If you’re looking for ChaLEAN Extreme reviews, you’ve landed on the right page.
The ChaLEAN Extreme workout was an instant hit with the public when it was released in 2009, and its popularity endures to this day.
A 90-day fitness program created by BeachBody in conjunction with well-known fitness expert Chalene Johnson, ChaLEAN Extreme is based on a technique known as Lean Phasing.
This technique uses healthy eating, cardio workouts, and resistance training to burn body fat and build lean muscle quickly.
Most people will see visible results within the first couple of weeks of starting the course. By the end of the program, a reduction in body fat of up to 60% is typical.
To find out more and determine if it will be right for you, read my Chalean Extreme review below.
Table of Contents
Whom does it suit?
ChaLEAN Extreme workouts are customizable to suit people of different fitness levels. If you are reasonably fit, follow Chalene’s version of the workout.
If you are new to exercising or haven’t exercised for a while, follow one of the modifiers demonstrating easier versions of Chalene’s moves
using resistance bands or lighter weights.
You should also follow the moderators if you have joint issues that require you to do a lower-impact workout.
NB: If you are new to exercise or have joint problems, check with your doctor before starting any new fitness program.
What is the ChaLEAN Extreme Workout Schedule?
You may find the ChaLEAN Extreme Workout Schedule fairly intense at first.
The ChaLEAN Extreme workout schedule consists of doing resistance training three times a week and cardio twice a week.
You get two rest days. These vary weekly, and the workouts will change throughout the course.
Exercising this way will keep your muscles constantly challenged.
It will also increase your metabolism during workouts and for hours afterward. As a result, you will burn additional calories and lose weight faster.
What is the vibe?
Chalene’s manner is positive and encouraging.
A countdown timer lets you know how much of the workout you still have to do. This can help you stay motivated at times you might feel like stopping.
Do I need to follow the diet?
Some people have obtained outstanding results by doing the ChaLEAN Extreme workouts without following the diet. It’s entirely up to you, but if you want to strip your excess body fat as well as tone up, exercise and diet combined will enable you to achieve your best possible shape.
ChaLEAN Extreme review – video overview
What’s in the Box?
ChaLEAN Extreme consists of 6 DVDs featuring a total of 15 workouts, a CD entitled Extreme Motivation, two books – the Muscle Burns Fat Guidebook and the Fat Burning Food Guide – a resistance band, a thigh toner band, and a body fat tester.
We will look at all of these in further detail below, starting with the DVDs.
The DVDs
The BeachBody ChaLEAN Extreme Workout DVDs consist of the following:-
• DVD 1 – Burn Basics, Band Basics & Healthy Eats & Kitchen Makeover (57 mins)
In this introductory DVD, the Burn Basics segment gives an overview of the program and shows the 
correct form to use when working out with dumbbells.
Band Basics is similar to Burn Basics, with resistance bands incorporated.
In Healthy Eats Kitchen Makeover, Chalene offers tips on and recommendations of the best foods to eat to get the optimum results.
• DVD 2 – Burn Circuit 1 (36 mins), Burn Circuit 2 (38 mins), and Burn Circuit 3 (32 mins)
The exercises you’ll be doing target the upper and lower body using a free weight as resistance.
The weight should be heavy enough to perform 10 to 12 reps while maintaining the correct form.
Burn Circuit 1 concentrates on the abs, upper back, and chest.
Burn Circuit 2 primarily targets the back, biceps, and triceps.
Burn Circuit 3 focuses on the deltoids, shoulders, and calves.
• DVD 3 – Push Circuit 1 (33 mins), Push Circuit 2 (35 mins), and Push Circuit 3 (35 mins)
ChaLEAN Extreme DVD 3 steps things up a notch for faster results.
Concentrating on one muscle group at a time, you will be working with a weight you can lift 6 to 8 times.
Push Circuit 1 homes in on the biceps, triceps, and lower body.
Push Circuit 2 targets the lower body, shoulders, and deltoids.
Push Circuit 3 targets the lower body, chest, and back.
• DVD 4 – Lean Circuit 1 (44 mins), Lean Circuit 2 (39 mins), and Lean Circuit 3 (39 mins)
The Lean Circuit phase of the workout concentrates mainly on the core, upper, and lower body.
You will do different exercises in each set, working with a weight you can lift 10 to 12 times.
At this point, your body fat level will have markedly decreased, and you will see a substantial improvement in your shape and muscle tone.
Lean Circuit 1 focuses on the biceps and triceps.
Lean Circuit 2 zeros in on the back and deltoids.
Lean Circuit 3 targets the chest and shoulders.
• DVD 5 – Burn Intervals (46 mins), Burn It Off! (27 mins) & Recharge (21 mins)
If you like cardio, you’ll love ChaLEAN Extreme DVD 5.
Starting with rapid-paced intervals that burn a high number of calories, you will then do Burn it Off!.
Your session will end with Recharge. This consists of yoga-inspired moves to stretch and elongate your muscles and impart a feeling of relaxation and well-being.
• DVD 5 BONUS – Ab Burner (10 1/2 mins) & Extreme Abs (16 1/2 mins)
Get the sexy, flat, toned abs and tiny waist you’ve been dreaming of with two very effective BONUS workouts, Ab Burner & Extreme Abs, that target the abs and core.
ChaLEAN Extreme Workout Extras
In this part of my ChaLEAN Extreme review, we will look at the tools that come with the kit. Included are:
- Extreme Motivation CD – This audio motivational CD explains food addiction, why you may not be losing weight, and a whole lot more.
- Pro-Grade Resistance Band – The resistance band increases fat burning and muscle toning.
- Thigh Toner Band – Enables you to tone your muscles even more effectively.
- Fat-Burning Food Guide – This step-by-step guide will teach you the best ways to burn the maximum amount of body fat. The Fat-Burning Food Guide contains over 80 healthy and delicious recipes.
- Muscle Burns Fat Guidebook – Helps you stay on track with your goals. Also included is a workout calendar.
- Body Fat Tester – This handy set of calipers will enable you to measure your body fat easily and track your progress throughout the program.
* If you’d prefer to use light dumbbells instead of resistance bands, you can do so and progress to heavier ones as you proceed through the course.
As a general guideline, weights of between 5 and 30 pounds are recommended for women, with 12 to 40 pounds recommended for men.
Most people can comfortably work with heavier dumbbells for some exercises but need lighter ones for others.
ChaLEAN Extreme Meal Plan
The ChaLEAN Extreme Meal Plan calorie allowance is in the 1,200 to 1,500 per day range for women.
Men are allowed between 1,400 and 1,700 calories a day.
The allocations are divided between three small, balanced meals and two snacks.
Eating this way will keep your body constantly fueled, so it resists storing calories and building fat stores. 
For best results, the food you eat should contain the mix of protein, fats, and carbs outlined in the ChaLEAN Extreme Meal Plan.
As you progress through the three phases of the workout – Burn, Push, and Lean – your body fat level will decrease, and your metabolic rate will accelerate.
At this point, your ChaLEAN Extreme Meal Plan calorie allowance will increase.
During the Burn phase, the basis of the diet is protein-rich foods, vegetables, and foods low in refined carbs and fats.
In the Push phase, additional protein-based foods and more calories are allowed.
Upon reaching the Lean phase, you will consume larger quantities of the foods eaten during the Burn phase.
It’s recommended that you drink 8 x 8-ounce glasses of water a day, including one glass half an hour before meals.
This will take the edge off your appetite, so you will be satisfied with smaller portions of food.
Final Thoughts on the ChaLEAN Extreme Workout
Most reviewers are very happy with the BeachBody ChaLEAN Extreme workout schedule.
They appreciate that the sessions are quite short and very effective.
It’s worth noting, however, that some purchasers said they don’t find the program tough enough.
A few who undertook it claim their clothing became tighter due to an increase in their muscle mass.
These people are very much in the minority, with most people going down in clothing size.
If you are concerned, I recommend using weights at the lighter end of the recommended range rather than the upper end, which Chalene encourages.
Most reviewers have said Chalene is friendly and encouraging without being too perky or over-the-top. A few, however, stated that they would have preferred less talk.
The ChaLEAN Extreme meal plan has a more generous calorie allowance than many other fitness programs. This makes it easier to follow.
It also means that most will have more energy, even though they are working out. Even people who haven’t exercised before and don’t have a lot of stamina find this is often the case.
As with any fitness program, ChaLEAN Extreme workouts will not suit everyone.
However, if you’re in the market for an effective workout that will enable you to lose weight, decrease your body fat and develop strong, lean muscle without having to starve yourself or spend an hour a day at the gym, it’s worth a closer look.
Not the right workout for you? Click here to read reviews of alternatives.
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