ChaLEAN Extreme

I am finished with week 2 of Burn finally...like some others had said it has taken longer than I thought. But I have also kept busy doing burn it off on the days I haven't done Burn and ab burner. I also work out every Friday at the gym hardcore with weights and cardio so I think I'm doing just fine. Has anyone noticed they may not be using the heaviest weight in the Burn phase? I only have 5 and 10 lbs weights. I've been using my own resistance to make it more dificult on those moves that require heavier weight but I just feel like that may not be enough. Will I definitely need heavier for the lean phase? Don't get me wrong the 10 lbs for some of the upper body work is difficult. Any advice or recommendations?

Earlier today, I chatted live in real time with Chalene Johnson! It was a lot of fun. She answered our questions and gave us some great information. Lailee and Chalene's sister were on the chat as well! (I can't think of her name at the moment) The cool thing is you can be a part of this too. I'd be glad to tell you how. Just send me a private message and we can talk about it!

Hello Everyone! My name is Kimberly and I will be starting Chalean Extreme on Monday the 15th. I am ready to commit to this, and ready for a change. I found this message board and it seems to be very supportive, and very informative! I look forward to meeting everyone!

Kimberly

Hello Everyone! My name is Kimberly and I will be starting Chalean Extreme on Monday the 15th. I am ready to commit to this, and ready for a change. I found this message board and it seems to be very supportive, and very informative! I look forward to meeting everyone!

Kimberly

Hi Kimberly. Welcome! You will have great results doing ChaLEAN Extreme, especially if you stick to the schedule. I love it!

Sam4Sure - I just finished my first week of the push phase and it requires heavier weights and fewer reps. I can't believe the amount I am using on some of the exercises!

Hello Everyone! My name is Kimberly and I will be starting Chalean Extreme on Monday the 15th. I am ready to commit to this, and ready for a change. I found this message board and it seems to be very supportive, and very informative! I look forward to meeting everyone!

Kimberly

Hi Kimberly. Welcome! You will have great results doing ChaLEAN Extreme, especially if you stick to the schedule. I love it!

Sam4Sure - I just finished my first week of the push phase and it requires heavier weights and fewer reps. I can't believe the amount I am using on some of the exercises!

Can you give me an idea of how much more weight will be required? I definitely want to make the most out of this program and not underapply myself with too light of weights but not too heavy to injure myself. And I know they do say you can handle heavier weight than you think! Congrats on making it to next phase!

I am on week 2 of Chalean Extreme. My husband and I are doing it together. It is, by no means, a girly workout. He is dripping by the time it is over. I have been sore every day since I started which makes me feel like something is going right. I only want to lose about 5 pounds, but I want to gain muscle tone. I can't wait until my first month is over to see if I can notice any results. Also, this is the first time in my life that I am counting calories. The myfitnesspal is great! After having baby #3, the weight is taking a little longer to come off. I am hoping that Chalean Extreme gets me back into bathing suit shape for summer!

Good Morning Extremers!
I've been MIA for about a week and a half... stuck in misery! I was awfully sick and trying to quickly mend myself back to normal so I could continue on with life and enjoy my exercises! Especially since the sun has been out and spring is coming...and that means SUMMER! Yahoo!! I'm getting back into the groove with my workouts. Monday did 50 minutes of kickboxing, and last night did the Burn Intervals. Holy smokes! Felt amazing, and today I can feel every muscle...wowzers! Since I finished the Lean Phase I'm planning on doing "Lean for Life" and incorporating all the workouts into my routine. We'll see how this works. I kind of want to start over and do it again...since I know I would be stronger this time around... but I'm just not so sure!


Blondie925- I don't have the weights with the dial but I do have the free weights (5,8,10,15,20,25). I find that those weights are sufficient for me...but the only downside is that they take up a bit of room. Upside- they are cheaper and sometimes you can find coupons for a sporting goods store to get them even cheaper! But, I would definitely get some heavier weights because you've got to Go Heavy or Go Home! :laugh:

karadusd- my husband does the workouts with me too! And I agree...definitely not a girly workout! My husband loves it! As do I, of course :happy: You will love the results you see as you stick to doing the weight lifting 3 times a week...and incorporate cardio on your off days...the results will be amazing! Don't be disappointed if at first you gain weight...a lot of that is water weight, and Chalene has a really great article talking about why some people get discouraged at first because of initial weight gain. But, don't worry about the scale..and take measurements right now!! I wish I would have taken measurements in the beginning so I could compare at the end...but all I have are the scale results...and that does not do it justice!! Have a great time, you CAN do this!!!!

Yogarunner- how are you doing? Its been a while....where are you at in the CE program? Getting ready to run any marathons soon?

brangwen- how goes the C25K? Are you doing CE as well?

sam4sure- The PUSH phase I increased my weights dramatically. I think I only used an 8 pound weight once or twice (lats)...but I went bananas on the PUSH phase and really increased them. I saw some major definition in my arms in that phase...it was niiiice

Kimberly- How was your first day of CE on Monday? Did you enjoy it?

Melissaovadare---Girl...where are you? And don't say "ovaher"..hahaha... I know you were sick...are you feeling better? Back in the groove?

Jabba- Don't you love the focus on the core in the LEAN phase? I am kind of sadistic but I love the planks & army crawls in that phase. My abs felt much stronger after finishing the lean phase.

Thanks kicklikeagirl. I still can't make up my mind which I want to invest in. I know weights are something I'll be using for a VERY long time, so either should be a good investment. The only thing is the single weights are pretty much indestructable, and I don't know how long the dial ones would last... (plus they're a lot more. lol) I live in a small town where they just got a WalMart last August. There is NOWHERE close I can go to get any weights, and WalMart has been out the past 2 weeks I've been by there. Ugh.. But for now I'm making due with pairing the weights I have with bands. It's burning, so it must be working!

The push phase is where you definately need heavier weights though, right? I've got one more week of the burn phase after this one. Then I'll be moving right along.

I hope everyone is doing good!

If I was you - I'd enjoy Hawaii - Exercise when you can and if possible add weight training - then when you get home start over with the beginning of Lean - I'm lucky our trip to Florida is one week after I'm set to be done with Lean - so I'm going to do an extra week of Lean - take off the week of vacation and then start Lean for Life when I get back.

I just started week 3 of CE and I really like it so far! I've never done a program like this, so I didn't know if I would stick with it or not. But I difinately see myself finishing this one out! My only concern is not having the right amounts of weight. I have a set of 5 and 8 pound weights, but they're not heavy enough... I saw a set of weights (with the dial you can turn to change the amount) that was $184 and they go in 3 pound increments to 24 pounds.

For those of you who have tried these type of weights, would you recommend them? Or should I just buy some 15, 20, and 25 pound dumbbells to add to my collection? I have some resistance bands, but I don't especially like those too well...

Do a search on here for 'weights' as I asked this same question earlier on. I only had 3 lb weights so I got 5 and 10 lb. I looked into the adjustable weights as well but realized unless you buy good quality weights-many of those cheaper ones have issues (ex. hard to adjust, takes too long to adjust and keep up with the video). I am probably going to buy 15 lb here shortly, I am on wk 4 of 1st phase and I found I am using almost 10 lbs for each exercise now. I have all neoprene weights right now and they seem to be adequate. Other than cheapy plastic covered weights-neoprene seem to be most affordable. I know Chalene says to use your own resistance if you don't have enough weight but I find that to be hard on some of the exercises. However, the extremes are pretty cool-it is hard to flex the entire time but I like the challenge.

brangwen- how goes the C25K? Are you doing CE as well?

I REALLY need to get back into CE.. I did most of the burn phase two different times (first time interrupted by the flu). Still trying to plug along at C25K, but life isn't cooperating.
Just got back late last night from tending to some family issues out-of-state - I've eaten SO bad and had no workouts (except for walking airports for connecting flights) all week. I guess I'm just going to weigh tomorrow and hope I didn't gain too much. :ohwell:

Back on track with eating today and exercise tomorrow!

I was interrupted by the flu as well--not pretty! I decided I wasn't going to step on the scale for a few weeks because I know it ain't pretty!! I ate fairly well...because I didn't have much of an appetite during the week I was sick...but I didn't get my exercises in. I've been back on track with the exercises this week...but on the days I haven't got my exercises in, I've been way over on my calories...because I'm so hungry. Probably a result from working out. ugh...so I've gotta just get back into the groove. Its hard when you are sick and then leave town. We can get back on track!! :flowerforyou: Have a great weekend!

Can't really believe I'm in week 4 of the Lean phase - I'm still loving CX and actually the Lean phase is by far my favorite. I am doing an extra week of Lean phase before we head to Florida for spring break and then I will start the Lean for Life.

Back to the 'weights' topic- - I'm taking a poll..................

what was the highest weight you used in the PUSH phase?

What was the highest weight you used in the LEAN phase? Did you decrease or increase or stay the same as the PUSH phase?

Hi Extremers! I feel lonely on these boards...I'm always posting..haha!

Last night I did my first night in my "Lean for Life" routine...I did my first BURN phase since about 4 months ago. It was crazy, but so fun! I forgot how fun it was to incorporate arms/legs...and its slightly different than LEAN. But, I got a sweet workout in. I've improved a lot since the first time I did BURN. Yahoo!!! I love this program and I am excited to continue.... I like how Chalene says "This is burning, and I know FAT cannot exist in this type of environment"...or something like that. MMMmmmmm go away fat! I'm burning muscle now!!! I'm looking forward to seeing the results at the end of the summer.

Back to the 'weights' topic- - I'm taking a poll..................

what was the highest weight you used in the PUSH phase?

What was the highest weight you used in the LEAN phase? Did you decrease or increase or stay the same as the PUSH phase?

During the PUSH phase Chalene focuses on just one muscle group. So, I was able to use 25 pounds for squats/lunges. And you only do 8 reps. So, the heaviest I used was 25 pounds.

On the LEAN phase Chalene combines arms & legs (for example: you do lunges & bicep curls at the same time), so I believe the highest set of weights I used on that phase was 15. But, I did decrease my weights a bit in the LEAN phase because of the higher reps. In the PUSH phase I really followed what Chalene said about going Heavy...it felt weird in the LEAN phase picking up slightly lighter weights, but it was necessary for me in order to fail at a higher rep set.

Hope that makes sense..... I don't have my worksheets in front of me...but I can let you know for sure.

Thanks for the advise. It completely makes sense what you are saying. I'm just hesitant to use such heavy weights so soon since I've been using 10 lbs max. I was thinking of increasing to 15 for now? Is that beneficial or should I def go up right away to lift really heavy to fail by the 8th rep? I did the 1st circuit last night and only had my 5 and 10 lbs and used 10 for everything...and many were easy so I know I need to increase, others esp the vlunge-I was struggling w/ 10 but 5s were to easy. Its hard trying to figure what weights to work with since u progress to heavier in the 1st 2 phases.

Ok---- I got 20 lb'ers now...I am good to go with 5,10, and 20 lbs...will have to modify on some exercises but I am happy that I got the heavier weight.

Oh and I noticed on Push Phase circuit 2- you don't need to use anything heavier than 10-12.5 on all the moves whereas circuit 1 you do. I was surprised about that but glad because some of those moves were difficult to do in perfect form if not decreasing the weight.

It's official, I am addicted now... My fiance didn't believe I have progressed to be able to do any pushups with good form nor do different kinds now but I showed him! (