TurboFire Day 41 Results and Review
Day 41. TurboFire still rocks! Weeks 5-8 have workout schedules that do not include high intensity interval (HIIT) workouts. I never thought I would say this, but I miss those crazy heart pounding workouts!
I did sneak in one HIIT 15 workout this week for a friend. I had talked to her about the HIIT workouts so much that she wanted to try one. It was kind of special because this friend has asthma.
She has trouble doing cardio workouts because of her physical condition. Let me paint you a better picture. This is a person who would live at the gym if she could. She is an avid weight lifter and makes sure she gets in some form of cardio a coiuple of times per week.
I remember going for a walk with my friend some ten odd years ago. She had trouble making it around a two mile track because of her asthma. Over the years, she has increased her cardio endurance and can now go about 30 minutes on a trail or teadmill.
I challenged her to try the HIIT 15 workout for two reasons. First, she has a little layer of belly fat that she cannot seem to lose. She works hard to get the muscles she has – stored fat just hides her hard work. It is a frustration felt by many gym rats who know how to pump iron but seem to struggle on the cardio side.
The second reason I wanted her to try it is the way HIIT workouts are designed. I told her that she would learn a sequence of drills like you would see on an athletic field or high school gym. The trainer, Chalene Johnson, would go through them slowly. Then, she would hear a siren and perform the sequence of exercises with as much intensity as she could push out.
The catch? The drills only last for about a minute. Then, she would get a one minute break. This pattern would continue until the cool down period. The whole workout is only 15 minutes.
It worked! Because of the short duration of the high intensity cardio, my friend was able to push herself and then, recovery in the minute that followed. HIIT workouts are supposed to burn up to 9X more fat than the traditional cardio she was trying to do despite her asthmatic condition. Maybe this is the answer to shredding out the belly fat for my friend? Maybe I can give you an update in the months to come. She is a new fan of Chalene Johnson’s TurboFire HIIT workouts.
I am sharing this experience because I am thrilled to see one of my friends benefiting from the Beachbody workouts I love so much. I must advise each and every reader to check with their doctor before starting this or any workout program. This article is not intended to suggest that if you have asthma or a similar condition that HIIT workouts are suitable for you.
TurboFire Day 2 Results and Review
I got up early today to do my Beachbody TurboFire workout. I knew that I had a full day planned because a close friend of mine was celebrating her birthday. I did not want to take the chance that I would buy into an excuse of “being too tired” to workout after a day of festivities. What I learned is the HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts are awesome in the morning!
Day 2 of TurboFire has HIIT 15 and Stretch 10 on the workout schedule. I could hardly believe that the routine was going to be so short. Was I really going to get anything out of it?
Chalene shows you how to do a series of moves. Then, you go through them at a faster, higher intensity. Then, you rest. Repeat a couple of times and then, she moves on to the next series of moves. Poof! Before you know it, you are done. Cooling off. Stretching. Enjoying the rush.
I never cared for cardio classes at the gym. It seemed like I could never quite keep up. I wondered if people were staring at me. I felt a little slow when I did not quite get a move right or was a little behind. One of the key differences between a class at the gym and TurboFire classes? TurboFire allows you to be at your level and progress at your own pace. As I mentioned previously, I cannot jump like the participants on the dvd, but I sure do give it my all.
I am doing well with the nutrition plan. Yes, I did have some birthday cake and get a little off track because of the day’s festivities. Chalene would say to go ahead and enjoy a little decadence if you want, but make sure you adjust your caloric equation somewhere to account for it. I think I did ok. I am hoping I can still reach my one week goal of losing one pound.
Hey, I know one pound per week does not sound like a lot. I want to watch it go slowly and see it stay off. I want to say I lost twenty pounds with TurboFire and kept if off for a year…or ten. Keep pressing play, and thank you for joining me on my Turbo Fire journey.
TurboFire Fire 55 EZ Show Up for Class!
I think Chalene Johnson started off day one of the 5 Day Inferno Plan, a kick start plan for TurboFire, with a sense of humor and to weed out those who are not ready to commit by putting the Fire 55 EZ class as the first workout in the program.
Hey guys, think EZ means “easy”? Think again! I think it must mean somthing more like Everthing in Chalene’s arsenal including the ZigZag! You are going to get a full body workout folks, including your abs an core. As a matter of fact, I do get the “Fire” part of the title. My obliques and upper back muscles are on fire every time I do this routine. I am sure this is due to the cross punches, kicks, and other exercises designed to workout your upper and lower body at the same time while keeping your heart rate working like you are sweating on an elliptical.
I had to practice mental toughness to even push play on what was an intimidating title for me. I wondered how I would ever be able to make it for 55 minutes of Chalene’s cardio. Afterall, thirty minutes in ChaLean Extreme made me pretty happy. Ok, I got over the time issue and pressed play.
What was the hardest part? For me, the hardest part is the Jack and Jump combo. This will be my challenge for the duration of the program I am sure. I never did quite get comfortable getting airborne with Jump Tucks in P90X. Alas, I wasn’t born a frog. My jumping isn’t pretty but I do my best.
I was surprised by the Fire Drills that were thrown in to the routine. I was not expecting that. I guess this is kind of an introduction to the HIIT workouts. It amazes me how fast the Fire Drills go and how hard I am breathing when they are done. Chalene is good at keeping you focused and pushing if you are there to win.
The easiest part of Fire 55 EZ was I was familar with most of Chalene’s training moves. She has definitely taken her training to new heights. I was also surprised that the last twenty five minutes of this fitness routine is less agressive. You will be tired, so you still have to push yourself and practice mental toughness, but because it slows down a little…you keep going because you know you can make it through to the end.
My advice for this workout? Just show up for class! If you come to class, you will make it through and benefit from energy of your workout partners. Yes, you will start looking for your friends in class. You will get to know them and maybe even try to keep up with one or two of them. Challenge yourself. Keep pressing play!
TurboFire 5 Day Inferno Plan Review and Results
I completed my 5 Day Turbo Fire Inferno Plan yesterday. I think TurboFire is fast becoming my favorite Beachbody workout in my home fitness dvd collection. The Inferno week was a little bit of a shock to my sytstem though because I am not used to doing a long cardio class. It has been a while since I have done endurance marathons such as those in P90X. I remembered what Tony Horton would say (do your best and forget the rest) and pushed myself a little bit more each time as my girl Chalene Johnson says.
I followed the Inferno Meal Plan almost exactly. I would recommend following the menus already in the meal planner so all you have to do is a little shopping the week before. Then, you won’t have to worry about counting calories while you are trying to get used to recording goals, meals, and activities in your tracker and learning new routines.
TurboFire is not as “dancy” as Turbo Jam, but Chalene does incorporate her classic Elite 11 from TurboJam. You will definitely see the Pump, Zig/Zag, Twist, Capoeira, Wheel, and 7 Step. If you are familiar with Turbo Jam, you will recognize these moves right away. If you are not familiar with Turbo Jam, not a problem. Watch the “new in class” segment before trying a new workout. This is where you can learn the moves slowly before pumping up the music and intensity.
If you have experienced Chalene in ChaLean Extreme, you will have a slight feel for some of her other moves, especially the ones in the fire drills. Like Turbo Jam and ChaLean Extreme, you will be kicking, punching, and letting loose. Just remember to dance like know one’s watching…this is your workout!
So, here I am at the end of my Inferno Plan. It was not an easy week. As I look ahead to the TurboFire class schedule, I do not see any days that look as tough as the Fire45/HIIT 20/Stretch 10 line up from the “get hot for the weekend” plan! That is encouraging in a way. I feel confident that I can do this program and push myself a little harder now.
I started with a body fat percentage of 22.5% and a weight of 150. At the end of the Inferno Plan, I have lost 1.5 pounds. I am happy with that small amount because my goal is to take off twenty pounds, losing one pound per week. I gained a lot of muscle from ChaLean Extreme and am now trying to lean out. I would like to see more of that hard earned muscle! lol
I am taking a break from working out over the weekend. I started a Shakeology cleanse to make sure my body is ready for the next twenty weeks of Chalene’s classes. The Shakeology cleanse can be done for one to three days. Since the calories are kind of low and I just finished a week of 1200 calories per day, I think I will only do the cleanse Saturday and Sunday. This will allow me to start taking in the additional calories I need to support TurboFire classes which average a burn of 650 calories per class.
I am starting my TurboFire training on Monday, July 5th. You can join me if you already have your Turbo Fire or order Turbo Fire and jump in with me anytime. Once you get your TurboFire, make sure you review all the materials before starting and take your before pictures and measurements. It is really cool to see the results of your discipline over time.
TurboFire’s 5-Day Inferno Plan
The subtitle reads “Get hot for the weekend.” We’re not talking about the heat wave we’ve had here on the east coast over the last few weeks. We’re talking about burning calories, melting fat, losing flab, tightening up…with a five day kickoff to the TurboFire program.
The Inferno Plan has preplanned menus of about 1200 calories per day. They can be adjusted either up if you are already a fitness buff with a lower body fat percentage. If you’re like me though, the 1200 target is perfect for the 5 day fat loss plan.
Along with a preplanned menu, each day has scheduled Turbo Fire classes (workouts). You will also start getting in the habit of planning out your meals and workouts in your personal tracker.
I started the Inferno Plan yesterday. I was so impressed with the meal plans that I decided to follow this week as closely as I could to the preplanned menus. Hey, what’s not to love about grilled chicken, marinated salmon, and steak?
The first TurboFire class was called EZ55. It wasn’t too “easy” in my opinion, but it was 55 minutes long. It felt great actually making it to the end. I felt like the winner of Survivor after making it through my first class. I know it was because of Chalene’s energy.
The moves are similar to the kickboxing style Chalene uses in Turbo Jam and Chalene Extreme. You can tell that her routines are a culmination or should I say an evolution of her training techniques over the course of the twenty years she’s been in the fitness business.
I really got a good workout in my hip flexors, upper back, and core. There is a lot of kicking, punching and rotations. I thought I would be sore this morning, but I actually feel like I’ve had a good stretch and massage. Hmmmm. I wonder if it will kick in a day late.
Tonight, I have Fire 45, HIIT 20, and Stretch 10. I am a little intimidated with the thought of twenty minutes of High Intensity Interval Training, but I know I will make it through the workout if I keep my positive self talk going when I am out of breath.
While I’m thinking of it….when you get a prompt in the menu for music, select “no” the first couple of times you do the workout. I selected “yes” when I was previewing the workout, and I couldn’t hear Chalene’s prompts very well because the music was so dominant. Once you know the routine, and you don’t need Chalene’s prompts, you can select that option. Selecting “no” will give you a more balanced sound system between trainer and the music. It will feel more like a regular workout class. I think you’ll be more comfortable starting there.
Get Turbo Fire Workout with Chalene Johnson
By now, you have heard the sizzle of perhaps the summer’s hottest Beachbody home workout dvd program, TURBOFIRE! Maybe you are starting to wonder how you can buy Turbo Fire. How can you order the new TurboFire workout? Look no more! I am going to tell you just how you can be among the first to start losing weight, increasing cardiovascular endurance, and toning up for a great beach body.
You can order Turbo Fire if you are a Beachbody Coach as early as June 18th, 2010. It will not be available for customers probably until July. We do not have the exact customer release date, yet but you can email me at JulieButts@Beachbodycoach.com if you would like me to send you a link to order it as soon as it becomes available.
The cost for TurboFire will be $119.85 for the 90 day basic version. Coaches get a 25% discount which means they can buy TurboFire for $89.89. That’s a savings of $29.96! If you have ever thought about joining Beachbody as a coach and owning your own work at home fitness business, now it a great time to take advantage of signing up so you can get Turbo Fire earlier and for less money.
Again, you will not be able to place your order for Turbo Fire before June 18th and only then if you are a coach. In the meantime, check out our business opportunity and read all the TurboFire reviews on my blog.
By the way, Turbo Fire will have a Deluxe version which is sold as a separate package. You can combine the Basic and Deluxe versions with your ChaLean Extreme workouts and have a program already laid out for you for one year. Is it any easier than that? Please think about the discount you will get as a coach if you decide you want to get both programs. Your savings will more than pay for your coach sign up kit and get you started in your own fitness business.
The countdown continues…TurboFIRE is approaching. Join me for a HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING extreme cardio kick butt program with Chalene Johnson this summer. Your friends will be asking why you look so great!
Turbo Fire vs. Shaun T’s Insanity Workout Review
I know there are questions out there about the differences between Shaun T’s Insanity home fitness workout program and Chalene Johnson’s new Turbo Fire which is scheduled for release in June. Afterall, both of these Beachbody workouts are based on the science of HIIT (high intensity interval training).
I decided not to take on Insanity when it was released last year. Insanity was developed as an extreme cardio program to challenge top athletes. I did not feel that my fitness level was quite where it should be to take on Shaun T’s class. I always say you should determine your current fitness goals and take on an activity that helps you reach your goals.
This summer, I plan on taking on Chalene Johnson in Turbo Fire. Insanity is a 60 day extreme program that should be followed by a break to allow the body to recover. Turbo Fire on the other hand, is designed to be used alone or in conjunction with a strength training program such as P90X or ChaLean Extreme.
Chalene included a “modifier” in Turbo Fire to allow all fitness levels to enjoy the benefits of her HIIT cardio program. If you cannot do what Chalene is doing in the class, that is ok. Just follow the “modifier” who will show you how to modify the exercise.
The basic Turbo Fire program is designed as a 90 program. The Deluxe version will take the fitness schedule out 120 days. And, if you combine Turbo Fire with a strength training program, you will actually have a year long workout schedule planned out for you. How cool is that?
I look forward to adding Turbo Fire variety into my workouts. After you work out with P90X for a while, the limited cardio routines (Plyometrics, Kenpo X or Cardio X) start to get just that…routine! When I started working out with ChaLean Extreme, I found the same problem. I needed more variety with cardio workouts.
The basic program had two cardio workouts (Burn Intervals and Burn It Off). I ordered the seven extra workouts for ChaLean Extreme just so I could have the added variety. That added three new cardio workouts (Fat-Burn Challenge, Get-Lean Intervals, and Exteme Intervals) to the mix, but now I want more.
What I love about the promise of Turbo Fire is it is purely Chalene Johnson but without the “dancy” choreograpy found in some of her earlier programs such as Turbo Jam. This is the athlete. This is the coach. This is the personal trainer. This is Chalene Johnson.
Turbo Fire vs. P90X Home Fitness Training Workout Review
So, Turbo Fire is coming and you are caught between lure of a cardio intense home workout program and the challenge of P90X. I cannot guide you one way or another because you are the one who will ultimately have to decide what fitness goals have a higher priority for you and which program will help get you there. My goal in this post is to help you compare Chalene Johnson’s new Turbo Fire program with Tony Horton’s P90X.
P90X is primarily a strength training program designed for athletes. Although modifications can be done with most of the exercises, you will get the most out of P90X if you actually take the fit test and pass it before taking on the grueling routine of boot camp style fitness training.
P90X has a lot of push ups and pull ups. You will do a variety of each one of them and develop a love/hate relationship with them over the course of 90 days. Ab Ripper X and Yoga X are probably the two most talked about workouts.
Ab Ripper X is a challenging ab routine while P90X Yoga X is a 92 minute power yoga workout. Both of these workouts are difficult to complete even as you near your 90 day mark. Is it the suttle challenge of finishing that keeps you motivated to keep pushing play day after day? Afterall, each workout is about 55 minutes in length and you are working out six days per week.
P90X is divided into three possible combinations. Most people choose the classic version and then, wonder why they did not lose a lot of weight. The “doubles” version follows the classic version but adds more cardio. The “lean” version on the other hand, takes out some of the strength training workouts and replaces them with more cardio. If you are doing P90X and want to lose weight, I recommend doing either the doubles or lean version. The added cardio will help you lose weight.
If you are trying to lose weight for the summer, I think you will find your fastest results with a cardio intensive program such as Turbo Fire. Turbo Fire will be released on June 18th. I plan on starting the program myself on the first Monday after I receive it which will probably be the last week in June or first week in July.
Strength training builds muscle and muscle burns more calories. Unfortunately, it is a slow process. If you want to see faster results as far as weight loss, cardio is essential. (Your nutrition plan is also critical, but that is another conversation.)
When a person lifts weights, muscle tissue is damaged. The body tries to protect the muscle from further damage and to help it repair by surrounding the damaged tissue with fluid. This is a necessary process that may actually cause you to gain a little weight when you first start lifting. So many people get discouraged and say a program is not working because they do not understand the process their body is undergoing.
When you feel discouraged, don’t give up. Please use the Beachbody message boards and take advantage of the free coaching and fitness tools that are available to you. Remember that as you change, your goals may change.
I am currently working out with ChaLean Extreme and absolutely love the program. I have cuts in my arms and shoulders now. I can see ab muscles. My legs are not where I would like them yet, but I am even starting to see muscle definition there. Now, it is time for me to lean down. To peel off a layer and see what is hiding underneath that last layer of stubborn fat that seems to stay with me no matter what I do.
I am looking forward to Chalene’s High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). I know it will feel like boot camp or athletic drills. I hear some of the classes are only about twelve minutes long. I also understand that this type of training is actually nine times more effective than traditional cardio workouts.
I know I will struggle to get through each workout but completely elated when I do. I know more positive changes are around the corner for me. I am ready for a cardio intensive workout program for the summer. What about you? I can hardly wait to write my reviews as I work through my first Turbo Fire program.
Turbo Jam vs. Turbo Fire Review – Chalene Johnson Turns Up the Heat with HIIT
Turbo Jam fans will not be disappointed with Chalene Johnson’s new Turbo Fire. Think it is just another Turbo Jam program? Think again. Chalene Johnson really turns up the heat in Turbo Fire with the science of HIIT (high intensity interval training).
Chalene created Turbo Jam with the intention of making workouts fun. With a total of seven fat-burning workouts ranging from twenty to fifty minutes, she choreographs eleven signature moves she calls the Elite 11 to dance music.
Turbo Jam is a combination of kickboxing and body-sculpting. It comes complete with a fitness and nutrition guide, exercise flash cards, weighted gloves and one of the most upbeat, motivational trainers in the fitness industry.
I had a little difficulty with Turbo Jam though because it is dancy. I am not too coordinated with dance. Sometimes, I found my focus on how to do a move and keep up with the class rather than on form and burning calories. If you love dancing, Turbo Jam is probably the program for you. If you are like me, Turbo Fire promises to deliver an butt-kicking cardio workoug.
Turbo Fire incorporates the science of high intensity interval training. Chalene puts you in an aerobics class atmosphere. Her personality alone would “bring the party” but Chalene created the music mixes for this program that will keep you pushes harder.
HIIT classes are shorter in length than traditional cardio workouts. According to research, high intensity interval training burns up to 9 times more calories than classic cardio workouts such as running on a treadmill. That is because your body is called on to exert as much energy as possible in a very short period. A short recovery period follows before another high intensity cardio interval is done.
I will not go into detail about what is included in the Turbo Fire program (see previous Turbo Fire posts), but I will say that you are getting an incredible program compared to what comes with Turbo Jam. By the way, did I mention that Turbo Fire is not dancy?
Expect to see some kickboxing moves (that girl loves boxing) and some exercises that have a hint of the Elite 11, but it will not be a choreographed dance sequence. There will be new moves in Turbo Fire and some cardio drills similar to those in Chalene Extreme.
While Turbo Jam is a program suited for those just starting out, Turbo Fire is more like an advanced cardio program. It can be used by all fitness levels thanks to the use of an exercise modifier in every class; however, it is designed to take your cardio workouts to an athlete’s level. For this reason, P90X and ChaLean Extreme owners will want to add Turbo Fire to their Beachbody workouts as a way to increase their cardio routines and create a hybrid program substituting Turbo Fire in on cardio days.
Free Full Sample Turbo Fire Review DVD w/Tony Horton One on One 4 Legs
Hey guys, Beachbody is giving away a dvd from Turbo Fire to subscribers of Tony Horton’s One on One through June 2nd. The May One on One workout is called One on One 4 Legs. Getting free preview dvds and other free gifts is one of the cool things about having a subscription to One on One.
Tony’s One on One series was designed for P90X graduates to variety and continued training from Tony Horton himself. Each month, a new workout dvd arrives in your mailbox. The workout is filmed in Tony’s gym and no one else is working out with him. It is like being right there and working out with him.
What are the workouts like? If you have experienced P90X, you will appreciate the challenges Tony throws at you. I think only Tony could think up some of the stuff he does. Take a look at this video. It is a peak at the One on One 4 Legs dvd.
If you subscribe before June 2nd, you will get the free full sample Turbo Fire dvd along with your One on One 4 Legs dvd. Turbo Fire is scheduled for release on June 18th. It promises to be a hard hitting cardio workout that will compliment the P90X and ChaLean Extreme programs.
Although Turbo Fire is a high intensity cardio workout, Chalene Johnson designed it with every fitness level in mind. She uses what she calls a modifier, a person working out next to her that modifies exercises to keep them low impact and lower intensity so you can build up as your body’s strength and endurance increase. That makes this a great follow up program for Slim in 6, Hip Hop Abs, and Turbo Jam.
I hope you take the time to watch one of the Turbo Fire video clips. It looks like a fun workout that will melt fat, boost metabolism and take your fitness to new heights. I plan on ordering the Turbo Fire program when it is released and starting on July 1st. I hope you can join me.
One more program that will soon be released is Body Gospel. It is a new workout program that works out the body, mind, and spirit by using gospel music and prayer throughout the workout. Fitness trainer Donna Richardson Joyner is well known in the fitness industry and was the trainer for Buns of Steel and the Sweating in the Spirit workout video series. I will let you know when this program is available. I have not personally seen any home fitness workout video program designed with worship in mind.
Turbo Fire Ignites Excitement As Countdown Continues for Turbo Fire Release
Do you hear the excitement and anticipation of Chalene Johnson’s latest fitness program? It is a 90 day extreme cardio workout that incorporates the science of HIIT – high intensity interval training. Turbo Fire is scheduled for release on June 18, 2010.
If you are not familiar with Chalene Johnson, she is a Beachbody trainer who has taught fitness classes for over twenty years. She is the creator of Turbo Jam and my favorite home workout program, ChaLean Extreme. I like the interval training she does in ChaLean Extreme and hope to see more of the same.
What makes Turbo Fire different from any other workout is Chalene herself. She mixed the music for these workouts to ensure the music was unique, upbeat, and motivating. Chalene keeps you focused on your workout and form. If you do not get a good workout and results from following one of her programs, you are probably not fully following the program. She incorporates her personal style and the most modern fitness science available into her signature training programs.
Chalene wants everyone to get results. That is why Turbo Fire has a modifier. A modifier is someone working out in the class that is modifying the workout to keep it low intensity. This is important for beginners and those with physical limitations. If you are following the modifier and getting a great workout, awesome! If you are getting stronger, you can increase your intensity by watching Chalene and the other participants in the class.
Oh…the class. Turbo Fire takes a unique perspective with the camera crew. Normally, a workout video is filmed so you are watching the class and instructor facing you as if looking in a mirror. Turbo Fire does something different. Your camera view is actually in the front and center of the room, right at the stage where Chalene teaches a live (ok, it’s recorded now) cardio class. You will have the same perspective of other participants in the class.
Turbo Fire consists of twelve classes on ten dvds. You will workout about thirty minutes per day. Because of the science of HIIT, you will get the benefits burning up to nine times the calories and fat you would burn on a treadmill or doing some other form of cardio. HIIT uses short burst of cardio drills – less than one minute in length – to maximize your after burn and totally ignite your metabolism.
The Turbo Fire programaaaa also has a Get Fired Up DVD where Chalene teaches you how to correctly perform each exercise, so you feel comfortable the first time you attend one of her fitness classes. In keeping with all Beachbody workouts, you will also get a Nutrition Guide to help you properly fuel your body.
Turb Up the Burn is a Fitness Guide that explains the science of HIIT. It also guides you in how to use the program. The Turbo Fire Class Schedule lays out a fitness plan that helps you know what workout to do and when.
You will also get a lower body band to give you a little more resistance. And, if you really want to kick start your Turbo Fire experience, Chalene has included a 5-Day Inferno Plan.
The Deluxe kit will include five advanced classes on four dvds, resistance bands, a food and fitness journal and other advanced resources. The Deluxe increases the Turbo Fire program from 90 days (three months) to twenty weeks (five months).
Get Ready to Get Lean! Turbo Fire is Approaching…
You are starting to hear whispers of a new Beachbody workout program called Turbo Fire. It is a twelve week intensive cardio program put together by Chalene Johnson, creator of both Turbo Jam and ChaLean Extreme. You guys know how much I love ChaLean Extreme. I am counting the days until Turbo Fire is released.
Turbo Fire is officially scheduled for release on June 18, 2010. In the meantime, I plan on writing a series of articles to tell you as much as I can about the program before actually being able to write about my own experiences.
What are my thoughts so far? I am excited. Turbo Fire focuses on cardio. It incorporates the science of HIIT (high intensity interval training). P90X had limited cardio. It focused primarily on military style strength training. Insanity was on the extreme side as far as cardio. I thought it was a bit too much cardio for me. Turbo Fire is less intense than Insanity from what I understand but will deliver Chalene’s mix of music, fun and cardio drills.
I love the ChaLean Extreme workouts. One of my favorite workouts is the Extreme Intervals dvd which is one of the upgrade workouts. The basic ChaLean Extreme program comes with two cardio workouts. Over time, I think you start looking for a change. That is one of the reasons I am so excited about Turbo Fire. I will have a whole lot more of Chalene’s cardio training.
As you know, I would not choose Turbo Jam as my favorite program to do over and over again. The reason for this is because of the dance moves. My workout focus is lost on trying to keep up with choreography. From what I understand, Turbo Fire is not a dancy program. The similarity with Turbo Jam is probably in the DJ flair of Chalene. New music, mixes made just for Turbo Fire, keep your mind off exercising and on having fun while you are taking care of your body.
For the Turbo Fire program, Chalene used a live cardio class. She mixed her own music and put the camera in the front of the class. This means we will have a front and center perspective of the class just as if we were actually right there with her.
Again, Turbo Fire is scheduled for release on June 18, 2010. I plan on beginning my journey on July 1st. Will you join me? Keep checking back for more information on TurboFire. This could end up being one of the best home fitness workout videos ever made!
What is Your Favorite P90X Workout?
What is your favorite PX90 workout? Is it the killer Ab Ripper X dvd, Plyometrics workout or challenging 92 minutes of P90X Yoga X? Ok, I am kind of laughing now because I just listed what I believe are the most challenging, extreme workouts in the P90X program.
I am P90X graduate, and I have read quite a few PX90 reviews. The favorite P90X workout seems to be the Kenpo X. It was probably my favorite as well. I mean, how could I not like a fun workout where you are punching and kicking. How could I not love a P90X workout that is only about 45 minutes long? How could I not love the fact I made it through the whole Kenpo X dvd the first time.
If you are a P90X affiliate, you know what I am talking about. The words of Tony Horton (”do your best…forget the rest) helped me get through many challenging fitness routines that I might have given up on in the past.
P90X was the beginning of my journey. It has been almost a year now since I since I joined the Beachbody team. I am now a big fan of Chalene Extreme and continue to be a big fan of Tony Horton’s One on One dvds. What can I say? I love Beachbody workouts.
Free Turbo Fire Preview with One on One Subscription
Ok P90X graduates, if you are not currently subscribing to Tony Horton’s One on One’s, this is the time bring it! One on One is a monthly workout brought to you by Tony Horton. Tony works out in his gym in his own crazy style and brings you along as a workout partner. Enjoy this One on One video to learn more about Tony’s workouts.
You can purchase individual One on One workouts, but subscribers get a few surprises now and then. This past year, I received a preview dvd of the Rev Abs series. I also received a refrigerator magnet with Tony Horton and his quote “abs are made in the kitchen.” I think I received a bonus One on One dvd to pass along as a freebie to someone else. I also received a jump rope to add to my gym stuff.
The cool thing about a subscription though is a new dvd comes to you every month to keep your routines anything but routine. Signing up for the One on One series anytime between now and June 2, 2010 will also allow you to get a free preveiw dvd of Chalene Johnson’s Turbo Fire.
Turbo Fire is a highly anticipated high intensity interval training (HIIT) program that is due for release at the end of June. Shaun T’s Insanity is also a HIIT program, but it looked like it was too advanced for me. After training at home with my Tony Horton and Chalene Johnson dvds, I think Turbo Fire is going to compliment Tony Horton’s strength training routineds with some awesome cardio.
I like the interval cardio workouts in ChaLean Extreme. They are different from the workouts she does with Turbo Jam which is a dance based program. I am predicting a combination of Chalene’s best moves plus a number of new moves. Beachbody says that Turbo Fire can burn up to NINE times more fat and calories than in a traditional cardio workout. Great news for me because I am not a cardio nut.
HIIT workouts help you set your metabolism fire ablaze and keep it burning in the hours following your workout. Yeah baby! Turbo Fire will have 12 cardio classes. Chalene is on stage and your spot is front and center! You will feel like you are right there in class with the program’s participants. After your workout, you can go to the chat room in the online supergym and talk to others live.
Ok, so you can wait until the end of June to get turned on to Turbo Fire…. or you can sign up for Tony Horton’s One on One before June 2, 2010 and get a preview of Turbo Fire for F R E E.
P90X vs ChaLean Extreme
I keep hearing people ask which program is better, P90X or ChaLean Extreme? That’s like asking which parent is more influential in a child’s life. Which parent is more influential and which program is better depends on an individual’s unique experiences and views.
I personally believe that any fitness regimen will help you lose weight and improve health, so what you must do is find something that you will do consistently. After over 25 years of gym memberships and putting together a home gym second to none, I finally discovered Beachbody fitness workout programs actually do more to keep me motivated, accountable and consistent (see my story).
I am a P90X graduate and appreciate the discipline it takes to dedicate an average of one hour per day, six days a week to a strenuous fitness routine and follow an eating plan that is almost alien to most American families. Although I have heard people say that Tony Horton’s quirky comments grate on their nerves after a while, I found them to be motivating. By the way, if Tony’s antics get on your nerves, you can turn off his voice prompts. You can even turn off the music and play your own tunes.
As a woman, I think ChaLean Extreme is bringing me better results. With an average of around 35 minutes per workout, Chalene’s routines are easier to fit into a busy lifestyle. The workout schedule is set up for five days out of the week instead of six. That worked better for me. Unlike Turbo Jam, ChaLean Extreme is based on strength training with three days of weight lifting and two days of cardio.
By the end of my second month of P90X, I was starting to get bored. At the 60 day mark of ChaLean Extreme, I was looking forward to starting the Lean Phase. I was already starting to think of how I would continue working out with ChaLean Extreme after my first round was completed.
P90X involves a countless number of pushups and pull ups. I was starting to get good at most of the variations of pushups (even on my toes) but I was only able to get my chin above the bar one time by the end of my P90X journey.
There are no pull ups (zero) in the ChaLean Extreme program. Chalene uses rows and core exercises to strengthen the back muscles. I can see a difference in the definition of my back muscles since using Chalene’s program.
As far as pushups? Yes, you will do push ups in the ChaLean Extreme program, but it is a reasonable amount. The most you will do at one time is twelve. You do them pretty slow, so do not be surprised if you find yourself doing most of them from your knees.
I love talking about the P90X Extreme Home Fitness System and ChaLean Extreme exercise programs. I want you to choose a program that will keep you motivated and working out. If you need a boot camp, train with P90X. That is what I needed to get my butt in gear. If you do not like push ups and pull ups, train with ChaLean Extreme. You questions and comments on either of these programs are welcome.
Doubling Up ChaLean Extreme Workouts
I am sitting here writing this post trying to recover from Chalene the Machine – huh, I mean my ChaLean Extreme workout. I missed a few workout days. I will not make excuses. Sometimes, it is work or family or friends. Sometimes, the weather gives us spring fever. Sometimes, we are sincerely sick or otherwise physically incapacitated. The bottom line is most of us do not work a perfect program.
To get the results we want, we need to push ourselves. We need to follow our fitness plan as closely as possible. If we miss a day, we need to double up and catch up right? Although this may help out with guilt. We may be setting our bodies up for injury and failure by trying to double up workout sessions with programs such as P90X and ChaLean Extreme.
These programs are designed to challenge your capabilities with each sesssion. I was thinking about this today as I moved through my Get Lean Intervals routine. At first, my shoulders burned. Later, my butt and thigh muscles screamed. I thought about doubling up and trying to do Push Circuit 1 after this workout. I came to my senses when as each muscle in my body was pushed without trying to lift heavy on top of it.
Push Circuit 1 has a lot of bicep, tricep and leg exercises in it. Although my arm muscles were not overworked, I am sure my leg muscles need some recover following Get Lean Intervals. My crazy mind then jumped to Push Circuit 2. That would not work either as it focuses on shoulders (ouch!), back, and legs. Ok, you get the picture.
Muscle recovery is crucial for increasing muscle strength and endurance. If the muscle tissue does not have a chance to recovery, it cannot work as hard the next time. If I try to double up on a ChaLean Extreme workout without a recovery period, I will not be able to push myself the way I should to get the results I want.
I do sometimes double up when I have a day off from work. I might do one ChaLean Extreme fitness routine in the morning and another one in the evening. This gives my body a little bit of time to recovery in between.
If you want to double up two workouts together in one day, try to add a cardio from another Beachbody program, take a walk, jump on an elliptical or treadmill in addition to one of the ChaLean Extreme strength training circuits. I do not advise trying to double up on Chalene’s workouts though. The cardio workouts use interval training that incorporates the whole body and works the muscles to increase endurance.
I think a lot of thought went into how the workout sessions are scheduled. I think I will try to follow the program as closely as possible. When I fall off track, I will get back into action. I will try to remember every day to do something to keep myself moving. I will blog to keep my self accountable and maybe even encourage someone else to push play.
What Is Your Favorite ChaLean Extreme Home Fitness Workout?
I am considering the question of what ChaLean Extreme home fitness workout I like the best. I like the feeling of power I get when I am done working my biceps in Push Ciruit 1. I like the relaxed, fully stretched feeling I enjoyed after Dynamic Flow Yoga. I even like the burn in my butt after Push Ciruit 3 but only because I know this home workout program is working!
Since I started using Beachbody fitness programs, I enjoy my workout at home more than ever. I have a lot of workout equipment and machines in our house as we have built a solid home gym over the course of 10+ years. I thought equipment was the answer to my distaste for gyms and lack of results I experienced…primarily due to my own inconsistency and lack of knowledge.
ChaLean Extreme is a great women workout. As a woman, I am seeing better results with ChaLean Extreme than I did with P90X. I struggled with pull ups all the way through P90X. My back looks great now, thanks to Chalene Johnson.
My workout schedule is only five days in length rather than six. The
workout routines are only about thirty five minutes in length rather than about an hour. Sure, I modify my schedule to fit “life”, but I have find I stick to the general essence of the program. I am seeing results and will post a pic sometime around the end of May when I officially complete the whole program.
Oh, by the way, I really like Get Lean Intervals. That could actually be my favorite Chalene Extreme Home fitness workout. I guess I like any routine that challenges me, makes me feel like I am getting closer to my goals, and does not totally tear me up.
I finished Push Circuit 1 just before starting this post. My biceps still have a slight burn. I wonder if my biceps and triceps will be a little sore tomorrow.
Have you started ChaLean Extreme? If you are researching this home exercise video program, I can honestly give it two thumbs up. Contact me with your questions. Save 10% as a club member. Save 25% as a coach. Free account for free fitness tools and a coach to help you along.
Dynamic Flow Yoga
I have a new love hate relationship with one of my Beachbody workouts. It is called Dynamic Flow Yoga. It is one of the additional programs that can be purchased for ChaLean Extreme. It is just under forty minutes, so it is quite a bit shorter than P90X Yoga X. I think Chalene was trying to make this workout as grueling as Yoga X though. She designed it to be done with weighted gloves!
I have never heard of doing yoga with weighted gloves, and I did not know what to expect so I did my first round without the gloves. I think I will actually go through another round without adding the weight.
Chalene combines yoga and pilates. I liked the focus she puts on breathing. This is one of the things that I think was missing in P90X Yoga X. Tony would remind you to breathe, but if you are new to yoga, you have no clue as to when to breathe in or out.
I felt like I was playing my P90X dvd when we starting going from plank, to chattaranga, to upward facing dog, to downward facing dog….move the right foot up between your hands and into warrior 1. That was really the only time I smiled during this routine.
There was one fantastic back stretch that was new to me. You lay face down similar to superman in P90X Synergistics, but you have your arms and legs wide forming an X shape. Then, you pull your arms back like a parchute jumper does in a jump and bend your knees while pulling up your legs and crossing your feet at the ankles. Every muscle in your back is stretched. Nice.
Each exercise seemed to have a standard yoga element (i.e. warrior 1 or warrior 2) modified with pilates breathing and arm movements challenged your shoulder, rotator cuff, and tricep muscles. I felt my shoulders even without the added weight.
If you have P90X but not ChaLean Extreme, I recommend getting this add on routine to supplement or occassionally replace your Yoga X routine. It will give you some additional variety, keep you stretched, and not beat up on you like 92 minutes of Tony style power yoga can do.
This is definitely a tougher routine than the Recharge yoga workout that comes with the basic program. I cannot really compare it Tony’s One on One Patience Hummingbird. The styles are totally different.
I do think that when it comes to yoga, it is a good idea to have a few workouts on hand. Variety in your flexibility routines is as important to consistency and results as having variety in your strength, core, and cardio training.
Lifted Heavy Today – ChaLean Extreme
I lifted heavy today working out with Beachbody’s Chalene Johnson and her awesome Push Circuit 3 strength training routine from ChaLean Extreme. As with all of Chalene’s weight lifting routines in this program, Push Circuit 3 consisted of nine different exercises along with some breakdown sets.
This workout targeted the legs, chest, and back. My back muscles are screaming right now as I write this post. Chalene constantly pushes you to lift heavy enough during this phase to fail between six and eight repetitions. That sounds easy, huh? Well, Chalene’s reps are slower than any I have ever done working out in the gym.
Lifting weights slowly and with purpose causes you to do a few things. First, your mind is totally focused on the muscle that you are lifting. When you pull weights in a rowing exercise for instance, your mind is on the muscles flexing your shoulder blades together. In the past when I have used a pulley system or back machines for rowing, I thought about my hands gripping the weight, my arms pulling the resistence and depending on the rowing machine, I might have even used the momentum of my upper body to force the weight back. Ugh!
That brings to mind the second reason I have learned that lifting slowly is helpful. When you lift slowly, you visualize perfect form in your mind’s eye. You can be your own personal coach and ensure your back is straight and your shoulders are up throughout the pulling movement.
The third reason that just comes to mind without even thinking is your muscle fibers stay engaged (contracted) for a longer period of time. Chalene teaches you to hold at the top of a movement and not to let the weight come all the way to a rest at the bottom of the movement. That means the muscle you are exercising works harder because it stays engaged not only through a single rep but through the entire exercise.
There are many lifting techniques out there. There are numerous exercise programs, exercises, and trainers. Pick up a copy of Muscle and Fitness or Fitness Magazine and you cannot help but agree that the variety in fitness training keeps them publishing new material month after month.
I like Tony Horton’s famous words in P90X. He said that we should keep mixing it up to create muscle confusion. When our muscles adapt to their current workload, they need something to change to continue to get stronger. In ChaLean Extreme, Chalene teaches that “muscle burns fat”. She wants you to go heavy to keep the workload changing as your muscles get stronger.
I love both P90X and ChaLean Extreme. They are so alike and so different. I saw results with Tony Horton. I am seeing results with Chalene Johnson. Muscle does burn fat. Muscle confusion is important. Keep pressing play!
Workouts Mar 28 – Apr 3
I am a little late in posting my workout routine from last week. I guess this is because I had just recently decided to post each workout to keep myself accountable and to show my readers that workout schedules can be modified to fit into your lifestyle. We are not a 9-5 society anymore. Most of either work some sort of shift work or have some in the family who does. Here is what I did last week:
Sunday – ChaLean Extreame Burn Circuit 3 and Tony Horton’s One on One Cardio Confusion: Mason’s Choice
Wednesday – Yard work and ChaLean Extreme Push Circuit 1
Thursday – ChaLean Extreme Get Lean Intervals and Recharge
I started writing my workouts on a wall calendar. I like seeing what I have done so far for the week. It pushes me not to let too many rest days bump into each other.
This past week, I started doing the Push Circuits and moved away from the Burn Circuits. I have thought lately about trying out the cardio intensive Insanity program. I guess I might just like to do it to have that accomplishment under my belt. I guess each challenge becomes like earning a new girl scout badge!
I am waiting to hear more about a new Beachbody workout program with Chalene Johnson as the trainer. It is called Turbo Fire. I have seen a short video clip. I would like to see a little bit more about how she designed the program.
In Turbo Jam, Chalene uses seven signature moves. She combines a little Hip Hop and Kickboxing. As you know, anything that takes coordination in the way of dance is hard for me. If the cardio is more like the Get Lean or Burn Interval workouts in ChaLean Extreme, then bring it! I am ready for the challenge.
I hope you sign up as a coach before you get hooked on Beachbody programs so you can enjoy a 25% discount on all products and programs. I paid full price for my first program. I wish I would have known about the discount ahead of time. I also wish someone would have told me about the Showcase Pack that only coaches can purchase.
It is a complete package of six of Beachbody’s most popular programs. P90X, Power 90, Turbo Jam, Hip Hop Abs, Slim in 6, and Yoga Booty Ballet. A coach can get all this for $200. The price for P90X or ChaLean Extreme alone is $119.85.
