Chalean Extreme Group Starting

catniss

I'll be getting the Chalean Extreme DVD set soon (most likely by Fri)---is anyone interested in starting the program with me this coming Monday--May 23rd?

randa_behnam

ooh what is it?

Redness82

Yes!! ME, ME!! I should be getting it this week too, hopefully, by Friday as well! What should our goals be?

catniss

randa--it's a DVD series from Beach Body--you can go to their website to check it out. I haven't done it before so I can't comment personally but it looks awesome!

redness--how familiar with the program are you? I'm not at all, so I feel hesitant to suggest a specific goal it was more of a group that reports in, compares their experiences, moans and groans ('cause I'm hoping this is really challenging!) and comes for encouragement and support, but I love the idea of specific challenges and goals--do you have any ideas?

I have participated in a couple of challenges before, but this is my first time initiating one....

Redness82

I am not too familiar with the program, other than it is more of a strength training/toning program than cardio. I believe cardio needs to be added to help with weight loss. I think in conjunction withe good eating and a little cardio, we would lose weight and inches. We could do weekly weigh-ins as well as inches lost (specifically in areas or all around). If we do inches, then we could do the main measurements. We could also do a goal of how many times per week. I think it would be fair to say, you wouldn't want to do it everyday, but may 4-5 times per week.

Thoughts??

joilet

I did all but a few weeks of ChaLEAN extreme about 2 years ago.
I loved it, but I hated the cardio part of it.

It is set up into 3 sections: Burn, Push, Lean
In each section, you do 3 days of weight lifting, 1 day of cardio alternating low weight/high reps, and 1 day of cardio w/ a yoga-ish stretch. So the calendar is set up for 5 days. I personally would substitue a Turbo Fire workout in for the cardio workouts, because I just really hated the CLX cardio, but that's just me.

In the Burn section, you lift heavy, but you combine upper and body lifting at the same time. In the Push section, you lift even heavier, lower reps, and you do one body part at a time. Then in Lean, you lift heavy, but back to combining upper and lower body.

There is also a meal plan that goes along with each phase, and the recipes are actually pretty yummy. You will find that many of the recipes have already been entered by someone ( or me !!!!) into the MFP database, so that will make it super easy to count calories still.

I saw pretty good results. I was already at my goal weight when I started the program, but when I did CLX I lost inches and toned up a LOT. I came just short of finished the 3rd phase because I got pregnant, and didn't want to lift way heavy.

Warning... you'll need HEAVY weights. When I started I owned a set of 3s, 5s, 8s, 10s, 12s, & 15s, and ended up going out and buying 20s, & 25s, and used my husbands 30s & 35s. And I was only about 130 & 5'4". So you will need HEAVY weight.

Redness82

Thank Joliet! That info is great! Do you have any suggestions of the best weights to buy for it? A good brand at a decent price?

catniss

Thanks for all the wonderful info! I think that measurements and weight (lost hopefully) would be good to track and report. Then maybe we can add mini-challenges in like extra cardio or stretch or things like that. I am in one challenge and someone included an emotional challenge and it was an amazing experience!!

I'm pretty sure I'll be adding in cardio more frequently--certainly more than 2 days a week.

About the weights--I have had my eye on those "click" dumbells--have you seen them? It's just one set but you can change the weight by pushing down the handle of the dumbell and then adding or subtracting plates. It seems like this is a good time to get them--I hinted about them for Mother's Day but I guess I wasn't clear enough.

I'm really looking forward to this.

LaCubana9

Hello, all! My name's Janine! I've already started CLX this Saturday (5/14/11). I'm on day 4 of Burn & that's exactly what my body is doing! This progrm is ALREADY making me feel like Super Woman! I've been through the first 2 weight ciruits and my body is SORE! You WILL need heavy weights because just my Burn Circuit 2, I was using 10, 12, 15, 20 & 25 lb weights! The cardio is NO JOKE! Just did the Burn Intervals & Ab Burner today. When I was done with both, I could only lay on my yoga mat for about 2 minutes because my body was SHAKING! I'm not saying this to scare you all, I'm saying you're going to be pumped up & ADDICTED!
If you are having any doubts on whether to do the diet portion or not, DO IT! I can't think of any one more addicted to sugar than I am (& that's what you find out it is, it's truly an addiction & cold turkey is the only thing that's making me stay away from it & simple carbs). I mean, I work for STARBUCKS 5 days a week and am avoiding ALL OF IT! If I can do it, any one can! And another thing I must say about the diet is that it has me feeling so full and SATISFIED that I am totally blown away! I've been losing weight for a while now (started at 264 lbs & am now at 187 lbs) and have gone to bed STARVING so many times. Now, when 2 1/2 to 3 hours passes & I have to eat AGAIN to rev up my metabolism, I literally have to make myself down all my calories. And talk about ENERGY! I cannot say enough about the program!
Now about adding cardio, this is TRUE. On the days where we just do Weight Circuits, I've been adding Turbo Jam 20 minute Cardio PLUS Turbo Jam's Ab Jam. On one of the days off, (which was the second day) I did Turbo Jam Cardio Party 1 & Ab Jam. But today, on the Interval, which is bursts of HARDCORE cardio & quick, light, repetitive reps of weights- I did not add ANYTHING! LOL I feel like I'm gonna fall over now! I am SPENT!
So friend me & don't be shy with questions! We are going to rock this out! Be excited, because I LOVE this program more than Turbo Jam & I never thought I would love anything MORE!

joilet

My advice for weights is too look at what you have and then what you you need, and do the math, it might be cheaper to just by the dumbbells you need, or it might be cheaper to get something like the boflex selectable weights.

i have a hodgepodge, but i only had to be 20s and 25s, so I just bought those and not an adjustable set (my husbands lightest start out at 30)

everyone is different, but you will probably be using at least 15 pound sets for lower body work and maybe around 10 for upper body. it is low rep, so you need HEAVY weights

greyhoundluv

Hi everyone!
I just got my Chalean Extreme set today and I am so excited! I think I may try the first burn circuit tomorrow, I have some extra time before going and it would be great to take it slow the first time I try it. But I would like to post progress and get/give support on this thread too--I will need the accountability! The only thing I am worried about is that I have some chronic neck and shoulder pain issues that get activated fairly easily if I am not careful. For example, I cannot do pushups on the floor the way she wants us to, so I will have to try to modify or not do them at all. I just hope I am not modifying every other exercise! Oh, it's a b***h getting old, ya know??

Jenyfur1

I have been doing this for about a week Tonight we did Burn it off and Rejuvenate... It was good. I really like to power of weight lifting. I also like that each DVD is about 30 min.. I run on some days to get more cardio in, but on the days that it is all cardio, I just relax. I highly recommend taking at least one complete day off a week, or do something really light...
Good luck and have fun!! Oh! I am in for the group! :drinker: :happy:

catniss

welcome Jenyfur1 and greyhoundluv
I can't wait to get started, and in the meantime, please post whatever and whenever you wish--I know I'll be interested.
Thanks so much.

Jenyfur1

Thanks Cat! I love the DVDs and you will too..:) I am down 1.3 lbs since I started a week ago. I am running along with them, but I am sure that the muscle is a big factor!

ofccat

I am not too familiar with the program, other than it is more of a strength training/toning program than cardio. I believe cardio needs to be added to help with weight loss. I think in conjunction withe good eating and a little cardio, we would lose weight and inches. We could do weekly weigh-ins as well as inches lost (specifically in areas or all around). If we do inches, then we could do the main measurements. We could also do a goal of how many times per week. I think it would be fair to say, you wouldn't want to do it everyday, but may 4-5 times per week.

Thoughts??

She does incorporate a couple cardio days too. The Burn Intervals are killer!

ofccat

I am in my last week of the Burn Phase and am loving it. Hope you ladies enjoy it as much as I do.

amberaz

I just ordered CEX today and bought 25 lb adjustable dumbells from Amazon. I am going to be doing the Turbo Fire/Chalean hybrid schedule. It is a full 20 weeks and I would like to get started by June 1st. I have got to do something to get this last jiggle off LOL Cardio and diet are just not doing it for me, that and I really want some muscle. I LOVE muscle.

catniss

welcome amberaz! are you going to be going the group? and I've heard about the CLX/turbo hybrid but I don't know what it is---can you explain it? Thanks.

amberaz

The TF/CLX hybrid basically just takes the strength classes from CLX and the cardio from TF and combines them into 1 workout program that is 20 weeks long. It is designed to be done after finishing TF, but I am starting it now because I an really wanting to build muscle and I don't have much weight left to lose. I just want to decrease my body fat and increase my lean mass. The TF book has the schedule in it and the CLX might have the schedule included, too, I'm not sure. You can probably google and find it online though.