Bikini Body Guide Review

Okay, so this review is probably longggg overdue because I've been doing Bikini Body Guide for almost 2 years now! Yes, I took my very first progress photo on April 9, 2015! My review will include my journey, frequently asked questions, and how to stay motivated.

Pre-BBG & knew very little about nutrition/eyebrows

Why did I start BBG?
I was already weightlifting and a frequent gym goer. I wasn't unhappy with my body, but... I knew I could improve. Fitness was becoming a passion for me, and I especially loved looking at other people's progress photos. So almost every night, I would look through Instagram hashtags like #fitspo, #transformationtuesday, #girlswholift, and that's how I stumbled upon ALL these #BBG posts. I was like, "What the heck is BBG?" The more I looked, the more I was inspired and amazed by the transformations. There were so many women posting their transformation from flab to abs in 12 weeks. That's the moment I decided I WANT A SIX PACK. 

Did I get a six-pack in 12 weeks?
Nope! It took me 16 weeks for me to see separate ab sections, and they only show on good days (aka when I eat well)! But because of BBG, I started reading more about nutrition. Combining both nutrition and exercise is so important to get the body you want. But this journey has also taught me that it's not just about aesthetics... you become mentally and physically stronger. I've also realized that always having a visible six-pack is personally not sustainable for ME, especially because I work a full-time desk job, travel a lot, and have a photography business on the side. I've learned that just enjoying life, eating healthy 75% of the time, and feeling great is what keeps me motivated. And that's why I love fitness because you are always learning about yourself, your goals, and, ultimately, what makes you happy.

Week 0 to Week 16

How does BBG work?
BBG is a 12-week workout guide:
- 3x a week: resistance training for 28 minutes
- 2-3x a week: low intensity steady state (LISS) cardio for 30-45 minutes
- 1-2x a week: high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for 10-15 minutes
- Stretches are in the guide also. Stretch every day!

There doesn't have to be a set schedule as long as you get all your workouts in. So a sample workout schedule could look like this:

	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN
Resistance	Legs & Cardio		Arms & Abs		Full Body
LISS		45 min. speedwalk		45 min. speedwalk		45 min. speedwalk*
HIIT							15 min. (on/off) sprint

*or take a rest day

The longest you would actively be working out is 45 minutes! That's why I like the program because it's short and sweet but EFFECTIVE.

PS - If you'd rather have an app tell you what to do, the BBG Sweat app is available for ~$20/month.

How do you BBG correctly?
I love BBG, but a lot of people get confused about the guide instructions! I'll break it down for you because I'm super detailed and want everyone to succeed!

Resistance Training
There are 3 resistance training days: 

1. Legs & Cardio
2. Arms & Abs
3. Full Body

So many people have gotten the guide and finished the Week 1, Day 1 workout and have told me it was hard, but they finished the first circuit under 7 minutes and had plenty of time to rest. Uhh, REST? You have to KEEP GOING! Here is the proper timing (using Week 1, Day 1: Legs & Cardio as an example):
 

1. Time Circuit One for 7 minutes (if you finish before the timer is up, repeat circuit 1 from the beginning until the timer goes off)
    
2. Rest 30-90 seconds before moving on to Circuit Two
    
3. Time Circuit Two for 7 minutes (if you finish before the timer is up, repeat circuit 2 from the beginning until the timer goes off)
    
4. Rest 30-90 seconds
    
5. Repeat steps 1-3 so that you've completed each circuit twice! 

These circuits are no joke. You will end up drenched in sweat, but in only 28 minutes... you're done for the day! 

Low Intensity Steady State Cardio (LISS)
This is any form of cardio that is low-intensity and low-impact over a prolonged period of time. For me, I speed walk on the treadmill, hop on the elliptical, or walk my dog for 45 minutes straight. It's kind of boring, but you need to incorporate this kind of cardio to recover from high-impact exercise, and it's effective for burning fat. Read more about LISS here.

High-Intensity Interval Training
HIIT is super intense... I sprint on the treadmill for 30 seconds and then rest for 30 seconds for a total of 15 minutes. It has me drenched in sweat and feeling super accomplished afterward! It's a short session, but it's super effective at burning fat, even way after you're done working out. On days where a 15-minute session of HIIT is all I do, I'm usually starving after! Read more about HIIT here.

Can I incorporate BBG along with my normal routine?
I used to follow the BBG schedule religiously. I thought if I followed it EXACTLY, I would get the results I wanted. But I did realize that BBG doesn't really grow your butt. Or define your back. And it can get mind-numbingly boring. So mix it up and have fun. You can count weightlifting, yoga, or spin classes as LISS. You can even stop doing the BBG schedule to start taking workout classes and throw in BBG routines when you feel like it. 

Do I need to buy/follow Kayla Itsines' nutrition guide?
I didn't, but I learned about nutrition on my own. You need to change bad eating habits to really see progress.  I used to eat very little and worked out hard, but it left my cranky and bloated. Now I eat more than ever! So educate yourself on food, and not only will it help you see progress, but you'll learn how to be healthy overall!

How to stay motivated
Surround yourself with like-minded people. Instagram is SO great for that! I even started a fitness account on Instagram to find more BBG and health-related accounts to follow. Also, ask yourself why you're doing this... looks? Health? All of the above? Keep asking yourself that so you don't lose sight of your goal. Keep progress photos also. I've heard from so many people that seeing their own progress is what keeps them going.

Last bit of advice

1. Work on proper form over repetitions when doing the exercises so that you don't injure yourself. 
2. Slow and steady wins the race. Remember this and don't be discouraged. I didn't see my the stomach I wanted in 12 weeks like a lot of other people. I went another month before I finally saw what I was aiming for.
3. The downside of Instagram is wanting to look like fitness idols that you admire. Instead, compare your own progress photos! Everyone's body is different (including muscle structure), so you can't look like someone else, no matter how hard you try.
4. Educate yourself on nutrition. You will not see the progress you want if you don't eat right.
5. BBG has changed my life. I don't do it religiously anymore, but I've learned so much about fitness and nutrition because of it. It comes naturally when you want to improve every day. So I urge you to try this program for 12 weeks and see where you go from there.. a lot can happen in that time. I ended up doing it for 70+ weeks!

Favorite Workout Items:

Living Situation

As many of you may have seen, I've picked up a new interest... interior design. A few years out of college, I became more aware of my living space. It was both a blessing and a curse because every time I came home, I was hyperaware of how uncomfortable I was in my own apartment! So I started investing in some furniture and decor to finally make my home a space I enjoyed. 

I get a lot of messages about where I get my decor, so I've tried to link to as many items as possible throughout my post! If you see something not linked, leave a comment or email, and I'll update this post!

Note: some of these items are no longer in my home due to asshole cat ruining everything, but I thought I'd include them anyway because I loved them (RIP rugs and air plants). I've also included items not pictured because they've been asked about in my Instastories, but I don't feel like I can take a photo that would do them justice!

Bedroom

Dark Marquee Designs honeycomb shelf
Handmade Sam Made brass plant mister
Jechory Glass Designs terrarium
Rugs USA shag natural octo pelt sheepskin rug

Living Room

West Elm Jackson sectional couch  
Hayneedle console table   
Rugs USA moroccan shag rug
Dipped seagrass belly basket
Overstock faux fur blanket
Little Korboose pillows

Where to Work: Top 5 Dallas Coffee Shops

As many of you may know, I work full-time as an IT developer. What? You didn't know I'm not a full-time Instagrammer? 

My work schedule allows me to work from home twice a week, so it's easy to get cabin fever. A lot of my mornings are spent working from coffee shops, and then I go home for the other half of the day (or vice versa). After a few months, I've realized some spots are definitely better than others, especially for long-term working instead of just popping in for a conversation. I've compiled a list for those who are interested!

Note: These are just my opinions, and my experiences have heavily influenced why these specific coffee shops are on the list.

#1 - Oak Lawn Coffee

Address: 2720 Oak Lawn Ave A, Dallas, TX 75219
Pros: Variety of drinks, plenty of outlets, comfortable seats/sofas, large window view
Cons: Can get crowded, loud music (if you have phone calls to take)
Comfort level: 4/5

You might think I'm biased because I live so close to Oak Lawn Coffee, but I actually prefer to drive to this coffee shop than to walk the few 100 yards to Ascension Coffee. It's my most frequented spot for working remotely!

Oak Lawn Coffee can get crowded by mid-morning, but if you come early enough, you'll get a spot. Outlets are aplenty here, so no worries about where to sit. The employees are some of the nicest I've ever come across too! I also love the large windows in the front because it gives me something to look at when I need a break from the screen.

I love their standard espresso drinks, but if I feel like treating myself, I get the frozen latte (it's like a frappuccino) or the shaken espresso (lots of half-and-half so it's pretty sweet)! They also serve Tacodeli in the mornings. YUM. 

#2 - Houndstooth (Henderson Ave)

Address: 1900 N Henderson Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
Pros: Ambiance, music
Cons: No AC outlets except corner of shop
Comfort level: 3/5

This is the first Houndstooth in Dallas and a gorgeous space, but the only outlets are in a corner. When I'm here, I like to sit at the raised seating area (great for people watching haha). On nice days, the back patio is great too! The front patio is more for conversation since it's right by the street. However, the seating can get uncomfortable at the stools & tables.

Ooh, they also serve Tacodeli here.

#3 - Houndstooth (Sylvan | Thirty)

Address: 1878 Sylvan Ave e150, Dallas, TX 75208
Pros: Aesthetic, music, variety of seating (tables, benches, countertop)
Cons: No AC outlets inside
Comfort level: 3/5

This is Houndstooth's second Dallas location and another gorgeous space. The only negative is that it doesn't have any traditional AC outlets inside the shop. They only have USB outlets, so come with your laptops fully powered! I normally work here in the mornings and then leave by lunch. Tacodeli is also next door... wow, I'm starting to see a pattern here. Is this turning into a Tacodeli list?

Like the other Houndstooth, the tabletop seating can get uncomfortable after awhile since you're on a stool for hours, but you can always move to the bench area or the 2-person tables with regular chairs. The patios on either side of the shop are also comfortable.

PS - I've put this coffee shop above some others even though it doesn't have OUTLETS... so that's saying something.

#4 - Magnolias Sous Le Pont

Address: 2727 N Harwood St, P2, Dallas, TX 75201
Pros: Matcha lattes, plenty of tables, comfortable seating
Cons: Dark inside, limited street parking (but read more for where to park!)
Comfort level: 5/5

I've only recently started working here, but I've realized it's a great place to get work done! It's a bit dark inside, but it's beautiful when they open the patio doors. I didn't have any issues finding an outlet, and the chairs and tables are the most comfortable I've found at a coffee shop. It's also the only place out of this list that serves matcha lattes! I'll be coming back here more when I want to mix up my spots. It's just a bit hard to find parking on the street.

UPDATE: Magnolias was kind enough to let me know that there is additional parking if you cannot find street parking! "Hectic street parking is a common misconception due to lack of signage. If street parking is full, you can go to the entrance to the parking garage located next to the loading bay to the left of the front street entrance, you can be buzzed in and park anywhere besides reserved parking. Since we are tenants of the building, our customers are tenants too!"

#5 - Mudsmith

Address: 2114 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
Pros: Plenty of table space and outlets
Cons: Can get crowded, chairs make the most hair-raising screech against the floor
Comfort level: 3/5

Mudsmith is another great place to get work done because of all the outlets at the communal tables. It gets crowded, but once you set up camp, you can really work away for however long you need. I only mention this because other coffeeshops make you aware of how long you've been hanging around, but it just seems expected here.

One huge con: just thinking about the way their chairs screech on the floor is giving me goosebumps as I type this. It's my last resort for a spot to get things done, but it's up there.

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Going through this list, I realized that the most photogenic coffee shops are actually NOT the ones where I prefer to get work done! I've probably taken the most photos at Local Press + Brew and Davis Street Espresso, but they're definitely more for a casual hangouts and conversation (especially since Davis Street Espresso doesn't have internet).

I hope this list helps you the next time you look for somewhere to work! Let me know your thoughts!