Cathe Live Review: Total Body Giant Sets 3
Total Body Giant Sets 3 is a fantastic, tough total body strength routine that will really work you hard. I was absolutely drenched by the end of it. Even though there is no actual cardio in this one you will definitely be breathing hard in places. At one point, Cathe actually comments that “it’s starting to feel like a Hiit workout”!
This is the third volume of Total Body Giants Sets on Cathe Live (as there is also #108 Total Body Giant Sets & #214 Total Body Giants Sets 2 in the archive (click on the titles for detailed reviews)) and Cathe also has a DVD in the Strong & Sweaty series of the same name. Out of them all this is probably my favourite but they are all excellent tough workouts and all slightly different.
The workout is set up in giant sets of exercises for lower, upper body and core. The workout is not too high rep but you will definitely be feeling the work. The lower body work particularly got my heart rate up and those push dips, as always, were absolutely killer! You move from one exercise to the next fairly quickly although Cathe does give you some longer breaks, when the heart rate got really high, to make sure the exercises were still performed safely.
The routine alternates sets of lower body and upper body exercises, for four giant sets, and each of these are then repeated before moving onto the next one. The final giant set is for core and this is also repeated. The strength exercises are all standard Cathe exercises and most are just straight forward reps without pulsing, which means that you can go reasonably heavy on the weights, if you want to. Cathe’s weights are moderately heavy and I generally used the same weight as her except for squats and deadlifts, where I used 20’s. I also stayed with the same weights for the second set of the exercises, whereas Cathe sometimes reduced hers, so just do what works best for you.
After previewing the workout, I was a little worried about the core set as it starts with Cathe’s famous (dreaded?!) 5 sit-up / 5 push-up combo. Knowing that I would have to repeat this I was not exactly looking forward to it, however, in the end Cathe only does 2 sets of these each time (and a little slower than usual) so no need to worry here!
As with the other versions of this workout, it is a long and thorough routine and at 61 minutes it is one of the longest Cathe’s Lives. I really enjoyed it as there is lots of variety and you really feel like you got a great workout in by the end.
Overall, this was a tough total body workout that I loved. This is one that is definitely worth making the extra time to do!
The Workout
Total Body Giant Sets 3 is a total body pure strength workout with a metabolic feel. The routine consists of two lower body sets and two upper body sets that are each repeated. The workout ends with a core giant set that is also repeated. Each giant sets contain 4-5 exercises. Cathe uses dumbbells and a step with 3 risers each side. The step is used for a few of the lower body exercises, as well as a weight bench for the upper body exercise.
What You Need To Know
(Rating scale – 1= lowest & 5 = highest).
The Moves
Total Body Giant Sets 3 is 61 minutes long and originally aired on 6th June 2019 (#251). The workout starts with a 5:30 minute warm-up before moving into the first giant set for lower body. (The step is set up horizontally in front of you at the start of the workout).
Giant Set 1 – Lower Body
Static lunge – two 15# dumbbells – 16 reps
Alternating side to side sumo squats – one 15# dumbbell – 16 reps
Squats – two 15# dumbbells (I used 20’s) – 16 reps
Deadlifts – two 15# dumbbells (I used 20’s) – 16 reps (2/2 & 3/1 count)
Repeat above moves
Giant Set 2 – Upper Body
Pullovers – two 15# dumbbells & step – 4x 4/4 count & 6x 1.5’s
Rear delt flys – two 12# dumbbells – 10 + 5 + 5 reps
Narrow grip chest press – two 15# dumbbells & step – 20 reps (including with knees elevated & leg extended)
Incline push-ups – step – 3 sets of 8 reps
Repeat above moves
Giant Set 3 – Lower Body
Rear lunges off step – two 12# dumbbells & step (2nd set – Cathe uses 10’s. I stayed with 12’s) – 6 sets of 3 pulses & 2 singles
Lateral walks – two 12# dumbbells (2nd set - Cathe uses 10’s. I stayed with 12’s) – 4 sets each way
Alternating side lunges (setting down & picking up dbs) – two 10# dumbbells – 20 reps
Push dips – two 12# dumbbells & topper from step – 16 reps each side
Repeat above moves
Giant Set 4 – Upper Body
Bicep curls – two 12# dumbbells – both arms & sgle arms x8 & both arms x8 – 2/2 & singles (2nd set – 10 reps 2/2 count)
Tricep overhead press – two 12# dumbbells – 10 reps
W curls – two 12# dumbbells – both arms & sgle arms – 6 sets
Side & front lateral raises – two 5# dumbbells – 4 sets of front & side (4 reps each) (2nd set – 3 sets)
Upright rows – two 12# dumbbells – 16 reps
Repeat above moves
Giant Set 5 – Core (on the mat)
5 Sit-ups / 5 push-ups combo – 2 rounds
1 Arm V-ups – 12 reps each side
Walking planks (straight arm plank to elbow plank & back up) – 8 reps (2nd set – 10 reps)
Triangle choke reverse lifts (1 leg tucked behind other & lift the hips with leg straight in the air) – 8 reps each side (2nd set – 6 reps)
W planks (in straight arm plank bring 1 leg to outside of shoulder then under in the body, then bring other leg straight in under the body & then towards outside of shoulder) – 4 sets on each side
Repeat above moves
The workout ends with a 4 minute cool down and stretch.
Take Action
Try it today! Cathe Live is a streaming service available from Cathe.com – you can subscribe to monthly ($9.99 pm), six monthly or yearly plans and has over 250 live workouts in the archive for you to access at any time.
If you enjoyed this workout, check out my review of Cathe Live: Lower & Upper Body Dumbbell Challenge HERE.
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