You are your own gym review – is it really worth it?
Hey there, fitness enthusiasts! So, you’re curious about “You Are Your Own Gym,” huh? Well, buckle up because I’ve got some insightful thoughts to share with you.
Let’s kick things off by addressing a common dilemma many folks face when it comes to choosing their workout routine. With so many options out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But fear not! After diving into the “You Are Your Own Gym” program, I’m here to give you the lowdown.
Imagine having the power to sculpt your body and reach your fitness goals without fancy equipment or pricey gym memberships. That’s the promise of “You Are Your Own Gym” – a program designed to help you harness the power of bodyweight exercises to transform your physique.
But does it live up to the hype? Is it worth your time and effort? Well, stick around because I’m about to break it down for you. From the program’s structure and effectiveness to its pros and cons, I’ll give you the inside scoop so you can decide if “You Are Your Own Gym” is the right fit for you.
So, whether you’re a seasoned fitness fanatic or a newbie looking to kickstart your journey to better health, join me as we explore the ins and outs of “You Are Your Own Gym.” Get ready to discover the power of bodyweight training and take control of your fitness destiny. Let’s dive in!
Overview
When you hire a personal trainer, you get their undivided attention, encouragement, and professional training to help you workout, set realistic fitness goals, and be accountable. Most personal trainers will also track your workouts, and measure your progress from week to week.
Even when you’ve reached the tipping point to jumpstart your exercise program, sometimes it takes a personal trainer to give you the extra push to make it happen. Some people may live too far from a gym or personal trainer, and it might not be in the budget for others. But that’s not a problem with the You Are Your Own Gym App.
Details
It’s only $2.99 for the iPhone and just $1.99 for Androids. And you’ll get personal training and instruction from Mark Lauren, a seasoned trainer for the U.S. Military Special Forces. This app is based on his popular book You Are Your Own Gym: The Bible of Bodyweight Exercises.
The You Are Your Own Gym app includes more than 200 bodyweight exercises (more than in the book). Mark Lauren and a fitness model show you how to perform every bodyweight exercise and provide instructions and details about each move.
You can create your own workout plan based on the collection of exercises organized by push, pull, leg, and core moves and categorized as easy, semi-easy, moderate, semi-hard, and hard. You can also choose one of his training programs also featured in the book based on your skill level: Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced skill levels.
This is probably one of the most appealing features about the app compared to the book. The app keeps track of your workout. When you’re ready to begin, it knows where you should start based on your last workout. And it records your reps and sets and keeps track of how long you should perform each exercise during a workout. It also includes an option to review your history so you can see how far you’ve come after one of his 10-week programs. One user began by only being able to perform two push-ups and three pull-ups, but after following the 10-week program for beginners should could crank out 15 push-ups and 19 pull-ups.
Mark Lauren also includes a collection of timers with this app that you can use to design your own high intensity interval training workouts, one of the best ways to burn fat and build muscle in the least amount of time.
And if you’ve got a bit of a competitive streak, or just want to share your results with your friends, the app also has an option to connect with social media.
Positives
This cost-effective app is worth every penny. You get a library of exercises you can do at home and a workout program that will give you the results you want.
Negatives
For the price, you really can’t go wrong. Doesn’t include much advice about nutrition. And they try to sell you the book and a companion collection of exercise videos.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a solid bodyweight training program to burn fat, build muscle and get in shape, Mark Lauren’s Your Are Your Own Gym App will help you achieve your fitness goals.
The second review also has got some great points to highlight.
There’s a reason an estimated 68 percent of Americans are overweight or obese. People eat piles of junk food like French fries, soft drinks, and candy bars. And then they sit around watching TV, complaining about their aching body and bulging belly hanging over their belt. And that’s something writer and fitness trainer Mark Lauren wanted to address when he wrote the book, You Are Your Own Gym: The Bible of Bodyweight Exercises.
Many of the very same people who are overweight or obese are paying for a gym membership month after month. And yet they never go. They never log time on a treadmill, pick up a weight, attend a class, or make the rounds on the machines. In a recent survey by the fitness trade publication, Club Industry, an estimated 67 percent of people with a gym membership never check in for a workout. Even the average gym-goer only makes it twice a week to workout, according to the survey.
And that’s not enough to lose weight, prevent weight gain, or keep a growing list of chronic diseases from cutting your life short. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 30 to 60 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week for best health. But a lot of people skip out on exercise because they’re “too busy.” And that’s one of the reasons Mark wrote this book.
Details
Mark’s quest for ultimate health and fitness began by training elite group of military experts to perform under pressure and meet the physical life-or-death demands these iron-willed men and women might encounter in the field. He’s a seasoned military physical training specialist and a competitive triathlete and boxer. And he’s helped hundreds of special military operatives transform their body through his unique training program based on bodyweight exercises.
In the book, Mark plugs credits his military background for helping him develop his training regimen. He was one of 12 out of 94 recruits to survive the physically grueling Pararescue & Combat Control Indoctrination Course. And he was called upon by high-ranking military officials to develop tailor-made fitness and nutrition programs for some of the toughest military experts in America.
Then he provides a thorough explanation of bodyweight exercises and how you can achieve an incredible physique and level of fitness without packing up and going to the gym. He takes some time to educate readers about the health benefits of strength training. He dedicates a chapter to providing a smart and healthy nutrition plan. He debunks, clarifies and addresses the many myths that exist surrounding the concept of strength training. And before he unveils his workout plan used by the toughest military specialists in America, he dishes out a serving of motivation to get you off the couch, get you moving, and get you in the best shape of your life.
In the book, Mark provides details descriptions and helpful how-to images of 125 different bodyweight exercises. Like the many variations of push-ups, planks, pull-ups, chin-ups, and creative exercises and interval patterns that will jumpstart your metabolism and help you build muscle and strength.
He encourages readers to follow his guidelines and create their own workout programs. But he also knows some people want a step-by-step guide to losing weight, burning fat, and gaining more muscle and strength. So he also provides a collection of 10-week programs based on ability, so that anyone from the out-of-shape couch potato to the well-trained athlete can pick up this book and get started.
Mark Lauren has also developed a 3-set DVD collection called You Are Your Own Gym: Stay Fit Forever. The DVD program based on the book includes 9 total bodyweight training workouts that require you to workout three times a week for at least 20 minutes. A mobile app with all of the exercises and workout programs is also available for iPhone and Android devices.
Positives
Mark Lauren provides a comprehensive collection of 125 different bodyweight training exercises in this book and results-oriented 10-week programs.
Negatives
While not required, some exercises would be better executed with a pull-up bar and dumbbells.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a bodyweight training program that will help you get in shape, change your body composition, build muscle, and develop grip strength, You Are Your Own Gym: The Bible of Bodyweight Exercises is a good workout program to follow. Put in the work and make time for 30 to 40-minute workouts a few days a week, and Mark Lauren will have you ripped in no time.
Some practical results and insight:
Lose 10 Pounds in 10 Weeks with Bodyweight Training
When Capetown, South Africa, resident Lisa L. decided to lose 10 pounds before her birthday, the clock was ticking. She was weeks away from completing her final college exams. Between studying, her free time was filled with making plans for a move to a new city and new job. But she wanted to close the school year with a fitter leaner body.
You are Your Own Gym
And that’s when she found Mark Lauren’s book: You are Your Own Gym: The Bible of Bodyweight Exercises. Lisa needed a workout plan that would fit her busy schedule, and the 10-week beginner’s program was just what she was looking for.
“I’m really curious about how my body is going to change and how it will look after 10 weeks,” Lisa said. “I’m going to follow the program for 10 weeks, and I hope to see some progress from week to week.”
Lisa was already eating a healthy and balanced diet when she began the You Are Your Own Gym program for beginners. But she wasn’t as strong as she wanted to be. And she wanted a flatter stomach. And she was willing to earn it. Lisa followed the workout program outlined in Your Are Your Own Gym, performing lunges, crunches, pull-ups, box-jumps, push-ups, and many of the other 125 bodyweight exercises featured in the book.
Sample Workouts
http://www.marklauren.com/20-minute-workouts.html
You’ve Got to Start Somewhere
At first it was tough. She could only crank out one or two push-ups. And she managed to complete three pull-ups in the beginning. Mark coached her through those first few weeks of bodyweight exercise workouts, and things started to happen. She could tell she was getting stronger. Her stomach felt tighter, and she was so happy with her progress she posted her results online.
But that was only the beginning of her transformation based the beginner’s workout in You Are Your Own Gym.
“I could tell I was getting stronger, but I didn’t see any changes in my body at first,” Lisa said. “Then after about week five everything really started to smooth out. My stomach started to get really toned, and I love it.”
Sweet Success
And just like the new recruits Mark Lauren trained for the U.S. Military, Lisa soldiered on for the next five weeks. Around the same time she finished her final exam, she also finished the first 10 weeks of the You Are Your Own gym workout. And the results of working out for 30 minutes four days a week were stunning. She lost 10 pounds. She lost about three inches on her waist and hips. And she was remarkably stronger. She finished her final workout by pumping out 15 pushups, 19 pull-ups, and other bodyweight exercises that transformed her body.
“I’m really happy with the results,” Lisa said. “I was really surprised by the change in my waist. Of the four days a week that I worked out, only one workout a week really focused on my waist and core. But my waist is where I saw the biggest change. That’s because all the other exercises that worked my legs and arms also required core muscles to stabilize my midsection. I’m really happy with the results, and I’m going to move on to the next program.”