Outfit Details: pants // sports bra // shoes // heart rate monitor (found on sale!)
As of last week, I completed my third round of Kayla Itsines BBG program!! In the past after completing the program, I would take a few months off to do my own routines but this time, I have decided to keep it going. I think it’s because I’m on such a high after this go around. It’s like finally, after three times, I have all of the exercises down and truly look forward to the workouts!
When you see the results of all of the women on Instagram, it doesn’t take long to start dreaming of your own incredible bikini body transformation. I for one, do not have a crazy transformation to show you guys, but I’m still not quitting the program. Why you may ask?
Because thanks to BBG, I finally have a core.
My mid section has always been what I thought of as my “problem area” but since completing BBG I can honestly say I have a core. My stomach is stronger than it has ever been. I can flex my muscles and I am proud of my stomach. Do I have a 6-pack? No – lol. But I also like wine, so there.
Needless to say, I am excited to get stronger and see where the rest of the program takes me. Even after 6 years of lifting, my body is tighter than it has ever been before, thanks to Kayla Instines. I wrote a post on BBG in the past, but something about this time around is making me want to keep going.
So in case you’re thinking about starting BBG, here are my tips on Conquering Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide Program.
- Do not look ahead at the guide to see what you’ll have to complete in the future. I did this my first two times around and it gave me serious anxiety. It made me fearful that I couldn’t do it. I would look ahead at the weeks to come and get discouraged before even giving it a chance. I recommend checking out your workout the night before or the morning of.
- Get a gym membership. I know she says that there is little to no equipment needed and that a gym isn’t necessary… but coming from someone who has completed it 3x now…. you need a gym membership. And if you do have all of the equipment required at your own home…..then can I move in with you? lol?
- Set aside 45 minutes everyday for BBG. Even though she publicizes that BBG is indeed a 28 minute workout, realistically, it’s 45 minutes. Between setting up your equipment, cooling down, stretching, and attempting to catch your breath in between, 28 minutes is no where near realistic.
- Technique over Speed. The first time I completed BBG, I would try and go as fast as I could to complete all of the workouts twice, in under 7 minutes. Because I was going so fast, this caused me to half way do each exercise and become more exhausted than I normally would if I would have done the exercise properly in the first place.
- Shake it off. Week 10 legs you’re required to do 5o jump squats in a row at least 4x through out the workout. If you can do all 50 jumps without stopping, then kudo’s to you lol. But if you can’t, there is no shame in doing the jumps in sets and shaking off the pain in between. For example; I’ll do 20 jump squats; shake it off and breath for 10 seconds; do 20 more; shake it off and breath for 10 seconds; then finish the last 10.
- Do not do cardio before your resistance training. During my first two rounds of BBG, I would run about a mile or so to warm up before completing my resistance training. This made my resistance training 10x harder, and not in a good way. So instead I moved it to the end of my workout.
- Take longer breaks. In between each round, you are given 30 seconds to recover. I will be completely honest that with some workouts, I take longer. I never go more than 2 minutes, but I definitely do not recover in just 30 seconds lol. Not only do I do this to catch my breath, but I do it so that I do not injure myself. Listen to your body, it knows what you need.
- Pick Your Favorite Exercises To Use As A Substitute. There are a few exercise that I despise. For example, commandos. I think they’re extremely boring and they give me scabs on my elbows. So instead of commandos I pick an equally as hard move, for example, butterfly pushups, which I love. Another exercise I hate are the 180 degree jump squats. They make me very dizzy and make my head hurt, so instead, I do X jumps!
- Plan Out Your Workouts. Make time and write down when you are going to do the resistance training and the LISS. Make doing your workouts your priority.
- Down load the App. I love the app. It’s very unique and fits into my day. At the beginning I used the original guide (Like an actually PDF) and it would stress me out because it was say “Wednesday Arms” or “Monday Legs” and if I didn’t complete those workouts on those exact days, I would feel like a failure. The app though is different and lets me pick what I can do each day, making it more customizable for my lifestyle.
- Join the community. The BBG community is HUGE and is so encouraging. Just look up #BBG Instagram and you will see. It’s incredible!
- Make sure your pushing yourself as hard as you can each round. If you are active and would consider yourself advanced, then you should be able to complete each workout twice in under 7 minutes. Sometimes you can’t, and that okay, but try too. If you are just starting and you can only complete a round once in those 7 minutes, then that’s perfectly fine too! Just make sure you are pushing yourself.
- Keep Going! If you’re on BBG week 5 and you miss one resistance workout or a whole weeks worth of resistance workouts, do not stay on week five and attempt to do it again. Instead, move on and go to week 6!
- Understand that what you’re doing is really hard. There is not one person who is flying through these workouts without breaking a sweat. I for one am usually laying on the ground dying afterwards. You’re not alone, it is hard, but you are more than capable.
- Don’t get discouraged because YOU HAVE THIS AND YOU CAN DO IT. JUST KEEP GOING. Go at your pace. Breathe, drink water, and keep going. Take as long as you need to finish each exercise. Just make sure you’re completing each workout. Doing them correctly and keep pushing yourself. The results will come! It took me almost THREE ROUNDS to really see results. Just don’t give up!
So are you ready to #sweatwithkayla??
If you have any questions on Kayla Itsines program, please comment on this post! Or shoot me an email, a message on fb // snapchat // Instagram!
xo,
Lauren
Check Out My Current BBG Posts:
- Why I Love Kayla Itsines & Her BBG Program
- Kayla Itsines BBG Q&A
- Week In the Life of BBG
- The 12 Week BBG Challenge Is Over. Now What?
- BBG 2.0 Review
- BBG 3.0 Review
- SWEAT APP Update & Review
- Back To The Basics – Join The Challenge