Starting the BBG Workout by Kayla Itsines

An Honest Take on The First Few Weeks of The Program
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Starting the BBG workout

Have you heard of BBG?  It’s short for Bikini Body Guide, and it’s a high intensity interval training workout program that’s sweeping the planet one body transformation at a time.  It was created by aussie Kayla Itsines, and it’s a super effective 12-week program that’s built of short, concise exercise circuits.  I’m talking 28 minute workouts that focus on arms, abs, legs, and overall body.  And the workouts can be done just about anywhere.  

I have actually tried BBG a couple of times in the past.  But both times I fell out of the routine, lost motivation doing it by myself, and ultimately returned to group classes.  As I’ve mentioned before, I’m an avid ClassPasser.  The app allows me to try a good variety of fitness classes to keep my workout routine interesting and it caters to me if I’m in a strength training mood or a zenned out yoga mood.  

Since I had had a taste of BBG before, I was thrilled when MKR recently proposed the idea of starting BBG as a team.  I thought to myself, this was finally the time I’d stick it out and see the results I know that so, so many have seen!

I mean, it’s hard to not be impressed with the before-and-afters on Instagram.  Everyone on the team agreed that starting BBG workouts would be an exciting thing to do together, and well worth our time to get into gear and feel stronger.

After getting everyone on board, 11 team members to be exact, we decided on a few ways we’d keep everyone accountable and excited.  We settled on a group text chain, and a Google Doc form that took inventory of everyone’s exercise habits, fitness goals, body type, ages, etc.  We then created a weekly form via Google Docs that would collect everyone’s responses to the previous week’s workout. The form included questions about soreness, motivation levels, thoughts on the specific exercises and overall accountability for following the week’s recommended circuits.  This seemed to be a promising way of keeping everyone on the same page with progress.  

Our baseline survey taught us that our ages range from 20-37, with the majority of us 27-29 years old. Most of us regularly exercise 3-5 times per week, and are in moderately good shape. We have lots of yogis, runners and barre-lovers in the group, too.  Lastly, we all submitted fitness goals of becoming more confident, stronger, and more toned.  It was refreshing to see so many responses about strength rather than weight and lbs! 

So how has it been going?!  Everyone was really gung-ho about the program in the first two weeks.  We encouraged each other on our group text thread, sent photos and videos for a quick laugh and support, and really just felt like we were going somewhere with the workout plan. It was unanimous that burpees were the worst exercise imaginable, though jump lunges and commandos were up there too. We were all sore, but we also reveled in the feeling of comradery as we suffered together. 

But ever since the first few weeks, we’ve definitely had fallout.  Responses in our weekly progress Google Doc have lessened, and the group text is almost all crickets these days.  I personally suffered a minor injury and fell out of routine as I rested before a 10-day hiking trip.  And I know I can speak for the group in saying that it was difficult to adhere to the exact schedule that’s laid out in the guide.  The guide leads you to do at least three HIIT sessions throughout the week, with recommendations for cardio exercise on other days.  Since we had a group doing it together, we all felt a little guilty whenever we’d miss the workout that day.

So why the fallout?  People didn’t have enough time.  Some of us had minor injuries.  Some of us attended other workout classes and wanted them to “count” for the BBG workout that day.  Some of us just really preferred other ways of working out!  Whatever the reasons were, it felt like life in general just got in the way of the very specific schedule.  And after missing one or two of the workouts, it was ridiculously easy to throw the towel in and quit altogether.

From seeing the team’s responses, and in talking to everyone, I think the hardest struggle here is in consistency and the battle we all have in our minds with ourselves.  There were times when we made ourselves feel down, discouraged and guilty for not sticking to the schedule.  But after reading posts by BBG loyalists and many success stories, I think the main thing we need to keep in mind is that the program is flexible. We just need to do the three HIIT workouts sometime throughout the week.  And sometimes it may be harder than others, but we just need to get it done.

A few of us are still hanging in there.  We’re feeling stronger overall, but a lot of us haven’t seen any dramatic results just yet.  As we approach Week 6, we’ll admit that may have missed some workouts but we still DO want to stay strong and complete the guide.  We’re trying to fight the temptation to quit because we want to tackle this challenge.  We’d love to know: any BBGers out there?  What struggles have you faced while doing the program?  Do you have any tips or suggestions for our team?  Thank you!  Cheers, Kat

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Photography, Haley Sheffield for Waiting on Martha

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  • So I am in week 9 of BBG and definitely felt a slump around the 6 week mark. Fortunately, my husband and I are committed to doing this after we put the kids to sleep – we have a home gym (I know, I know) and are taking a beach trip in Mid-October, so the motivation is real. He would KILL me for sharing HE is partaking in a bikini work out. Keep up the good work ladies!!!

  • Bernie / 09.21.2017

    Keep going! I’m in week 30!! I’m the mom of three boys the oldest 6 and the youngest 1 years old. The secret for me has been getting up to do my exercise early in the morning before anyone gets up. It’s tough but I just made the decision and I just stick to it. No excuses. It helps me that I have all the equipment at home. I have seen the results not only in my appearance. I had surgery some while ago and after it the doctor asked me if I exercised because my hearts bit was impressive during surgery.

  • Lauren / 09.22.2017

    I did BodyBoss Method, which is a similar 12wk HIIT, no gym required program and saw great results combined with MyfitnessPal calorie counting. After my second baby, lost 18lbs of fat and gained 12lbs of muscle! I am also a ClassPass lover and used my classes on the “cardio” and “yoga” days in the program so I felt like I wasnt just doing the program. However, I had some fun this summer and need to get back on it!! Dedication is key…and availability to do it alone and at home (even if the power is out!) is necessary to stay on track. I did like that if I stuck to the program my weekends were essentially “free” of workouts.

  • Mandy Kellogg Rye / 09.23.2017

    Love this, thank you so much for sharing! I’m going to look into BodyBoss as well!

  • Mandy Kellogg Rye / 09.23.2017

    Thats amazing! The only part that is hard for my physically is my knees…they seem to be getting worse as I get older, and sometimes BBG is a little tough on them.

  • Mandy Kellogg Rye / 09.23.2017

    Ha! Love this, I wish my hubs would do it with me!! Get it girl (and guy)!

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