I recently finished the Alpha phase of T25. As I blogged previously, I had doubts about doing T25. I always thought it was "easy" and didn't compare to my usual fitness routine (typically lifting with either Body Beast or P90X, running, hot yoga and HIIT cardio like Max 30). Since becoming pregnant I found that I was struggling with finding the motivation to workout when I was so exhausted all of the time. While I did complete Hammer & Chisel and then did a hybrid of Body Beast/Hard Corps, I needed something new and short. That's when I thought I would give T25 a try. It's Shaun T but not crazy Insanity style Shaun T.
The T25 workouts are 25 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Including the cool down/stretch every workout is under 30 minutes (they usually clock in around 28 minutes). Fridays are doubles day which is intended to fire up your metabolism. You can also do an optional stretch day as well, but I already go to yoga so I felt like I was covered there. However, if you are sore I would highly recommend doing the stretching day! The regular T25 schedule has an Alpha and Beta phase (5 weeks each) and the deluxe package includes and extra month of a Gamma phase.
I started T25 when I was 21 weeks pregnant and it took me 7 weeks to complete the first 5 week phase. The thing about doing T25 while pregnant or postpartum or just generally when you are out of shape is that it has an AMAZING modifier who makes the entire workout low impact. Even while following the modifier I worked up a sweat and my leg muscles were burning! Another cool thing about the program is that it can be hard for any fitness levels. If you are doing it without the modifier, you can jump high and really move to get in a killer workout. It honestly is something that anybody can do! I also think it progresses your fitness level in a way that anybody would be able to do something like Insanity Max:30 when they are finished (that has a modifier too).
Alpha workouts include: cardio, total body circuit, lower focus, speed 1.0 and ab intervals. I skipped the ab workouts, for obvious reasons, but did everything else. I think my favorites were cardio and speed 1.0. They both get you moving and sweating. Both workouts have similar moves but speed 1.0 is done at a faster pace, hence the title! Total body had me on the mat planking and doing pushups (the modifier had me on my knees the whole time, which was perfect for me). The lower body KILLS your legs. So many squats and lunges!!! I swear at one point Shaun T says "your legs should start burning now" meanwhile I'm over here thinking "what?! They have been burning for 5 minutes!!"
The Alpha phase is all strictly cardio and body weights. You never pick up a weight and the only equipment you may need is a mat. I absolutely use a mat because I do the pushups on my knees on a hard wood floor! I just started the Beta phase and so far this one does incorporate weights in a few of the workouts. I will have a review of that phase up once I am finished.
After doing Alpha and now starting Beta and seeing how it builds on Alpha, I definitely plan to have T25 be my first postpartum program once I am cleared to workout this winter. The quickness of the workouts combined with such an excellent modifier make that a no brainer for me. I really think it will help me lose weight and improve my fitness level so I can move onto a more difficult program.
T25 is available on Beachbody On Demand so anyone interested in doing the free 30 day trial of BOD, email me! lauren.madara@gmail.com
