Updated July 5th, 2020
With most of the world staying at home, and actively practicing social distancing, I thought it would be helpful to compile a guide of my favorite home workout programs. I prefer working out at the gym and workout studios but sadly, my gym and the majority of my local workout studios have closed, forcing me to turn to home workout alternatives and particularly home workouts without equipment.
I’m pleased to report that I’ve actually been enjoying my home workouts a lot more than expected! For me, exercise doesn’t just provide physical benefits, but mental benefits as well so I’m glad I’ve found programs I’ve enjoyed. I’ve been experimenting with a whole range of them, some of which I’ve tried before (but at my gym) and quite a few new ones. There’s no shortage of high-quality workout programs you can do at home and I will try and give as much information as possible (cost, if it’s an app or a streaming service, whether you need equipment, etc). And, as always, please know that I would never recommend a service or a product if I didn’t use it myself and truly enjoy it.
Here’s a breakdown of my five favorite home workouts and I’ll be sure to add more as I try them:
1. Fit Body App by Anna Victoria
What is the Fit Body App?
This app contains three different workout programs, two of which you can do at home with either no equipment, or minimal equipment. Created by Anna Victoria, these programs are called Shred, Tone, and Sculpt. Both Shred and Tone can be done at home and Shred is a no equipment workout. Sculpt is the only program that requires gym access. Shred and Tone offer a leg workout, an upper body workout, a full body workout, and three ab workouts. The workouts in the Shred and Tone programs are 30-minutes long. Sculpt is set up a little differently due to the fact that you are lifting heavy weights and takes about 45-mins to an hour to complete. The Fit Body App also includes a nutrition and a mindful program.
What does it cost?
If you use my link, you will get a 25% discount.
Where can I get it?
Purchase it on Anna Victoria’s website on in the app store.
2. Obe Fitness
What is Obe Fitness?
Think of Obe Fitness as a slick digital workout studio. They have live workout classes where you workout in real-time with a trainer in addition to hundreds of on-demand programs. Their classes are normally 28-45 minutes long and are divided into pillars called Sweat, Define, and Flow. You don’t need equipment for the mast majority of these classes although some of the more strength based ones do require weights. There are classes for every level (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) and lots of different types of workouts to appease every person. I am personally enjoying the Sculpt, Strength, Cardio Boxing, and Dance Cardio (like aerobics!!) the most. I also like that they have Express options, which are 10-minutes or less, for a great quick at home workout option.
What does it cost?
- 1 month for $27
- 1 year for $199 which includes exclusive access to their quarterly challenges.
If you use my code HONESTLYFITNESS30, you’ll receive 30% off of your first month!
Where can I get it?
Sign up and get started on their website.
3. BBFIT with Bailey Brown
What is BBFIT?
BBFIT is an online studio created by the lovely Bailey Brown. Bailey is a pilates instructor and fitness influencer who offers a huge range of Pilates and Barre style classes on BBFIT. They make for quick at home workouts which range anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes long. The majority of her workouts do not require any equipment while a few do require resistance bands. Overall, it’s minimal to no equipment home workouts.
What does it cost?
- $14.99 per month
Bailey is currently offering a free one week trial! Additionally, if you use the code HONESTLYFITNESS then you’ll get 50% off of your first month after your free trial is up.
Where can I get it?
You can sign up at the BBFIT website or download it on the app store.
4. Grokker
What is Grokker?
Grokker is an online resource and community geared towards busy people who have little time for fitness yet want to commit. They have a huge database chock full of videos you can stream. They offer yoga, strength workouts, cooking videos, meditation videos and so much more. Because they have such a massive database, you can literally find everything you need, whether it’s a five minute yoga flow or a forty minute pilates class. I mainly use it for yoga and adore their teachers Tammy Lee Jones and Celest Pereira. Feel free to read this article I wrote about Grokker which links to two of my favorite Grokker yoga flows.
What does it cost?
- $9.99 per month if you pay for a full year
- $14.95 per month if you choose to pay month to month.
Grokker is currently free during the COVID-19 pandemic. How cool is that?!
Where can I get it?
Just head over to the Grokker site and claim your free trial.
5. BBG
What is BBG?
BBG is a 12-week circuit training program that is the original OG home workout (in my opinion at least). Each week, you will complete an upper body workout, a lower body workout, a full body workout, and three ab workouts in addition to about 30-minutes of cardio. The strength workouts last about 28-35 minutes long each. While I don’t do BBG anymore, I did it for a longgg time, and enjoyed the progress I saw. I even used to be an affiliate although they have since ceased their affiliate program. Check out my comprehensive BBG review to get more information on how the 12-weeks are structured.
What does it cost?
- $20 per month for the SWEAT app which houses BBG
- $40.48 for the PDF guide
Where can I get it?
You can get BBG as a PDF on Kayla Itsine’s website or download the sweat app from the app store.
6. Aeropower and Aerobox from Aerospace Studio NYC
What is Aeropower and Aerobox from the Aerospace NYC studio?
Aerospace NYC is a workout studio that used to be co-owned by Michael Olajide Jr., a personal trainer to celebrities like Adriana Lima, and now a PT on Chris Hemsworth “Centr App” team (read my interview with Michael here to learn more about him).
While Michael was a part of the Aerospace studio, he filmed workouts that can be streamed. My favorite of those are the “Aerobox” workout and the “Aeropower – Upper Body Workout.”
The Aerobox workout is amazing in my opinion because it requires minimal space, light hand weights (2-3 pounds) yet makes you SO SORE and delivers an incredible cardio and strength workout. I’ve been doing it once a week, every week, for the past month or so and I definitely see a difference in my arms. The workout is composed of a warm up round (which is actually quite tough), three boxing rounds, an optional ab round and a cool down. You are supposed to slowly move up to round three to get yourself and your muscles used to the workout. I’m absolutely obsessed!
The Aeropower – Upper Body workout requires light weights and a jump rope. I personally prefer to do this workout in a big space (like the group fitness room in a gym) or outdoors but it’s perfectly doable inside. It’s an absolute killer and alternates between rounds where you do a couple of minutes of jump rope and then a couple of minutes of upper body moves using light weights. Do not underestimate it. I am always dripping in sweat and yelling at the screen hahaha.
What does it cost?
- Both workouts are available to stream for up to a year for $19.95
Where can I get it?
You can stream them and start working out immediately by going to the studio’s shop page. Here is the link directly to Aerobox and to Aeropower – Upper Body.
7. HIIT Pilates From Lauren Brown
What is HIIT Pilates from Lauren Brown?
Lauren Brown, a.k.a. @sportyandwell on Instagram, is a personal trainer and now works at Solidcore in Chicago (which is a megaformer studio). She has a Youtube channel where she has uploaded over 20 HIIT Pilates workouts.
Her workouts follow the Solidcore megaformer method – read, they’re hard freaking work! She normally starts with 20-minutes of HIIT moves (think burpees, jump squats, etc) and then moves into 20-25 minutes of Solidcore megaformer style moves. You only need gliders (or a towel) and resistance bands. I absolutely love them and it feels like I am getting a megaformer style workout at home!
What does it cost?
- They are free! That being said, I think you should consider donating to Lauren via her Venmo or PayPal, especially if you use them regularly. Just message her on Instagram for details or ask me.
Where can I get it?
On her Youtube channel.
Alrighty, friends. I hope this has been helpful and that you find a program you love. I’m thinking of all of you during this crazy time and hoping that you and your families are keeping safe.
Honestly yours,
Alice
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Disclaimer: I use affiliate links for brands that I love and use myself. I would never recommend a brand, product or service if I didn’t find true value in it. That is my promise to you.
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