Has it gotten across that I love the BBG yet?  Have I made that evident?  I’m getting to the point where I see people at the gym who do as much cardio as I used to and I just want to run up to them and be like “HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS AWESOME WORKOUT IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE”.  I haven’t done this yet, but I swear it’s only a matter of time at this point.  Don’t know what the BBG is?  It’s Kayla Itsines‘ 12 week workout plan full of 28 minute circuits that work your arms, abs, and legs and really challenge you.

Fun Fact: I was supposed to start the BBG with my two best friends.  If they made it through one week, that’s news to me.  I got overzealous (as I tend to do) and started on Sunday instead of the Monday we had originally planned.  I had no motivation to go to the gym, so I cleared out my living room, grabbed my boyfriend, and set my timer for 7 minutes.  It was go time.

I remember my legs literally screaming at me working through the first day of exercises.  I have been working out consistently and intensely for almost 7 years, so I figured this would be a walk in the park. Lies.  Lies everywhere.  My boyfriend and I were cursing our legs by the end of it.  And that’s when I knew I was hooked.

It is now the end of week 8 and I have learned so much about myself.  I am much stronger than I was when I started.  I feel like my body can do remarkable things now that I never felt strong enough for before.  My running has improved dramatically.  I have learned more about different muscles and how to work them properly.  And, overall, I just feel more in tune with myself.

I used to believe that all you needed to get fit was a whole bunch of cardio sprinkled with a series of weights here and there every now and again.  Now, I wouldn’t dream of doing that again.  By switching up the types of workouts I’m doing everyday, I’m no longer bored.  It’s so exhilarating to challenge myself everyday with new workouts that I never would have put together myself.

But by far and away, my favorite part about all of this is the BBG community.  These girls are so inspiring and supportive.  Everyone reads about stories of people bullying online and knocking people down anonymously which can cause people to be hesitant about posting things about themselves online.   With the BBG community, I can confidently say the exact opposite is true.  Everyone is full of kind words and support for one another and that in itself is so motivating.

So, if you’re looking for a way to shake things up and really challenge yourself, check out Kayla’s Bikini Body Guide.  If you’re as lucky as me, it will change a lot more for you than just what your body looks like on the outside.

-sj