After 3 rounds of Core de Force, with workout varying from 27 minutes to 63 minutes in length, followed by a round of 21 Day Fix Extreme with 30 minute workouts, I was ready for something EVEN SHORTER that could be equally as tough. Enter 22 Minute Hard Corps!
I have already completed 1 round of 22 Minute Hard Corps, which is included in the All Access Pass,Β last year almost at this exact same time of year. This was the first program I really completed all the way through (even though I missed some workouts, I still FINISHED). It brought me the greatest sense of pride that I have ever felt in my life pretty much. I didn’t realize how powerful seeing a program through to completion could be until I received my free Challenge Coin at the end of this program.In case you are wondering what a Challenge Coin is, here is what Tony has to say:
“In the military, Challenge Coins aren’t given away, they’re earned by doing something meaningful. To own one is proof that you have been tested and shown yourself worthy of membership in an elite and exclusive group.
Complete the program, send us your “before” and “after” photos on the double, and we’ll award you with a 22 MINUTE HARD CORPS Official Member Challenge Coin. You can’t buy one…you can only pay for it with hard work and pride.”
And let me tell you, I EARNED that freaking coin!!!
I was excited to come back to this program to see how much my strength and body and overall fitness had improved, and I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, the first 2 weeks, I questioned whether or not if this program was going to be “tough” enough for what I was looking for. Week 3 rolled around, I upped my weights and really pushed to do all the reps, and was quickly reminded that YES, this program can be, and is, beast if you put in the work!
This program is 8 weeks, and you workout 6 days per week, with a rest day on Day 7 of each week (happens to be Sunday for me). Each day rotates between cardio and resistance, and on cardio days you can do the optional core workout. I decided that I wanted to follow the deluxe calendar (meaning you can substitute the deluxe workouts on certain days) and do all the core work. I have only missed like 2 or 3 of the extra core workouts, and I am pretty proud of that. Core 1 is only 9 minutes and is 11 moves that you do 11 reps each. Core 2 is about 13 minutes and is the same 11 moves, but you do 22 reps of each. I was supposed to start doing Core 2 on Tuesday of this week, but I was just scared (lol!) so I stuck to core 1, but I am resolving to do my best at Core 2 for the rest of these last 4 weeks.
I think what I love most about this program is that the cast is entirely made up of veterans who have served, and when you see them doing the moves and literally dripping in sweat, you know it is a serious workout!!!
I believe that ANYONE can do this program. Every move has a modifier to make it easier, and you can always push yourself as much, or as little, as you want for the results you are looking for.
My eating has NOT been perfect the first 4 weeks, but week 4 I did 7 days of no sugar and felt really good! I broke that streak for a few days, but I am going to go back to that, and only try to have sugar on a very limited basis. It really did feel good to cut it out, and hopefully that will help shape my body even more so. I am really trying to dial in my nutrition for the next 4 weeks.
I even bit the bullet and joined Tone It Up as a nutrition member for the 2017 Bikini Series!!!!! As much as I love the meal plans from Beachbody that use the color coded containers, I just am ready to mix it up with new recipes, and a little different way of eating. It is still very similar, just structured a little differently. So pretty excited about that too.
I am stoked to see what the next 4 weeks has in store for me, and my challengers! Here is a little video I put together of clips from the first 4 weeks of 22 Minute Hard Corps so you can kind of get an idea of what it looks like.
Thanks for reading! xoxo Katy