You’ve decided to buy P90X and get in the absolute best shape of your life. So like all of us would do, you search around for the best deal. You might also consider purchasing a used P90X program. As a fitness coach and an “official retailer” of the P90X workout, let me break down for you the pro’s and the con’s of buying a used P90X. Before I get any further, let me qualify the term “official retailer”. Extremely-Fit sells the exact same product as Beachbody, as we obtain this product from Beachbody. Please be careful where you purchase, you don’t want a “knockoff” or a “fake” as some of the sellers on Ebay are offering. These are likely only copies of the original, and may or may not be properly recorded or copied, or contain everything you need.

• Make sure everything is included. The used P90X should come with at least the following: 12 DVD’s, a fitness guide, a nutrition guide, a calendar, and a “how to” dvd. You may want to review our item description for a new P90X program. This will provide you with everything you need to know about what you need with your used P90X program. You want as much of the contents as possible.
• Make sure the used P90X comes with both of the guides! You want to make sure you get a nutritional guide and a fitness guide! Don’t skip the guides! I have people contact me all the time, asking questions about the nutritional plan, and what order they should do the workouts. What does this tell me? They researched the best price of P90X, and thought they purchased the entire kit, but ended up with a copied set of DVD’s. Or alternatively, they purchased P90X, for less, and had no idea it came with a nutritional and fitness guide. Don’t let this happen to you! This is the number one reason I am writing this article. Just because you have the DVD’s, does not mean you have everything you need to get in great shape. The fitness and nutritional guides are very important. Diet and exercise go hand in hand, and ensure your success! Especially the nutritional guide. It explains everything! How much to eat, what to eat, and how to make sure you are eating the right foods.
• Make sure your used P90X DVD’s are in working condition. This program goes in phases of 30 days each, and each phase is depending on specific DVD’s for that phase. If one of your DVD’s is not working, you miss that workout, which has a vital role in the program. I know for a fact that when you purchase a new P90X, you get a 90 day guarantee. At least you do from Beachbody or from our store. So if you find out 30 days into the program, that your 2nd month DVD is not working, you can get a replacement for free. Does your 3rd party sellers offer this on their used P90X? Find out about the guarantee! You can check out our guarantee by clicking here.
• Make sure you are buying an original copy of P90X. Make sure the person selling the used P90X program has a legitimate (original) copy of the program. There are sellers out there (Ebay and others) selling a product that is a “copy” of the original. This is pirated software and illegal. Please be careful.

In summary. I believe there are some great deals on a used P90X program. Perhaps people that bought P90X, tried it, and found it was not for them. But be careful who you buy from. Make sure you get a legitimate copy that has all the important parts of the program. I have been using P90X since January of 2006, it’s a program that you can repeat over and over, and I wholeheartedly believe, it is worth the retail price. If in doubt, buy a new copy of the P90X program.

Many women who want to get in shape think their best plan of attack is to spend hours on the treadmill. Sure, cardiovascular exercise like that burns fat. However, it’s far from the most effective weight loss method. In fact, only participating in cardio exercise fails to boost metabolism for the long term. It also leads to boredom and over time, your body stops getting challenged.

So, why don’t more women expand their fitness regimen? Well, it seems many females are afraid to include weight training in their routine. They fear lifting weights will cause them to “bulk up” and look masculine. As a result, they either avoid weights entirely, or use weights so light they can easily do twenty to fifty repetitions. The truth, though, is that resistance training with weights is the number one way to get in shape – no matter what gender you are.

What makes resistance training so important? Well, when you build muscle, you help your body burn fat even when it’s at rest. Muscle mass requires more energy than fat. Therefore, it eats up more calories even when you’re sleeping. Also, lean muscle mass is not inherently “bulky.” Gaining muscle will not automatically make you big. Instead, it will give your body a lean, toned physique, one you can be proud of and one you will want to show off.

So, how can someone start building muscle and burning fat quickly? It all comes down to keeping your body challenged. After weeks and months of the same activity, your muscles simply won’t respond to your fitness routine. To keep increasing your fitness, you need to incorporate variety. For example, the ChaLEAN Extreme program offers several different exercises and routine to keep your muscles guessing, also called muscle confusion. Programs like this also vary the weight and repetitions you use. This forces your body to constantly readjust and push itself further, which in turn continually improves your level of fitness.

Finally, even after reading all this, many women may still say no to muscle building exercises. Why? For the simple reason that they don’t want to go to the gym to lift weights. After all, that’s where all the guys go to weight train right? While the gym might have more equipment, practical fitness does not require all the extra gear. In fact, home routines can be just as effective as spending hours at the gym and a fortune on monthly membership fees. The best home workouts are those that are all-inclusive, easy to follow, and uses modern technology. The ChaLEAN Extreme program for instance, demonstrates several variations. You can use dumbbells, resistance bands, or an adjustable dumbbell (I use PowerBlocks). ChaLEAN Extreme also features simple, carefully illustrated DVDs as well as an instructional DVD and additional guidebooks (both a fitness and nutritional guide).

So, if you’re looking to completely makeover your body, get off the treadmill. Take a break from your endless hours of tedious cardio and grab some of those dumbbells. The more you challenge your body, the more muscle you will build, and the more muscle you build the faster you burn fat. It’s really that simple. Programs like ChaLEAN Extreme are the best way to get you started, and offers the variety to keep you going for months!

When it comes to getting into shape, most of us have the same goals. First, we want a program that is easy to follow. After all, we lead busy lives and have enough to think about without trying to figure out a complicated fitness regimen. These time constraints also mean that most of us do not want to commit an excessive amount of time to getting into shape. The quicker the results, the more likely most of us are to stick with a program. Finally, we want a program that will keep us interested. Boredom simply does not mesh well with an exercise commitment.

Finding a program that meets all these requirements and more can be tough. However, there is one routine that fits the mold.

The Turbo Jam Maximum Results fitness program comes with everything you need to get in shape quickly, simply, and in the comfort of your own home.

In one kit, you get enough workout variety and nutritional support to get the body you want with minimal time commitment. Let’s take a closer look at the Turbo Jam Maximum Results and see how it can completely revitalize your body and your life.

One of the things that truly stands out about Turbo Jam Maximum Results as compared to other programs is the sheer variety it offers. You honestly will not get bored with this system. For a dedicated toning session, you get the 40-minute Turbo Sculpt session. This part of the program focuses in on the most common “trouble spots” people have. Turbo Jam also includes a 50-minute kickboxing type routine, a 45-minute cardio session and 20-minute abdominal / core workout.

The “Elite 11” moves are another major component of the Turbo Jam Maximum Results results. These are a group of simple exercises that target key muscle groups and work them to maximum capacity. This helps you burn fat while building muscle. Remember, every ounce of muscle you put on helps you burn more calories and fat each and every day.

Finally, your Turbo Jam Maximum Results kit is rounded out with a few extra features that can really boost your results. First, you get the Turbo Sculpting Gloves. These weighted slip-ons forces your upper body muscles to work harder without having to deal with bulky weights or confusing bands. Turbo Jam also comes with a diet plan to promote good nutrition. After all, you can workout all you want, but you simply will not get results unless you feed your body the right foods. Turbo Jam makes it easy by providing pre-designed meal plans. Plus, your kit also includes a measuring tape and tracking card because when you get measurable results, you are more likely to stick with your exercise program.

Another outstanding feature of Turbo Jam Maximum Results is the energy level is inspires. All your workouts are hosted by Chalene Johnson, an energetic fitness instructor and industry celebrity. Her fun and friendly personality keeps you moving through each workout session. Plus, the DVDs are loaded with high-energy dance tunes. Anyone who’s tried to exercise knows that the right music can make all the difference when it comes to staying interested and energetic.

Sure, staying interested is great, but what you really want to know is what results Turbo Jam gives, right? Well, there is a reason the program’s name states “maximum results.” With traditional workout programs, you get either a dedicated cardio or a dedicated strength training regimen. However, this program combines both to yield fast results. One study showed that the average participant in Turbo Jam could burn off up to 1,000 calories in a single hour of exercise! In just a few weeks, you will see noticeable muscle toning and significant fat loss.

Ultimately, the Turbo Jam Maximum Results experience gives you unprecedented flexibility. Short on time? Try the twenty-minute Ab Jam workout to improve your core. Want a longer session? Pop in the Turbo Sculpt DVD and really break a sweat. Want to get your heart rate up and blast away calories? Then go for the Cardio Party session. The system is truly able to fit any schedule.

Still unsure about trying Turbo Jam Maximum Results?

Well, last year alone more than 1 million people dedicated themselves to the program. Plus, you get free 24 / 7 support online with the Turbo Jam community. So, if you are looking for a simple, all-inclusive way to get into shape, Turbo Jam Maximum Results could be the perfect solution.

Working out is great for your health and your physique. However, it does come with some risks. Every time you push through a workout you put your body at risk for injury. A fitness injury can be painful, inconvenient, and ruin your exercise regimen. Thankfully, though, there are ways to keep your body in top condition at every workout. In addition to practicing proper form and using equipment safely, you can significantly cut your risk of injury by regularly stretching your muscles.

When you stretch your body, you improve muscle flexibility. This helps you move your muscles over a greater range of motion. Consequently, your muscles are less likely to tear as you move through resistance moves or participate in cardiovascular activities. Additionally, stretching relaxes your muscles, making them less tight and preventing post-workout stiffness. Tight muscles waste energy and can fatigue more quickly than those that are relaxed. Plus, relaxed muscles are less susceptible to stress and can heal faster after a tough workout.

Believe it or not, stretching is not as simple as it may seem. So, before you institute a stretching regimen, be sure you understand the different kinds of stretches. All stretches can be divided into two basic types: static and dynamic. Static stretching is the most common, and safest, way to improve flexibility. During static stretching, you move your joint through its greatest range of motion and hold the final position for 20 to 30 seconds. While this will produce a pulling sensation, it should not cause considerable pain or discomfort. For maximum flexibility gains, you should try to perform at least static stretches per muscle group. In some static stretching routines, you may work with a partner to slowly push beyond your normal range of motion. This blends static with the next form of stretching, dynamic.

In dynamic stretching, you gradually push further into the stretch over the course of eight to twelve repetitions. This type of stretching needs to be controlled and use no quick, jerking movements. If care is not taken, dynamic stretching can certainly lead to injry. Whereas static stretching is usually done at the end of a workout, dynamic stretching is more suited for the beginning as it can warm up your muscles.

Stretching should never be done immediately after resting for a long period. Rather, you want your muscles to be warmed up before you begin. This increases blood flow to the muscles, which makes them more flexible and less likely to experience strain. Some people also believe this improved circulation can aid your overall health by increasing the transportation of nutrients to cells. If you are a P90X fan, this is the same reason Tony Horton has you do a quick warm-up before the stretch.

When you add stretching to your exercise regimen, you truly do wonders for your body. Not only do you decrease your risk of injury, you better prepare your muscles for each subsequent workout. So, pick a few simple stretches and start improving your flexibility today, and enjoy the rewards of what stretching can do for your workouts. Some suggestions:

Tony Horton has a stretching routine, called X-Stretch in the P90X workout which is excellent! It’s very thorough, well laid out, and is a complete stretch from head to toe, my favorite.

Also from Tony Horton is Yoga Flex in 10 Minute Trainer (Approx. 10 minutes), Great Stretch Guaranteed, (10 minutes), and Power Half Hour also has a good routine, called Power Stretch (approx. 30 minutes).

Debbie Siebers has a couple in her programs. Slim & Limber for Slim in 6 (14 minutes), Cool it Off in the Slim Series (approx. 30 minutes), and Cool it Off Express for Slim Series Express (40 minutes).

I’m sure there are other programs for stretching out there, but I have found these to be great sources for my own personal fitness. On a final note, here is a short video from Tony Horton and his thoughts on stretching and the P90X X-Stretch.

So, you’ve been working out for some time and are really starting to see results. Then, suddenly, you can’t seem to make any improvements to your fitness level. Your workouts seem easier and your body isn’t as sore the next day. Plus, your muscles simply aren’t growing. What is the cause of all this? The answer is simple: boredom.

Even though your mind may not be bored by your workout regimen, your muscles probably are. If you consistently do the same exercises week after week, you are bound to hit the dreaded workout plateau. To fix this, you need to keep your muscles interested in your workout. How can you do this?

Well, you can confuse your muscles by varying your workout routine, Muscle Confusion.

In addition to challenging your body and promoting bigger gains, muscle confusion can also protect against injury. If you consistently perform the same routine, you will always be working the same muscle fibers. By altering your moves, you can strengthen your muscles from new angles. This helps create a balance in strength that will protect you from sprains and other overuse injuries.

The big thing to remember when trying to confuse your muscles is that you want to keep working the same muscles just in a new, different way. For example, you may switch from a regular bench press to a chest press with dumbbells. You can do this with any muscles by simply switching between designated machines, cables, resistance bands, and free weights.

In addition to changing your moves, you can also change other variables in your workout. For example, you can add or remove a set and change the number or repetitions done. Similarly, you can change the weight you lift for a particular move. Alternating between a lower weight (10-12 per set) and a higher one (6-8 per set) on different days can really challenge your body.

Most experts recommend varying your routine at least every four weeks to keep muscles confused. Remember, there are hundreds of exercises out there. So, you should never feel trapped into your existing routine. If you are stuck trying to find some new moves, try surfing the web or asking a personal trainer. You can also swap routines with fellow fitness buffs. Even better, choose a workout program that is specifically designed to confuse your muscles week after week.

Choosing a program specifically designed for muscle confusion is my personal preference. Fitness trainers like Tony Horton with P90X and Chalene Johnson with ChaLEAN Extreme, are excellent choices. These programs vary your workouts to maximize the Muscle Confusion concept, which in turn maximizes your results!

As with any fitness program, practicing muscle confusion requires certain principles be adhered to. First, make sure you utilize proper form for maximum results with minimal injury risk. Also, be sure to give your muscles time to rest between workouts and fuel up with proper nutrition. Remember, just because your routine changes, doesn’t mean your healthy lifestyle should too.

For more information on Muscle Confusion, watch the P90X Muscle Confusion video.

If you want to reach your ultimate potential when it comes to fitness, then you first have to fail. This means pushing your muscles to the point where they cannot continue to properly perform an exercise. To achieve muscle failure, your last rep should reach the point where you could not execute another repetition without assistance. When done properly, this type of workout can maximize your strength and muscle gains.

Muscle failure has become the key component in the “high intensity training” weightlifting movement. Under the high intensity training (or HIT) model, short but intense workouts are prescribed for maximum gains in minimal time. Additionally, due to the effort exerted in an HIT workout that goes to muscle failure, someone participating in such a fitness regimen will require greater amounts of rest and recovery. During this recovery, muscles experience extensive growth as they try to heal after being pushed to failure. Remember, muscles grow larger and stronger by rebuilding the fibers that have been strained during exercise.

Muscle failure has proven exceptionally successful for people known as “hard gainers.” Hard gainers are individuals who find it nearly impossible to increase their muscle mass due to their bodies’ natural inclination to be skinny. However, everyone can benefit from incorporating muscle failure exercises into their fitness routine. Why? Because muscle burns fat. (more on that later).

Two excellent programs for reaching muscle failure is the new ChaLEAN Extreme and the ever popular P90X! Each program emphasizes this process called muscle failure. In order to consistently reach this goal, though, you will need to keep track of the weights you use each workout session. Remember, as the sets get easier, you need to up the weights to keep challenging your body. The last 3 reps of each exercise should be hard. And the last rep should be the last rep you can perform with good form.

Much controversy exists around the training to failure issue. While many bodybuilders practice this method of training, others are not convinced of its merits. Those who do not support muscle failure fear it can be dangerous. This is true, but only if you do not practice proper safety and form. When working to muscle failure, you want to push your body to perform repetitions until no more can be sustained with proper form. Some people try to push even further, though, by continuing to move through repetitions using improper technique. This can lead to injury and even over training. When either of these results occurs, strength gains will obviously be less apparent.

Ultimately, working to muscle failure can help you challenge your body, push past a workout plateau, and reach a new fitness peak. This exercise principle encourages the growth of new muscle mass. As anyone interested in fitness knows, this increased mass means greater calorie burns each day. Subsequently, increased muscle mass is directly related to faster weight loss. So, if you want to gain muscle, lose weight, and reach your peak potential, remember to push your hardest at each workout. If you try hard, you can fail, and if you fail, you will grow.

Download your ChaLEAN Extreme Worksheets here.

If you’re working out with ChaLEAN Extreme, Chalene Johnson is constantly reminding you to track your progress.  Personally, I feel like there are two reasons to track your progress using the ChaLEAN Extreme Worksheets.

1. When I first started working out with P90X, I started writing down my weight and my reps for each exercise.  It’s encouraging to look back over time and see where you started, to see where you’ve improved.  For example, I started P90X only being able to perform 3 wide grip chin ups.  Today I can easily perform 15 wide grip chin ups, with good form.  To me that’s encouraging.  So that’s one important reason to track your progress with the ChaLEAN Extreme Worksheets.

2. To improve with each day, week, and month, you have to push yourself beyond your comfort zone.  Constantly strive to improve your number of reps, or amount of weight each time you do an exercise.  For example, let’s say on week 5, you start Push Circuit 1. If you do the Standard Biceps with 15 lbs, and are able to perform 7 reps, then the following week, your goal should be 8 reps. Once you hit 8 reps, raise your weight to 20 lbs.  You see what I mean?  How can you challenge and push yourself, if you don’t know what you’ve done the week before?  And now that I think about it, I personally have a third reason for using the ChaLEAN Extreme Worksheets.

3. Using the worksheets, whether it be with ChaLEAN Extreme or P90X, prevents me from “bailing out” too early.  Going back to the Push Circuit 1 example.  If I lift 15 lbs, and get 7 reps, then I KNOW I can do AT LEAST that amount.  So when I’m feeling “tired and run down” I can’t use that as an excuse.  I will ALWAYS lift what I did the week before at a MINIMUM, and ALWAYS strive to improve.

So there you have it, 3 reasons to use the ChaLEAN Extreme Worksheets. I have used that phrase throughout this blog post so that you can download your extra copies.  Just click a link.  Obviously, you can use the workbook that came with the program, but what about round 2?  And round 3?  Remember, we’re in this together, whether it’s ChaLEAN Extreme or P90X, or whatever program you’re on, just keep pushing play, set goals, try new programs, and stay fit!  Contact me anytime for help, encouragement, questions.

Welcome back for more ChaLEAN Extreme Reviews! Before I get started into today’s review of Push Circuit 3, I wanted to go off track just a little bit. If you want to skip my “side track”, scroll down to the bold title print “ChaLEAN Extreme Review: Push Circuit 3″ below.

I wanted to say that this week was especially rewarding for me. Last week I was forced to miss a week of workouts due to an ice storm. The storm knocked out our electricity for a week! So getting back into the workouts was a great feeling. But what was even more rewarding was the feedback and comments I have been receiving regarding the ChaLEAN Extreme Reviews. It’s encouraging to know that there are other people out there working hard, losing weight, and getting in shape. Most importantly, they are making a lifestyle change to improve their quality of life. I love the feedback, comments and testimonials. Keep them coming! It’s nice to know that while I write these reviews alone, others are getting something from them as well. Email me anytime, even if it’s just to say Hi!

ChaLEAN Extreme Reviews: Push Circuit 3.

My alarm clock is far from welcome in my house. But I have to give it some credit, we have something in common. We are both consistent! Every morning at 5:30am the alarm clock goes off, and every morning at 5:30am, I get out of bed. This is the first step to being successful in your workout program. Get moving! Set a time, and be consistent. When that time comes, start moving! Next thing you know, you’re dressed and in your gym clothes, and the DVD is turning in the player, and before you know it, Chalene Johnson has you started with the “shoulder rolls”. Then some squats, followed by some triceps, hamstring stretches, and a few other “consistent” stretches of the ChaLEAN Extreme warm up. Right up through the warm up, it’s like every other Burn or Push Circuit, and it’s consistent. I like consistency. After the warm up though, we get into something different, and different is good too. Challenging the body with different exercises is going to force your muscles to adapt and grow. And we want to grow, more muscle, means we burn more fat. Burning more fat means we are burning more calories. And we all want to burn fat, burn calories, and get lean and fit!

Just like Push Circuit 1 and Push Circuit 2, we want to reach muscle failure between 6 and 8 reps. Meaning we want to keep good form, and want our last rep to be the absolute last rep you can do, while maintaining GOOD form. And remember, we are lifting SLOW.

Sumo Squat. Your stance here is double shoulder width apart. Taking a heavy set of weights, rest them on your quads. Now lower yourself slowly into a sumo squat, pause, then raise back up just as slow.

Single Arm Row. In a “runner type stance” with one leg in front of the other, hold your weight down to your side, and lift it slowly upwards, pause, and then lower the weight down. After you FAIL between 6 – 8 reps, switch sides. If you hit 8 reps, then you need to raise the weight next time.

Chest Fly. Lying on your back, carefully get the weights into position, like your are going to do a bench press. But instead of lifting the weight straight up, you are going to perform a chest fly. Try your absolute best to keep your elbows off the floor as you lower the weights. And when you reach the top of the rep, keep the weights about 4 inches apart.

Bowler’s Lunge. If you have been doing the ChaLEAN Extreme program, this position is nothing NEW. So in your bowler’s lunge, lower your body, with weights in each hand, as LOW as you can go with good form, then raise back up.

Extreme Set. Your extreme set for this move will be done twice. After each leg. This was hard work for me this morning. I was feeling ambitious with 45lb each.

Double Arm Bent Over Row. Just like the single arm row, but you are working both arms at the same time. If you lift and pause, and lower slow, you should really feel this working!

Extreme Set. And if you failed between 6 – 8 reps on the last move, this set will really be fun and interesting. Just imagine that you are burning fat and building muscle, it helps me, otherwise I might try to quit early.

Bench Press. Again you will be lying on your back, but instead of a chest fly, you will do the traditional bench press. I really exaggerated the slow movement, and my arms were shaking by rep number 8. I love these workouts!

Extreme Set. After I finished the bench press, and was taking my 10 second break, I really had to get my mind right to get these next 3 extreme reps. Wow.

Single Leg Sumo Squat. This is just like the first sumo squat, except you lean to one side slightly and raise up on your toes on one side. For example, you lean to the right side, in your sumo squat, then raise onto your left toes. You are trying to isolate one leg for the squat. (Personally, not my favorite move of the workout). You will do an Extreme Set after each leg.

Reverse Grip Bent Over Row. The same exercise as the double arm row, except you are turning your palms away from you. I dropped down in weight on this one, my arms and shoulders were felling pretty toasted at this point. Then you guessed it……..

Extreme Set. You know deep down you love the extreme sets.

Long Arm Pull Over. This last exercise was a favorite of mine for this workout. You are on your back again with a single weight. using both hands extend the weight straight up. Keeping your arms straight, lower the weight behind your head, but don’t touch the floor. Then bring it straight back up again.

Extreme Set. So now you are on the last move of your Push Circuit 3, and it’s Friday. Good things!

Another great workout! I’m proud of each of you for making it to week 5 or beyond. Even if you are not there yet, week 1 or 2. I’m proud of you for making the firs step to getting in shape. And finally, if you are contemplating ChaLEAN Extreme, what are you waiting for? Jump in with us, we’re in this together. Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog, and email me.

Have a great weekend and thanks again for reading my ChaLEAN Extreme Reviews!

A pizza crust, a cupcake with the frosting licked off, and a crumpled candy bar—if you’re not a parent, you would call these things “garbage.” But if you are a parent, especially and a mom, this sad lineup may be known to you as your lunch.

Let’s face it, for most parents, the main challenge to maintaining a healthy diet isn’t crème brûlée or sausage tortellini in Gorgonzola cream sauce—it’s a sandwich baggy full of goldfish crackers. It’s not that we crave, or even particularly enjoy, our kids’ leftovers. It’s that putting food, any kind of food, in the hands of a stressed, overtired parent is like handing an axe to a lumbering psychopath in a hockey mask—NOT a good idea.

Article Written by Carolyn Townsend

And it’s the festive occasions that are the real killers—birthday parties, post-soccer pizza, or, heaven help us, a trip to a certain restaurant presided over by a fun-loving rodent or a grinning, redheaded clown. Now, I’m not going to wade into the raging debate on kids’ nutrition. I’ve seen calm, levelheaded parents come to blows over whether or not refined sugar is the devil’s dandruff. But, here are a few tips to guide you, the parent, through the valley of the shadow of saturated fats and high fructose corn syrup.

• The pen is mightier than the sorbet. Put a magic marker in your pocket, not in your purse—you may not have it when you really need it. Stay armed and ready at all times. Then, as soon as your child gets a plate of pizza, cake, or mac and cheese, write his or her name on it (99 percent of kid party food is served on disposable plates). Inevitably, your precious darling will stop mid-meal to run off and look at a bug or a Barbie . . . And your darling will ask you to “watch” his or her food. If the plate has an ID tag, then you can keep track of it without actually holding onto it.The same also goes for drinks. Remember that your average apple juice box, that ubiquitous kid beverage of choice, contains the equivalent of 6 teaspoons of sugar. So mark it, put it down, and point that tiny sipping straw away from you.
• Talk trash. Before the food is served, ask your charming host or hostess where the garbage goes. That trash can is your new best friend. The second your thoughtful spawn hands you a plate of half-eaten cake and kindly offers to let you finish it, thank him or her—and make a beeline to the trash can.If you’re the host, put out recycling and garbage bags where everyone can see them. They’re not the most elegant party decorations, but you’re not serving cocktails to a royal family.
• The host with the most least. If you are the lucky host, you have more control over the healthy-to-junk ratio. But this is after all a party for kids. If you fill a piñata with carrot and celery sticks, you might not be very popular.But you can reduce portion sizes without being a party pooper. Smaller servings are better for everyone—kids, parents, and even the planet. Cut pizza slices in half, dish out smaller servings of ice cream, and push those carrot sticks with the persistence of a used car salesman! Even the cake size can be reduced. Just bake it in a cookie sheet. That way, you have a thinner cake. You’ll also need less frosting.
• Fill ‘er up. Do not attend (or even host) any gathering of tiny people on an empty stomach. The kid party witching hours are usually from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. So before you strap the kids in the car seats, make sure that you have had at least a filling snack from the top tiers of Michi’s Ladder. A serving of nonfat yogurt with fresh blueberries stirred in is a delicious alternative to congealed cheese pizza.And while you’re at the party, ask for a big glass of water. It’ll help fill you up, and at the very least, you’ll have one less free hand for snack holding, or unconscious eating.
• Crappy meal alert. So the soccer coach is taking the kids out for fast food to celebrate their first goal (all right, so they scored it for the opponents by kicking it into the opposing team’s net, but a goal’s a goal). If you’ve been drafted as a chaperone/enforcer, remember that the best offense is a good defense. The nutritional information for most chain restaurant menus is available online. So do a little research beforehand, and remember to pay extra attention to add-ons like dipping sauces and salad dressings—some of them contain more fat and calories than an entrée.
• Oh goodie, it’s over. Not so fast. You made it through the party without falling off the food wagon, but it’s not over yet. Your child is probably clutching something in his or her grubby little hand . . . the dreaded goodie bag. It’s either full of cheap plastic toys that will inevitably stab your bare toe in the middle of the night or it’s full of candy. Do not devour your kid’s spoils later that night, on the pretense that you’re saving them by throwing yourself on an empty-calorie grenade. Instead, throw the spoils away.
• Dress for success. We all want to put our best feet forward at any parental gathering. Instead of putting on adorable strappy sandals or some other dressy shoes, choose comfortable old sneakers. If you’re dressed casually, it’s far more likely you’ll get up off the couch or the folding chair and go play. A rousing game of Pirate Chase (basically tag, with a few “arrrgghs” thrown in) is good exercise, and it might help remind you why you got on the kid merry-go-round in the first place. They’re lots of fun.

After being on a short emergency break, I am back for another ChaLEAN Extreme Review! Last week we had a major ice storm move through the state of Arkansas. The ice brought down numerous trees, which brought down electricity. I can’t speak for the rest of the state, but in my town, over 90% of the electricity was out. There was one, possibly two gas stations open. Which made the wait for gasoline 2-3 hours long. And the lines for any kind of heat source was insane. I was lucky enough to get a generator on day two, which powered my refrigerator, a portable room heater, and the TV. (My kids need the TV to survive, lol.) No hot water, and even with a small room heater, we were forced to huddle together under blankets, and shut off the house except for one room to stay warm! But I’m back. I missed one full week (without power), but I’m not going to dwell on missing workouts and missing nutritious meals. And I have sucessfully received my crash course on winter survival training. So after one week out of the game, I’m just going to get right back in the middle of it, and push even harder this week.

So now here we go, ChaLEAN Extreme Review: Push Circuit 2.

The workout was approximately 35 minutes in length. You have the traditional 5 minute warm up, as always. I have started doing a couple minute warm up before the ChaLEAN Extreme warm up. Since I work out early in the morning, I’m in need of a good stretch to get ready. So after my personal warm up, and the 5 minute ChaLEAN Extreme warm up, we jump right into the first exercise. Remember, Chalene Johnson wants you to reach muscle failure between 6 and 8 reps, so lift heavy, but be safe. Make certain you write down your weight and your reps. I force myself to lift more weight or more reps at every workout. If I hit 8 reps, I add weight. If I don’t hit 8 reps, I try the same weight the following week and try for 8. You have to make yourself lift more weight to get the results you want. I still struggle, I still shake, I still work hard. This will never change. But your body will change, you will get in better shape, lose more weight, but you have to work hard.

Standard Overhead Press. Good ‘ol fashioned overhead press. Lift slow and lower slow.

Single Leg Lunge. This move is great. By removing one leg, and using if for balance only, you really challenge the single leg.

Standing Reverse Fly. Working the shoulders, use caution here and don’t hurt yourself by trying to lift too heavy, but lift heavy enough to get the job done. You’ll know. You want to work hard, but work out smart!

Standing Arnold Press. I like this move. It’s similar to the overhead press, but you are bringing your arms down in front of your face, with your palms facing you. As you press upwards, you twist the weight, palms facing away. There is a similar move in P90X, except you lower your arms down even lower. Great exercise.

Extreme set, Standing Arnold Press. On each extreme set you are going as slow as you can, lifting and lowering slowly. If you reach failure and can’t finish that’s ok, this exercise is designed to challenge you.

Single Leg Dead Lift. This exercise you will have to see to fully understand. It’s similar to a dead lift, with the exception of raising one leg backwards as you lower yourself into the dead lift.

Extreme set, Dead Lift. For the extreme set, 3 reps, you perform a dead lift but you keep both feet on the floor.

Bent Over Lateral Raise. Back to the shoulders. This is followed by the Extreme Set, Lateral Raise.

Frontal Shoulder Press. This exercise is just like the overhead press, except you have your palms facing your head on each side. So your thumbs are facing towards the back. This is followed by the Extreme Set, Frontal Shoulder Press.

Single Leg Tap Lunges. This was an interesting move. You step back into a reverse lunge. Then without raising all the way back up, you step forward to your front foot, but only use the leg for balance, as you make the front leg press back up again. After you finish 6-8 reps on the first leg, you go straight into the Extreme Set. Except you only do the lunge. Then you repeat the other leg.

Lateral Delt Raise. By this time, my arms and shoulders are getting fatigued. I dropped my weight down to finish up this last set. And the Extreme Set that followed was extremely difficult! But once you’re finished with this extreme set, you’re finished!

The cool down is only about a minute and a half, which is not sufficient for me, I usually stretch for a few more minutes after the DVD is over.

You should be seeing some good results now, 5 weeks into the program. I would be happy to hear from you! Send me your ChaLEAN Extreme Reviews by sending me an email here.

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