Barre Blend Review
***Disclaimer: I am not a Beachbody coach. I am not selling anything or making money by writing this review.***
*** Also, TW: Weight loss is mentioned. ***
Hey Unicorns! Let me tell you all about what I’ve been up to lately...
I knew once I regained my strength after having my implants removed, I wanted to incorporate some kind of fitness routine back into my life. Before cancer, I never had a routine that I stuck with longer than a few weeks, but once chemo was over, I dove in head first. I was taking bootcamp classes, doing yoga routinely, walking, and even lifting weights. I’ve had to stop and start over so many times after surgeries, a blood clot, and then breast implant illness.
Over the summer, I started with walking. First it was a mile just about everyday, and before I knew it, I was up to 3 ½ miles everyday! Then I wanted more. I signed up for Beachbody On Demand because I’ve learned that I do much better when there is a structured program for me to follow. I started with PiYo, which was good. It helped me build strength, but I got bored doing the same workouts for 8 weeks and wanted something different. I decided to give Barre Blend a try.
Barre Blend was way out of my comfort zone. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, and I was worried it would be too easy. Haha! I had no idea what I was in for.
Last week, I completed the entire 8 week program! For 8 weeks, I let Elise Joan kick my ass 5 days a week… and I LOVED IT! I mean, I cussed a lot. There was a lot of sweat, heavy breathing, and moments where I thought my heart was going to explode, but I loved it anyway. And this week, I’ve gone back to the beginning to do it all over again!
For me, I try to stay fit for many reasons. My mental health is better, my confidence is better, and I’m more motivated in other areas of my life. Barre Blend was more than just a workout. Elise (the trainer) is uplifting and constantly reminds anyone watching her series that they are worthy, strong, and capable. Weight loss is currently a component for me, if I’m being honest, but it hasn’t been my only focus. Because of my breast implants, I slowly gained 40 pounds and couldn’t get the weight gain to stop. I was suffering from muscle weakness and intense fatigue. I know all too well that keeping my weight at a comfortable level for my body is important when it comes to risk of breast cancer recurrence. That alone is a huge motivator.
During the 8 weeks in this program, I didn’t lose much weight-wise, but I lost about 8 inches overall! Which I am super happy with. I didn’t expect a quick fix. And if the number on the scale never budges, I’m fine with that since I’m getting stronger and better at all the moves and my balance has improved. It's not about the number on the scale as much as it is about so many other things. So the pounds are not my focus. The muscle gained, inches lost, and the clarity of my mind are all the most important to me!
I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested. It is tough, but there are so many ways to modify everything, and believe me, I modified a lot. And that’s ok! I just do the best I can everyday. And it’s working :) Also, there isn’t much required as far as equipment goes. A yoga mat, light weights between 1-2lbs (you can go up to 5, but honestly, 2 was super difficult believe it or not), and a barre or sturdy chair. A countertop would work as well. I even used my dresser once!
One last thing I want to mention is how connected I ended up feeling toward Elise and all the other girls participating in the videos with her. It sounds super cheesy, but whatevs. I even teared up during the end of the last workout. I’ve also connected with some pretty amazing people on the Barre Blend Facebook group.
So anyway, if you’re looking for a really awesome, kick-you-in-the-ass program to follow, definitely give this a shot. You will have to get a Beachbody account, which also comes with a fee. I currently pay around $35 for three months. Plus I get access to any other workout programs I want to try.
If you try it, let me know in the comments what you think about it! Or if you’ve already done it, I’d love to hear from you too :)
xoxo
Brit