Selfie Does Fitness Program Reviews
Yup, we’re still talking fitness in November but even if you’re taking it easy for the holiday season, this may behoove you in January. Why? Because like your Casper Mattress #spon* or your 15th Alexa device, your friendly neighborhood Fitness influencer also has Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. So if you’re going to go ham in January, it’s worthwhile to take a look now. And since I have tried a whole bunch of them, ol’ Selfs is here to help you compare and contrast some solid options.
Tone It Up
The Influencers: @KarenaDawn & @KatrinaScott
What’s the Deal?
Tone It Up was founded back in 2011 and started out as YouTube videos and a lifetime membership nutrition plan. After a few iterations, from dvd-based challenges to an app, it is currently fully app-based which includes video workouts for different challenges (like “14-Day Slay”, “Post-Natal Program” and a “Strength Program” along with other challenges. The app is $12.99/month or $83.99/ year. The app also now includes recipes.
Pros: If this post was written in 2017, I’d have a lot of positives but honestly, the things that I liked best have been done away with. Options for at-home workouts are always great and that’s definitely been a forte for TIU. There is also a huge online community if that’s your jam. And I will also say, the fittest I’ve ever been has been through TIU and I still do the workouts.
Cons: TIU has been super “stuff” driven. As in “buy the protein, bands, nutrition plan, water bottle, bikini” etc. When this moved to the app, a lot of workouts that were already purchased, were added under different names. Now, there are a lot of different workouts, so that’s great. Some of the workouts are so short, it’s silly. Idk about you but I don’t want to string together two or three different 15 minute workouts. People who like the community, love it. The followers got a little…cult-y and competitive.
Final Verdict? I still do these workouts but can’t really tell you anymore about the app because I got tired of the changes.
Aaptiv
The Influencer: Nope! but Team Aaptiv can be vurrrry passionate about their coaches. And if you want a dose of positivity, follow my boy @Ceasarfbarajas
What’s the Deal? Aaptiv is a audio-based workout app which includes tons of in-ear workouts for everything from meditation to pilates to outdoor workouts to treadmill and elliptical. You can also do training programs which again, includes everything from intro to meditation to running a half-marathon. $14.99/mo or $99.99/year or $399.99 for life.
Pros: I love that Aaptiv has so many options and I’m far more like to ellip or run sprints with a prompt. Who am I kidding? I’m NEVER breaking my pace unless prompted. In addition, I’ve kept this app because they always have a good end of the year special and I love that meditation is included. You can choose workouts based on type, length, coach and even the type of music.
Cons: You’re following along to audio cues so if you’re trying something out for the first time - like yoga or boxing - and you don’t know the terminology. That seems like it would be confusing. They do have short instructional videos but you’re not going to be watching that while listening. In addition, if you hate the music of a workout, it’s a little demotivating. Unlike other programs, there is no nutrition component/ recipes.
Final Verdict: If you love variety and aren’t brand-new to fitness terminology, this one is a real winner.
FitBody
The Influencer: @AnnaVictoria
What’s the Deal? The FitBody app has 3 different programs (Tone, Shred, Sculpt) which contain 12-week programs up to 52 weeks. That’s right, you can work through a full year of programs. Tone is the traditional program incorporating 3 x 28-min. strength workouts with 3 x 30 min cardio + 3 x 15-min ab workouts for a total of six workout days. Shred is a bodyweight-based workout and Sculpt is heavier-lifting focused. $14.99/month or $45.99/3 Month or $159.99/Year
Pros: This works for home and gym-based workouts, is great for beginners to experienced fitness buffs. It also includes a meal plan, macro and calories calculator and is a set program so you can track your progress. Each round includes gifs of the move while you’re doing them so it’s very easy to follow along even if you’re not familiar with the terminology. The workouts are tough but the length makes it doable. Also, I really like Anna on social media.
Cons: The workouts rotate in 4-week cycles for the 12-week programs which means if you hate a particular workout, you’re doing it for a month. It’s repetitive on purpose but can be so boring. I’ve literally never made it 12 weeks in a row and I’ve…done 24 week trainings before. I like that this focuses on heavier weights but Tone is pretty gym-centric unless you have heavier weights at your house.
Final Verdict? I’ve gotten a great Black Friday sale where the app was like $60 for a year which is so reasonable but I…never use the meal plan and I have to be hyper -motivated to stick with this for more than four weeks.
Sweat
The Influencer: @KaylaItsines
What’s the Deal? Sweat is the app iteration of the very popular Bikini Body Guide but includes other program types. I’ve never done the other programs so I will focus on the Kayla workouts. It’s $12.99/mo and then…I can’t figure out on the app store how much it is for different subscriptions which isn’t a plus.
Pros: Another round of 28-minute workouts and they are very challenging.
Cons: Super jump-centric so it’s hard on the ol’ joints. At least for me, it just wasn’t sustainable.
Final Verdict? I don’t really have strong feelings on this one but box jumps are just not for me.
LG Fitness
What’s the Deal? Lauren Gleisberg is another social media influencer. She has holiday challenges as well as set programs and a nutrition plan. Workouts are typically 30 minutes and it is in paper form - as in there are set workouts with descriptions and photos of the moves. Programs range from $12 (workouts) to $46 for the meal plan.
Pros: The price of her programs are generally $15 or so. It’s so reasonable. The meal plan is a lifetime membership.
Cons: Everything is sold separately but it’s comparatively inexpensive and if you have the nutrition plan you get a discount on new programs.
Final Verdict? Idk if this counts as a review. I have the meal plan because I wanted new recipes and it’s inexpensive and I have one program because I wanted to mix it up but I’ve…never completed one. This is print-out based and requires a slightly higher amount of self-motivation than an app or video-based program.
Alright! Those are the programs I’ve tested it out. Have you tried any? Been interested in any, I’ve missed? LMK in the comments below and I will test it out for ya!!