So I did it.
It's done.
20 Barry's Bootcamp Classes. 5x a week. 4 weeks.
DONE.
How do I feel?
Now that's I've had ~3.5 weeks to get my sea legs back, quite honestly like I have treadmill/heavy weight PTSD and I never want to see or use either for a very long time.
Seriously.
Since completing this "challenge" I set out for myself, I've been back at my happy places - Bar Method and SoulCycle.
Let's walk through Week 4 and then get to the Final Thoughts.
Monday - Arms & Abs - Alvin
I somehow was able to stay off of the couch long enough to get home from work and make my way to Barry's for a 6:40pm class. Which feels really late to someone with a 9:30pm bedtime on weeknights. I love any class Alvin teaches and this one was no exception. He pushes you to just the right point past your comfort zone and he focuses on simple but effective exercises. For someone with zero coordination this is a very good thing. I'm also pretty sure it was because it was Week 4, but good lord I was hurting the next day.
Tuesday - Butt & Legs - Vanessa
Two Barry's classes in 12 hours. Do not recommend. Really do not recommend when the second class is your first DOUBLE FLOOR Butt & Legs class. Which should not be allowed. Which is essentially lunges and squats FOR AN HOUR. Biggest mistake of my life. Will never repeat. I was actually jealous of people running on a treadmill. I wanted to be them so badly. FOMO. (Vanessa you're wonderful.)
Wednesday - Chest, Back & Abs - Brian
Due to an early meeting at work, I hit an evening class at the Soma studio. It's smaller, it's not as familiar, and it's just not my favorite. Give me my spacious Marina studio any day within walking distance to my shower/bed/couch/dark chocolate/sweat pants. I was also feeling pretty wiped - so wiped that during one of the floor sets I opted out of even using the bands so that I could complete the exercise. #keepinitreal
Thursday - Abs - Brian
My least favorite class of the week (abs) but made better with Brian's legit playlist. Also to note: my abs were perpetually sore in Week 4. The entire time.
Friday - Full Body - Brian
LAST DAY! I took an evening class with Jane to celebrate the two of us finishing our Academy (she's even more hardcore and is doing it again this month. Unsubscribe.) I was tired AF for this class. I don't know if it was mental or physical or both but I just didn't have it in me. For any of it. Thankfully chips, guac and cocktails at Tacolicious afterwards brought me back to life.
Hashtag BALANCE.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this challenge - honestly. Is it something I'd do every day of the week ever again?
Absolutely not.
But then again, Barry's wasn't a workout I regularly did several times a week. I love a good sweat and a challenging workout (once I stop having a physical reaction every time I see a treadmill.)
Barry's is hard. There's no way to sugar coat it. It pushes you, you'll hate the workout/instructor/your life during the 55 minutes you're in class. And you'll be sore. But it's not impossible.
I also prefer a dance party in a dark room on a bike that goes no where. But that's not news for anyone who knows me. I love the camaraderie and the community of the pack.
First time?
-Take weights on the lighter side. No one will yell at you if you take 5lb weights when the instructor calls for 10lbs.
-Walk/run if you need to. No one will make you feel like less of an athlete if you aren't at the recommended treadmill speeds or you need to take a minute to walk. This is your workout.
-You get what you put in and you'll get stronger and faster every time. Trust me. You've got to do what's right for your body. I dropped to my knees during push-ups every, single class of the 4 weeks. I still can't do push-ups on my toes for the entire prescribed time. But I'm OK with it because I try as hard as I possibly can.
-You don't need to be the best, you need to do your best. There are always going to be people who can run at 12.5 on a treadmill. I will never be one of them. I was able to get to an 11.0 sprint once and that was awesome for me.
My Results?
I got faster- 8:34's became my cruising pace. Hasn't happened since my marathon days.
I got stronger- suddenly my 3lb weights at SoulCycle felt very doable. (Full disclosure: I still prefer 2's and use those regularly)
Thanks for a great month Barry's Bootcamp!
Have you tried Barry's?
