Compare ChaLean Extreme and Cathe
- Thread starter jackie7
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Fit_mommy
Cathlete
They are totally different. Apples and Oranges. Atleast IMO.
CLX is all about heavy lifting. Phases 1 and 3 are compound moves for 10-12 reps. Phase 2 is one body part at a time for 6-8 reps. She works legs every day and upper body in a 3 day split formation. In the final phase she mixes it up by doing one work out from each phase every week. The work outs are short but work ya good if you lift heavy. The cardios are high impact drills like jump rope, burpees, etc. that wind you good and burn the legs. There is music but the work outs are not choreographed to it. You have the option of turning it off if you don't like it.
I love the program. I just started phase 3.
CLX is all about heavy lifting. Phases 1 and 3 are compound moves for 10-12 reps. Phase 2 is one body part at a time for 6-8 reps. She works legs every day and upper body in a 3 day split formation. In the final phase she mixes it up by doing one work out from each phase every week. The work outs are short but work ya good if you lift heavy. The cardios are high impact drills like jump rope, burpees, etc. that wind you good and burn the legs. There is music but the work outs are not choreographed to it. You have the option of turning it off if you don't like it.
I love the program. I just started phase 3.
They're on separate discs from the lifting workouts. Burn It Off is on the same disc as Recharge, which is a stretching/yoga type workout, and Burn Intervals is on the same disc as Ab Burner and Extreme Abs.
I like Chalean, but she doesn't come even close to Cathe. I've been spoiled by Cathe's supreme cueing (?) and the quality of her discs. I love premixes, chapters, and workut blenders. I hate BeachBody's commercials on all of the CLX discs.
Aquajock
Cathlete
Fitlulu, thanks so much for your information and candor. Another few dollars saved. I've lost count of the number of DVDs I've bought that purport to be "intense" and in reality are "zzzzzzzzzzzzzz"
Shock Cardio can't come soon enough!
A-Jock
Fit_mommy
Cathlete
I personally find the cardio work in CLX to be intense. I have no complaints there! There are a few moves that are a little light but overall I think they are great work outs!
ITA that no one can hold a candle to Cathe as far as production quality goes. She puts in so many extra details that no one else does!
That being said though, I think Beach Body's production quality is still very good and the work outs/programs are pretty top notch IMO. Of course not every program will suit every person but I am a definite fan overall.
ITA that no one can hold a candle to Cathe as far as production quality goes. She puts in so many extra details that no one else does!
That being said though, I think Beach Body's production quality is still very good and the work outs/programs are pretty top notch IMO. Of course not every program will suit every person but I am a definite fan overall.
nightowl81
Cathlete
I like CLX cardio also, I can't wait for the Insanity program to come out since it looks similar x100!
For weights, I think Cathe is still "better" for form and general following along and gym style weight training to build muscle. Cathe also covers floor work in most of her leg workouts.
With CLX you are counting your own reps and not really following along with Chalene so you have to watch your own form (she stops after a couple of reps). But for weight loss I can see how CLX is more effective since the workouts are intense, lifting heavy weights and doing upper and lower at the same time. Even in the Push phase you alternating upper and lower body, which is better for overall fat loss. The workouts are short enough so you can do more cardio (another reason better for weight loss), and the shorter workouts can make this a good maintenance program.
For weights, I think Cathe is still "better" for form and general following along and gym style weight training to build muscle. Cathe also covers floor work in most of her leg workouts.
With CLX you are counting your own reps and not really following along with Chalene so you have to watch your own form (she stops after a couple of reps). But for weight loss I can see how CLX is more effective since the workouts are intense, lifting heavy weights and doing upper and lower at the same time. Even in the Push phase you alternating upper and lower body, which is better for overall fat loss. The workouts are short enough so you can do more cardio (another reason better for weight loss), and the shorter workouts can make this a good maintenance program.
karenc1
Cathlete
I don't have CLX but I just did meso 3 disc 25 of STS yesterday and I plan on finishing the program. Regarding effectiveness, I've gone from 2 chinups to 2 sets of 12 chinups. (I can do a 3rd set but only 5 negative chinups at this point) I did 8 reps/4 sets of deadlifts at least 85 lbs, bench press 70 lbs, chest flies at 50 lbs, lat pulls at 75 lbs. I know I can go heavier on chest and legs but I don't have a spotter so I've been cautious. When I do STS, I think it was so worth the price, especially because I preordered the workouts. It's seamlessly edited so I don't feel like I'm doing the same workout every week. CLX sounds good too - but I'm happy with what I have right now. I've been able to keep up my cardio - I run 3-4 miles 3-5x per week. I also offroad bike on occasion. It's been a little daunting at times because if I run before an STS workout, it's about 90 minutes of workout time. I've managed so far. Yesterday, I could only do the weights from disc 25 but it was a 68 minute workout and that was all I had time to do. I really enjoyed it. /karen
fit44
Cathlete
CLX helped prepare me for intensity of STS.
If you have not done a lot of heavy lifting, CLX is a perfect way to condition yourself for heavier lifting. It's total body, combination moves, heavy weights, low rep count, with very slow-controlled movements. No swinging weights in this program.
When I revisit the rotation(after 5 months of STS), I will most likely add in some floor/barre type work at the end of each circuit.
I thoroughly enjoy Chalene as an instructor. She is fun and motivating but this program is not as intense as STS.
If you have not done a lot of heavy lifting, CLX is a perfect way to condition yourself for heavier lifting. It's total body, combination moves, heavy weights, low rep count, with very slow-controlled movements. No swinging weights in this program.
When I revisit the rotation(after 5 months of STS), I will most likely add in some floor/barre type work at the end of each circuit.
I thoroughly enjoy Chalene as an instructor. She is fun and motivating but this program is not as intense as STS.
I do think CLX can be as intense as you want to make it, I'm just spoiled by Cathe. I prefer my workouts to be choreographed to the music, which CLX is not. Since I don't actually "watch" my TV while working out, I'm usually either ahead or behind Chalene and the group because she changes the speed of the exercises throughout. I did Lean #1 today for the first time, and while I enjoyed the workout it can be difficult to follow. Her bicep curls were super slow and then the tricep exercises were considerably faster. She'd be ready for the extreme moves, and I'm still trying to finish the set.
I also haven't lost any weight or inches using the program. Good thing for me that I love to workout or this would be very discouraging. I don't regret having bought this program, but I haven't fell in love with it like I usually do with Cathe's sets when they come out. I think I mostly bought it because I had an itch to scratch--STS had just come out and I didn't order it but wanted something new. I also thought CLX was something different than it turned out to be.
Enough rambling. . .
amazondotmom
Cathlete
I LOVE IT!
I feel a little bit uncomfortable talking about another program that is not Cathe's but I will say that I was not disappointed! I was a Firm Believer 18 years ago and converted to Cathe. I have done mostly Cathe workouts for the last 10 years, I have everything of hers except the STS series. I'm extremely picky about my workouts. My husband lost his job so right now the STS program is not in the budget, someday I'll get it. I have had great results! I'm not lifting any heavier but I've leaned out and finally got rid of that last 5 lbs from my 3rd child (3 years ago). I did TurboKick for 8 years and I was familiar with Chalene so I thought I would give this program a try. I really didn't expect much but I've been pleasantly surprised. I love the shorter workouts! I also wanted to add that I never did a full "rotation" so this may have been a problem for me. My typical "rotation" was something like this, I would do the Intensity series one week and then Slow & Heavy sprinkled with 2 step workouts another week, and then Hardcore for the next 2 weeks. Then I would change to Jari Love workouts for a week or two and then go back to Cathe. This is just my opinion, you won't regret this program!
*Also, Chalene's form pointers have helped me too. I found myself doing some of the moves incorrectly and now I've changed some of my bad habits which has led to better results.
I feel a little bit uncomfortable talking about another program that is not Cathe's but I will say that I was not disappointed! I was a Firm Believer 18 years ago and converted to Cathe. I have done mostly Cathe workouts for the last 10 years, I have everything of hers except the STS series. I'm extremely picky about my workouts. My husband lost his job so right now the STS program is not in the budget, someday I'll get it. I have had great results! I'm not lifting any heavier but I've leaned out and finally got rid of that last 5 lbs from my 3rd child (3 years ago)
. I did TurboKick for 8 years and I was familiar with Chalene so I thought I would give this program a try. I really didn't expect much but I've been pleasantly surprised. I love the shorter workouts! I also wanted to add that I never did a full "rotation" so this may have been a problem for me. My typical "rotation" was something like this, I would do the Intensity series one week and then Slow & Heavy sprinkled with 2 step workouts another week, and then Hardcore for the next 2 weeks. Then I would change to Jari Love workouts for a week or two and then go back to Cathe. This is just my opinion, you won't regret this program!*Also, Chalene's form pointers have helped me too. I found myself doing some of the moves incorrectly and now I've changed some of my bad habits which has led to better results.
earlyexerciser39
Cathlete
I found the cardio to be very fun and very motivating. I was not disappointed at all! I will reach for these again soon! I am healing from a broken foot (5th metatarsal) right now, so ChaLean (and Cathe!) have to wait a little bit for me!!
Just another Yay for CLX cardio here! (And the weights...I got STRONG with this one and quite lean, too!!) I did an 8 week rotation before getting sidelined by my foot.
Jenn
Just another Yay for CLX cardio here! (And the weights...I got STRONG with this one and quite lean, too!!) I did an 8 week rotation before getting sidelined by my foot.
Jenn