Who is it for?
While its name suggests otherwise, ChaLEAN Extreme is actually an introductory/intermediate fitness program. This means it’s easy enough—if you modify—for almost anyone to do, but also hard enough for those who have a fitness base and are just out of shape to get great benefits from. It’s a periodizational program that ramps up and becomes very hard by the end, so it can accommodate a wide range of fitness levels.
What equipment does it require?
Weights and/or resistance bands. An exercise mat is a nice option but not necessary. A thigh toner band comes with the program.
Will lifting weights make me bulky?
Not at all. While it is possible for very heavy weight training to create a lot of mass, it’s impossible in the scope of ChaLEAN Extreme. Weight training in this program is used to induce a metabolic shift to help you lose fat quicker.
Is this a good program if I want to lose weight?
Yes. While the program is designed to help you lose weight, it’s actually very versatile. Depending upon how you utilize the nutrition plan you can lose weight, gain weight, or just get toned and fit.
How does this compare to P90X?
It’s much easier than P90X, and far more user-friendly to someone new to exercise. Don’t think that means easy, however. Most people get all they can handle with ChaLEAN Extreme.
Do I need to add extra cardio in addition to this program?
Not at all. Not only do you have cardio workouts alternating with your resistance workouts, the resistance training is done circuit-style, often with a balance element, so that you’re training your heart daily.
I missed a week due to vacation/work travel/sickness. Where do I start from today?
Missing a few days is no big deal. Just jump back into your program where you left off. After about five or six days off, your body is fully recovered and very strong, and you actually have the ability to hurt yourself by breaking down your fast-twitch muscle fibers. This can make you too sore to work out for over a week. If you’ve missed more than five days, start slow on your first day back, maybe doing a third to a half of your normal workout and ramp up little by little, taking about a week to get back to where you left off.
What’s the perfect next step?
The ChaLEAN Extreme/TurboFire hybrid, that comes in your kit, is a popular next program but, basically, you’re probably fit enough to be ready for almost anything in the Beachbody catalog. Whatever you decide, take a week (or two, three, four) to enjoy your results, which you can keep with maintenance workouts.
What is maintenance work?
It’s much harder to get into shape than it is to maintain that shape once you get there. You can generally maintain a level pretty close to peak fitness with about half the volume of your program. To maintain, you can utilize many different forms of training but the easiest is often 3–4 days per week of the program you just finished. It will decline slowly over time, but you’ll probably start another program or activity to pick up the slack after awhile.