Body Beast Review Week 2

I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I started this.  I knew I loved weights and didn’t doubt that part, but I wasn’t sure about the meal plan the results, etc.  And there really aren’t a lot of female reviews of the program.  It is mostly targeted toward males.  But the program is great for building strength and muscle for women as well!


Here is a great article on why Body Beast is good for women and not just men!


Honestly, the marketing is not all that attractive to women, but I wanted to dig deeper than that. I’m glad I did!

Not exactly my goal 😉

I always had the perception that to really lift weights and do it well, I needed to be at the gym.  I just assumed all that big equipment was required to learn how to lift!  Well, I was wrong.  I started with the 21 Day Fix, which incorporated weights most days.  Before that I am serious when I say that I knew nothing about weights.


Then I moved onto Chalean Extreme, which is probably my favorite program by far!!! I learned form and the importance of slow repetitive movements to build muscle.  But I DID NOT bulk up!  Which I know is most women’s fear.  But lifting heavier weights really leaned me out a lot!  So, I decided to go ahead and try Body Beast to see how much farther I could go.


I chose to focus on doing the Lean Phase of the program.

• Build – this three week phase helps create a good foundation for gaining mass and volume by building up and strengthening base muscle groups: chest, triceps, back, biceps, legs and shoulders. Nutrition during this period is roughly 50% carbs, 25% protein and 25% fat.
• Bulk – the next phase is six weeks long; this is where you’ll gain incredible strength and mass. You’ll work on the same base muscle groups that you encountered in the Build phase, but you’re lifting heavier, lifting longer, and focusing in on particular muscle groups. You’ll learn to love progressive sets and force sets; they’ll push you to the point of failure. Nutrition for this phase remains at 50% carbs, 25% protein and 25% fat.
• Beast – this is the third and final phase of the program. By this point you should be lifting bigger weights and focused intently on maintaining your form even as you near the point of failure. This is a hybrid phase based on workouts from the Build and Bulk phases. In this phase, your nutrition profile changes to 40% protein, 30 % carbs and 30% fat. It’s not a huge change in your nutrition, but it has the effect of stripping fat from the body and showing of the muscles you’ve worked so hard to build.
  This phase is optional; it’s most useful in the three weeks before you hit the beach or if you’re heading into competition. If you don’t want to enter a fat-burning phase, simply head back for a second Bulk Phase.

Clearly, a yoga matt and a light set of dumbells is not enough to do this program.  While doing Chalean Extreme, I purchased some heavier weights, so I already had those.  The program calls for a workout bench, which we don’t have, so I use a stability ball. Which I love because it really forces me to use my core to stabilize.  But you can pick up a weight bench for $40 or so if you watch for them. 


The program also call for a pull up bar.  But you can use resistance bands for this, which I already had.  So, basically, I didn’t have to purchase anything new to start the program, which was a win for me!!!


Eating like a Beast


THis was kind of a surprise for me.  Based on meal plans like the 21 day fix, which only required me to eat 1400 calories.


On Beast, I am supposed to be eating 2100 calories! That’s a huge difference!  That’s because this program is designed to build serious muscle and burn fat like crazy.  You need to eat to lose.  Without proper nutrition, you won’t have enough stamina to survive these awesome workouts, or you won’t see the results you want.  So EAT!


And although this program is not about weight loss, you can definitely lose weight on the program.  So far, I have lost a couple pounds, but I have already gained a lot of muscle!


The workouts are really challenging.  I don’t particularly enjoy Sagi’s personality like I do Chalean Extreme, but I can get past it.  And Matt and I have a lot of laughs while we’re working out!!!


And one thing I am so thankful for is my Recover!!! It’s a post workout recover/protein shake that helps reduce soreness.  And let me tell you, it works!!! I only drink it on days I really push hard and can tell that I will be sore the next day.  It packs a protein punch and definitely delivers on it’s promise to reduce soreness.  Thankful for that little gem!

So, my thoughts thus far is yes!  It’s a great program, and I think it’s really going to change my body the way I want it to!


It is definitely not for beginners, or people who haven’t worked out at all in 5 years, but it is a program you can modify and build on, which I think is the mark of a really successful workout program!.


Stay tuned!  I will keep you updated as I move into the next phase!
Beast Up!!!! Just kidding…that’s what Sagi says 😉