Fitness Program Review: BodyBoss Method

Like a lot of people, I made a few New Year's resolutions this year. And, while it's taken me a while to succeed at a couple of them, I've been religious about sticking to my exercise goals for once in my life. It's been nearly 4 whole months, and I haven't missed a single workout! 

In the past, I've halfheartedly tried a few programs. But life seems to always get in the way, I get down on myself, and I quit. So I started this year with a new attitude and by some small miracle, it has worked, whatever "it" may be. I think I was just sick and tired of being so fatigued all the time. I figured the best way to remedy that would be to not only get back into a regular exercise routine, but to go above and beyond anything I've done in the past. And that included a set schedule. My life pretty much revolves around a set schedule, but of the having-four-kids kind. Which pretty much means anything I do for myself is put on the back burner until the kids are squared away. And many nights that's not until they're fast asleep. So it's always been difficult to stick to an effective exercise routine. But something about this one worked.

One of my friends had mentioned her success with something she called BodyBoss. I saw her before and after pictures and my mind was blown. She directed me to a series of YouTube videos that cover the entire program. So I'm not even going to lie: I didn't pay for the program, because I'm a tightwad like that. But I did check out several reviews and informative articles and videos to get a general idea of meal plan suggestions and the sort. But, being honest again, I knew I'd fail miserably at any set meal plan at the time because of my hectic life. But I did attempt to eat better in general, and was successful for the most part. I even eventually started making "clean" meals for my entire family in the evenings. So, just to make it clear, this review is based solely on the exercise portion of the program. 

Per their website, "The BodyBoss Method is formulated with 4 cycles of 3 weeks. Each cycle is designed to lift the performance of the muscles and gradually increase in difficulty and intensity as the body adapts to the training."

Now, the only problem I had with the claims is that they say each HIIT workout (every Monday and Wednesday) is only 24 minutes. Well, that doesn't include the warm up, cool down, or total of 6 minutes of rest between circuits. The 24 minutes only includes active workout time... if you're able to go at that pace. I've been exercising several years, and I had to rest now and then. Most of my workouts were around 40 minutes, not including warm up and cool down. There was one that took me nearly an hour. But remember, that's just my experience, and someone else may be able to finish each workout in 24 minutes flat. I do have asthma, and had stopped taking my maintenance medication after the first 4 weeks (Under physician recommendation and supervision, of course, but totally unrelated to the exercise program. It just happened to be at that time that I had my annual checkup.) So that very well may have been a factor in my endurance, or lack thereof. But even so, I'm positive that, personally, I still couldn't have completed many of those routines in less than 30 minutes. But it's all good, because it's only 2 days a week.

On Fridays, you have a "Power-Up Workout" that only takes 6 minutes. That eventually increases to 12 minutes. It's pretty intense, but, as with all of them, you can go at your own pace.

Tuesdays are active recovery days, and Thursdays are dedicated to cardio. I usually ran on the treadmill for cardio.

To start, there are 4 weeks of pre-training workouts. These aren't mandatory, but I'd highly suggest that, if you're new to exercising, or haven't been in a regular routine for a while, you should do them. I did the first week and thought I was ready to move on. But after a few weeks of the actual program... well, you know what they say about hindsight. I should've prepared a little better. 

Okay, I said that the only problem I had was the 24 minute claim. However, I also didn't enjoy the long warm up and cool down. They add several minutes to the routine, and it seemed a little excessive to me. I admittedly shortened them by doing my own thing. But it most certainly is very important to both warm up before and cool down after every exercise, not just with this program.

What I did like was that you only need a set of hand weights (I used 2 or 5 pound weights, depending on how rambunctious I felt), a jump rope (or just pretend), and a sturdy elevated surface like a step that won't slip when you jump onto it. You also might want to make sure it's not very high, because you'll be jumping up onto it multiple times in a row, and that tends to get very difficult. You may also choose to modify these particular box-jumping exercises, as I sometimes did.

My favorite part was that it's not the same boring routine over and over. A lot of the exercises are repeated on different days, but it's changed up enough that it kept my interest. I get bored way too easily by even slightly repetitive exercises, so that's saying something. 

Minus the 4 weeks of pre-training, the program is 12 weeks long. The last 4 weeks were definitely more difficult than the prior weeks. But that's a good thing, in my opinion, because I wanted to really push myself the last part of the program to get the most out of it. And I did! I was so happy with my results. As I've mentioned in a previous post, I don't necessarily exercise to lose weight. Sure, I have that 5 pounds that I'd love to get rid of. But I know that how I feel is more important. I went into this program with two simple goals: To feel better/not feel so darned fatigued all the time. And to fit into my skinny jeans again. And by fitting into them again, I mean that I literally couldn't wear them because I felt like I was suffocating when they were buttoned. True story. 

To be more specific about my accomplishments, I only lost 1.2 pounds. But I somehow still fit into those stupid skinny jeans when all was said and done. How? Because, even though I had very little weight loss, my body composition changed big time. I lost 5.75 inches. Again, that doesn't sound like much, but I'm fairly small framed, and that little bit made a difference on me. 

It's very common, especially when you first start working out, to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time. Muscle is more dense than fat. If you put a pound of fat and a pound of muscle next to each other, the muscle is a lot smaller than the fat. So while the number on the scale may not really change much, know that you body actually is changing. I think it's a good idea to take before and after photos, and maybe even take photos half way through a program, so that you can see the difference and not get discouraged if you don't have a drastic weight change. I did take before and after photos, and I'm pleased with the physical changes, but I'm too chicken to show them to the world. Maybe next time.

Author's note: I have not been solicited nor paid by BodyBoss Method for my opinions or review. Please note that I did not purchase the program and did not complete it using their guides. I'm simply sharing my personal experience from following online videos posted by acutal BodyBoss Method customers. 

Fitness Program Review: Betty Rocker 30 Day #makefatcry Challenge

I kept seeing this Betty Rocker exercise program advertised on my Facebook feed. I scrolled past it many times, because I figured it was another overly-priced program that I wouldn't be able to spare the money for. Plus, only 15 minutes a day? Yeah, okay. That'll be real effective, right?

But then I realized that it was free. So, out of curiosity, I clicked on it, expecting to have to provide my credit card information to try it out, and I'd have to remember to cancel after so many days or be charged a monthly fee. But, to my surprise, that wasn't how it worked at all.

The 30 day program is legit free with no strings attached. I will say that there is some heavy advertising for the 90 day challenge within the 30 day program, but not to the point of annoyance. I did check it out, and would love to buy it if I didn't have two vacations that I'm still trying to save for, because I absolutely loved the 30 day program.

When it says the workouts are only 15 minutes a day, it's true. But even so, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to fit in 15 minutes every single day to exercise for a month, even though I was already working out 4 to 5 days per week. But then I thought, "You know, I spend way more than 15 minutes a day looking at nonsense on my phone. I just need to prioritize." So that's what I did.

Once you sign up, you'll get an email asking you to fill out a commitment statement about what your goals are and how you're taking control of your health, in a nutshell. Then, the creator and face of Betty Rocker, Bree Argetsinger (A.K.A. Betty Rocker) wants you to post it to her Facebook page, or whatever social media platform you wish to share it. I thought it was a little over the top, because I'm by no means a super positive or confident person (which are the major reasons why I've gotten into fitness), but I did it. I also tweeted that I was excited to start the program, to which Bree replied with encouragement. 

You'll get each day's workout video via email by about 5:30 a.m. Side note: I admire the heck out of you go-getters who get up early to work out. The link to the video expires 24 hours after you open it, so don't click on the link until you're ready to exercise. You may have limited access to the videos, but there is a printable PDF of the exercises and explanations with each video if you want to save those.

So, this is my take on the actual exercises. There were only a few workouts where I felt pushed to the max, usually the cardio days. Yet, even the easiest days left me feeling satisfied that I had a good workout. I think it would be a great program for beginners. But it's also challenging enough for more advanced people looking for something new or different from their usual routine.

I love that each day is a different routine and focuses on a different area, because I get bored very easily. Most are strengthening (using your own body weight) and cardio workouts, but they rotate with active recovery days, incorporating yoga and stretching exercises.

You don't have to have fancy gym equipment or even weights for this program. And you're shown modifications for a lot of moves in case you need them. So it's really simplified as much as possible.

Another thing I liked was how Bree pushes the importance of healthy eating. If you're exercising but still putting all the same junk into your body, what's the point? I'm by no means the healthiest eater in the world. If I really want some ice cream, by gosh, I'm going to eat it. But I try my best while still making foods that my kids will eat. But it's tough, you know? I found myself being even more conscious of what I ate, and really cut down on sweets and processed foods. I also cut out soda. Well, except for those 2 times I was forced to eat out because of a busy schedule, but at least I had the calorie free kind.

Because of this program and the bonus videos about smoothies and meal plans, my interest was peaked. She mentioned that her plans included a grocery list, and I was sold. That's what I hate worst about cooking: making sure I have everything I need before I get started. It never fails, no matter how careful I am about making a list, I'll start pulling out ingredients for dinner, only to discover I'm missing something important. So for $9.99 for a 7 day plan, I thought it was worth the splurge to try out. That's not the only available plan, but it's the cheapest. I'll be trying it out next week, and I'll let you know how that goes.

You may be curious as to my results with the program. And I'm happy to share them with you. But keep in mind that I don't exercise in order to lose weight. I'm of a healthy BMI, but I still like to keep track of measurements and such, because I feel that I still have lots of room for improvement as far as building endurance, building more lean muscle, and developing healthier eating habits. I lost 1 whole pound. But I also lost 3.5 inches, which tells me that I lost fat AND gained muscle. That may not sound like much of a difference, but my body composition changed enough for me to fit into my skinny jeans without struggling again! 

It's so hard for even me - someone who isn't necessarily trying to lose weight - to not see much of a difference on the scales. But what you must remind yourself is that while the numbers may not change much, your body is definitely changing. Bree shares a really good video titled The Truth About Your Weight.

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up for the 30 Day Challenge here.

Author's note: I have not been solicited nor paid by Betty Rocker for my opinions or review.