Chalean Extreme vs P90X – which is going to get your body into the shape you want?  Both work very well and get results in just several weeks, but there are some key differences.  Here are some things you should think about when considering which you’d like to get into.

Lean Muscle Vs Muscle Confusion

When considering Chalean Extreme vs P90X, keep in mind that they use completely different methods to get results.  Chalean Extreme is all about building lean muscle so that the muscle tissue will help you stay fit and burn calories.  P90X also builds lean muscle, but it does it through an unusual technique called “muscle confusion.”  The idea is to get your muscles working in so many different ways that they get a well-rounded workout.  That way, the muscles in one group don’t get tired.

The Intensity Difference

Because of muscle confusion, P90X is a pretty rigorous workout.  The difference when you’re comparing Chalean Extreme vs P90X is pretty serious when it comes to intensity level.  Chalean Extreme is challenging for people who are beginner or intermediate level; you’ll find parts of it (especially the Burn Phase) to be pretty intense.  But P90X is very intense all the way through.  In fact, it’s too much for some people, according to Amazon reviews.  If you’re considering both, it might be wise to start with Chalean Extreme and work your way up after you’ve completed it.

Chalean Extreme also has shorter workouts.  Some of the P90X workouts go well over 90 minutes, which is pretty painful for most people.  It also has exercises like chin-ups that are not most people’s favorite.  Chalean also focuses on slower, more controlled movements than P90X, which has lots of jumping around and moving.

Women Love Chalean Extreme

According to the Chalean Extreme blog, this workout program was designed with women in mind.  This is another reason for its slightly lighter intensity.  It doesn’t have any of the ultra-macho “boot camp” feel that many programs have.  The host and designer of the program, Chalene Johnson, is extremely popular with women because of her motivational and encouraging style.  She makes it fun and helps to make the intense parts seem not-so-intense.  She also reminds viewers of an ordinary lady next door, even though she’s actually a fitness expert and entrepreneur.

Both programs are cheap and don’t require you to buy a lot of additional gear.  They both have step by step instructions and diet programs that tell you exactly what to eat and what not to eat.  Also, both programs get great reviews from customers.  When considering Chalean vs P90X, the important thing is to consider how intense you want your workout to be.  Chalean is for most people, while P90X is for those who are more hardcore with their exercising.

Chalean Extreme

The Chalean Extreme exercise program is based on one basic principle – when you have muscle, this helps your body to naturally burn fat.  The program is designed to build lean muscle that turns your body into a calorie-burning furnace.  Lots of exercise programs miss the point because they emphasize on just burning calories through diet and exercise, but this program is all about burning your fat naturally.

What The Package Includes

The Chalean Extreme DVD set comes with 6 workout DVDs that contain a total of 15 workouts.  They show you a variety of resistance techniques that you’ll be using to build muscle.  It also comes with the Muscle Burns Fat Guidebook which gives you a program that’s easy to follow.

It also comes with a calendar that shows you what to eat each day.  The package also includes its own food guide, body fat tester and thigh toner band.  There’s a 30-day guarantee so that you can return the Chalean Extreme DVD set if it doesn’t produce the results you were expecting.

What People Love About Chalean Extreme

One of the things customers love about Chalean Extreme is that it’s easy to follow.  The calendar shows you exactly what you should be doing each day, and the food guide even tells you what you should be eating.  Everything is all laid out for you so that all you have to do is put in the time and sweat.

Most people were pleased to find that in just a few weeks, they were already seeing results.  If the program is followed closely, you’ll be burning fat very quickly.  The program uses interval training, which is known to get fast results.  It mixes cardio and weight training so that it gives your body some variety.  This is a challenge for your muscles, and this is the reason why it gets results so fast.

The timing of the workouts is one of the things people love about the Chalean Extreme workout.  The weight training sections are only a little over 30 minutes so it’s not too rigorous.  Cardio sessions run a bit longer and there are also smaller exercises that are just 10 minutes.  Everything is done in short sessions like this so that your muscle groups don’t get fatigued.  It’s also nice because it keeps it from being too intense.

Customers also love the host, personal trainer Chalene.  Although she pushes you pretty hard, she offers encouragement and has lots of personality, which makes working out with her fun.  She’s enthusiastic and energetic without being bubbly.  She’s also the main reason why women love Chalean Extreme so much.

The Downsides Of The Program

There were a few downsides reported by Amazon reviewers.  One was that you have to really follow the routine carefully if you want to see results.  Of course, you can mix it up anyway that you’d like to suit your own needs, but if you want to look like the people in the videos and get the most out of it, you’ve got to follow it strictly.

Some people who were die-hard exercisers found the program to be too easy.  It’s designed to start from 0 and get your body into shape, and the early parts of the program are essential for doing the later exercises.  Even though Chalean Extreme uses interval training, it’s not quite as rigorous and intense as some of the other programs that do.

Some reviewers didn’t like that fact that there’s no music.  For some programs, like Zumba and P90X, the music’s part of the experience, but with Chalean Extreme it’s all about the workout.  Although this is considered by many to be a downside, some reviewers saw it in a positive light, saying that it’s less gimmicky than other programs.

Where Can You Buy Chalean Extreme?

The best place to buy Chalean Extreme is from their official website.  There are other online dealers selling the product, but not all can give you the guarantee.  You also run the risk of not getting the complete set if you buy it used.  It’s always best to buy straight from the source.

Chalene Johnson is the host of the Chalean Extreme workout program.  She leads you through each step of the program, showing you how it’s done and offering words of encouragement.  Her popularity is one of the main reasons why this program is doing so well right now.

Who Is Chalene Johnson?

Many people know Chalene Johnson from her bestselling workout program Turbo Jam.  This program came out a few years ago and offered a wide variety of fat busting workouts set to music.  It was wildly popular, and many of the people who got into Turbo Jam were eagerly awaiting the release of Chalean Extreme.

In addition to being a fitness expert and coach, she is also a choreographer.  In addition to dance and fitness, she is known in the business world as an entrepreneur and has written several books on fitness and business.  She has also done clothing designing and motivational speaking.  She is also married and has 2 children.

Chalene Johnson Bio

Born in Michigan, from an early age she started taking dance classes.  Her parents say that she was interested in judo initially – at the age of 3!  Her mother was one of the first Jazzercise instructors in the state of Michigan, and she attended classes when she was a child.

Throughout her education, she studied everything related to physical fitness that she could get her hands on, including dance, fitness and martial arts.  After graduating from Michigan State University, she moved to California, where she put all of the things she’d learned into her unique style of fitness training.  Always with a keen ear for what people want, she’s been giving it to them ever since.

Why Everybody Loves Chalene Johnson

Chalene is popular for a number of reasons other than just knowing her stuff.  People who have tried her programs find her fun, motivational and encouraging.  She has lots of energy but isn’t over the top about it.  She isn’t as bubbly as some female hosts, and she doesn’t come off as a bimbo.  Her fans describe her as a housewife next door that kicks butt.

She’s also particularly popular with women because she’s not the humorless drill sergeant some trainers are.  She gives the impression of being an average woman who is totally fit, and this is something most women can relate to.

Chalene Johnson has produced a series of excellent exercise programs that mix various styles to produce results.  Chalean Extreme is the latest.

To read more about Chalene, check out Chalene Johnson’s Myspace page.

In order to stay fit, you need to burn more calories than you take in.  Exercise helps you do that in two different ways.  First, by moving it makes the muscles work harder, and for the energy they need they cook calories.  Second, exercise builds muscle tissue which raises your body’s overall metabolism.

If you consider these two factors, any exercise that gets your body moving and muscles growing will help you burn calories.  Most doctors recommend that you get 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day for the best results.  Here are the major types that work exceptionally well at it.

Running

According to the Mayo Clinic, running is the best exercise for burning the most calories.  You can burn nearly 1,000 in an hour of running, and if you add sprints and hills to your routine, you can cook even more.

Cardio Workout

There is a lot of misinformation out there about exactly what cardio means, but basically it is any activity that gets your blood pumping, your breath hard and your sweat glands pouring.  The whole point is to be active.  If you’re active, you’ll be burning more calories, and when you feel the strain on your body, that means you’re getting somewhere.

Weight Training

Building muscle through weight training is also a great long-term strategy for burning calories.  High intensity cardio will get them coming off quickly, but building muscle actually helps to speed up your metabolism, and then you’ll be burning more calories all the time.  Even when you’re going about your day, you’ll be staying slimmer because a better metabolic rate means that your body can more effectively use what you take in.

Interval Training

Any kind of interval training is great for burning calories.  Interval training is where you do short bursts of intense workout followed by periods of rest.  The idea is to mix up as many different exercises into your routine as possible in order to work out a variety of muscle groups.  This keeps you from plateauing or fatiguing any one particular group.  The changes in the frequency of intensity help your muscles to get more out of your workout.  Besides all of the benefits, it’s a lot more interesting than doing the same thing continuously.

Finally, your eating habits and lifestyle will have a huge influence on your metabolic rate. (Estimate your resting metabolic rate here.)  Stay active and make sure you get plenty of physical motion.  Eat light meals and snack in between with something healthy.  Have a light dinner and don’t eat too close to bedtime.  Some foods actually help you burn calories like leafy green vegetables.  Calorie burning should be something you do always and not just when you’re exercising.