I joined a gym early in 2016 and hired a trainer for the first time ever. Prior to then, I had never been one to stick with exercising. Sure, I’ve had gym memberships before, DVD’s to do at home, and friends to join me. I honestly just didn’t like working out, felt clueless in a gym, and never stayed motivated. Thanks to a great trainer, making fitness a priority and habit, plus seeing real results, I now miss the gym when there is an extended period of time that I don’t make time to exercise.
I continued with the trainer at the gym for about 6 months. Two months after I stopped my training sessions, I got pregnant with Cora. I continued going to the gym three times a week until I was about 4 months pregnant. I wasn’t feeling well most days and simply was not motivated to continue. So I put the gym on hold.
I gained the most weight during my pregnancy with Cora than any of my previous pregnancies. The extra weight held on much longer, too. When Cora was about 3 months old, I decided to ease my way back into the gym. After a few months of doing things on my own, I decided to hire a trainer again (my previous trainer moved on to another opportunity). Two months after training with the second trainer, I realized it was not giving the results I was looking for and was back to looking for another option. That’s when I decided to look into the workout program called Bikini Body Guide (BBG). Several bloggers I follow were doing BBG, so I thought I would give it a try.
BBG is designed for you to be able to do at home or at a gym. I continued going to the gym because I enjoyed the dedicated time, space, and equipment. I know I could do these exercises at home. Several people I know do that and do it well. I’ve tried that. It’s not for me. If I’m home, I’ll find a hundred reasons to not exercise.
At the gym, I do 20-30 minutes of carido followed by the BBG circuit of the day (I saved it to my phone so I can easily view each day). At first, I thought the circuits would be too simple and I wouldn’t see results. I was wrong. The workouts are so challenging. I like how each day focuses on a certain muscle group, the exercises change from week to week, and it’s designed to be completed in less than 30 minutes. I’ve completed 12 weeks of BBG and am very happy with what I accomplished in that time.
How do you stay motivated? I set goals that are attainable. For example, if I could do 10 push-ups one day, I set a goal of 12 push-ups the next day. If I could hold a 1 minute plank on day one, I would try to hold a plank for 1 minute and 5 seconds the next day. Baby steps. Small achievements combined equal big results. I found a time of day that works best for me and make it part of my routine.
Where do you shop for fitness clothing? I don’t feel the need to spend lots of money of fitness clothes, so long as what I’m wearing (especially the pants) are comfortable. Everything I wear is from Old Navy, Target, or Amazon.
Did you ever modify any of the exercises? I had to modify certain moves, and it took a few weeks to see any changes, but I started feeling so much stronger quickly. I took breaks a little more frequent and longer than suggested, so I would typically be finished in 40-45 minutes. I have diastasis recti and am trying to correct it.
How do you find the time with four kids? I go to the gym 3 days a week. During the school year, I go right after I drop my kids off at school. I have a sitter stay with Cora, but my gym also has free childcare which I have utilized.
What do you plan to do now that you finished BBG? I am considering starting BBG over so that I could do it better or go on to BBG 2.0.
Did you follow a diet or meal plan? No, I did not. I was more conscious of what I ate (made healthier choices), when I ate (less late night snacking), and how much I ate (limited my indulgences). Sometimes I opt for a salad instead of fried food, sometimes I eat eggs rather than pancakes. But I still enjoy plenty of pizza and ice cream! I do think results would be better and faster had I followed a meal plan.
When I started BBG, I did not intend to share photos on here. It makes me feel a bit self-conscious. I could point out so many things I see that I don’t like. Many of which may never change. I have loose skin in my stomach, my belly button is herniated, my abs are separated, I have cellulite, and the list goes on.
However, I can see positive changes, as subtle as they may be. I feel stronger, I can see muscle definition returning, the numbers on the scale declining, my clothes are fitting better, and my self-esteem is better. I’m making progress towards my fitness goals and hope this encourages you to work towards yours, as well.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing with your friends.
~ Amy