Week 7 Update: ChaLEAN Extreme
'Time to get extreme, baby!'
As I said in my Week 6 addendum, I’m seeing more progress and lifting heavier. After the overhead tricep extension with 20s on Monday, I improved my overhead press max to 20 lbs as well. I’ve never gone that heavy before and it felt great!
I wasn’t able to purchase those 25 lb, as I had hoped. I’m going to try again this week. It’d be nice to see my progress with a heavy weight I’ve never owned before!
I’m very thankful for ChaLEAN Extreme because I think Chalene has really helped me learn how to do squats properly. I mean, I don’t think I was doing them wrong, but the way she talks us through them, makes me emphasize my form and better target the muscles I’m supposed to. It may seem harmless, but saying “stick your booty out” and “keep the weight in your heels”, really does help! Since we can lift much heavier with lower body exercises, that’s one of the reasons I’m anxious for the 25 lb dumbbells. I’ve moved up to my max of 20, and want another challenge. The way I’ve been increasing resistance, with heavier weights, I feel a little muscle soreness in my glutes every week. I like that progress. It’s the good kind of soreness! Y’all know what I’m talking about!
I didn’t work that extra cardio workout in on my Tuesday off-day. I was going to, but I woke up with a headache and was pretty much useless all day. Figures, huh? I do still want to guage my progress with a 30 Day Shred workout. Perhaps this week, body-willing!
In Central Ohio, we’ve been experiencing a very strange phenomenon: spring! We never get Spring around here. It’s more like we go from Winter to Summer. With the increase in temperatures, my workout gear has been more like what I wear in the summers. That’s right, I busted out the booty shorts! That’s when I noticed something.
My abs really are starting to come through! I still have a ways to go, but things are progressing. I remember what I looked like, over the summer, when I wore these shorts. In wearing them this week, I noticed that my stomach was whittled a little and looked great in them! I guess it sometimes takes things like wardrobe decisions to let you know how you’re doing. I look at my body every day, so I really can’t easily tell when/if parts have gotten smaller.
This week introduced the “Extreme Abs” workout into rotation, and Chalene was not playing this one! It was super tough! I definitely felt my abs burning throughout the entire DVD. But, as I’ve said before, it was a good burn! Love it!
As always, still happy with the arms. And now, just as happy with my legs. I’m pretty much all arms and legs. My old college roommate used to tell everyone that my legs grew out of my armpits. It really is true. And since I have a background in ballet, my legs have always had a nice shape to them. Now, I’m starting to notice more muscle tone. They’re not just skinny or “chicken legs” lol. Doing those squats and lunges properly — and with heavy weights — is paying dividends!
I think the changes to my eating habits is really revving up my metabolism. I’ve now trained my body to be hungry every 3-4 hours. And, even when I’m still in bed, I’ll sometimes reach over, grab a handful of Almonds, and satisfy my cravings for an extra hour or so.
Speaking of Almonds, in the paper today, I saw a coupon for a new product: 100 calorie pack Almonds from Blue Diamond. That’s the brand of Almonds I already buy and I was just telling my mom how I was going to put a handful or two of Almonds into a zip baggy and keep one in my purse and another in my car. Pre-packaged 100 calorie packs sounds like heaven! One less thing I have to prepare myself, ya know? I’m a lazy and sometimes forgetful person, so I will definitely be picking up a box of this!
So, here’s to one last week of the Push Phase! I’m excited to wrap it up and move on to the Lean Phase; the last part of the program!
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I am doing to CE too and I am hoping to get good results from it. I have noticed a little bit of changes, hopefully there will be even more in month 2.
It would be cheaper to make your own packs. The 100 calorie packs are way overprice. Actually just saw in I think Shape magazine, where they compared them to the big bag…
There is one brand that has a measuring cup in the lid.
Almost forgot to mention, I know what you mean by missing the extra cardio. I skipped my Saturday workout due to my back hurting. Knew I should have done it before work.
Probably is cheaper, but if I forget that I even have them in my purse or car, I feel better about having an factory-sealed food item in there, rather than something I put together in a ziplock baggie; that may or may not be properly sealed! Ya know? And it’d only be one box.
For planned snacks, I definitely would make my own, and have been. This would pretty much be for food emergencies, so I don’t end up having to buy something extra while I’m out.
It’s not something I plan on buying regularly unless I keep raiding my car/purse stash, lol. I don’t usually keep food in those places, so I never know!
I still haven’t added in that Extra Tuesday workout. Maybe I’ll get to it next month? It’s so weird to have that as an off-day. I’m used to Sat/Sun off!
It is weird to have Tuesday as a day off. I usually have the weekend off too. Even though there are times on the weekend I do go for a hike or do something outdoor, but usually I stay off the treadmill and weights.
I wonder if you could change the schedule and do your own. Say move Wednesday through Saturday workouts over a day and still get the same result.
I think you’d have to move Saturday’s “Burn it Off” and “Recharge” into the Tuesday slot. Chalene has it set up so that you aren’t lifting weights on consecutive days. That’s probably why Tuesday is simply an “off” day and not a regular weights DVD. I do wonder if others have moved things around or not. Hmmmmmm!
True. Specially since everywhere you read about working out says not to do back to back strength workouts, at least you do different body parts or groups on different days.
I actually did Saturdays workout on Tuesday due to skipping my workout on Saturday, even though I was just going to move it to Sunday… I might have to do that next week if I get call in to work on Saturday and my back ends up the same way as last. Even though I probably should try and see how my back is during the workout.
I do have to say though my back is a lot better since doing this workout program. I usually feel pain in my lower back, when my back does act up and I noticed Saturday I didn’t have that. It was higher up and not nearly has bad (pain wise) as before. I hope that improves more. My body definitely seems more solid.
That’s great, Rhys! I think the “Recharge” will help you with your back to. The yoga/pilates moves tend to help in that regard. The first week, I was like “this is lame!”, but I really enjoy the extended stretches and recovery for my body; especially my back.
Oh, and I’m buying my 25 lb dumbbells tomorrow! Woo!
I was thinking of doing the “Recharge” last Saturday and skip the “Burn It Off” until the next day since I wasn’t sure how my back would be on the “Burn It Off”. I thought it would be good on my back.
I kind of like the “Recharge” I like how I feel nice and stretched out and not that tight in areas. Some times you do not realize how tight you are until you do that workout.
Actually, I forgot that I have mixed up the program a little bit. Changed circuits around and on Thursdays switch the order. I have become a little bored at time. It can be too repetitious at times. Which is probably in some way a common thing.
I need to get heavier weights too, but I am kind of trying to put it aside and wait. I want to get a set of power blocks. Which are cheaper than the Select Tech and more weight available and more compacted too. Could maybe get another set or two.
Month 2 looks like it is mostly (if not all) one body group instead of the compound exercises in month one, so I am kind of wondering if I do need to get heavier weights right away. Of course it is also less reps. I guess I will find out when I do it.