My Review Of Focus T25 Alpha

I’m 26yrs old and a single mother of two, my daughter Millisent is six and my son Gabriele has just turned two. I have been a vegetarian for the past twenty-one years, and lead a fairly hectic and somewhat healthy lifestyle. I have previously completed Insanity, P90X and P90X3, and enjoy blogging about fitness challenges and reviews. After a few months of having finished training, I completed a 15mile charity bike ride last weekend which has been the only cardio I have undertaken, and aside from walking the children to and from school for an hour and a half a day, I have been relatively inactive and pigged out on food, treats and alcohol. I have a sweet tooth for chocolate, pudding and huge portions of food and I eat a heck of a lot, with my average daily intake of calories being around 2,100kcal.

Focus T25 is a FIT program, meaning Focus Interval Training where you work each muscle group of the body one at a time to exhaustion before moving onto the next. In just twenty-five minutes a day for five weeks, each sweat-inducing routine utilises every last minute to burn as much fat as possible and give you the body of your dreams. This routine appeals to me as I can do it from home without childcare, it needs no equipment, and at just twenty-five minutes a day it is half the time of other traditional workouts and very time manageable. I have decided to keep a blog about my journey with Focus T25 Alpha, another amazing home-workout product from Beachbody, because I enjoy pushing myself and seeing what I am capable of, I also like to motivate and inspire others to realise that if I can do it then anybody can. I am not a personal trainer, I am not a fitness coach, I am simply a young-ish mother of two with no childcare to get to a gym, so I workout from home. I have set my fitness goals to increase my strength, stamina, agility, and muscle whilst hopefully cutting definition to my abs. I do not workout to lose weight, so I will not be measuring or weighing myself at all. I am 5ft8″, a UK8 dress size and I think I’m around 9stones in weight, although I don’t have bathroom scales because I don’t ever use them. I am not concerned with starving myself and weighing as little as possible, I care solely about eating healthy, feeling good and fuelling my body to be as fit and efficient as possible. If anything when I workout I tend to gain half a stone to a stone in weight as well as increasing in size, as my appetite becomes greater and my body gets harder and tighter. I love the feeling of strength, balance and ability, and when I commit to a workout plan I see it through to the end no matter what, regardless of illness, periods or holidays.

Let’s face it, having a personal trainer as jaw-droppingly ripped and groomed as Shaun T also helps, as when he says jump, I know that we’re all looking at him and saying “how high Sir?” This man is a work of art that men and women alike across the world should take inspiration from him. What an amazing role model. I have never supplemented my workouts, nor followed any recommended diet plans or nutrition advice. Being vegetarian and avoiding fish and egg also, I get protein from soya in my meals, pulses and lentils, and eat a lot of green leafy vegetables and raw foods. Therefore when I workout, I simply increase my portion size and eat around six times a day instead of three, rather than cutting out food groups or eating meat. After working out I feel amazing, but I do hit walls of lethargy, my muscles ache and I get highs and lows of energy. This time however, I will be using supplements for the first time, from a vegetarian-friendly nutrition brand called Jst Jodie which is a UK based company created by INBF champion and model, Jodie Marsh. For this I have two products, the first being a pre-workout called Semtex, a thermogenic capsule to increase metabolic rate and burn calories with a kick of energy, followed by JDIET Whey, a fat-burning post-workout protein shake which I will mix up and drink after completing each workout to help my muscles to recover. I will also hydrate with water throughout and have prepared meals of brown rice and vegetables in bulk to see me through the week. My recipe is very simple, whatever fresh vegetables I have in my fridge I dice up and simmer in extra virgin olive oil, these are typically fresh ginger, carrot, onion, broccoli, peppers, mushroom, garlic, celery and chillies, I add one vegetable stock cube, a splash of dark soy sauce and a good helping of brown rice, which I bring to the boil and cook on a low heat for around twenty minutes before spooning into individual containers. I will continue to walk, keep active as usual and eat as I normally would. I am not cutting out any food groups at all, I will not deny myself the treats that I enjoy, and I will not punish myself, I will simply add my supplements and 25minutes of training to my daily routine. I enjoy working out, I enjoy seeing results and I enjoy earning my sweat, so that when I’m burning hot, my muscles on fire and my heart pumping I can take a gorgeous cool shower, fall into bed and sleep sound like a content baby.

You can watch a short video of me completing the Focus T25 Alpha routine here or follow my daily progress below.

Day 1 – Alpha Cardio

Focus T25 Alpha starts today with Alpha Cardio, a twenty-five minute calorie-burning, sweat-drenching workout consisting of:
Alternating knee lift
Lift on toes
Slow control jog
High knee jog
Jack feet
Double jack feet
Double jack + arms
Basic jacks
Pivot lunge step-in
Pivot lunge + hop
Pivot lunge + touch knee
Pivot lunge + touch floor
Heel tap up + back (L)
Heel tap up + back (R)
Lateral sprint
Lateral mountain climbers
Jump rope
Jump rope up + back
Up + back slow
Half-tuck jump
Basic jack
Pivot lunge + touch floor
Lateral mountain climber
Half-tuck jump
Control squat
Hop squat
Hop hop up + back
Hop hop squat
On your mark + sprint (L)
On your mark + up down (L)
On your mark + sprint (R)
On your mark + up down (R)
Low kick
Low kick on toes
Low switch kick
High switch kick
Running lunge
Split lunge agility
Jack feet out + in
Speed + agility
Hop hop squat
On your mark + up down (L)
On your mark + up down (R)
High switch kick
Speed + agility
Hop up + back
Hop side + side
Alternating speed knee slow
Alternating speed knee fast
High knee jog
Slow control jog
Cooldown

For this routine I needed no equipment, other than my own body and my supplement plan. I opened all of my doors and windows in my house to stay cool, stripped down to a sports bra, shorts and bare feet, and turned my music up loud, grabbing a bottle of water before hitting play on my first DVD ready to go hard. I realised today that I am mega out of shape, despite being active day to day and walking a lot, my cardio ability is on par with that of an obese duck! I was huffing, puffing, dripping with sweat and hitting the wall for the majority of todays first workout, but the feeling of getting the burn and powering through is just as addictive as ever. It’s that moment of fight or flight, that fire in your belly where you literally shout, growl and clench your fists to see it through and hit that finish line. And that is why I love challenges such as T25.

Alpha cardio, not surprisingly involves plenty of heart-racing activities, which as a mother of two I have to be entirely honest, it left me taking loo breaks every several minutes, as the jump squats, jacks and hops do put a lot of pressure on the bladder, with the only way to see it through involving breathing deeply and drinking plenty of water. My bladder is the size of a walnut on a good day, but adding intense cardio such as this is very challenging. However, from previous experience of doing such workouts, it does improve muscle tone and control with time, making toilet breaks less frequent and better controlled. So if like me, you’ve had a child or two, hold out there and persevere because it really does improve.

After my first session of T25 I feel amazing, I am pumped, primed and on top of the world right now. My blood is pumping, my body is singing and every last inch of me feels alive. I love how amazing exercise and my supplements have made me feel, I stand taller, sit straighter, feel stronger already and it not only motivates me, but improves my outlook, attention and ability to push myself and reach my goals. The first day of any new workout is always the hardest, and despite my face flushing red and my ears ringing at one point, I think I handled it pretty well. It’s not about pushing yourself until you collapse, it’s about trying your best and working to your ability. Each workout always has a modifying move, in this case it was the ever-lovely Tanya who demonstrated moves such as jumps in an easier way of stepping or tapping instead. I really enjoyed the switch between jacks and squats to skipping and high knees, as each time I felt as though I’d worked my body to its limits, Shaun switched it up by moving onto the next muscle group, giving me time to recover whilst keeping my heart rate up and me reaching for that water.

I took my two Semtex capsules half an hour before my workout which gave me a great kick of energy, and mixed up one scoop of whey protein with 250ml of water in my shaker afterwards for a lite shake, as you can use two scoops to make it thicker, and it really saved the day and kept me feeling peak rather than plopped. I’m pretty proud of my first attempt, motivated by the wobble and bounce of my belly right now, but totally determined to go hard and enjoy every last minute of this. The twenty-five minute routine today went so fast, which is always great, and I used the clock in the corner of the screen to countdown the minutes and hold out for the finish line, as every second that passed made the blood, sweat and tears totally worth it. Bring on day 2!

Day 2 – Alpha Speed 1.0

Today’s Alpha Speed 1.0 was a crazy cardio workout that left me dripping in sweat yet again, but I survived the session with the use of my supplements and the fact that Shaun broke it up with knee raises, quad stretches and flat backs to give valuable seconds to catch my breath and regain my energy. Already I am feeling so fit, I have bags of energy, I’m finding it easier to go to the toilet and no longer feel bloated. By the burnout I was literally dragging my knuckles across the floor but so ecstatic to have hit the finish line. My heart was racing, my hearing was a little echoy again and my lungs were on fire, yet my body feels alive, I don’t have any aches or pains because of my whey protein and I slept like a baby last night. Bliss!

The Alpha Speed 1.0 routine consists of:
Jog it out
Hop hop turn
Hop hop hook
Hop hop hook squat
Jog it out
Up + Over
Quad stretch
Burpee + alternating front kick
Prayer hands knee bend
Side hop uppercut
Side lunge stretch
Low crossjack
Hip flexor hold
Zigzag hop
Control knee hold
Squat thrust + crisscross
Leg crossover stretch
Heisman crossword
Heisman crossword + clap
Flat back roll up
Crisscross hop
Crisscross + half-tuck jump
Hip flexor calf stretch
Slow quick jab combo
Chest opener stretch
Up + over
Burpee + alternating front kick
Side hop uppercut
Low crossjack
Zigzag hop
Squat thrust + crisscross
Heisman crossword
Heisman crossword + clap
Crisscross hop
Crisscross + half tuck jump
Slow quick jab combo
Inhale arms up stretch into plank – into downward dog – back into plank – roll up
Inhale into flat back – into plank – into downward dog – into plank – roll up
Inhale arms up – exhale arms down – twice
Cooldown

Day 3 – Alpha Total Body Circuit

This is where T25 really earns it’s title FOCUS T25, because to get through todays routine I really needed bags of it. My whole body was worked today, my core feels as though I’ve been charged in the stomach by a rhino from ab work, my arms feel pumped from burpees and planking and my legs are burning from squats. The hops and punches were amazing for raising my heart rate and getting my cardio going, and I really enjoyed the attention to floor work today as it activates so much of the body at once. I am loving my T25 journey so far, and although each 25min routine totally destroys me, it’s the most amazing feeling to hit the finish line. Shaun T keeps me focused, serious and on form throughout and really makes me determined to give my all and beast it through as it’s only 25minutes out of an entire day. My body is feeling firmer already after just three days, my diet has improved as I feel better so am eating healthier too and increasing my intake of water which in turn gives me more energy and flushes out toxins. I start every workout prep with a serving of brown vegetable rice, a Semtex supplement, T25 workout and finish up with a whey protein shake and it’s working so well for me. I don’t get fatigued because I’m putting in the right fuel, and my body is reacting amazingly to every step that I progress to. I feel the epitome of health right now!

The Alpha Total Body Circuit routine consists of:
Alternating knee lift
Lift on toes
Slow control jog
High knee jog
Hop hop turn
Jump rope run
Hop hop hook
Hop hook squat
Shoulder tap (L)
Shoulder tap (R)
Left-right push-up
Tap push-up
Alternating front lunge
Front lunge + squat
Front lunge + 2x squat
Lunge squat progression
2 + 2 jabs
2 + 2 rotating jab
2 + 2 in + out jab
2 + 2 moving jab
Plank hold
Plank walk
Plank walk + in + out abs
Plank walk + squat hold
Sprint it out
Power squat
Sprint + power squat
Sprint turn + squat centre
Walk feet in + out
3 hops in + out
2 hops in + out
Pike-up
Left side squat
180 degrees hop squat
180 degrees squat + touch floor
180 degree squat + burpee
Alternating spider lunge
Spider lunge + push-up
Spider push-up
Oblique knee push-up
Tap push-up
Lunge squat progression
2 + 2 moving jabs
Plank walk + squat hold
Sprint turn + squat center
Pike-up
180 degrees squat + burpee
Oblique knee push-up
Floor sprints
Body run
Cooldown

Day 4 – Alpha Ab Intervals

Alpha Ab Intervals… Ouch! I love ab work because it’s the glue that pulls your body together, cardio routines trim off the fat and ab work tightens the core and gives you those pretty little ‘V’ lines on your stomach, pulling you in and shrink wrapping those organs. So I was super excited today to do some kickass reps when I saw this on my calendar. Mother Nature however had different ideas, as I woke up with my period, stomach cramps, tenderness, bloating and the need to go to the toilet every hour or so. The joys of being a woman eh?

Ever the optimist, I never let my period get in the way of a workout because a bit of constant bleeding for a week never hurt anyone right? Unfortunately it’s something that I cannot change, I cannot help and I cannot avoid, so instead of moaning about it and feeling sorry for myself I grin and bare it, go hard and go home to bed after with a hot water bottle to soothe my cramps. So I manned up and got ripped up with Shaun T who was an absolute beast today with the Ab Interval routine and he had my stomach shaking, I was breathing little fast puffs of air to soldier through the leg extensions and crunches, and pulling hilarious pained expressions during planks and obliques. But I feel amazing for doing it, my arms are strong from planking, I got my heart pumping from the sprinting inbetween sets, and despite my stomach still cramping, I can already feel that it’s tighter and more controlled. That was most definitely the best 25minutes of no-pain-no-gain I’ve ever spent!

The Alpha Ab Intervals routine consists of:
Child’s pose + plank
Down dog + plank
Down dog + spider lunge
Down dog + oblique knee
Low plank hold (L)
Side plank hold (L)
“V” sit + arms down
Side hip-up (L)
Low plank pulse (R)
Side plank hold (R)
“V” sit + arms up
Side hip-up (R)
Alternating speed knee slow
Alternating straight leg lift
Same arm + same leg (R)
Same arm + same leg (L)
Both arms + both legs
”T” shuffle
Scissor leg + heels up
Same side (R) + heels up
Same side (L) + heels up
Both sides + heels up
Hop hop squat
Alternating heel tap slow
Dual heel tap slow
Dual straight leg lift
Alternating single leg “V” hold
Sprint turn + squat center
Alternating heel tap fast
Dual heel tap + 6-inch hold
Alternating single leg “V” hold
Alternating single leg “V” lift
Speed knee kick (L)
Speed knee kick (R)
Superman
Lat pulldown
Straight arm fly
Rocketman
Lateral mountain climber
Plank toe tap in + out
Plank feet up + back
Up + back “V” up
Plank “V” up
Sprint + table top
Wide in + out ab pyramid
High knee jog
Slow control jog
Cooldown

Day 5 – Alpha Cardio & Lower Focus

Question: What could be worse than doing a cardio routine when you have stomach cramps? Oh, I know, Cardio doubled up with Lower Focus, fifty whole minutes of belly shaking, sweat making, and body attacking that had me glowing redder and burning hotter than a roaring fire. But oddly enough, the harder I pushed myself and the more I sweat, the more motivated I became, as I didn’t even hit the wall I just smashed straight through it and kept on going. I was totally expecting the concept of a double T25 routine on my period to annihilate me, but it had quite the opposite effect and I went harder than I have all week. Perhaps my body is getting used to the routines and my strength and stamina has progressed to allow me to now sustain my high intensity routines? Or maybe I just got lucky and found a burst of energy when I started my double routine this evening after a long day nursing my sick daughter who has chicken pox and running around after my two year old son.

The Cardio routine was incredible and really got me buzzing, I enjoyed it just as much as the first time at the start of this week and the minutes absolutely flew by. The new Lower Focus that followed was such a leg killer but worth every second. I really enjoyed the lunges and squats and remained controlled and focused throughout. The move that really got me hot and shaking was in fact the deep lunge hold as my thighs were literally screaming at me to stand up from the burn but I clenched my fists and waited it out. I followed my routines today with a whey protein shake and ten minutes spent sitting out in the cool evening air in the garden and I’m gradually changing from red to pink. This piggy burnt some serious bacon tonight!

I’ve already covered the Cardio routine in my previous post and the Lower Focus consists of:
Alternating knee lift
Lift on toes
Slow control jog
High knee jog
Jack feet
Double jack feet
Double jack + arms
Basic jack
Basic squat
Squat pulse
Basic squat + arms up
Control squat jump
Calf raise (L)
Calf hop + arms up
Calf raise (R)
Calf hop + arms up
Narrow lunge (L)
Wide lunge (L)
Deep lunge pulse (L)
Deep hold lunge (L)
Narrow lunge (R)
Wide lunge (R)
Deep lunge pulse (R)
Deep hold lunge (R)
Control squat jump
Calf hop (L)
Calf hop (R)
Deep lunge pulse (L)
Deep lunge pulse (R)
Alternating front lunge
Front lunge + squat
Front lunge + 2x squat
Lunge squat progression
Adductor squat
2 + 2 adductor squat
2 + 2 stay low
Stay low adductor burn
2 + 2 knee up
Up + over
Up + over + 2x squat
Up + over + touch floor
Deadlift tap (L)
Deadlift knee raise (L)
Deadlift tap (R)
Deadlift knee raise (R)
Lunge squat progression
Stay low adductor burn
Up + over + touch floor
Deadlift knee raise (L)
Deadlift knee raise (R)
Hop squat + hip flexor
Cooldown

Day 6 – Alpha Staturday

Today there is no routine as it’s a rest day to take stats on a Saturday, hence the title Staturday. This is when you record your measurements to see progress and give your body some time to relax. However I’m not recording measurements, weight change or stats, as my progress is based upon toning and my daily pictures are a record of this. I didn’t take any supplements today and my muscles have started to ache and my energy dip, so in future I will continue to supplement on my rest days for maintenance.

Day 7 – Alpha Stretch

Sunday calls for a beautiful Stretch day which I absolutely love. I really enjoy stretching out my muscles, bending, flexing and feeling alive. It’s so important to stretch properly to avoid injury, and it leaves me so peaceful, flexible and balanced. I aced todays routine by getting deep into my lunges, holding perfect balance and keeping great posture. It’s made my legs, stomach and arms feel rock hard and unwound the weeks chaos.

The Stretch routine consists of:
Alternating knee holds
Control knee hold
Alternating straight leg kick
Calf stretch
Squat + hip flexor (L)
Hip flexor (L) + arms up
Squat + hip flexor (R)
Hip flexor hold (R)
Hip flexor (R) + arms up
Lateral lunge (L)
Lateral lunge hold (L)
Center hold + touch floor
Lateral lunge (R)
Lateral lunge hold (R)
Center hold + touch floor
Cradle knee hug (L)
Prayer hands (L)
Cradle knee hug (R)
Prayer hands (R)
Flat back V-hold
Torso twist
Cat-cow
Elbow squat hold
Down dog + knee in (L)
Down dog + calf stretch (L)
Down dog + knee in (R)
Down dog + calf stretch (R)
Child’s pose
Table top + arm reach
Spider static stretch
Low pigeon (L)
“S” Torso (L)
“S” quad (L)
High pigeon (L)
Low pigeon (R)
“S” torso (R)
“S” quad (R)
High pigeon (R)
Bent knee hip-up
Hip up hold
Single leg knee hold
Dual knee hold
Knee crossover stretch

Day 8 – Alpha Cardio

The Cardio routine today was an electric start to my morning, with my body sweating, heart pumping and mind alert. I’m already a million times stronger, harder and faster than last week when I tried this routine for the very first time. My stamina has noticeably improved and rather than gritting my teeth, growling and pushing myself through to struggle to the end of the routine, I’m going longer and harder before getting out of breath or feeling tired. This routine is fantastic and really makes me feel great. My belly still shakes when I jump, and I can see the loose areas on my arms and thighs during jacks, but with time I am hoping to improve on this, to burn off the excess fat and tone up my muscles. I feel like an absolute machine right now! Strength over skinny any day.

Day 9 – Alpha Total Body Circuit

As it was the weekend I’ve been a bit of a naughty nibbler, but I believe in rewarding hard work and having a little treat day to keep going. So after a bottle of wine, carrot cake and chinese I am now back to eating clean and training hard. I feel good, have so much energy and am sweating like a pig after todays routine, and hopefully I haven’t padded out my stomach too much with sugar and grease. Whoops!

Day 10 – Alpha Speed 1.0

Today was Alpha Speed 1.0 again and boy oh boy did I work up a sweat, but I needed to after all of those treats. I’m starting each workout with my Semtex supplement and following it with a protein shake after to keep my muscles in shape and my energy levels high. My body is rock hard and I feel fantastic. I can’t believe I’m almost at the half way point already, it’s just going so fast and I’m super impressed with my results.

Although the routines are repeated, they don’t get any easier as the more able I become, the harder I then push myself, so where I could do twenty cross jacks before, I’m possibly doing thirty now, when I could jump squat to a few feet I’m now jump squatting lower to a couple of feet and so on. I love how the routines allow you to progress at your own speed, as not only can you modify to make it easier but you can also intensify to make each move harder by adding arms, going longer or reaching deeper. There really is something for everyone, and twenty-five minutes a day is manageable for even the most unfit person.

Day 11 – Alpha Cardio

Who doesn’t love a spot of cardio!? My body is feeling so pumped right now after this mornings routine and it keeps me so focused and driven throughout my day when I wake up and go hard on a workout. This routine is just as challenging as the first time I tried it, at times I get out of breath and lower my speed or height, and then I grit my teeth, grunt and go even harder than ever before. It’s all about hitting that wall, smashing straight through it and keeping going until that finish line. Even if you have to do the last stretch crawling on your hands and knees, every step is worth it and takes you that bit further. My body is harder by the day and I didn’t ever think it was possible to get in such great shape in such a short space of time. I’ve tried lots of different workouts that involve putting hours a day into routines, but at just 25minutes the T25 is totally smashing it! Fantastic.

Day 12 – Alpha Lower Focus & Ab Intervals

Today was a double up of the Lower Focus routine followed by Ab Intervals. After giving my legs a good sharpen with plenty of squats, lunges, hops and pulses I then tore up my abs with leg lifts, planking and mountain climbers. I am a sweaty messy mess and can’t stop smiling, because I earned all fifty minutes of todays blood, sweat and tears and now I’m flopped out on the floor drinking my delicious protein shake and catching my breath. Bliss.

Day 13 – Staturday

Today is a day of rest and for taking stats and noting progress. If anything I’ve put on weight since I first started as I’ve gained muscle on my thighs and tightened my core. I feel like an absolute machine right now, so strong and capable and it’s amazing what a good exercise regime can do in such a short space of time. It has been two weeks since I started my routine and I have just another three to go so I’m almost half way. My supplements have helped me enormously to have energy and recover quickly after each workout.

Day 14 – Alpha Stretch

Stretch day today and as much as I love loosening out my muscles, getting deep into some lunges and a spot of twisting and turning, I feel as though I need a bit of cardio to boost my energy. It’s a bit of a gloomy day and pretty cold outside, and after a relaxing stretching session I’m in danger of falling asleep and being lazy but I guess we all need a rest day.

Day 15 – Alpha Total Body Circuit

Today marked the start of week three and my legs are destroyed after all of the lunges, squats and hops today. I really felt the burn down the inside of my thighs and I’m walking like a cowboy right now. I’m a sweaty hot mess but feel great for giving it my all and I can definitely see an improvement in definition from my daily pictures. My whey protein shakes help my muscles to recover and I try to drink plenty of water throughout the day. My diet is completely unchanged, I’m vegetarian and don’t eat fish or egg, but I made cakes and cookies with my two children yesterday and ate the whole lot for breakfast this morning, whoops!

Day 16 – Alpha Speed 1.0

Speed 1.0 today left me sweating so hard, it’s been a warm and clammy day and hitting a burning hot cardio workout was the last thing that I needed, but I’m so glad to have smashed through it, jumped into a cold shower and drank a gorgeous creme brulee protein shake. I have been a little greedy with my food recently by eating cakes and cookies as a treat so I think I’ve probably undone some of my hard work, but fitness isn’t a punishment, it’s a balanced lifestyle. I workout and I have the odd treat. When I jump and twist I can see the definition of my abs and stomach and it really inspires me to keep going and push myself harder. I just have to behave myself in the kitchen now!

Day 17 – Alpha Lower Focus

Today Focus T25 really earned its name, because I certainly used every ounce of focus I have to bust out a super strong leg day. I was literally gritting my teeth through the hops, squats and lunges as my legs screamed at me, burning hot and dripping in sweat. As it’s another lovely summer day today I wore my three quarter length jeans when I went for a walk, and I always keep my house keys in my front jeans pocket. I haven’t worn my jeans for a few months, but after my workout today my keys hardly fit in my pocket because my legs are so thick and muscly now, it felt quite tender to walk with them in my pocket, like a pin about to burst a balloon. It just goes to show how such a short and intense workout like T25 can make such a major difference to your body.

Day 18 – Alpha Cardio

Excuse me whilst I type as fast as I can right now, but I’m dripping in so much sweat from Alpha Cardio today that I’m in danger of electrocuting myself with my laptop! That’s how it’s done rarrrrr!

Day 19 – Alpha Total Body Circuit & Ab Intervals

Today was the double routine of Alpha Body Circuit teamed with Ab Interval. I have no idea how I’m still moving/breathing/conscious but my body is singing like a golden harp right now for smashing this double trouble routine. I owned the sweat, laughed in the face of defeat and sailed in my sweaty ship right across the finish line. Winners don’t quit because quitters don’t win. Kaboom!

Day 20 – Staturday

Today was a rest day and a time to record measurements and change. It’s the end of week three and I haven’t weighed myself once since starting T25. I’m not concerned with weight or size, I simply want to feel good, have energy and enjoy a healthy lifestyle which is exactly what I’ve achieved so far. I am very happy with my results and am toning nicely. Here’s to the final two weeks!

Day 21 – Alpha Stretch

Today was Alpha Stretch and it always feels like a bit of a cheat day to me, as I don’t break a sweat or get out of breath, but it’s a nice gentle and relaxing routine to unwind my muscles from the week and I know that my body needs to rest and recover for what’s ahead. I’m loving T25 and can’t believe how fast it’s going, the finish line is appearing on the horizon!

Day 22 – Alpha Cardio

Cardio marked the start of week four and I feel on top of the world right now for beasting out yet another amazing routine. Can’t nobody stop this fire!

Day 23 – Alpha Total Body Circuit

Despite eating my body weight in food today I gave this routine my all. I feel a little over bloated and sickly from stuffing my face, but I really craved a binge and as long as I put in the effort to burn it off I’m more than happy to not deny myself the foods that I love. My muscles feel solid and my legs are rock hard, I just need to trim up the abs and behave myself in the kitchen if I’m going to get that six pack over the final two weeks!

Day 24 – Alpha Lower Focus

Leg day always has me grunting like a pot belly pig, what a burner that was! I literally limped like a plate of jelly through the final burnout as my thighs were on fire, but I still gave it my all and saw it through to the end, dripping in sweat and smelling like a gone off onion. My body is so hench right now, my thighs thick and hard, my arms so strong and my stomach getting more defined by the day, now I just have to remain focused in the kitchen and avoid those naughty treats until I cross the finish line in a week and a half.

Day 25 – Alpha Total Body Circuit

A second total body circuit routine on the calendar this week. I had 3hrs sleep last night as I’m a single parent two my two young children who both have chicken pox. My 6yr old daughter is gradually recovering, but also has a virus now, and my 2yr old son is a couple of days into having chicken pox and very restless and upset. I am a walking zombie right now but come hell or high water I continue with my fitness routine. Despite dragging my knuckles on the floor after todays entire body blast, I feel slightly more human than I did first thing this morning. Let’s hope I’ll sleep like a baby tonight!

Day 26 – Alpha Ab Intervals & Speed 1.0

Today was a double up with two routines, Ab Intervals followed by Speed 1.0. As my son still has chicken pox he continues to keep me up all night and I’m feeling so clumsy and sleep deprived today because I’ve been up all hours and haven’t had much sleep or rest at all. I still totally went for my double workout today, but my muscles ached a lot more than usual and it goes to show that you really need to rest properly to let your muscles repair. I feel more energetic for finishing my set, but really hope I can get some sleep tonight, I need a magic wand to heal my poor little baby.

Day 27 – Staturday

Staturday again and no training today! I’ve still taken a whey protein shake to enable my muscles to recover, but aside from that I won’t be measuring or weighing myself at all, as my results are through visual change and not statistics. As I’m vegetarian I haven’t followed a meal plan or changed my diet, but each morning I start the day with brown rice and vegetables to give me energy for each workout. I made a big batch of vegetable quinoa today to prepare me for the week ahead, as it’s extremely helpful to have something nutritious and healthy at hand to start the day and manage your time to the best of your abilities. Fitness is a lifestyle and timekeeping and forward planning help you to fit in those routines!

Day 28 – Alpha Stretch

My muscles were pretty drained today following yet another sleepless night, as my poor baby boy now has chicken pox on his eye and is very restless, sad and wanting lots of cuddles and kisses bless him. Physically it is extremely draining as I am heavily sleep deprived, but my only option as a single parent is to carry on as I really don’t want it to effect my training and results. I know that no matter what I do I can’t make the situation any easier as it’s just a matter of time before he starts to heal and feel better, so I continue to try my best in everything that I do and keep a positive and strong attitude towards achieving my goals. I’m putting my focus into the quality of my reps, as I don’t have the energy to do hundreds of sets, but the ones that I manage are with good posture, deep and keeping my core tight.

Day 29 – Alpha Total Body Circuit

Oh dear, not only did we have another sleepless night last night, but this morning I work up sneezing with a runny nose and stomach cramps. Hmm, things are certainly sent to test us aren’t they. It is my final week of T25 this week and I am so excited and determined to cross that finish line and own this challenge. Today was Alpha Total Body Circuit and my muscles are feeling a little tender and my bones heavy because I’m feeling poorly, but I still earned my sweat and gave it my all. I’m finishing up with a whey protein shake, box of tissues for my nose and a nice raw salad and plenty of vegetables.

Day 30 – Alpha Ab Intervals

How did I forgot how punishing this routine is? Wow. I am floored from scissoring and ‘v’ holds, I literally feel like an elephant has kicked me in the stomach, and as I’ve had two children, when I do each leg lift my stomach turns into a hard triangular/cone shape as I come up, and then goes flat as I go back down. That probably sounds strange to people who haven’t experienced a pregnancy, but for those who have you really feel those two strong muscles down the centre of your core doing this routine and it’s a great exercise to get those washboard abs on track.

Day 31 – Alpha Total Body Circuit

I’m actually dripping in sweat right now so bad. I made homemade doughnuts with my two children yesterday as a cheeky treat and ate a whole bowl of them deep fried with icing sugar and whipped cream. What a doughnut I am for having so many naughty calories so close to the finish line of T25, but like I always say, I won’t ever deny myself the lifestyle I choose to have, and for me that means everything in moderation. I’m not sure an entire bowl of doughnuts is moderation, but still, it was worth every bite because they were out of this world. I’ve hopefully paid for some of the extra calories at least with todays cardio blast, and I shall eat clean today to make up for it. I feel amazing, I slept a little more last night as my son is gradually getting over his chicken pox and I no longer have stomach cramps. Come on finish line, I’m almost there!

Day 32 – Alpha Cardio

Alpha Cardio today and I’m a complete glutton for punishment, not only do I have my horrendous period, which means lots of bloating, swelling, aches and stomach cramps, but I also had my stomach needled yesterday to treat my pregnancy stretchmarks which involved having thousands of needles pierce the skin across my abs and hips and it is a little red still today. I continued with my T25 routine as I was advised that I could exercise as normal, and now I’m dripping in sweat and very much looking forward to a cool shower. With just a few days left of T25 Alpha I can literally touch the finish line from here!

Day 33 – Alpha Total Body Circuit & Lower Focus

This has to be the ultimate combo of sweat inducing cardio, as the Total Body Circuit routine attacks every muscle group, gets my heart pumping and my lungs burning, followed by my thighs being on fire with the Lower Focus, as working the lower body heats you up enormously and literally gets you dripping in sweat. The final uphill struggle and muscle bound push before tomorrows day of rest and I really gave it my all. I feel amazing to have conquered this beast of a combo and now I need a nice cold shower, protein shake and bed. Zzz.

Day 34 – Staturday

Today is my final rest day and I’ve been drinking my whey, taking it easy and putting my feet up to soothe my cramping period belly. It’s not the ideal way to greet my final day of training tomorrow as I’d rather not be swollen and tender, but I certainly won’t let it stop me. As always I will not be measuring my progress by weight and inches, but by the definition of my muscles and size in my daily pictures. I’ve been trying to eat clean for the final few days, but the hot weather has left me indulging in lots of vanilla ice cream, pistachio nuts and an entire loaf of walnut bread. I think I love my food just as much as I love my fitness!

Day 35 – Alpha Stretch

Today is my final routine, Alpha Stretch and a fitting way to unwind this month of such an amazing fitness journey. My muscles are unwound, my mind at peace and centred and my energy, spirit and attitude on top form. I have seriously loved every minute of Focus T25 Alpha, the sweat, blood and tears have made it all completely worth it. I am proud to have conquered my mountain.

A month ago I set out to begin the T25 Alpha routine as a busy single mother, looking to gain energy, build muscle and make my body more comfortable to deal with the stresses and strains of everyday life. I have faced illness, periods, sleepless nights and muscle repair throughout and saw everyday through to the end, never giving up and never giving in. I love how the routines are just 25minutes a day, as it fit in with my lifestyle perfectly and made the impossible suddenly entirely possible. I feel so amazing inside and out now and have smashed my goal of gaining muscle and strength.

From day one this wasn’t about changing my weight or losing inches, this was about gaining and bulking and I think from the pictures it is clear to see how I have gone from soft to steel. My thighs are huge and solid, my arms strong and muscular and my abs as hard as a washboard. Although I didn’t change my vegetarian diet at all, and I certainly indulged in treats of sugary foods and alcohol, I did however use supplements to assist me this time and whey protein shakes by Jst Jodie to help my muscles to repair. The supplementation certainly helped me to achieve my results and keep pushing everyday as they made me more capable, more energetic and quicker to get back up on my feet.

Being healthy isn’t about denying yourself the things that you love most, it’s about living life in moderation, feeling good about yourself and what you do, and putting in the workout time to offset your kitchen crimes. I have simply adored my journey with Focus T25 and highly recommend it to men and women alike, whether you want to lose weight, tone up or add bulk there is something for everyone and I am incredibly pleased and humbled to have crossed the finish line and shared this all with you. Stay strong and be well.

Thank you for following me on my fitness journey, if you have any questions, comments or feedback on this routine feel free to leave me a comment below. Happy training!

You can visit Beachbody online here for their full range of home workout DVDS, support and advice!
You can also visit Jst Jodie online here for her full range of supplements, support and advice!