ChaLean Extreme Ab Burner & Recharge
I had a slower workout tonight. I needed it following the brutal leg routines I did yesterday. I started with ChaLean Extreme’s Ab Burner and followed up with the Recharge routine.
I expected Chalene Johnson, also know as Chalene the Machine at my house, to be a little more challenging in her ab routine. Maybe…just maybe, my abdominal muscles are getting stronger in my quest for flatter abs. I have not tried any of her more advanced ab workouts, yet.
Prior to Beachbody, I tried just about every ab exerciser, machine and piece of equipment I could find in the gym. I have found that the variety of ab exercises in Beachbody workouts simply amazes me and I don’t need to go to the gym or buy any extra home gym stuff.
I think I would probabaly compare Ab Burner to either Ab Ripper 100 or Ab Ripper 200 in Power 90. It is not in the same burn level as the P90X Ab Ripper X. This a beginner level ab routine that lasts just over ten minutes. The next time I do abs, I think I will switch to Extreme Abs or I’ve Got Abs. Maybe I will alternate these two workouts with Extreme Core. I think Chalene has some challenging moves coming up in these workouts. I guess I should be happy that it is time for me to move on to a harder ab program.
Recharge was a short (less than 21 minutes) stretching and yoga combination. How could you not love that? This workout gave a lot of attention to stretching your back and hamstrings. I really enjoyed the stretch. It reminded me somewhat of P90X X Stretch. You know, that day when it just feels so good to work out? (I am not referencing the 92 minute P90X Yoga X. Now, that’s torture! A true love/hate relationship.)
The next time I do a stretching routine with ChaLean Extreme, I may try the Dynamic Flow Yoga. I can see myself staying with this one for a while though. It felt so good to have a nice slow full body stretch. The short duration of the workout also allowed me to fit in abs tonight.
The Recharge workout could be done by any fitness level, including beginner. Chalene does a great job demonstrating how to modify different moves and positions to make the stretch either more challenging or less intensive to fit your current capabilities. I enjoyed the stretch. I think you will, too!
Brazil Butt Lift High and Tight
The High and Tight workout in Leandro Carvalho’s Brazil Butt Lift program is about 38 minutes in length including the warm up and cool down periods. This Beachbody workout put a burn in my glutes and inner and outer thigh muscles without making me want to just fall over like many butt intensive routines.
I think the secret is in keeping the muscle groups working at different angles without too much time spent in a single exercise. Sounds a little like Tony Horton’s muscle confusion principle in P90X, huh? Well, when I pressed play for my first workout, I wondered how I would possibly make it through almost 38 minutes of sculpting my backside. The time actually seemed to pass quickly.
This fitness program is divided into three sections. The first section is a series of standing band exercises. The second segment moves to a series of floor movements using a band. (By the way, a band comes with the program.) The final section uses ankle weights with floor exercises.
You do not have to use a band or ankle weights to get an effective workout. I used the band for the first two sessions, but I did not have ankle weights for the last session…didn’t miss them either! I feel like I got a nice booty workout without a billion lunges and squats.
Although the workout has three sections, you can do them separately or all together. The menu allows you to select which of the three sessions you would like to play. Or, you can select the option for playing them sequentially, including the warm up and cool down.
I know my leg muscles are firmer than they were before I started working out with Beachbody videos. Sometime after I am “high and tight” from exercising with Brazil Butt Lift, I will pull out my Slim in 6 program to see how the floor routine feels. When I did Slim in 6, I could not do all the reps for leg work on the floor. That was the most challenging part of Slim in 6 for me.
If you have finished P90X, and you are thinking about designing your own hybrid program, this is a great addition for working your butt. Add it to your P90X Leg routine. Then, your glutes will hurt as much as your quads! Why do we love Beachbody workouts? Because they work…as long as you work! Keep pressing play. Get fit. Stay fit.
Brazil Butt Lift Cardio Axe
Leandro Carvalho’s Brazil Butt Lift from Beachbody introduces you to Brazilian dance moves with the Cardio Axe (ah-shay) workout. This workout is about 30 minutes in length.
I am not too coordinated when it comes to any dance moves, so this workout was a struggle for me as far as staying focused. I could get the moves when we went through the learning segments, but I stumbled a lot with me two left feet when we put moves together into a combination in the form of dance.
I kept telling myself to just keep doing my best. I knew I was getting something out of it by the fact that my body was moving. I struggled with Turbo Jamthe first few times I did those workouts, too. For some, dance comes easy. For people like me, it’s a good thing the DVD player is in my living room and I am the only one around to watch me shake my booty!
I really believe that I got a much better (more intense) cardio workout from the Bum Bum workout. I have high hopes that the more I do the Cardio Axe, the more I will like it and feel like I am getting a good cardio workout from it.
I think back to my first car. It was so cool to have my own car. The only problem I had to overcome is I did not know how to drive it because it had a manual transmission. It was parked on the street for the first two months I owned it. Finally, I decided that I would learn how to drive a manual transmission. That was 25 years ago! Do you know what I drive now? A manual transmission!
This is my point…sometimes, I am slow to change. I have to do things a few times to find a comfort level. I am not comfortable with dance. I feel like I work against the music rather than with it. I also know that if I practice, I will get better.
Oh, let me add an interesting tid bit about this Beachbody workout program. You can set it up in either the English or Spanish language. You can also choose to use subtitles if you want to read what is being said. I thought those were interesting options and wanted to share them with you.
Who knows, maybe when I get the moves down in English, I will mix it up with Spanish. By then, I will have Leandro’s moves and instructions fine tuned. I might as well learn a few Spanish words in the morning while getting my butt high and tight!
Brazil Butt Lift Bum Bum Workout
When Beachbody’s Brazil Butt Lift first came out, I wasn’t sure I wanted to add it to my workouts. Something about a workout designed specifically to shape the backside intrigued me though. One of the things I wanted to work on was what I considered to be a flat bum bum with excessive hip pockets. So, here I am telling you about my first full workout with Leandro Carvalho’s Brazil Butt Lift program.
Let me start off by explaining that “bum bum” is pronounced “boom boom” and is Brazilian slang for butt. The Bum Bum workout is Leandro’s signature workout that he has used to help supermodels get in shape.
When I was reading the materials for this program, I must have skipped over the part about the Bum Bum workout being an “intense cardio and lower body sculpting” routine. I was expecting the butt sculpting exercises that were on the cards. I wasn’t expecting the cardio portion. I was out of breath from beginning to end during this 35 minute introduction to Brazil Butt Lift!
It felt pretty good. I could feel my muscles working deep; however, it wasn’t the intense sculpting pain I usually get when I work the backside. When I did the Slim in 6 program, the butt exercises on the floor were killer! Leandro keeps you in a move long enough to feel it but then, moves you into a different exercise to change the stress on the muscle group.
This is a 30 day program with five workouts (not including the Booty Basics which demonstrates how to do the exercises.) There are three customized programs designed to give you maximum results depending on your “booty blueprint” and goals. (Learn more about what comes with Brazil Butt Lift.) I look forward to using this program and writing about my experiences.
I will be returning to my ChaLean Extreme program and will probably work both programs together. As you might have read in past posts, I had an injury that slowed me down for a while. Staying fit sometimes means listening to your body and always modifying whenever and however needed. I stay motivated by mixing up my Beachbody workouts. I share what I learn to help others and…it gives me one more reason to keep pressing play!
As Good As I Once Was
I haven’t written in a long time and have struggled to work out lately due to pain from an injury in my upper left leg. I am not sure if I injured myself from pushing too hard in one of my workouts or from just living life. Sometimes, I think the pain is from a nerve. If it’s not a nerve, then it has to be the outer thigh muscle. I am taking an anti-inflammatory and stretching throughout the day. I hope to be back to normal soon.
My injury made me think about Toby Keith’s country song As Good As I Once Was. Here are some of the lyrics:
I ain’t as good as I once was
That’s just the cold hard truth….
May not be good as I once was
But I’m as good once as I ever was
As we age (yes, I am in my forties) or we are not as fit as we could be or have illness or injuries to work around, our minds still go back to our youth when we played on swings and were invinceable. It is hard for me to have an injury because my mind still wants to work out. I have to remind myself daily that a modified routine is currently in my best interest. A daily regimen of stretching…
May not be good as I once was
But I’m as good once as I ever was
Even with taking a time out, I think about Beachbody workouts. They have helped me change my mind set. Changing your mental habits helps you change your physical habits.
The wonderful thing about working out and getting fit is you will improve your health and fitness. The lyrics of Toby Keith’s song do not have to hold true throughout your life. You might have to modify your workouts. (My mother has fibromyalgia and has to workout in a pool. She would never be able to do any sort of athletic training like I do with P90X or ChaLean Extreme.) But, by doing the level and type of exercising that you can do, your mind and body will grow stronger.
You can lose weight, melt fat, increase muscle, and boost your metabolism. You can in fact, change the words of the lyrics just as you can change your mindset and physical condition.
I ain’t as tired as I once was
That’s just the cold hard truth….
May not be as young now as I once was
But I’m healthier now as I ever was
Here are some more ideas. Find one that hits home and write it down. Look at that phrase everyday before your workout and after. I hope it brings you some motivation to keep pressing play.
I ain’t as heavy as I once was
That’s just the cold hard truth….
May not be as young now as I once was
But I’m leaner now as I ever was
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I ain’t as fat as I once was
That’s just the cold hard truth….
May not be as young now as I once was
But I’m toner now as I ever was
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I ain’t as uncommited as I once was
That’s just the cold hard truth….
May not be as young now as I once was
But I’m more commited now as I ever was
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Keep pressing play!
ChaLEAN Extreme Push Circuit 1
Hello phase II! ChaLEAN Extreme has three phases: Burn, Push, and Lean. In the Burn phase, we used a weight that put our muscles in failure at 10-12 reps. In the Push phase, we increase the weight and decrease the reps to a failure range of 6-8.
Push Circuit 1 focuses on biceps, triceps, glutes, and hamstrings. Unlike the Burn phase, Push concentrates on one muscle group at a time rather than stepping through a compound exercise which engages the lower and upper body at the same time.
An example of this is the standard bicep curl. Bicep curls were also used in the Burn phase but they were joined with a variation of squat to work on the lower body at the same time. If you think this makes the Push phase easier, think again! My triceps and biceps were shaking and burning by the end of this routine.
Chalene continues with the breakdown reps we came to know in the Burn phase. This time, however, she adds more of them to the routine. Muscle fibers twitch, your mind gets really focused, and you accomplish more than you thought possible. Cool.
Tony Horton uses the 6-8 rep range in P90X. There are at least three key differences between the two training styles though. In P90X, Tony uses a superset series. He moves through a series of three muscles groups (biceps, triceps, shoulders), takes a short break and repeats the set. The reps are done in good form but at a faster rate.
Chalene puts your focus on one muscle group (i.e. biceps). The reps are super slow which keeps your muscle engaged and working for a longer period of time. Then, when your muscle seems exhausted, you take about a ten second break and somehow find the engery to do a breakdown set of three ultra slow reps.
I think both methods bring results. One of the things I love about Beachbody workouts is the variety of training techniques. It is important to have variety in your routines.
I have read over and over about getting bored after doing a certain workout program week after week. That makes sense. As much as I love pizza, if that is all I ate meal after meal…day after day…I wouldn’t like pizza so much anymore.
I recommend starting with a Beachbody workout that sparks an interest for you and will help you stay committed. Then, add in something like Tony Horton’s One on One or 10 Minute Trainer workouts which will add variety and keep pushing play. Please feel free to contact me if you need help choosing your first program or a supplemental program.
Keep pressing play!
ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 2
Burn Circuit 2 of Chalene Johnson’s ChaLEAN Extreme workout program burns through nine compoud strenght training exercises. Since this workout is in the “burn” phase of the program, Chalene asks you to use the heaviest weight you can to reach failure between 10 and 12 reps. If you can make it pass 12 repetitions in an exercise, you didn’t lift heavy enough. If you couldn’t make it to 10 reps, you lifted too heavy.
Burn Circuit 2 works the entire body with a concentrates on triceps, back, and biceps. You’ll also hit your legs pretty good with sumo and bowler squats, dead lifts and lunges worked in conjunction with the upper body moves. You naturally work core and abs with this type of a workout, too. And, just so we don’t miss anything….Chalene ends the routine with triple threat push ups.
Triple threat push ups are actually three different forms of push ups done in sequence and repeated until failure. The first push up is a tricep push up. The second one is a stand push up with the hands should width apart. The third and final push up in the sequence is a spider push up where the legs are spread wide.
Triple threat push ups work the triceps, shoulders, chest, abdominals and core muscles. If you do this routine enough, you’ll learn to love push ups. Don’t worry ladies. Chalene allows you to do them on your knees if you need to modify but asks you to keep good form and push through what you can.
I like using the Bowflex SelecTec dumbbells because they don’t take up as much room. They’re also easy to go from one weight another. I’ve found, however, that I like putting my ChaLEAN Extreme (CLX) dvd in my computer rather than watching it on my television set. This makes it easier for me to select pause when I needed to change weights.
I got my SelecTec weights used from someone selling them on Craigslist. I believe you should always buy the best you can afford. When it comes to weights and gym equipment in general, used equipment is perfectly functional and fine as long as it is a quality product in the first place.
I’ve used a generic set of selectable weights in the past. They’re not worth it. The Bowflex brand is definitely the way to go. I don’t make a penny on the new or used sale of any Bowflex products, so this is a from the heart testimonial.
ChaLEAN Extreme moves quickly from one exercise to the next. While I used a standard set of dumbbells when I was doing Tony Horton’s P90X Extreme Home Fitness program, I like being able to adjust quickly in CLX.
I just watched an infomercial for Shaun T’s Insanity program. It looks amazing if you’re looking for high intensity cardio interval training. Let me tell you how you can save 25% on ChaLEAN Extreme, P90X, and Insanity. All you have to do is
Happy Holidays! Get in the best shape of your life in 2010. Shop at the Beachbody store to get started now.
ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Intervals
I’ve written about interval training in several articles on my website because all Beachbody fitness programs incorporate some form of interval training. Why? Because it’s effective at increasing your heart rate and metabolism and brings variety into your workout routine.
I was looking forward to the ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Intervals workout. I expected high intensity cardio intervals mixed with a lower intensity cardio interval to let me catch my breath and recover. Well, I was surprised…
Burn Intervals does use high intensity cardio intervals; however, the recovery interval is resistence training with a new twist. I’m used to doing either 6-8 repetitions with heavy weights or 10-12 with a slightly lighter (but still heavy) weight for resistence training. That’s the regimen for P90X and is the standard in most gyms.
Chalene’s Burn Circuit routines use a rep count of 10-12 with the heaviest weight you can use to get to failure in that range. The Burn Intervals takes you in the opposite direction. Chalene asks you to use a light weight. I used five pounders, and I’m glad I listened to her! My shoulders were screaming and my triceps were shaking because we did so many reps that we didn’t even count them.
By the time your muscles were really burning, it was time to go on to the next high intensity cardio interval. The cardio exercises are plyometric in nature and could easily fit into a P90X program. Both the P90X Extreme Home Fitness and ChaLEAN Extreme workouts put you in the mindset of training like an athlete.
One of the things I liked about Chalene’s program is only one round of each exercise is performed. Tony likes to do two rounds of each exercise, usually in a superset. I really like the variety, and I stay motivated to push a little harder because I know I’m only doing that exercise (no matter how difficult for the moment) one time. When it’s done, it’s done.
ChaLEAN is a positive trainer. Her attention to detail in form is very helpful. She is mindful of the need for proper nutrition and keeping your time, life, and emotional health in balance as well. I think most women will relate better to Chalene than Tony although both are champion trainers in my book.
ChaLEAN Extreme Burn It Off!
At the completion of week 1 of ChaLEAN Extreme, you’ll be introduced to a cardio workout called Burn It Off! Although the workout is only about 30 minutes long, it is comparable to the Plyometrics workout in P90X. Yes! It’s intense and involves jumping. You’ll be breathing hard and your heart will be pumping. I was sweating more than I thought I would with a 30 minute cardio session.
Chalene Johnson shows us a different type of aerobic conditioning with moves far different from her Turbo Jam series. You won’t see one punch, cross, jab, wheel, or kick in this workout. It’s different from the Cardio X and Kenpo X moves that Tony Horton uses in P90X. What is similar is the use of high intensity interval training to get your heart rate up in a short time.
This fitness workout starts with a warm up followed by five back to back exercises approxiamately two minutes each. At the end of the five exercises, you get a one minute break to rest and hydrate. Then, you’ll be back on the floor for six more exercises and a cool down.
This was an intense workout for me. I tried to push myself because I want to get the most out of my workouts. Chalene has two women in her group who perform modified versions of each exercise to demonstrate how to decrease the intensity or impact of a particular move. She also talks to you throughout the video and reminds you to push yourself but only to your level.
The best part about this workout was getting to the end! I mean that in a good way. This was a challenging workout for me. I made it to the end, so I’m thrilled about that. I know that I’m burning fat. I know I’m boosting my metabolism. I know that I made it a little closer to my goals today. Keep pushing play! It works.
Trading My Black Jeans for a Black Dress
I’ve always had a pair of black jeans. Black jeans are supposed to make you look slimmer. I needed that to help cover my growing pear shape. I only own one pair of black jeans now, and they tell a story.
About a year before I discovered Beachbody workouts, I was shopping for a pair of jeans. I couldn’t find any jeans or khakis that fit my shape. I was getting frustrated and told myself I was only trying on one more pair. They just happened to be a pair of black jeans, size 34 30. I was stunned that I needed a size 34, but I got them because I needed to expand my wardrobe (pun intended).
I still have those jeans, but I don’t wear them in public anymore. With a new waist size of 26.5, they hang on me quite a bit. (See picture in right sidebar.) Now, I can wear that black form fitting backless dress – a style I thought was long lost to my high school days. My belly is flat. My muscles are getting toned. I’m becoming that success story none of us thought was true.
This is my own personal experience. So far, I’ve taken off FIVE inches on my waist and lost about 25 pounds. I feel great because I’m fueling my body with good nutrition and keeping my metabolism fired with regular activity. You can join me on my fitness journey and trade your black jeans for a black dress. Are you ready to make a positive change in your life and health today?
