The Master’s Hammer & Chisel-Iso Strength Chisel w/ Autumn Calabrese Workout Review

Today might be April Fool’s Day but Iso Strength Chisel is no joke!

For this workout you will need a few sets of dumbbells. A moderate weight is good and you will also need a lighter dumbbell for the last move.  You will also need a bench, a pullup bar and a band (if you need to modify).

The rep count for this workout is the same for each move.  You do a set of 10 reps and after you release the 10th rep you hold the next rep for 10 seconds and start back up for 10 more reps.  You do not get a rest after the iso hold.   You do three sets of this total.  I call it 10 x 10 x 3 for shorthand.   As per usual, if you do a move on one side, you do the total number of sets on that side before you move on to the other side.   There is a quick stretch between moves.

The moves (after Autumn’s typical warm up for her Chisel workouts):

Sumo squat

Full range pushups

Bulgarian split squat (L/R)

Pullups or use the band w/ attachment to modify

Step up with side hold (L/R)

One-arm row on bench (L/R)

Sit-up C-curve hold (w/ light dumbbell)

Lateral raises

The workout ends with a stretch for the lateral raises and then a quick inhale stretch and that’s it.  That is always disappointing to me but I just went on to do my own stretch after the workout.

This workout is a butt burner for sure. I’m sure I’ll remember the Bulgarian split squat tomorrow.

The moves weren’t really innovative and there are other workouts with iso holds but not having any rest between sets was really fatiguing.  I’m sure this is the technique that leads to being chiseled.

I’d give the workout 3 3/4 stars out of 5.  The lack of stretch at the end really disappoints me.

 

The Master’s Hammer & Chisel – 15 Min Glute Chisel w/ Autumn Calabrese

My last review was on Sagi’s 15 Min Leg Hammer and keeping with the same format my review today is Autumn’s 15 Min Glute Chisel.  If you have done any of Autumn’s other workout systems like 21 Day Fix or 21 Day Fix Extreme, you know that Autumn loves to work the lower body.  Today was no exception.

For this workout you will need a medicine ball or a dumbbell.

Description from Beachbody:  Quickly sculpt a round, firm backside and hard-to-tone inner thighs for a lower body that makes jaws drop.

This workout has 6 different exercises but some of them work on the right and left leg separately.   Each exercise is done for 25 reps.  There are modifications offered.

The movements: 

Sumo jumping jacks while lifting the ball over your head or holding it stationary.

Split squat with ball of the foot or toes on the ball.  This one really burned my glute.  Have to balance with your toes or ball of foot on the ball really made me dig in the heal of my stabilizing leg. This got the butt burning by the end.  (right/left)

Jumping curtsy lunges

Warrior 3 lunges w/ a ball raise (right/left).  This is pretty much what it sounds like if you are familiar with the yoga pose warrior 3 except you are holding a medicine ball and raising it up.

Side lunge with ball pull (right/left).  You keep your foot on the ball and slide it out into a side lunge and to stand back up you drag the ball back in with your foot.  Autumn says this is to work the inner thigh.

Bridge on the ball (right/left).  One foot is on the ball and the other leg straight up in the air.  You lift your pelvis off of the floor.  I found this really challenging because my ball is a lot smaller than theirs is and I didn’t have a great base of support to dig in.

There is a very short less than 2 minute cool down/stretch after completing the movements.

This didn’t have the tempo change excitement that Sagi’s did but the techniques that Autumn offered in this workout really did get my glutes burning.   I like these 15 minute workouts as add-ons to other workouts.   If this workout was longer and offered the same kind of techniques, I’d probably give it five stars but since it’s only 15 minutes, I’m going to give it 3 3/4 stars out of 5.

 

The Master’s Hammer & Chisel-Chisel Power w/ Autumn and Sagi Workout Review

My last review – Hammer Build Up was Sagi’s workout with Autumn and Chisel Power is Autumn’s workout with Sagi.

Chisel Power is approximately 30 minutes long.  You will need dumbbells, a medicine ball, a bench, chin up bar and bands.  You can modify if you don’t have these items (except I think dumbbells are really crucial but if you’re doing this workout I’m sure you have at least those).

WORKOUT DESCRIPTION from Beachbody OnDemand:  Get ripped from head to toe with hardcore resistance training, isometric holds, and explosive plyometrics.

The pattern for this workout is two related movements with the first being more dynamic with a fast 4 rep count and then a 4 second isometric hold repeating 4 times (I’m going to call these 4x4s).  Then you go into the similar movement but with heavy weights for 10 reps.  Core movements are done for 16 reps and there is no 4 rep count with the isometric hold for these.

The moves:

Ball squat jumps – 4×4

Heavy squat – 10 reps

Lunging Rows – 4×4

Pull-ups or band pulls -10 reps

Hanging knee raises – 16 reps (can modify on the floor)

Ball plyo lunges – right – 4×4

Heavy lunge – right – 10 reps

Ball ply lunges – left – 4×4

Heavy lunge – left – 10 reps

Plyo push-up – 4×4

Heavy bench press – 10 reps (can modify on floor)

Half spider man – 16 reps

This is the halfway point and you get a 60 second break for water, etc.

Ball sumo squat plyos – 4×4

Heavy sumo squat – 10 reps (can use 1 dumbbell or 2)

Ball push press – 4×4

Heavy military press – 10 reps

Seated ball toe taps – 16 reps (more like ball leg raises – seated you hold the ball between your feet and raise and lower)

Ball knee drivers on step – left – 4×4

Heavy step up – left – 10 reps

Ball knee drivers on step – right – 4×4

Heavy step up – right – 10 reps

Bicep curls – 4×4 – (use lighter weights – isolation hold is in the middle)

Heavy bicep curls – 10 reps

Triceps kickbacks – 4×4 – (use lighter weight)

Heavy triceps kickbacks – 10 reps

Very short cool down stretch once again – less than two minutes. You’ll definitely want to do some additional stretching on your own.

I liked the 4×4 pattern with the isolation hold.  That is sort of the kick I look for in workouts.  The workout was short though I would have liked about an additional 10 minutes.

I’d give this workout 4 1/4 stars out of 5.

 

The Master’s Hammer & Chisel – Hammer Build Up w/ Sagi & Autumn Workout Review

This is the first workout from Hammer & Chisel that I have done that has both Sagi and Autumn in it.  This is Sagi’s workout; however, Autumn is the one visually demonstrating the moves while Sagi also demonstrates and gives vocal cues. There are no other back up people in this one.

The description from Beachbody:  Five exercises work five muscle groups to hammer muscular definition, strength, and stamina.

Equipment:  Bench, dumbbells, medicine ball, resistance band, chin-up bar.  Most of these have modifications of you do not have them.

Hammer Build Up is a total body workout with 5 movements for each body part (some of them count left and right as one movement).   Most of the moves are done for 30 seconds each (+/-) but on some moves where there is a left and right side you do the move 15 seconds each (there are exceptions to this, however).  The total time for the workout is a little over 30 minutes in length.

Sagi’s typical warm up starts us off which seemed a bit shorter this go round.

Round One: Legs/Butt 

Squat with medicine ball (or dumbbells)

Lunge R/L with medicine ball (or dumbbells)

Step up R/L with dumbbells (bench or modification on the floor is shown)

Round Two:  Back 

Chin up (or use bands for modification)

Reverse grip row

Pullover

Reverse fly

Round Three:  Chest 

Push up w/ ball R/L

Bench Fly

Feet on med ball with push up (this was only 24 seconds probably because it is hard)

Incline press (or modify on floor if you don’t have a bench)

Round Four:  Shoulders 

Military press with med ball (or dumbbells)

Lateral raise

Upright row

Anterior raise with med ball (or weight)

Round Five:  Biceps 

Standing curls

Hammer curls

Concentration curls R/L

Rotation curl sitting on bench or modifying standing

Round Six:  Triceps 

Dips off of bench or on floor to modify

Kick backs R/L (30 seconds each side)

Skull crushers

Round Seven: Abs 

Ball plank hold (hands on ball)

Ball mountain climbers (can go slow – your hands are on the ball)

Windshield wipers holding ball R/L 30 seconds each side *I chose not to hold the ball w/ my feet

There is a short cool down/stretch at less than two minutes long which of course if you read my reviews never makes me happy but I did some additional stretching on my own.

I liked that this workout had both Sagi and Autumn in it and you could see how they relate to each other rather than having them in separate workouts.  I also liked that this was a full body workout that hit on every muscle group.  It was also great that it got me to bring my med ball back into commission.  I did, however, feel like this was similar to a lot of other strength workouts on the market and nothing really popped out at me with it.  I understand though that this is part of a package and one of the pieces of the puzzle that makes up The Master’s Hammer & Chisel.

That being said, I will give this workout 3 3/4 stars out of 5.

 

The Master’s Hammer & Chisel – Chisel Balance w/ Autumn Calabrese Workout Review

I have a few friends on my Facebook page that are engaged in the Master’s Hammer & Chisel program. I don’t have the program but do get to experience the workouts through my Beachbody OnDemand subscription.  One workout from the H&C program that sticks out in my mind is Chisel Balance with Autumn because most of the time when I see that it is on others’ rotation for the day it is met with a bunch of cyber grunts and groans.  I was really excited when I woke up this morning to find that it was today’s Challenge du Jour OnDemand.

Required equipment:  Dumbbells and Bench or Stability ball.  Modifications are shown if you don’t have the bench or stability ball.   Follow Mike.

WORKOUT DESCRIPTION from OnDemand:   A total-body scorcher that taps into your strength and endurance with killer stability and core training.

Chisel Balance is 9 different movements with 15 repetitions each done for 2 sets.  Because this is balance, most are done on one leg or with one arm at a time so you would do the move Right to Left and then repeat.  The workout is approximately 40 minutes long.

The moves are:

Squat bench sit with one leg raised while holding a dumbbell.  If you can’t sit down with one leg raised, there is a modification shown.

Lat pullover with 1 leg raised (R/L).  You don’t repeat this on each leg because this is really a lat focused move and both arms are used at once so this move is done twice total.

Single leg squat deadlift. (R/L)

Up down bench climb on hands.  This move is done in a plank with your bench in front of you.  You climb the bench with your hands.  Each hand is a lead hand (meaning you don’t alternate per set).  I’m sorry but I can’t remember if this was done 4x total or 2x total. I do remember it being tough as I went on however.  In the back of my mind I feel like I only did it 2x total.  I will check on this.

Bulgarian split squat jump.  This isn’t as bad as it sounds.  This is more like a rocking horse movement where you lift your front leg off the ground towards your stomach rather than do a jump with both feet off the ground (which I have done in other workouts).

One arm renegade row with opposite leg lift. (R/L)

One arm chest press in bridge formation while lifting a leg and your upper back on the bench.  (R/L)

Balance row to pistol squat.  (The most challenging of all the movements as far as balance goes – at least for me).

As you can see, on a lot of the moves you are working more than just the targeted area, i.e., in the bridge movements you definitely feel it in your butt.

In this workout, I feel that you have to go a little lighter in your weights:  1. Because you are doing 15 reps/2 sets back-to-back; and 2. Because you have to concentrate on the balance element of the movement.

I feel like I got a solid workout and one thing I liked about the cool down in this workout was that it was different than the other ones I have tried from this program.  Autumn had been doing the same for most of them.  I feel it was targeted to this particular workout.

4 1/2 stars out of 5 because it was tough and that’s the way I like it!

 

 

The Master’s Hammer & Chisel – Chisel Endurance w/ Autumn Calabrese Workout Review

Beachbody OnDemand gave us a little New Year’s Day treat when they made Chisel Endurance the Challenge du Jour starting off 2016 right.

Equipment needed:  Bench Or Stability Ball and Weights and Chin-Up Bar Or Bands With Door Attachment Kit.

Workout Description from Beachbody OnDemand:  Improve endurance by sustaining tension with moves that target your slow-twitch muscle fibers.

This was another workout from Autumn that kind of sneaks up on you. In the beginning I was like, “Not another easy one from Autumn.”  By the end I was like, “Okay, I’m done now.”  It’s not terribly difficult but you are definitely going to feel it.

This follows a common set up by Autumn – 10 moves (left/right if applicable counts for each side) done for 60 seconds each and then repeat.

Round One

Bench run up (or surrenders if you don’t have a bench). This is simply as it sounds you run up on the bench with the same lead food for 60 seconds and then you switch leads.

Negative pull-ups or band pulls- In this movement you pull yourself up to a count of one and lower to the count of three.  Same cadence with the band.

Bench step up crossover lunges – This is my favorite move in the routine.  Using the same lead leg you step up on the bench (never moving your foot on the step) and you cross back, push yourself up on the step while keeping the opposite leg off the step and you set that opposite leg on the floor to the side (it’s hard to explain, sorry).   Switch leads after 60 seconds.

Decline push-ups.  These are done with your feet elevated either on the bench or on the ball.  If you can’t do either, simply do them on the floor.  That would be better than nothing.

One arm row w/ opposite leg extended – This is exactly what you would expect except you do the row while keeping the opposite leg extended.  Switch sides after 60 seconds.

Incline chest press on bench or ball.  This is a very familiar move to all I am sure.  No bells or whistles here.

Plank hold with knee taps.  This is a simple move where you hold the forearm plank and then drop each knee to the floor but it becomes challenging after about 30 seconds.  Especially when you are doing it barefoot and you have cuts on your toes – ouchie!

After Round One you get a 60 second break and then you complete the same moves for round two.

As per usual, the cool down/stretch wasn’t even three minutes long.  I really wish Autumn would do a thorough stretch.  Cathe Friedrich is one who gives a great cool down/stretch segment after her workouts.

I hope that my Hammer & Chisel reviews are helping you decide on this program.  Right now Autumn and Sagi are orchestrating their own little beginning of the year challenge group with the program so if you are doing the program, please drop me a comment and let me know how you are doing.  Thanks.

Happy New Year!

 

Choice For Best of 2015! Beachbody OnDemand!

I know I didn’t specifically review Beachbody OnDemand’s website but all of The Master’s Hammer & Chisel reviews I have done so far are courtesy of my Beachbody OnDemand subscription.

I feel bad because we had a few good offering in 2015 like Daily Burn’s Black Fire, Cathe Ripped w/ HiiT workouts and the Anarchy workout DVDs but Beachbody OnDemand was really a no-brainer for me.   I have had a subscription since August.  Your first month is free and then you are billed in quarterly installments of  $38.87. You can cancel anytime.

Beachbody OnDemand was launched in the spring of 2015.  There are so many offerings with Beachbody OnDemand that I don’t even know where to begin.  You can do the original P90X or go way back to the classic Power 90 program.  Maybe you want to do P90X 2 or 3 or One on One with Tony Horton.  Maybe that’s not your thing.  Maybe you want Turbo Jam or Turbo Fire or how about Chalean Extreme?  How about the Insanity workouts.  Not enough for you?  Do the Asylum 1 or 2.   Do you feel like dancing?  Do Hip Hop Abs with Shaun T.   Maybe you want to go way back to Slim in 6 with Debbie Siebers.  I really could go on and on.

I’m not done though.  While some of the newer offerings are not completely uploaded on the website you do get sneak peaks of those systems.  These systems being:  21 Day Fix; 21 Day Fix Extreme; CIZE; Body Beast; P90; T25; Insanity Max 30 and The Master’s Hammer & Chisel.

I bet you are already signing up for your 30 day free trial at this point but I’m not done!

There is also something called the Challenge du Jour and you may just get an additional sneak peak from one of the programs not yet offered on the website.  You definitely want to check out what your #CDJ is every day so you don’t miss anything.  I actually purchased the PiYo program because I couldn’t get enough of it.

Another added bonus are the Master’s Trainers workouts.  These are express “live” workouts like you would find in your local fitness facilities.  These include Turbo Kick; PiYo; Insanity Live and P90x Live.  I really like this added feature with the non-celebrity workout leaders.

You have the convenience of streaming to your computer, your tablet, your phone, a Roku, Chromecast, etc.  This is so easy, you can workout anywhere!  I like it because I can do the workouts when I stay with my parents for the weekend.

I encourage you to check out http://club.teambeachbody.com/ and see what there is to offer.   There is so much more than I have mentioned in this post (Yoga Booty Ballet; Active Maternity; Rev Abs; Brazil Butt Lift – I could go on and on.)

I think you see now why this was my pick for 2015.

Here’s to a great 2016!  Let’s do this!

The Master’s Hammer & Chisel – Chisel Agility w/ Autumn Calabrese

 

Beachbody continues to be generous with their offerings of The Master’s Hammer & Chisel workouts on their Challenge du Jour option OnDemand.

This workout requires no equipment and is not a strength workout but rather a more dynamic workout that gets your heart rate up.

Description from Beachbody OnDemand:  Develop elite speed, coordination, and power with moves inspired by athletic training.

This workout consists of two rounds of 1o movements done for 60 seconds each with no set break between movements except when Autumn is explaining the next move or she needs a water break herself.  There is a 60 second break between rounds.

The moves:

Hi knees up/tire knees back

Plank X taps where Autumn calls out which hand and foot to move as if it were a game.  She does get a bit tricky at times so beware!

Grapevine/shuffle.  Just like it sounds, it’s an old school grapevine to one side and a side shuffle back.  You switch leads at the 30 second mark.

Lateral squat jump – another move where Autumn calls out whether you will be jumping left or right.  Sometimes you may jump right (or left) two or three times.

Multi directional lunges – these are the typical front/side/back lunges switching to the opposite leg after 30 seconds

Rotating squat jumps – the are jumps at 180 degrees and back.  You’ve seen these before.

Skater triangle – I’m not really going to try to explain this except it’s the typical skater move done in a triangle with the main point in the front.

Diagonal jump lunge – I remember these from a 21 day fix workout (maybe it was Extreme idk) they are like lunge jump switches except done on the diagonal.  A modification is given if you worry about your knees.

Circle in and out – this is a fast feet drill where your right font leads around the circle and after 30 seconds the left foot leads and you change direction.

Directional squat jumps – these are similar to the lateral squat jumps only front and back are added to the mix with Autumn calling out once again.

After a 60 second break, these same moves are repeated.

There is a very short cool down which I’m not really happy about.  It’s less than two minutes.  I would have liked to have seen at least three minutes.

I will give this workout 4 1/2 stars out of 5.  I loved how Autumn tried to bring some fun in this workout with the moves that she calls out directions on.  With most of the strength workouts being on the more serious side, it was nice to see a change to the fun side.

 

The Master’s Hammer & Chisel – Hammer Power w/ Sagi Kalev Workout Review

I was really excited to see yet another offering from The Master’s Hammer & Chisel on Beachbody OnDemand Challenge de Jour (#BOD #CDJ) and I was even more excited that it was a powerlifting-inspired workout.

The description from Beachbody OnDemand:  Become more explosive with ruthless powerlifting-inspired moves to take your body to its peak level of fitness.

What you will need:  Various weights (light, medium and heavy), resistance band or towel (for the warm up).

Round one is a combination of various movements that will prepare you for the more powerlifting-like moves at the end of round one and in round two.  Each move is done with light weights for 10 reps and then with medium weights for 10 reps.  For some of the latter movements in round one Sagi builds from the light weights to the medium weights showing a foundation movement and then adding the power move.

Overhead Press

Squat

Thrusters (squat/press in one movement)

Jerk press

Dead lift

Shrugs w/ light weights/Shrug w/ extension w/ medium weights

Upright row w/ light weights/full movement with medium weights (deadlift to upright row)

Clean with light weights/full movement w/ medium (deadlift to clean)

In round two Sagi’s format changes and more of the powerlifting type moves are used.  Once again he lays the foundation with the light weights so you get the technique down completing 10 reps but  then he ups the ante using heavy weights for 5 reps.

Clean to press

Clean squat press

Clean squat split jerk (5 reps each leg w/ the light weights/5 w/ dominant leg w/ the heavy weights)

One arm clean squat jerk (10 reps each side light/5 reps each side heavy)

****One thing I am concerned about for people who are not familiar with these movements is when completing any of the moves that use a squat to split jerk.  Sagi will clearly say to pause before jerking after you come up from the squat but some of the display people do not do this and it may become confusing.  The display people seem to be completing it all in one movement. For experienced folks the pause may not be necessary but I do worry about someone hurting themselves if they do not pause and try to do the move all at once.  Please keep this in mind so you don’t hurt your back.

I was pretty familiar with a lot of these moves from previous workouts I have done including kettlebell workouts and Kelley Coffey-Meyer’s L.I.F.T. workout (w/ a barbell).  This type of workout always makes me feel empowered more so than any other type of lifting workout.

I would love to give this workout 5 stars but because of my concern that someone unfamiliar with this type of workout may have some form issues, I will give this workout 4 1/2 stars.

 

 

 

 

The Master’s Hammer & Chisel – Chisel Cardio w/ Autumn Calabrese Workout Review

If you follow the MisTransformation blog you may have noticed that my last two posts were sneak peaks of workouts from The Master’s Hammer & Chisel workout program that was set to release with Beachbody. Well, it released in the beginning of December and is already running so rampant that Beachbody is having some shipping issues that Carl Daikeler, the CEO of Beachbody had to address in a live Facebook video earlier today.

That being said, I was very happy to see that today Chisel Cardio was the Challenge du Jour offering on Beachbody On Demand of which I am a subscriber.   Due to the popularity of The Master’s Hammer & Chisel I thought it would be a great idea to review it right here on my MisTransformation blog.

Chisel Cardio is two rounds of ten moves (counting for left and right side) most of which are weighted.  Each move is completed for a minute each.  You rest when Autumn talks.  You will need at least two sets of dumbbells, a pullup bar and a bench.  A modifier is offered if you do not have some of these items.

The ten moves are:

Up & over the bench (weighted)

Pullup (or band pull)

Dumbbell swing

Figure 8 (weighted ab move on the floor)

Burpee

Side lunge with sword pull (left/right – weighted)

Forearm plank with side kick

Side bench step up with a kick (weighted – left/right)

Okay by now you’re like but Missy that is only 8 moves.  Again, remember I’m accounting for the left and right side of the side lunge and the step up kick.

Each round is approx. 13 minutes and 40 seconds long.

I am so glad Autumn provided this workout.  I love, love, love weighted cardio workouts.  I hate jumping anymore and love working hard to get my heart rate up and having the added benefit of weighted moves.

While completing the first round  of this workout I was like, “is that all you got?”  It seemed a bit too easy BUT by the second round I was eating my words and by the end of the workout I was a red hot sweaty mess and I felt like I got a great workout in.

I like this offering from Autumn a lot better than the Total Body Chisel workout.  My only pet peeve is that during the cool down stretch I felt like she went faster on the second side than she did on the first side.  I find that a lot of trainers do that in workout videos and I really wish they would be more mindful of this.

I would give Chisel Cardio 4 out of 5 stars.