Starting Body Beast 7/2/12

mattkosc

If anyone would like to tag along and join me on my first journey through Body Beast please let me know. All the motivation and support we can give will be a huge help as I'm sure this is going to get extreme fast! I have been waiting for a program like this ever since I finished P90X 2 years ago, so I was super excited to see the release of Body Beast last week.

I picked it up yesterday and already watched quite a few of the DVDs to prep and get an idea of the workouts ahead. The nutrition guide is pretty easy to use and straight forward with how much, what and when to eat.

Hope to see others join in and tear this up with me!

mattkosc

I completed the first day today of Body Beast which was chest and tris, it was awesome! You know you have reached muscle failure when that quiver comes over those areas of the body that you worked and you can barely complete the movement. This is how completing each set is supposed to feel.

I got a good idea of the weights to use for each exercise and I know I held back a little on some for fear of not being able to complete all the reps of each set, but I will push harder for each upcoming workout.

Legs are tomorrow and my weakness are my legs so this should be interesting.

mattkosc

Day 2 brought "Legs" the workout I had feared the most but it wasn't as bad as I had thought. Ya my legs were jelly afterwards and I know they will be sore tomorrow but I was able to complete each set and almost each rep.

Next is back and biceps, can't wait for that one.

mattkosc

Day 3 was back and biceps. Legs are sore from the previous day.

There was more for the back than biceps in this workout.

nothing1994

I never heard of these fitness DVD'S. Seems to be working for you, which is great. Goodluck!

mattkosc

Thank you! This is a brand new program just released.

Today was all shoulders, 45 mins. of nothing but shoulders - wow, my traps are on fire! I don't think I have ever worked my shoulders as much as I did with this workout which is awesome.

mattkosc

Ok so today I had Beast Cardio and Abs. Ya, the cardio was intense. I think that from the beginning until the end my heart rate was up which I did not expect. The sweat was pouring this morning for sure - great workout.

astroub

I am considering getting this..... In the you tube videos it shows women doing it as well! I love lifting! What are your thoughts so far and okay for a woman??

mattkosc

There is no reason why women can't do it, there are many women on this site that weight lift which this program is heavy with. I think it would be a great program for anyone who is looking to get into or improve their weight lifting routine.

I am loving Body Beast because I wanted something that had a majority of weight lifting and a detailed nutrition plan that explained what foods to eat, when and why.

Good luck to you and let me know how it goes!

mattkosc

Today was the second go around and I noticed I was able to up my weight because I had done the workout once and knew what was going on and what was coming. So I feel I gave it my all today during chest and tris.

mattkosc

Had "Legs" again today and I don't know what it is with my legs, but my thighs get so weak during any extended work with them. My calves can take just about anything and just get tight and "worked", but my thighs just burn and make me feel like giving in too early so I have to push to reach each rep goal. This is defiantly were I will be focusing most of my attention with this program, that is to make my thighs stronger.

I was able to up my weights from the first time, which is a plus so I am happy with that for now.

mattkosc

Today was the second time for Back & Biceps. I was pretty happy with today's workout because I upped my weights from the last time by quite a bit now that I know what this workout is all about.
Also think I am getting the nutrition pretty close to where I want it so its a good day!

mattkosc

What an awesome day today was! It was shoulders and I improved quite a bit from the first time. I was able to up my weights by almost double from the first time. I am very happy with today's workout, and all though tomorrow is a rest day I kind of wish it wasn't so I could keep moving forward and progressing like I was able to today.

mattkosc

I had another awesome workout today. During chest and tris I felt as though I had an unlimited amount of energy and I gave it all to my workout today. I was very happy with today's effort and with great days like this I love this workout even more.

mattkosc

Legs workout in the books yesterday (forgot to post) and I tried to be aggressive with this workout because as I have said my legs are my weak point, so for bulgarian squats I increased my weights way above the previous 2 workouts, unbelievably I probably could have done even more on the 8 reps, maybe I was just holding back afraid of failing the two previous workouts, we'll see next time legs come around.

mattkosc

Today - Back & Bis and I feel that I am still on goal by making myself increase weights every time the same workout comes around again.

I made the chili that is in the nutrition guide for Body Beast and I absolutely love this recipe! Honestly it is probably one of the best chili recipes I have tried.

scubagoil

You are doing great!

I am doing P90X right now, and may do Les Mills Pump next.... I am not ready for the level of lifting in Body Beast, but maybe after Les Mills...

If you would like a friend to cheer you on and help keep you motivated, you can add me! I'm always looking for friends that like to workout hard!

mattkosc

So today was legs and I have to admit that I don't feel that I brought it as much as I could have. I felt slow, sluggish and weak for this workout, I was able to come close to most of my progress as far as weights but I just feel like this wasn't one of my better workouts.

Hoping to not have anymore days like today.

mikedanilson

What kind of equipment do you need? Are dumbbells enough? Interested in the program but don't want to have to buy more equipment.

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

KelliW_runner

I am also interested in hearing about equipment requirements. The program appears to be marketed towards men but I assume it would be effective for women also. I finished P90X and have 30 days left in P90X2 - trying to decide what next. Leaning towards lifting programs versus a program like insanity. Was thinking about stronglifts but my access to weights is primarily dumbbells.

mattkosc

I am using dumbbells and a bench, also a pull up bar. The program also includes an ez curl bar but there is the option of using dumbbells instead, and if you don't have a bench you can use a stability ball.

Body Beast does seem to be targeted toward men but I see that many women are also doing the program. It is not gender specific and I think Body Beast is a great program for anyone looking to get into weight lifting.

mattkosc

Had a much better workout yesterday for Back & Bis. Felt the pump for sure and I was able to complete each set while keeping good form in mind.

mattkosc

Shoulders and Beast Abs today. I felt very good during this one today, using the focus approach again as next week is bulk phase and I want to make sure I am performing every move correctly then I will bump up the weight as needed like this first phase.

Beast Abs went well to as I imagined that I could see my abs and back muscles contract with each move.

badbull69

Im ending phase 1, build in two days and starting bulk. Im also a coach and love helping others. So far I have put on 3lbs. These workouts are intense. I have raised the bar, two days in a row felt sick to my stomach from pushing so hard. But I love the fact you can eat on this program. And the recipes are freaking awesome and tastey!

mattkosc

Awesome job bull! It is finally nice to have a program that show what to eat. I would have never thought that I needed to eat as much fruit and veggies as this plan suggests. I would have thought it was all protein and carbs.

mattkosc

Today was the first day of the "bulk" phase for me. Right out of the gate I know it was going to be a muscle pumping workout. This is the first time doing progressive sets also, which can kill. Up until now it was 15 reps then 12 reps with a heavier weight, then 8 with even heavier and sometimes another 8 with a bit lighter. Now for the progressive sets its - the same 15/12/8 but then you also go backwards 8/12/15 so by the time you reach that second 15 with what is supposed to be a light weight, it gets pretty heavy - love it!

mattkosc

So it was time to attack Legs again today, but this time the leg workout was a little different. To my surprise it was not as bad doing the "bulk - legs" workout as it was doing the "build - leg" workout, not sure why but I was able to handle the abuse Sagi put on my legs today. For that I am very glad because I don't want to feel as though I can't make it through any part of this program and the intensity I felt in my thighs from the build workout wore me out.

Looking forward to "back" tomorrow!

mattkosc

Bulk: Back was on tap for today. I like this workout, I went kind of light with the weights today to get a feel for the workout and focus on form because it is the first time doing this one for me. It went well, I really feel that I nailed it and I was able to make sure to use just my back for the moves.

mattkosc

What an amazing workout today! Bulk: Arms was the workout and it felt great, my bicep felt as though it was going to explode! The progressive sets in this workout really gets your arms tired fast and makes the lightest weight feel heavy by the end.

mattkosc

The last workout before a rest day and it was Shoulder, my shoulders are on fire! Very good workout I am glad to say. Body Beast has just been awesome so far, there is nothing I don't like about it. I learned about progressive sets this week and I really like the idea of stepping up the weight with each set while reducing the rep count, then starting backwards and working to the low weight high rep count at the end, those light weights feel real heavy by the end.

mattkosc

The day after a rest day started with Bulk: Chest for the second time. I was able to up some of the weights from the first time and discovered that I could push more weight during the incline fly than the incline press. This is something I will be working on now that I know.