There’s this company that kinda sorta changed my life. Sometimes I hesitate to talk (or write) about it because I feel like people might hide from me. But I also feel like I’m obligated to share it because I’ve seen it change other people’s lives too. So if you’re looking for some great workout options to do at home I think Beachbody is the best. There is so much variety and their programs get you results. This guide to the best Beachbody Workouts A-Z will help you find what’s right for you.
I have completed most of the programs listed here in their entirety…remember this is coming from the girl who hated exercise and never stuck with anything until she was 37. So there is something to this company. I’ve been at it for 7 years now and it has changed me- inside and out- immeasurably.
I chose to list the programs alphabetically, marking the more challenging programs with an asterisk. One of the most challenging was my first- Insanity. So, be safe and make smart choices for your body, but don’t necessarily be scared off by the hard ones. When I first saw the Insanity infomercial I literally said, “I would never be able to do that.”
Doing something you thought you couldn’t do? That’s motivation for you.
Beachbody Programs A-Z
3 Week Yoga Retreat
10-30 minutes, 7 days a week
3-week program
Trainers: Elise Joan, Faith Hunter, Ted McDonald, Vytas Baskauskas
Description: Master the fundamentals of yoga and build on what you learn. 21 unique yoga classes.
My take: I have never done the whole 3 weeks, but I have done several of the workouts and loved them all. I really like doing yoga in a yoga studio much better than at home, but the yoga I do on Beachbody On Demand makes me feel confident in any yoga class I take!
21 Day Fix
30 minutes
21-day program
Trainer- Autumn Calabrese
Description: 7 different workouts, a mix of cardio and strength training, as well as one yoga and one pilates workout.
My take: The workouts are challenging for most, but there is a modifier for all of them. The nutrition plan that comes with this one can be life-changing; I learned so much from it. I love the variety of workouts and the 30 minute time frame. It’s a great balance of weights and cardio and my favorite pilates workout. Read my review here.
There is also a 21 Day Fix Extreme (similar format, more intense) and a 21 Day Fix Real-Time (same workouts filmed live and with some changes).
22 Minute Hard Corps
22 minutes, 6 days a week
8-week program
Trainer: Tony Horton
Description: challenging but simple to follow. Cardio and strength training, boot camp style.
My take: I love that it’s 22 minutes and you feel like you got a much longer workout in. The alternating weights and cardio is also a plus. This program is a favorite of many- big results in a short amount of time.
*80 Day Obsession
30-60 minutes, 6 days a week
80 days (with one rest day a week)
Trainer: Autumn Calabrese
Description: This is definitely one that requires a little more time and commitment. These workouts are challenging, and get progressively more challenging. It promises a total-body transformation. They include weights, resistance loops, sliders, and a lot of bodyweight exercises.
My take: I loved it despite (or maybe because ) of the level of difficulty. It also comes with a very detailed timed-nutrition program. I followed the nutrition plan and it was a lot of work but it was worth it.
A Little Obsessed is a 5-day “program” designed to get your ready for 80 Day Obsession. I love these workouts- they’re similar to the 80-day workouts, but only 30 minutes and not quite as challenging.
A Little More Obsessed includes more 80 Day Obsession workouts; I haven’t tried any of these yet.
*Body Beast
11-53 minutes (most are around 40)
90-day program
Trainer: Sagi Kalev
Description: resistance training with some fat-shredding workouts.
My take: Don’t be scared off by weights! But if you’ve never worked out with weights you might not want to start with this one. I love weights and I loved this program. My husband did it too- so it might be a good one to do with a guy in your life. Sagi takes some getting used to but grows on you.
Chalean Extreme
30-45 minutes, 5 days a week
90-day program
Trainer: Chalene Johnson
Description: 3 phases, muscle building, and cardio.
My take: One of my absolute favorites! It opened my eyes to using weights and made me fall in love with them. I also love Chalene Johnson- she is very motivating, especially in this program.
I’ll include Turbo Fire here. I’ve never done the whole program, but it is one of Chalene’s. It includes lots of high-intensity workouts; I’ve done many of them and come back to them again and again.
Cize
35-40 minutes
4 weeks
Trainer: Shaun T
Description: a choreographed dance course that is a lot of fun.
My take: If you like dancing you’ll love this and it’s surprisingly effective for burning calories and losing weight. I felt like, “Oh, God, I hope no one sees me doing this,” but had fun with it.
Clean Week
30 minutes, 7 days a wee
1-week program
Trainer: Megan Davies
Description: a 7-day introductory program that guides you through simple lifestyle changes. The workouts are great- they get you moving and sweating, but are not too daunting.
My take: I’ve only done a few of the workouts, but I really liked them all.
Core de Force
30-45 minutes, 7 days a week
30-day program
Trainers: Joel Freeman and Jericho McMatthews
Description: MMA-style punch-kick combos and cardio-conditioning.
My take: This program made me think I should have been an MMA fighter…or maybe not when I punched my own glasses off my face during a workout. One of my favorite workouts is in this program and I come back to that one frequently! It’s fun and varied, but I did find it a little hard on my shoulders.
Country Heat
30 minutes
30-day program
Trainer: Autumn Calabrese
Description: dancing to country music, high-energy and low-impact.
My take: I did not look forward to this program because I am not a fan of country music, especially new country music. But it was fun and you can get a good workout that isn’t too daunting. I think this would be great for people who hate exercise or are intimidated by more challenging programs.
*Hammer & Chisel
35-40 minutes, 6 days a week
60-day program
Trainers: Autumn Calabrese and Sagi Kalev
Description: an expert resistance-training system that incorporates the 3 phases of SSP training- strength, stability, and power- to help rapidly build, chisel, and refine your body.
My take: Very challenging. Lots of weights. Amazing results.
*Insanity
30-60 minutes (most around 40), 6 days a week
60-day program
Trainer: Shaun T
Description: A challenging, high-intensity workout. Interval training alternating high-intensity cardio and short periods of rest.
My take: This is so hard, but it was my first program and for some reason, it was what hooked me into exercise. I wrote about it here.
*Insanity Max:30
30 minutes, 5 days a week
60-day program
Trainer: Shaun T
Description: similar to Insanity- high-intensity, shorter workouts
My take: I love Shaun T and I love that it’s only 30 minutes. There is an added element of challenge in this program where you see how long you can keep up at max pace. I don’t love it like I loved Insanity, but it’s a great program and the shorter time frame makes it even better.
*Insanity: The Asylum
45-60 minutes, 6 days a week
60-day program
Trainer: Shaun T
Description: Lots of plyometrics (basically moves with jumping), speed, agility, strength, and core workouts.
My take: Very different from Insanity, very challenging. I loved it. It made me feel like an athlete.
Liift4
30-40 minutes, 4 days a week
8-week program
Trainer: Joel Freeman
Description: Alternating High-Intensity and strength training workouts.
My take: I loved alternating cardio and weights. This program has some of my favorite HIIT workouts mixed with weights. And I like Joel a lot. You can read more about it in my review.
Morning Meltdown
20-30 minutes (most are around 30)
100-day program (though you can pace yourself and space it out more)
Trainer: Jericho McMatthews
Description- High-intensity cardio and resistance training, with some active recovery workouts.
My take: I loved the variety and how quickly the workouts moved. Some of the moves are extremely challenging (lightning bolts come to mind) but there are two modifiers you can follow and still get a crazy workout.
P90X3
30 minutes, 6 days a week
90-day program
Trainer: Tony Horton
Description: lots of variety, a mix of cardio and strength training, challenging, includes modifications to make it easier or harder depending on your fitness.
My take: I love that it’s only 30 minutes and I love the variety. Tony Horton is very no-nonsense, but funny in his own way, and motivating.
I’ll add P90X in here and P90X2. I’ve never done P90X, but it’s a “someday” goal of mine. P90X requires much more of a time commitment. There is also P90X One on One, a high-intensity workout program designed to build muscle.
Piyo
20-45 minutes, 6 days a week
60-day program
Trainer: Chalene Johnson
Description: Combines Pilates and yoga, low-impact and fat-burning.
My take: This is not an easy program! I found it very challenging. But it is a favorite among my fitness group and it’s low-impact.
Shift Shop
25-45 minutes
3 weeks
Trainer: Chris Downing
Description: cardio and strength training, each week is progressively harder.
My take: I loved the format of these workouts and it offers lots of flexibility.
T25
25 minutes, 6 days a week
10-week program
Description: Short, intense workouts. Mostly cardio, with some weights in later phases.
My take: I love Shaun T, I love the 25 minutes. These are quick, powerful workouts.
Transform :20
20 minutes
6-week program
Trainer: Shaun T (my first fitness love)
Description: fast, high-intensity, workouts get harder as you progress, uses a step- which was a total throwback and a lot of fun. I wrote a review of it you can read here.
My take: the 20 minutes is awesome but they are hard. Of course, Shaun T adds a motivational element that is all his own.
And more…
There are several other programs you can find. A few of them…
Youv2 is a great program for beginners. I did one workout and it was fun.
Tai Cheng is a Tai Chi inspired program that would be great for those new to exercise or those with injuries that prohibit other workouts. I haven’t tried any of them yet.
Brazil Butt Lift has some surprisingly tough workouts if you’re looking to target your booty,
There are some classic programs on there too- remember Yoga Booty Ballet? Slim in 6? Tony Horton’s 10 Minute Trainer?
And there are a bunch of Beachbody On Demand exclusive workouts that are amazing.
All the variety makes it easy to try things out. Follow the calendar provided or make your own.
It also includes nutrition plans and tons of recipes, as well as its own cooking show- Fixate with Autumn Calabrese.
New Programs:
New programs are frequently added. These are some that are coming soon to everyone on Beachbody On Demand:
The Work
Barre Blend
10 Rounds
The variety makes it easy to pick and choose and make your own schedule. I love the feeling of completing a program, but it can be fun to mix and match.
When I asked my fitness group to pick their favorite, this is what some of them had to say:
“Love them all. Piyo can do anytime, anywhere, with your own body strength.”
“I love Clean Week for beginners.”
“Yoga Retreat is great right now to move and calm anxiety.”
“I’m not sure if I’ve found my ‘favorite’ program yet because I haven’t tried them all- but I do love Chalean Extreme. I love that she hits all upper body muscles during the 3 different segments while incorporating lower body movements at the same time. I also enjoy her interval workouts as a change-up. She inspires me and I find her voice motivating!”
“Chalean Extreme got me to use weights and totally changed my shape; for those reasons, it is my favorite. I have seen results and felt challenged by all the programs I have tried.”
“Hard Corps was the first thing that popped into my head, but I actually was REALLY impressed with and enjoyed Morning Meltdown. Now that I’m doing the Liift4 program again, I think it might be my overall favorite…it’s tough but doable and Joel is a bit goofy but not annoying…lol”
Want to check out Beachbody On Demand?
Does all this sound like something you want to check out? There is a free trial.
If you choose to sign up for Beachbody On Demand here you’ll also get me as your coach. That means you’ll have an accountability partner, a cheerleader, someone to ask questions. I’ll help you choose your workouts and find a way to make exercise a habit.
And while you can buy many of these programs individually on Amazon, signing up with me through Beachbody is kind of like buying from your local hardware store instead of a big chain- you’re supporting a small business owner 🙂
You’ll also get access to an online accountability group, including support, encouragement, recipes, and meal plans.
And if Beachbody isn’t right for you?
I’m here for you if you don’t decide Beachbody is right for you, too. There are many other non-gym options out there- running, walking, strength training at home. YouTube is a great free resource as well. My main goal is to help others make exercise a regular part of their life. It can transform you in so many ways beyond weight loss.
Have you ever tried a Beachbody program? I’d love to hear from you!
P.S. Share this post with a friend who’s looking to make healthy changes- on Facebook, Instagram, or via email!
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