It’s a THREE POST MONDAY, friends!
No only do I have my FIT BOD REVIEW here, but today, I also have MEAL PLANNING MONDAY and SPOOKTACULAR FALL SAVINGS too!
Each post is a little different, so I hope you find something you love 🙂 .
Okay, thanks to a blog comment from Lyssy in February, I have been using and LOVING the app called FIT BOD this year. I have mentioned this app many times over the last 8ish months, but after last week’s Q&A on Stories, I realized that I should probably make it its very own post (there were many questions!).
Reviewing apps can be kind of tricky because they’re nuanced and often tailored to the user, so I’m going to hit the high notes and then PLEASE feel free to ask specific questions in the comment section too. I’m happy to answer them, and I’m also sure others out there can answer them too.
Good morning from my home gym!
As you know, my goal now is to focus more on strength training and muscle building which means that I’m lifting (heavy!) weights 3 to 4 days a week. Because I’m strength focused now, I especially LOVE this app because it allows you to tailor your strength workouts with factors such as:
- how much time you have
- what equipment is available to you
- which muscle groups you’re looking to work/to recover (and then it keeps track each day so that it knows to change things up the other days)
- how much weight you want to lift for each muscle group (and then it incrementally adds more and/or more reps as you progress over the days/weeks/months)
- what your specific goals are (stronger & fitter, increase muscle mass & size, get lean & defined, general fitness, powerlifting)
- it allows you to add (should you want) a warm up and cool down
Other things I love about this app:
- it allows you to replace or remove exercises (if for whatever reason, that exercise isn’t for you, it’s easy to swap it with something else)
- it will always suggest reps and weight but you can easily modify that on the app
- for every exercise, there is a video of someone doing it from multiple angles so that you clearly can see what it should look like
- I think this app synchs MUCH more accurately to my Apple Watch. When I simply tap the workout app on my watch and make it a strength workout, it will monitor my measurables (time/heartrate/exertion/etc) but only to a point because the watch doesn’t understand how heavy I’m lifting or how many reps. This app synchs with the watch and tells the watch those details which then gives me a much more accurate account of the workout when I’m done because it’s factored in that data.
I took some screenshots of my app as I was making my way through a workout last week to share…
Here I am about to click “start workout”. As you can see, on this day, I was primarily focusing on back, shoulders and abs. Because I workout at home and don’t have to share gym equipment/wait on people/walk far, I have realized that I’m able to move much faster through my workout than the app thinks I can which is why I make my workouts “1 hour and 15 minutes”. I can get that done in 50 minutes at home, so make sure you play with that setting too. You might need 45 minutes to complete a 30 minute workout. I move fast (it’s how I get my heartrate up during the workout) and have the space all to myself, so I move much faster.
I clicked across the top so you could see how I have my equipment pre-loaded into my app. It knows I have access to certain pieces of equipment and not to others…
…I just realized as I was typing this sentence that I need to go in and click that I do have access to a bosu ball now! There are several pages you can go through as you set up/work through your app.
For each exercise, you can tap to do any of the following above. See how easy it is to get videos/data from previous exercise history/replace/recommend more or less/don’t recommend or flat out delete it and move on.
Here’s another screen that shows at this point, I’m 18 minutes into my workout and have completed a round. It always asks you after each round to rate how challenging it was. I always rate it accurately because it adjusts the exercise moving forward based on your response.
I’m clearly a big fan 🙂 .
If you have questions, please drop them below, and I’m happy to answer them for you!
A few weeks ago, I reviewed MY TONAL and it’s easy to work that into this app too!
Happy Monday, friends! Don’t forget, I have two other bonus posts for you today as well. Make sure you also check out MEAL PLANNING MONDAY and SPOOKTACULAR FALL SAVINGS too! I hope you have the best day! xx
Elspeth says
Thanks for such a great review! I always love to learn about the different ways people work out and move!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Dana P says
Shay. Can you legitimately do 28 pull-ups and 28 handstand push-ups?! Thats incredible!!! Now that I’m starting to work out much harder than in the past, I can imagine how hard you must have been working out over the years to be able to do that.
For anyone needing some inspiration, I started working out much harder (after really only walking for years) with my husband about 9 weeks ago. It was kind of miserable for the first 2-3 weeks, but now I’m starting to actually enjoy it and even look forward to it. I just do 20 minutes on the elliptical and then about 40 minutes of strength training/stretching, whatever muscle groups my husband has me do that day. Anyway, thanks for recommending this app because I’m starting to want to stretch my wings and go on my own a little bit and this looks really promising!
One more little tip for anyone wanting to get started- there have been days I feel really weak/not into it and want to end early. My husband encouraged me to keep going, even if it meant a lighter weight than usual. I’ve found that if I do that, often times the feeling lifts and I can actually finish stronger than what I thought I could. 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
For both of those, I have to use assistance. I lean against my wall for the handstand (and let’s be real, by the end, I’m barely moving up and down) and then, I use my band for the pull ups (to help me get up). So yes, I try and yes, I get help. THANK YOU for these great tips, Dana!!!
Karen says
I am not familiar with this app. Thanks for sharing. Looks like something I am going to try. What is the fee for the app?
Kerry says
This looks like something my husband would love so he can track his workouts and continue to improve his strength. Thank you!
Brianne Adams says
I use this workout app as well. I was looking for something this summer and this came up. I live that it tells me exactly what to do on any certain day, but I also have the choice to change it up if needed. I love how it challenges me to lift heavier and do exercises that I might not do otherwise. Well worth the money. As I was typing this response the app sent me my workout for today!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Isn’t it the best fitness companion? I love it!
Faith Kapp says
I have been using another app but I think I like that you can make your workouts more personalized with this app. Do you use your phone?
Mix and Match Mama says
I sure do!
Elizabeth McLenna says
Is there a fee to this app? One time or monthly?
Mix and Match Mama says
I could be wrong here, but I am pretty sure it’s a one time fee.
JMB says
I have downloaded the app and I am excited to try it. I enjoy doing interval workouts and I’m just curious if you have tried those in the app or not. I am wondering if the timer automatically moves you through each exercise or if I have to set my own timer.
Mix and Match Mama says
Sometimes when I want to add a little “interval” in, I will do box step ups for a minute between exercises to get my heartrate up. I just add this in addition to what the app is sharing. The app has its own timer for you to use!
Amanda says
I am pretty committed to my workout program (Madeline Moves) but I would do this in a second if I didn’t already have one. Absolutely genius!
Kelly Menou says
Love Madeline Moves also! Can’t wait to see the app changes she was talking about!
Lois says
LOVE Madeline Moves! I’ve tried Fitbody but nothing compares to MM.
Heather says
Shay-
Does this app offer somatic exercises as well? Per my Doctor, I should try some to alleviate stress and anxiety. Wouldn’t mind toning up as well😉
Mix and Match Mama says
I do not believe it does. I bet someone can suggest one for you though here in the comment section!
Kristen says
Peloton offers somatic workouts.
Heid says
When you first introduced this app I started using it and have shared it with others now as well. I appreciate it so much and I wanted to thank you for sharing this. It has really changed a lot of how I work out and has given me a clearer focus and the guidance I needed. Thank you so much Shay!!! I’m a big fan! 🧡
Mix and Match Mama says
I am so happy to read this comment, Heidi!!! Thank you for sharing!
Carissa says
I love that it has a video with how to do it! That is so helpful! thanks for sharing
Katherine says
I’ve been looking for something like this. Thanks for sharing! I’m going to try it.
Laura says
Hi Shay! If it was from the Feb. 19 post, I think I was the commenter (although I could totally be wrong)! 😊 So glad you are enjoying it so much! I love how versatile it is. So glad it is working for you still!
Mix and Match Mama says
I just went back to look and the comment I found was from Lyssy, but I’m sure you might have recommended it too, and for that, I’m forever thankful!!
Laura says
Thank you for your kind and gracious response, Shay! When I commented about FitBod on the Feb 19 post, your reply made me think you had never heard of it before. My enneagram 9 self would normally not reply, but I guess my 1 wing showed! 😊 So I apologize for misinterpreting. Great minds do indeed think alike. Thanks again for the inspiration to keep on strength training!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh no worries, it truly could have been you! I just searched through my comments by key word and that was the oldest comment I found with the app name in it, but certainly, it could have been you/I didn’t remember the first girl telling me/etc. I certainly want to give credit where it’s due!
Sara Mayo says
You really do- do it all!! I wish I could be so disciplined!! Thank you for all your hard work. Always providing meal plans and list!! You are the best!! Thank you
Sara says
Thank you for sharing! Excited to start a free trial tomorrow 😊 been using Peleton for strength for a couple years and I’m curious what else is out there. Would you mind sharing how often you use Fit Bod vs Tonal vs other workouts? I’m curious what a typical “workout week in the life” looks like for you.
Mix and Match Mama says
Well I use the Tonal with my Fit Bod (not separately). They complement each other. Right now, I’m lifting weights four days a week and then walking/running/doing some sort of “getting my steps in” seven days a week (I do it longer on the three days that I don’t lift.
Alicia Gordon says
I love that it shows pictures because most of the time I have no clue how to do the exercise! 😂🙈
Tanya says
Will you review the new Apple Watch 10?
Mix and Match Mama says
I don’t *think* I’m going to get it. I don’t know that I need to upgrade from what I have?
Angela says
I started this app over the summer, thanks to your recommendation, Shay!! I absolutely LOVE this app!! It helps me stay motivated and focused and I LOVE having my gym time be so productive! Now, I keep recommending it to my friends!
Deb says
I need to add strength training into my workouts, but each time I try at home I end up not following through, which is unlike me on any type of workout (or really any goal – I am super competitive with myself once I make a goal). I will take a closer look at this app and see if it helps. Thank you!
~B~ says
Same, Deb, same! I really need to look into this app. Thanks, Shay!
Erin says
My husband and I use the Freeletics app and it looks very similar to this!