As promised!
What is 80 Day Obsession? 80 Day Obsession is a Beachbody program of online workouts. (Beachbody is a streaming service of unlimited workouts. I believe I pay $44 every 4 months; the company is an MLM but you can avoid that and just buy directly from the website). There are 80 separate workouts to be performed 6x/week for total of 13 weeks plus two extras (stretching/foam rolling videos) to add up to 80! They are filmed ‘live style’, so not a lot of editing and it feels more like you are attending a real workout class. The host is Autumn Calabrese of 21 Day Fix fame.
The focus of the Obsession is on building core & glute strength (and of course the physical changes that can accompany those things!).
Workout Details: The program is comprised of 3 phases, and each phase has its own rotation of 6 workouts. The order changes, but each time the components are similar:
AAA – “Arms Abs A$$” workouts 45-60 min (this is fairly easy in phase 1 but much harder in 2 + 3). Bands and a variety of weights are used. Sometimes it’s 3 x 10 reps, sometimes 2 x 15 – this is true of all of the strength workouts.
Leg Day – What it sounds like! These clock in ~40-60 min with many close to the 60 min mark. Usually more heavy-weight centric (my max was squatting with 2 x 25 lbs which for me is unprecedented!).
Cardio Core – shorter cardio interval workout. Similar to 21 DF TB Cardio (but maybe not quite as torturous?) with ab exercises interspersed throughout. About 40 minutes each. I always felt like these were easier days.
Booty – More heavy lifting on some of the phases. I seem to remember Phase 1 Booty not being too bad, but then 2+3 bringing more challenges. Again, 40-60 min but many up toward the 50-60 minute mark. Lots of bandwork but also squats/lunges in phases 2-3 especially.
Total Body Core – This one is long and hard at every phase (though the workouts are different from phase to phase!). The most memorable moves: Half Turkish Get-Ups with Pushup and Tricep Pushups – omg. I was always spent after total body core day.
Cardio Flow – Series of cardio movements that flow one to the next. The SAME repetitive sequence all 13 weeks but with variations (ie, you do more reps in later weeks). Not gonna lie – I started to dread this one! It got hard with the increased reps. Particularly the spiderman pushups . . .
Equipment Needed:
Mat (I layered 2 yoga mats)
Weights. I had 2 each of: 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 25. I would have loved a 17.5 and 20 set (still need to find these!) but it was enough of a variety.
Stretchy Bands & Sliders. You can order them from Beachbody I think, but I just got mine from amazon. Example here.
Space. I used a fairly small space behind my desk. You do not need a lot of square footage to do these workouts!
Workout trackers. These are printed from the Beachbody website and I filled out every one. #upholder
Something to watch the workouts on. I just used my laptop! iPad would be fine too. Phone screen would be kind of small.
Nutrition/Diet: There is one. It’s very strict. I didn’t do it! I’m sure I would have had more dramatic results if I had, but you know. Pandemic. Also I like pizza and ice cream.
Pix. I am slightly self-conscious to post these types of pix but I also feel that workout reviews without pix are sort of . . . incomplete. (And I also feel it’s okay to admit you’d like some visible results for all of your hard work!! I know I do!).
PIX: Day 0 on left vs Day 80 on right. (I had just finished 21DF/21DFXT at the day 0 though so it’s not like I was getting up from the couch 🙂 )
I mean . . . not drastic. I honestly don’t think the front view pictures look all that different. But maybe some more definition in the 2nd pic particularly side view/arms?
Weight – unchanged (actually gained like 0.6 lb but that does not seem significant)
Measurements – also essentially unchanged. Slightly disappointing but it is what it is!
# of Pushups completed in the 21 DF upper – Increased! Before 80 DO I could do usually 15 full pushups in round 1 and 10 in round 2 (the rest knees). After I did 25 in round 1 and 15 in round 2! So I definitely had a noticeable improvement in strength.
Overall review: Maybe my results are not that impressive BUT I felt 80DO was a great workout routine to do over the summer. All indoors, challenging, varied enough, and (generally) somewhat fun! I might replace cardio flow with running + pushups if I do this again b/c the idea of repeating those exercises again sort of nauseates me. LOL.
Autumn has a great presence and is just a very positive trainer. I would basically try any program she offers.
I would do 80 DO again and I probably will next summer!
Feel free to post questions 🙂
19 Comments
You look great! I definitely think your core looks leaner and your arms look stronger and more defined. I feel like lower body is always harder to notice changes in pictures. And…lower body is just always the LAST place to lean out (for me anyway. hmph.)
I tried a couple of the 80DO workouts in the spring but I don’t particularly love “banded” exercises and I can take or leave those sliders. haha. So I wanted something with mostly just weights. I’ve been a die hard gym go-er doing strength training/ weight-lifting as my primary exercise for many years now, but since the pandemic I’ve been working out at home. Very different, but I do really like squeezing in my workout without having to go anywhere.
I’m curious to know how the series made you feel. Did you feel noticeably different doing (what seems like) longer strength training sessions than you usually do?
FWIW, you do look more defined in the after photos to me.
Honestly the number one thing I felt was sore! And sometimes just TIRED. I wish I could say I felt energized and amazing all day but … maybe this is 40?! But I also felt like I got stronger which was a nice feeling.
Ugh, that sucks. Outside of an initial adjustment period, I’m not willing to be sore and tired from exercise. At this point in my life the physical discomfort is such an unwanted distraction. Unsurprisingly, my main motivators for exercising are the energy boost and working out physical discomfort – not my physical appearance. I do a lot of walking and yoga (and aim to incorporate a lot of weight bearing strength training in my yoga). Back in the day when going to the office gym was still a thing, I found lifting weights to be super energizing – but I didn’t do it long enough to tire myself out – only 20-30 min or so to do a couple sets working my major muscle groups. I would occasionally get pretty sore, but I also had a monthly two hour massage to work through kinks that developed. Because I’m just that unwilling to feel sore all the time.
You look amazing!!! For me with 21DF my measurements changed – I lost inches everywhere (probably part of that was just breastfeeding and dropping pregnancy weight too) but in my pictures I looked exactly the same lol. But I agree, it’s all about how you feel!
You look amazing! I can see a difference in how toned you are. Do you feel like your clothes fit a little differently? Sometimes toning isn’t as reflected in measurements/weight but you will feel differently in clothes. This program is intriguing to be but I think it’s too intense/too long of workout for this stage of like. 30 minutes if pretty much my sweet spot… or will be my sweet spot when I am back to working out – right now I’m basically just going for walks since I’m pregnant and have had some other complications that limit my activity level. I think I will get a BB membership again because it’s so affordable and there is so much variety to the programs!
I definitely see more definition in your core, and holy arms! I was a week into 80DO and then tweaked my lower back during a move (squat to rotating shoulder press in Total Body Core) so I need to get back into it. Fyi, you can also pay for a yearly membership to BOD for only $99 if you want to save some $$!
Yeah, I think you are downplaying your results! I see new definition all over your body, particularly core and arms. Thanks for the thorough review, and congrats on finishing!
I do see the arms (and I see that in real life!). Which hopefully I can keep up doing LIIFT!
Way to go with 80 Day! I love hearing about your strength progress! I am on Day 63 at the moment and i also really enjoy Autumn. I did start it back near the beginning of the pandemic and hurt my shoulder so i stopped, rehabbed as much as i could (limited since everything was closed) and then started again after 2 rounds of 21DF. I am feeling stronger and at this point (also an upholder) i am motivated to finish even though i am ready to move on. i really wanted to build back up my core strength that has been lacking since baby number 2 (who is now 3) and am feeling much better posture and more upright when i run. And i was having so much trouble with side plank and can now get up and into it so much easier. Progress is progress.
A minor thing but maybe you also feel this way but she has a lot of ‘Don’t quit’, ‘Don’t give up on yourself’ messages which are probably pretty motivating to a set of people – but you’re a marathoner …I’ve done long distance triathlons – i am just thinking in my head ‘Girl, i’ve done way harder things than a one hour workout. They can be super challenging but i definitely don’t quit! But overall i feel like her programs are really well balanced and support all the things you hear about to keep you healthy for things like running – joint mobility, plyometrics, load-bearing weights.
very impressive to follow 80 days of program. Do you get runners high after those workout? I often find following youtube workout that I need to watch “boring” and like i’m doing it for the sake of it, not that I enjoy the process like I do with running (the freedom, the flow and the after shower feeling). you are a fellow runner.. what do you think?
I think you arms definitely look more toned in the after pic. Good for you, regardless!
The commitment to this is so impressive! And something I struggle with, but maybe I need a more strict schedule to adhere to? The definition is definitely noticeable. So awesome!
You look fantastic! Your arm muscles are definitely showing in the after pic! And omg, those workouts sound intense, so I’m sure it’s good for overall fitness. Amazing that you completed all 80 days!
I have a similar body type and the only time I’ve managed to change my physical appearance was when I did lots of arm exercises…my max bicep curl weight was like 20 pounds and my arms looked more defined. My core and legs get maybe more toned with running and full body workouts, but it’s more subtle.
OMG 20 bicep curls!!! My current max is 15 (and if doing a lot of reps then more like 12, or even 10 if it’s tons). Maybe someday I will get to 20! Agree I see change in my arms more than anywhere else. Oh well at least it’s something!!
This is very interesting to me! I have built muscle over the past year doing very strength-focused workouts, but I don’t have that arm tone I’ve been hoping for. I know it’s not a fat issue — I’m naturally long and lean and have been trying to gain weight to build muscle. But I’m wondering if the issue of not seeing arm tone is actually that I’m not doing enough arm exercises. I’d be interested in yours and Sarah’s thoughts based on your experiences.
Catching up on old posts and just want to say you look great! I have done the 21 Day Fix a few times (with the meal plan too, old school style with DVDs) and I saw great results. It seems like basic stuff, diet and exercise, but it works! I can see more definition in your arms and legs in the 2nd picture. You look more cut. Way to go!
Hi! Is there any yoga in the 80 day program?
Thanks!
There is not – you could always do it on your day off, though!