Heavy lifting to ChaLean Extreme and calories...

Someone that lifts heavy will be along in a moment to inform you that you are not lifting heavy as you're doing a dvd program.

This is what I was told. :frown:

ChaLEAN Extreme is not a heavy lifting program. It's got nothing to do with the fact that it's on a DVD, although a heavy lifting program would make use of a barbell. ChaLEAN Extreme is circuit training. Not heavy lifting. They are two completely different types of exercise styles. Heavy lifting programs would require you to make use of a barbell, a squat rack, and a bench.

ChaLEAN Extreme is not a heavy lifting program. It's got nothing to do with the fact that it's on a DVD, although a heavy lifting program would make use of a barbell. ChaLEAN Extreme is circuit training. Not heavy lifting. They are two completely different types of exercise styles. Heavy lifting programs would require you to make use of a barbell, a squat rack, and a bench.

^^^ You see OP.

TBH I think that is complete and utter rubbish....so if I'm lifting 45lb dumbbells ~(a combined weight of 90lbs) with CLX, that's not heavy lifting.

BUT if I use a barbell with 80lbs that's heavy lifting?

Just using a barbell makes it heavy?

Whatever happened to 'heavy is relative to the person that is lifting'?!

This is the issue. To you, heavy lifting = lifting something heavy.

Heavy does not mean a weight. it means a rep range in comparison to your 1rm. Do you know what your 1rm is? Are you doing compound lifts? Are you doing deadlifts, back squats, power cleans? No.

Heavy is relative to you. But heavy lifting also entails a specific style of weightlifting derived from how powerlifters train with a heavy focus on strength gains.

Google the programs New Rules of Lifting for Women, Starting Strength, Stronglifts 5x5, Wendler 5/3/1, GSLP. If after reviewing those you still don't understand what a heavy lifting program is and why it's totally different than ChaLEAN Extreme (which only has you doing one set of each exercise before moving onto the next--this is circuit training), then come back and ask questions. In the mean time, read the box your ChaLEAN Extreme DVDs came in. It says on it "Extreme Circuit Training." CIRCUIT TRAINING. Do you understand how circuit training is fundamentally different from orthodox heavy lifting programs?

ChaLEAN Extreme is not a heavy lifting program. It's got nothing to do with the fact that it's on a DVD, although a heavy lifting program would make use of a barbell. ChaLEAN Extreme is circuit training. Not heavy lifting. They are two completely different types of exercise styles. Heavy lifting programs would require you to make use of a barbell, a squat rack, and a bench.

^^^ You see OP.

TBH I think that is complete and utter rubbish....so if I'm lifting 45lb dumbbells ~(a combined weight of 90lbs) with CLX, that's not heavy lifting.

BUT if I use a barbell with 80lbs that's heavy lifting?

Just using a barbell makes it heavy?

Whatever happened to 'heavy is relative to the person that is lifting'?!

This is the issue. To you, heavy lifting = lifting something heavy.

Heavy does not mean a weight. it means a rep range in comparison to your 1rm. Do you know what your 1rm is? Are you doing compound lifts? Are you doing deadlifts, back squats, power cleans? No.

Heavy is relative to you. But heavy lifting also entails a specific style of weightlifting derived from how powerlifters train with a heavy focus on strength gains.

Google the programs New Rules of Lifting for Women, Starting Strength, Stronglifts 5x5, Wendler 5/3/1, GSLP. If after reviewing those you still don't understand what a heavy lifting program is and why it's totally different than ChaLEAN Extreme (which only has you doing one set of each exercise before moving onto the next--this is circuit training), then come back and ask questions. In the mean time, read the box your ChaLEAN Extreme DVDs came in. It says on it "Extreme Circuit Training." CIRCUIT TRAINING. Do you understand how circuit training is fundamentally different from orthodox heavy lifting programs?

Perhaps you need to inform Charlene, as she's clearly misleading so many of us poor souls.

eta: I also need to inform all the guys at my local gym, which has no squat rack, they are not heavy lifting as they have no squat rack

ChaLEAN Extreme is not a heavy lifting program. It's got nothing to do with the fact that it's on a DVD, although a heavy lifting program would make use of a barbell. ChaLEAN Extreme is circuit training. Not heavy lifting. They are two completely different types of exercise styles. Heavy lifting programs would require you to make use of a barbell, a squat rack, and a bench.

^^^ You see OP.

TBH I think that is complete and utter rubbish....so if I'm lifting 45lb dumbbells ~(a combined weight of 90lbs) with CLX, that's not heavy lifting.

BUT if I use a barbell with 80lbs that's heavy lifting?

Just using a barbell makes it heavy?

Whatever happened to 'heavy is relative to the person that is lifting'?!

This is the issue. To you, heavy lifting = lifting something heavy.

Heavy does not mean a weight. it means a rep range in comparison to your 1rm. Do you know what your 1rm is? Are you doing compound lifts? Are you doing deadlifts, back squats, power cleans? No.

Heavy is relative to you. But heavy lifting also entails a specific style of weightlifting derived from how powerlifters train with a heavy focus on strength gains.

Google the programs New Rules of Lifting for Women, Starting Strength, Stronglifts 5x5, Wendler 5/3/1, GSLP. If after reviewing those you still don't understand what a heavy lifting program is and why it's totally different than ChaLEAN Extreme (which only has you doing one set of each exercise before moving onto the next--this is circuit training), then come back and ask questions. In the mean time, read the box your ChaLEAN Extreme DVDs came in. It says on it "Extreme Circuit Training." CIRCUIT TRAINING. Do you understand how circuit training is fundamentally different from orthodox heavy lifting programs?

Perhaps you need to inform Charlene, as she's clearly misleading so many of us poor souls.

How is she doing that? She is in no way saying that it is an orthodox heavy lifting program. She is not calling it such. Yes, she is telling you to lift heavier weights, but there's a big difference. She is plainly calling it a circuit training program. Circuit training and heavy lifting are two different things. The reason she throws around the use of the word "heavy" is because too many women stick to hand weights. But using the word "heavy" to describe the weight itself, and then using the term "heavy lifting" to describe a style of exercise are two completely different things. Heavy lifting = powerlifting-inspired workout regimens that place a heavy focus on strength gains.

How is she doing that? She is in no way saying that it is an orthodox heavy lifting program. She is not calling it such. Yes, she is telling you to lift heavier weights, but there's a big difference. She is plainly calling it a circuit training program. Circuit training and heavy lifting are two different things. The reason she throws around the use of the word "heavy" is because too many women stick to hand weights. But using the word "heavy" to describe the weight itself, and then using the term "heavy lifting" to describe a style of exercise are two completely different things. Heavy lifting = powerlifting-inspired workout regimens that place a heavy focus on strength gains.

OK, just so I can understand this clearly, heavy lifting is only so when done in sets and you have to do all the compound lifts?

Not lifting heavy is lifting weights that aren't in sets and do not involve all the compound lifts?

The actual weights are irrelevant...as if you lift heavier doing number 2 it doesn't really mean heavy lifting anyway?

Basically the actual weight you're lifting is subjective to the person. You should be hitting failure in a certain number of reps (typically single digit amounts), focusing primarily on compound lifts (3x5 is a typical amount). Staple exercises:

1: The deadlift.

2: The squat.

3. The overhead press

4. The bench press (proper form on the bench press recruits more than just the chest)

Heavy lifting programs typically have you doing 3 or so exercises per workout. And that's it. Because if you're doing it properly, doing 3 exercises alone for 3 sets should pretty wipe you out totally.

I would say eat at maintenance, at least for a while, on the days you do Chalean. Whether or not it is considered heavy lifting, you are burning tons of calories and if you're not wanting to lose any more weight rather 'tone' up, it would be better to eat more calories on the days you work out.

It makes me sad that this happens so much on this site. Someone asks a question and no one bothers to give an answer but plenty of people will come around to say that you're using the wrong terminology. I say poo poo to the fitness snobs!! Who the eff cares what words are used if you know exactly what the OP is asking?? I mean jeez, excuse people for thinking that "heavy lifting" meant lifting heavy lol. I'd answer the question if I knew the answer to it...but I dont haha. Sorry, I just felt like ranting because it frustrates me!!