In this post, I will review the workout guide by Mari Llewellyn I followed in order to get started in the gym and incorporate exercise into my daily routine.
About three months ago, I came across an Instagram ad for a resistance band claiming to be roll proof and snap proof while adding glute activation to a lower body work out. I clicked on the page advertising the product and started reading a little about the owner, Mari. She has such an inspiring and powerful story about her weight loss journey and dealing with mental health factors. I felt an instant connection to her because she started out at about the same weight as I did when I decided to get my health on track, and she is not a super slim girl or all-muscle body builder. She is also pretty tall! It sounds silly, but it is hard to relate to the super buff petite women being pretty tall and curvy myself. We all have different body types and goals, so when looking for inspiration in other people, it is important to keep in mind that some physiques are just not realistic depending on body type and lifestyle. However I saw so much of myself in Mari, so I bought her guide and band. I figured it would be worth the money if I could grow, become stronger, and lose more weight all at the same time. I honestly couldn't be happier with my purchase; it has truly be a lifesaver getting started in the gym.
When I first joined the YMCA, I stuck with the group classes and cardio equipment for months because I was intimidated by lifting, and I was dealing with severe gym anxiety (I'm planning a post about how I overcame this; just have to get all my thoughts together). I was hoping Mari's guide would offer some direction and help me figure out what I was doing while working out on my own. Mari has several gym guides to choose from: Guide 1 is for beginners, Guide 2 is a tad more advanced than Guide 1, and Guide 3 builds on Guide 2 incorporating heavier lift days and more challenging moves. I bought the combo with all three guides, so I started with Guide 1 and just recently finished Guide 3. Mari's guides are definitely aimed at women, but both men and women could follow them since the workouts are not gender specific. The guides vary in length but most are eight to nine week long programs with options of working out three to five times a week depending on the guide.
Each week is broken down into lower and upper body days. There are four to six exercises that require machines, free weights, and/or barbells each day. I could usually complete the daily routine within 30 to 40 minutes. I appreciate the fact that Mari's routines are not very repetitive, so I did not get bored while working through the program. Most of the workouts do not contain much isolation work but instead work multiple muscle groups or take a total body approach. If you are looking to grow a particular muscle group, this might not be the best guide option. The plan does not include a whole lot of cardio, so I added a 15 to 20 minute cardio activity every day. I got to the point where I actually enjoyed going to the gym because I had a plan I could easily follow and I was in and out within the hour.
The greatest part about purchasing a guide from Mari is that you have the option of joining the Mari Fitness Guide Help Instagram page. She has a video of every workout she uses in her guides. This was so incredibly helpful since I was working out by myself, and I wasn't super confident about some of the lifts or moves she incorporates into the guide. I frequently pulled up the Instagram page during a workout to make sure I knew what I was supposed to be doing or to match my technique to Mari's. Some of her guides also have pictures. The picture and video combo is one of the major reasons I was so successful when completing the program. I lost about 20 pounds (on top of the 50 I had already lost) from starting Guide 1 to finishing Guide 3. Since my goals are not just about losing weight, it is also important to note that I gained an unbelievable amount of confidence in myself and my ability, and I am probably the strongest (muscle wise) I have ever been in my life.
Aside from the Gym Guides, Mari has a great guide for working out at home as well as tools (like the resistance band) to use at the gym or at home to make the most of a workout. I cannot speak for the nutrition guide she sells since I did not purchase it, but I'm sure it's the same quality as the rest of her material.
The community of Mari Guide Girls is huge. I occasionally see girls at the YMCA with bands or pulling up the guides on their phones, I have referred several friends and family members to her program, and Mari is always posting about others' transformations on her Instagram page. It is so uplifting to see a group of people being positive and supportive of one another. I would highly recommend trying out one of Mari's fitness programs if you are looking for quality material at a reasonable price especially if you are just getting started and/or need some direction.
P.S. Mari also has a supplements brand called Bloom. Andy and I purchased the pre-workout and the essential amino acids to try. I will be doing a review of all the supplements I take or have taken in a future post, so be on the lookout if you are interested!
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