Note: No affiliate links - just info. During Covid, like a lot of people worldwide, I had to stop going to the gym. I tried all sorts of at-home programs for getting fit or putting on muscle or increasing flexibility. I think its important to cover all 3 bases - not just 1. And with all the sitting I was doing because of the work from home, all day long in video calls lifestyle, I was getting all sorts of aches and pains and it was suddenly harder to do some simple things like tie shoelaces standing on one foot. So I tried every program and app I came across, read about or was told about, ranging from Instagram live barre classes to well known programs like Freeletics and Centr, various yoga teachers on Apple Fit+, YouTube and apps, a variety of stretching programs and running and fitness programs and apps. All in all I tried over 20 different apps and programs - paid and free.

Here are the 3 I found the best:

1) Body Coach app by Joe Wicks. Joe was the person that got me moving after the first Covid Christmas. His infectious energy, variety of programs and handy recipes got me moving again every day. The workouts are short (20 mins and more) and are all HiiT (Hight Intensity Interval Training) based which I prefer. It keeps things interesting and not repetitive. I could motivate myself to start by saying come on its only 20 mins and then once I started Joe would do the rest and get me through the workout. The app also has a tracking part of it where you unlock different recipes and harder and longer workouts. It helps you see progress every few weeks. All in all Joe made doing cardio fun and engaging and kept me coming back day after day. I even got my girlfriend into the workouts which also helped keep me motivated.

2) Basement Beast by Fabian Petrina. This program was another one that promised good results in limited time and wow did it deliver! It was my first experience working with bands - super strong elastic bands of different tensions. Each day is mapped out and works a different part of you, e.g. legs one day, chest another, etc. for the 5 days a week. And each workout is around 20 mins. The Facebook community around this is super inspiring and motivating. I've done a lot of weight training (started in my late teens) but I've never packed on muscle so quickly as with this program. I know bands are partly the reason due to the way it taxes your muscles more at the end of the movement than lifting weights does (only gravity at work) The other part is the way Fabian has constructed each program for tailored results depending on your goal. It was brilliant to do such a short workout, feel the burn even in that short a period of time and then still get the results!

3) Yoga with Adriene. A few times a week I would do a yoga session with Adriene to counteract the sitting, fitness and muscle training programs above. I've done yoga on and off for over 20 years (OMG!) and tried all the styles and many teachers. Previously to Covid I always preferred going to a studio as the group shared experience part of it helped me get through the class and come back again for the next class. Adriene just fitted with the time and where I was and helped me re-discover an at home yoga practice. I did a few of her multi-day programs and really saw the improvement day to day as well. And my girlfriend and I did many weekend classes together before breakfast. No matter how long it had been since the last class, I could always find a class that matched where I was and helped me progress while relaxing and centering me for the day ahead.

So those are the 3 programs that I found the ones I stuck to and delivered results. What are your ones? Which ones did you try and stick to? Let me know in the comments!