ChaLEAN Extreme confusion...advice needed

SassyMoonbeams

Hi guys!

I'm super dupes confused about some things as I'm about to start Week 2 of Phase 2 Push of Chalean Extreme....which is a program of weight training to help build muscle to help burn fat more efficiently.

MFP has me at 1500 cals a day to lose 2 lbs a week (I'm 278 lbs so safe amount for me to lose). I'm confused though because everyone is telling me that you can't build muscle unless you eat more than your daily recommended amount? Does this mean I should be eating more than 1500, or closer to my maintenance calories which would be around 2,500? (Btw yes I log my exercise and eat back my exercise calories...I use a polar hrm to estimate cals burned).

So if I'm eating at a 1000 cal deficit, then what exactly am I accomplishing doing chalean extreme if I need to eat more to build muscle? Am I just toning? LOL. I have definitely gotten stronger and I feel more defined. I'm just worried that I'm not giving my body enough fuel and I don't want to put myself into starvation mode.

I have hit a plateau and I have not lost anything the last month or so ....some of my MFPals have pointed out that I need to be strict and honest about what I'm eating and it's true I'm having too much chocolate but I am finding that some days I am just SO DANG hungry. I'm worried I'm starving my body! So how do you know if you're starving vs getting the right amount?

I love doing chalean, I started to really loathe my hard cardio which also got boring....but I miss seeing results...I have a goal I want to reach by April of next year and I'm more than a month behind in my goal and it's so demoralizing :-(

I'm so dang confused. Any help would be so greatly appreciated.

ThinLizzie0802

Bump

sheltol

You will build muscle eating at a calorie deficit. There's a huge difference between a person who is brand new to a fitness regimen versus a person who is athletic and already has an established muscle base.

Even at a calorie deficit your body will adapt pretty dramatically; losing fat, building muscle, improving your cardiovascular system will all be in play.

It's difficult to build muscle for people who have already established this muscle "base" without eating at a calorie surplus.

albayin

Forgive me if I sound too blunt...your start weight tells me that you might already carry some decent amount muscle around to support your weight.

Eating at deficit while lifting weight following like ChaLean extreme is all goodie for your situation: you can lose some weight while reduciing the risk of losing muscle (hopefully maintaining the muscle mass you've got). At the end (not sure how long) you will look leaner and stronger when the fat layer is gone by eating at deficit...

I am not sure if this makes sense to you now but you will see...keep doing...

I love Chalene but am always annoyed by her students, those talky ones, like Donna and Julie....I prefer those mute ones, like Terri and that texas girl. LOL

Francl27

You'll notice some strength improvements but mostly it will help you preserve your muscle mass while you lose weight.

kgeyser

You'll notice some strength improvements but mostly it will help you preserve your muscle mass while you lose weight.

This. No one is putting on muscle doing Chalene Extreme, unless you are lifting superheavy weights. And even then it's doubtful from the exercises she does. It's a nice program for gaining strength, preserving muscle, and burning fat, provided you can put up with Chalene.

SassyMoonbeams

You guys are amazing....thank you so, so much for your responses! I'm glad to know doing chalean will mean I maintain and strengthen the muscles I have now instead of losing them, I didn't want my caloric deficit to mean I'd be burning through my own muscles!

SassyMoonbeams

Forgive me if I sound too blunt...your start weight tells me that you might already carry some decent amount muscle around to support your weight.

Eating at deficit while lifting weight following like ChaLean extreme is all goodie for your situation: you can lose some weight while reduciing the risk of losing muscle (hopefully maintaining the muscle mass you've got). At the end (not sure how long) you will look leaner and stronger when the fat layer is gone by eating at deficit...

I am not sure if this makes sense to you now but you will see...keep doing...

I love Chalene but am always annoyed by her students, those talky ones, like Donna and Julie....I prefer those mute ones, like Terri and that texas girl. LOL

You are so true...I never would have thought of that!......and my extra weight is all fairly evenly distributed...I find the weakest parts of my body are my arms. Thank you so much for pointing that out and encouraging me! I feel a renewed sense of dedication :-)

Haha I think I know what you mean...I don't like when they're chatting too much when I'm trying to focus on the movement!

SassyMoonbeams

While we are here, does anyone else experience excessive upper back pain when doing certain bent-forward Chalean exercises? My upper back hurts so bad because I have big boobs...if I don't bend forward but focus on the target muscle groups will it still work?

KaseyD1621

Make sure you are keeping your abs tight and your shoulders back in order to have correct posture and support the lower back as you bend forward. :-) Might help.