BBG - an Overweight Girl's Review

I was overweight and out of shape and looking for an at-home workout.

We had just moved into a bigger house with a bigger mortgage and had dropped our gym membership to save money. So late one night I started googling at-home workouts. Many options came up, options I had tried before such as Beachbody programs and Jillian Michaels’ DVDs.

My problem was that over the years, I had attempted all those at-home workouts…with no lasting success. I’d always start strong and then hate every second of the workout until I eventually quit. Come to think of it, I never finished one single round of an at-home program!

However, I needed to find something that would work for me at-home because I was rapidly getting out of shape with no gym. This time I was desperate for change!

Then I stumbled upon Bikini Body Guide. BBG is a program created by Kayla Itsines and is available on the SWEAT app. You can read all about it here. I was drawn to BBG because it was an at-home workout. Which meant I could save money on the cost of a gym membership, and I wouldn’t need to work out around my husbands’s schedule.

Not only was it at-home, but BBG promised results with just 3, 28 minute workouts a week, so I decided to try it. Maybe this time, an at-home workout would work because it wasn’t an everyday commitment. Perhaps having to do it everyday is why I kept failing. One thing I knew was that I couldn’t keep quitting workouts, and we didn’t have the money to waste on something I wasn’t going to do consistently.

I thought, “why not just try?” So I got out of bed to get my wallet and purchased the one year subscription for one hundred and twenty dollars. Little did I know, it would be the best impulsive purchase I have ever made in my entire life.

Sidenote:

If you are looking to get an amazing weight loss transformation with BBG, please know that without getting your diet under control, this programs will not result in weight loss. I know this from experience. I only achieved such results because I finally figured out how to lose weight while staying active. Check out my latest tool to help you achieve what I did.

BBG Week 1: First Impression

**This post contains Amazon affiliate links and WW affiliate links. I will receive a small percentage of the sale, at no additional cost to you, if you purchase through my link. Thanks for your support!

(Before you try to stick with an exercise program or a diet program I recommend reading this book. It has changed my life. I cannot stress the importance of getting to the root of your weight issues before attempting to change. Exercise alone will not change your body, you must change your diet. Bonus, it also also has a chapter with hacks for sticking to a workout routine!)

1st BBG Workout Completed: 1.0 Week 1 Legs

I invited my friend over for my first workout. We did BBG 1.0 Week 1 Legs. IT WAS SO HARD. I’d say too hard. My friend who is about the same build as me just quit in the middle and kept staring at me with a forlorn look on her face.

I kept going, sloppily, doing my best because I had paid for it. There were jump squats, burpees, and all the horrible moves that I told myself I must do if I wanted real change. It was twenty-eight of the longest minutes of my life. I finished, I stretched, and I could barely move the next day.

2nd BBG Workout Completed: 1.0 Week 1 Arms & Abs

Since the program consists of merely three workouts, I was able to rest a day before attempting another workout. Even with a day to rest, my legs still HURT. The only reason I even attempted it was because the next workout was arms. Maybe my arms were stronger? Sweet Lord, have mercy! They were NOT stronger as the planks, leg lifts, real deal pushups, and straight-leg sit-ups quickly revealed.

My flabby, weak arms were shaking like I was in an earthquake. All my problem areas became very apparent as I watched basically every inch of my arms and stomach jiggle. I couldn’t even lift my legs for leg lifts after a while. The workout ended, and I had done my best, but how long could I stay on this insane ride? How could it keep getting harder? Could I really keep going?

(Spoiler: I kept going, but wanted to show you what my body was like when I started. Photo Left: I started the program at 5’6 and 185 pounds. I was 33 years old. Right: I am 158 lbs and have completed 2 years of workouts.)

Almost 3 years later, and I’m still at it.

Should I Quit or Keep Going?

I was feeling really discouraged and like I had wasted money. No, I couldn’t keep up with that kind of routine, and the thought of doing week 1 over and over until my strength improved was daunting. I wouldn’t do that, but I didn’t know what to do, so I started reading reviews.

Knee deep in BBG reviews I discovered that there is a beginner program to BBG. What in the what? HOW DID I MISS THIS?!?!?! (Update: the program now begins you on BBG Beginner! On November 18, 2019 Kayla released a new Beginner program that is now 8 weeks with a more gradual increase in the difficulty of the moves. Lucky you!)

Why I Didn’t Quit BBG.

1. It takes so little time

The workout is 3 days a week for 28 minutes. You are also supposed to walk 30 minutes 3-4 days of the week. That’s it. Is there any other program out there that can get results with such moderation? I felt like if I can’t find time to do this then there is no hope for me to change.

I realized that if I only want to workout for 3 days a week/30 minutes a session, I’d have to do hard things. Things that I don’t enjoy doing. The beautiful thing is, unlike other programs, it’s only 90 minutes a week of things I hate doing…TOTAL. So I just kept on doing them.

I made it happen and stuck with it. Just like you can, no matter where you are at in your fitness journey. My muscles were basically in atrophy when I started, and I was about 40 pounds overweight. Yet I persevered.

2. BBG Got Results Fast

Once I was able to locate the Beginner program, I didn’t miss a workout or a walk. It was still hard, but it wasn’t so hard that I wanted to quit. I started to notice changes in my body very quickly.

The first month I started, I lost 10 pounds because I was also on WW. I really couldn’t believe that at 175 and 5’6″ I had any muscle tone at all, especially not after just 12 workouts that were 30 minutes each! Not to mention that I hadn’t even been doing the 12 week program; I was just on the beginner! My success and noticeable results prompted many of my friends to join BBG.

The results everyone kept raving about is what kept me going. I did things I hated (burpees and jumping) all because of the RESULTS. And I’ve kept on doing them because I want more.

3. You Can Move at Your Own Pace

I had read a few reviews before I bought it, and some people were really down on the program. They would say that she increases the difficulty of the move too quick. I looked through BBG 1.0 after I bought it, and yeah, it goes from intense to insane pretty fast. The thing is, you don’t have to do the program in just 12 weeks. You can do week one for a couple weeks, then move to week two.

One thing I love about the app that sets it apart from workout videos is that you don’t have to move at the pace of the trainer. You can truly move at your own pace through the circuit. What a change that is from my old workout tapes!

4. I Knew My Limitations

I knew, after 3 c-sections, that I didn’t have the core strength to do the actual 12 week program the way I wanted. From mid- April to late August, I just kept on repeating that 4 week beginner program to get my strength back. Guess what? I still got great results. I had muscles being born, I lost inches, I improved my form, and I gained confidence.

The key is to push yourself, but to not feel demoralized by all you can’t do. Just modify moves that are too hard, and tailor the program to your fitness level.

5. I Never Got Bored

There are so many program options in the Sweat App that I never had the chance to get bored. I knew all the programs would get great results, even the beginner programs. However after 4 months of the Beginner program, I needed some variation. I felt my strength was where it needed to be so I began BBG 1.0.

After I completed 1.0, I started it again because I didn’t feel I had the strength to go to 2.0. After 8 weeks of 1.0, I started to dread the workouts plus I had an injury. Since I was no longer enjoying BBG, I decided to give PWR a try.

Get to know yourself and what pushes you versus what makes you want to quit. When you begin to not want to workout, you might be getting bored. That is why the SWEAT app is so great. If you get bored, there are a variety or workouts and trainers to choose from (and it’s all included in the initial 120 dollar/year purchase). Don’t be afraid to push yourself, change programs, or modify moves. Show up and you will get results, I promise you.

If you are wanting to get started, you can with no equipment! However, I would recommend a nice mat and a set of dumbbells.

Conclusion

Traditionally, I am a quitter, but I am telling you, if I can keep with this, you can.

BBG will get results, The time it takes to get those results will vary depending on the effort and consistency you put into the program. However, you must know: it mostly depends on changing your diet (please start the change with this book!). BBG alone will not give you the dramatic transformation you are looking for.

This only happened when I got my nutrition under control

I only lost 10 pounds that month because I was doing Weight Watchers and BBG. Find a weight loss program you enjoy and stick with it while doing BBG to have a dramatic and quick transformation.

Update 4/15/20: I finally found a weight loss system that I enjoy! I have been using Noom this year, and have been consistently losing. It’s awesome, and now I feel I have found a weight-loss program that will create lasting life long habits. You can sign up for a trial here if you are interested.

So Is BBG a Good Choice For Me?

Absolutely! It’s a good choice for everyone.

If you actually do it, it will change your life. Overweight girls can do it, and it’s perfect for mom’s!

If you have any more questions, leave them in the comments below. I’ll be happy to answer them, hope this helped you see that you can do it too!

Follow me on Patreon if you want to follow my fitness and weight loss journey. If you are looking for a fun, weight loss community – give Mom’s Kids a try. Sign up today for a 1-week free trial!

Have you tried BBG when you were overweight? Did you get results? Comment below!