weight exercises. Cathe used a barbell at 45 pounds and dumbbells for this routine. As I don’t like using the barbell, I used dumbbells and a 40 pound kettlebell (for plie squats but you could use dumbbells here too) and had no issues. As the exercises are designed for heavier weights, they are done at a very controlled pace and are not too high rep so you can really heavy up here, if you want to. The rep patterns are also very straightforward so no pulsing in this one. With the right weights you will definitely start to feel these exercises. I would encourage you to go as heavy as you can safely manage, to really get the most out of it. I will definitely be increasing further the next time I do this one.
I really enjoyed the routine and I think I like it even more than the DVD – for one thing there is a bit more cardio and secondly there are no tuck jumps or explosive side lunges (both of which I hate!)
Overall, this is an excellent and fun, cardio and strength workout that works the lower body well. This is definitely one to heavy up on and feel the burn.
(For more information about Cathe Live, how to sign up & to see all of my Cathe Live reviews, click HERE).
The Workout
Lift It Hiit It Legs is a cardio and strength workout focused on the lower body. The routine alternates Hiit drills with traditional lower body strength exercises. Cathe used a 45 pound barbell and moderate dumbbells for this routine. I used dumbbells and a 40 pound kettlebell.
What You Need to Know
(Rating scale – 1= lowest & 5 = highest).
The Moves
Lift It Hiit It Legs is 43 minutes long and originally aired on 11th December 2015 (#79). The workout starts with an active 7 minute warm-up before moving into the first cardio drill. The barbell is set up at 45 pounds (2 big plates on each side) at the start of the workout and does not change throughout the routine. Cardio moves shown in bold italics below.
Squat Digs - 3 sets of 16 reps
Squats – two 15# dumbbells (I used 22’s) – 24 reps
Split jumps (jumping in static lunge) - 16 & 12 reps each side
Static lunges – one 15# dumbbell – 24 reps each side
Touch down jacks – 18 reps
Plié squats – 45# barbell (I used a 40# kettlebell) – 22 reps & 4x 3 pulses
Power scissors (alternating jump lunges) - 2 sets of 24 reps
Rear lunges – two 10# dumbbells (I used 12’s) – 4 sets (2x 3 pulses & 4x singles alternating)
Squat lunge combo (hopping) / plie squat hops – 16 reps & 32 reps (squat hops)
Wide stance deadlifts – 45# barbell (I used two 22# dumbbells) – 12 reps (2/2 count)
Snow angel jacks - 2 sets of 10 reps
Wide stance deadlift / narrow stance deadlift – 45# barbell (I used two 22# dumbbells) – 8 reps & 8 reps (narrow)
Lateral skates – 48 reps
Crossback lunges – one 15# dumbbell – 2x 15 pulses, 6x 7 pulses
Ice breakers - 2 sets of 24 reps
Plié squats – 45# barbell (I used 40# kettlebell) – 8x singles, 1x 8 count hold, 4x 3 count hold & 8x singles
Air jacks - 3 sets of 10 reps
Squats – two 15# dumbbells (I used 20’s) – 24 reps
High reaching pop squats - 3 sets of 10 reps
Cardio intermission: jacks – 32 reps
Pivoting sumo squats – one 15# dumbbell – 12x 3 pulses & 8x singles
Hammer punch lunge & knee pull / jacks – 24 reps each side with 12 jacks in between
Static lunges – two 15# dumbbells – 24 reps each side
The workout ends with a 3 minute cool down and stretch.
Take Action
Try it today! Find out more about how to subscribe and to check out all of my Cathe Live Reviews - click HERE.
If you liked this workout, check out my review of Cathe Live: Plyo Leg Blast – HERE.
If you enjoyed this review, please share it using the links below.