How are you guys doing today? Whenever I travel, I feel like my week becomes a blur and I have to keep reminding myself that it is Thursday. Getting back into a routine yesterday helped a little and this morning I kept the momentum going with a 6 a.m. Pure Barre class at my local studio. It felt good to feel the burn and stretch!
A few of you have asked me to share my “results” after doing Pure Barre workouts regularly for a month and I must say that the main difference I have noticed so far is an improvement in my core strength.
Pure Barre workouts include lots of core work and incorporate planks, pulsing and reverse crunches and isometric holds that basically light my abdominal muscles on fire. Core work is the area I was most likely to skip out on at the gym before, so it’s been a bit of a rude awakening to focus so much on core strength. I know having a strong core is important for a myriad of reasons (protecting your lower back, good posture, injury prevention, etc.) and I’m happy to feel like my core strength is improving a little bit at a time.
As far as my aesthetic results, I didn’t snap any before/after photos since I didn’t really think about it. I will say that I don’t feel like I’ve lost any weight, but I also didn’t weigh myself before or after I started (I don’t usually weigh myself and our scale is back in Ocala anyway). I also didn’t measure inches, so I cannot comment on that either. But I will say that I think my stomach is a bit flatter and my waist seems slightly more tapered (if that makes any sense).
I’ll be honest when I say that I was hoping to see a more drastic improvement in my flexibility. I haven’t noticed too much improvement in that area. I am naturally incredibly inflexible (in a personal fitness class in college, I was the least flexible person in my entire class with the exception of one guy!), so I know it will likely take a while for me to see noticeable improvement. I’ll keep plugging away!
Breakfast
After Pure Barre, I headed home to make myself a smoothie for breakfast.
I combined the following in the blender:
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 cup blueberry Greek yogurt
- 2 handfuls fresh spinach
- 1 spoonful almond butter
- Unsweetened vanilla almond milk
I also had a few small handfuls of trail mix on the side for a little crunch.
It was a good one!
Questions of the Morning
- Have you ever completed a certain workout regularly that you feel like produced noticeable results? Which one(s)?
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I did Tina Reale’s Best Body Bootcamp a couple of times, and though the first time through I didn’t notice any major visual differences, the second time I did it I tracked measurements and took progress photos, and it shocked me to see how big of a difference it made! I had never noticed my body change much due to a workout, but I definitely did when I paid attention during Best Body Bootcamp.
I take breakdance classes a couple times per week (and have been for the past year and a half), and I’ve definitely seen the difference it’s made in my arms. Normally I lose tone pretty quickly up there, but not when I’m regularly dancing. I also now have lats of steel, at least on one side 😛
I love Flybarre! It is very similar to Purebarre. I definitely noticed a different in my core strength and in the smaller muscles in my body. Great workout!
I’m a huge Pure Barre fan, but I have to agree here- Flybarre is INCREDIBLE! Much more arm work than Pure Barre, which I appreciate (major ‘improvement area’ for me!). It’s addicting!
Yoga has helped immensely with my flexibility as well as my arm strength! It also helps with my mental strength 🙂
I saw some very nice changes to my body when I was doing Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred video regularly. I’ve moved on from there but I still do it from time to time…there’s a reason it’s the world’s top selling excercise video in history… :0)
This year my husband and I are both doing the Precision Nutrition program, which is daily lessons, workout plans, and one-on-one coaching. I’m quite impressed with this program so far. It has changed my mental state quite a bit (dealing with all-or-nothing thinking and the thought that all all “bad” foods are off-limits, which of course has led to a pattern of bingeing that I just couldn’t stop no matter what I tried on my own). My mind has shifted, and now my body composition is shifting too. I’m cautiously optimistic!
Honestly, I didn’t notice much of a physical change with PureBarre either. However, you have to keep in mind that you are already very fit and lean so I would think you wouldn’t see a huge change in physical appearance. But its great to feel that core fire up!
-AJ
OccasionallyAJ.com
I see the biggest changes with pilates, especially in my core and posture.
I’m surprised you haven’t noticed much of a difference with pure barre! I did it for a month in January in an effort to undo holiday misgivings and within 2 weeks I noticed a difference in my abs. After a month, I was obsessed with them and plotting ways to bring a winter crop top into style! I do the videos at home now because I hate traveling to a gym, and they work really well too. I never noticed a difference in flexibility, especially after just a month. I have been doing yoga for 2 years now and barely feel any more flexible than when I started, I am also about as bendy as a 2×4. I think yoga does more for my flexibility though than PB ever did, because it eases into the stretches and holds them for longer than the barre classes do. Keep after it I think you’ll be really pleased with the toning results!
Weight training intervals with plyometrics for sure.
As I’ve talked about on my own blog, Pure Barre is so great. I’ve been going for a year and a half and the first thing I noticed in terms of results was definition in my arms and a more lifted booty. I just really love PB makes me feel – strong, empowered, and surprising myself each time with the way that my body rises to the occasion to the difficulties of each class!
I saw the most noticeable changes with Nike Training Club! I did a couple of the 4 week programs, with the running, and saw the most definition in my abs and all over! I’ve mostly been a runner in the past and was able to lose weight, but not really get the physique I was after. NTC, circuit training, HIIT workouts…made all the difference!
That’s interesting. I have that app (is that what you’re referring to?) and rarely use it. This makes me want to spend more time checking it out.
Yes! The app! You can set up a four week program, with or without running added in, and it will give you your workout each day. Game changer! Definitely check it out!
AWESOME!! Thanks for info!
When I did my first month unlimited of barre last summer (combined with healthy eats!) I (and others) noticed wayyy more muscle tone! I was definitely losing fat from improving my diet, and with the barre workouts I could really notice more muscle tone in my legs, arms and back. I like to use a month of barre as kind of ‘reset’ to my workout, and every time I’ve done it (probably 4, usually once in summer/winter) I notice my booty gets noticeably lifted and tighter!
I loved my results when using TurboFire workout program. Now, I’m more interested in weight training and toning. I’ve never tried Barre, but I’m always so intrigued.
I have been off on the days of the week all this week. And I don’t even have travel as an excuse haha! All day today I have been thinking that it was Friday. That may just be wishful thinking though.
I love the way that running makes me feel. It gives me so much more energy, and my endurance is so much better!
How many times a week did you do Pure Barre?
I am in a yoga teacher training program, so I have been doing about an hour and a half of Ashtanga yoga six days a week for the past three weeks. Let me tell you, I feel like my body has really started to transform. My flexibility (or lack thereof) is very similar to yours, and I didn’t think it would ever change. Now, I feel like each day, I get a little deeper into folds and postures that I never would have guessed would be in my reach. Plus, I am starting to be able to see my abs! 🙂
I was doing daily HIIT workouts for awhile. I noticed that I got much stronger from all of the pushups and burpees. I need to get back into it. I have been doing the Bar Method classes-similar to Pure Barre, but a different chain (I think). I really like it-my goal is to tone up and work muscles that I don’t use running. I’m bad about focusing on running and volleyball and skipping strength all together!!
Yoga & Pilates classes have worked best for flexibility. I feel way more limber and strong after only a few classes!
I took an adult level ballet class for a few summers during college. It was an 11am class on Tuesdays/Thursdays so I couldn’t go during most of the year. What I noticed the most was calf and heel flexibility and back flexibility. I’m sure I was also more “tapered” but it’s hard to tell! Thanks for posting your results!
I noticed the biggest difference when I was just lifting heavy weights with almost no cardio. I walked a lot (I live in Chicago) and had a few late night dance sessions 😉 but that was the extent of my cardio. I was at my leanest and had great muscle definition. Building and maintaing muscle takes more than people realize and sometimes cardio can interfere.
Everything you’ve said about Pure Barre really makes me want to try it out! It looks fabulous! I have definitely seen SO much improvement in my overall strength from Group Power classes (similar to BodyPump)…couldn’t do a single pushup on my toes before I started consistently going, and now I’m able to do them! Woo! 🙂
I did Piloxing classes for about three months twice a week this winter. The classes are a mix of Pilates, dance and Boxing movies. It is super intense and full of cardio and strength moves. While I didn’t loose too much weight I found my cardiovascular strength improved greatly as well as my balance and upper body strength. It was also a lot of fun and I wish I still lived close to someone who teaches the class.
I do a workout called Lithe Method which is a superfund combination of cheerleading, circuit training, barre, Pilates, and weight training. After regularly doing it for a few months I’ve noticed back muscles (we use resistance bands that hang from the ceiling) and this awesome flat/muscle-ly part on the side of my butt/thigh. Also, I HAVE a butt now lol
I do CrossFit (though only twice a week) and although I don’t feel as if my body is changing, I tend to get many people commenting on how tone my arms look … score! With that being said, I only have been doing that for a year, and really haven’t changed my diet… so I’d say that’s a win for me! I basically do it just to feel healthier and keep in shape for the millions of weddings that keep popping up.
I noticed DRASTIC changes in my body composition after I started circuit training last year. I gained a lot of weight, but it was mostly muscle mass. Although my pre-circuit training clothes don’t quite fit, I’m not complaining about the extra strength! 🙂
I did bikram yoga for about 2 months and noticed a difference in my flexibility (as to be expected). I also noticed I had more stability and I was running better as well. Then summer hit and I couldn’t bear the thought of hot yoga with hot outside!!
I teach Xtend Barre and it might help you with your flexibility a bit more than Pure Barre. From my understanding, Pure Barre tightens the muscles MORE because all of those tucks and pretzels really compress the body. Xtend Barre lengthens everything, like Pilates, but gives you more of a burn, like Pure Barre. Also hot yoga will REALLY help you! When I first started hot yoga I couldn’t do the splits but now I can do splits on both legs and in the middle 🙂 Love your blog!!! <3 Beth
Pure Barre is my workout of choice and the one I’ve stuck with the longest. When I started over a year ago, I thought I was in good shape but PB humbled me! It’s so rewarding to see how my fitness level has changed over time and all the things I can do now that I couldn’t a year ago! I don’t ever link to any of my own stuff in comments, so I don’t mean for this to come off as pushy (and sincerely apologize if it does), but you might enjoy this post I wrote for my 1 year PB anniversary about how Pure Barre enthusiasts feel, complete with some ridiculous gifs (http://www.kenzielife.com/2014/07/16/pure-barre-enthusiasts-feel/). Since you’ve written about PB a few times I thought you might enjoy it (and as someone who does PB you’ll understand the sentiments behind it!)