Choose to Challenge — Kayla Itsines
To mark International Women’s Day, I thought it fitting to recognise a women who has built a global community and helped millions of women worldwide build their body confidence. She is the original fit — fluencer (and qualified PT), Kayla Itsines.
This Aussie born personal trainer and entrepreneur rose to the top of the fit list well before the lockdown driven at-home workout boom of 2020. The original version of her workout app ‘Sweat with Kayla’ launched in 2015 and by 2018 TIME magazine named Kayla one of the Top 25 Most Influential People on the Internet . At the time, Sweat with Kayla is estimated to have grossed $77 million of revenue and received more than 30 million downloads[1] . Today, Kayla continues to grow her global community, with 12.7 million Instagram followers (self-included) and re-branded app SWEAT, ranks in the top-100 Health & Fitness Apps on Apple’s i-Store. Not bad for a 29 year old.
But what has been the secret to Kayla’s success? Is it her Greek heritage that’s given her the edge (see previous story)or could it be down to the simplicity, affordability, and effectiveness of her programme?
It’s simple…
The original Bikini Body Guide (BGG) guide is a 12-week training programme that is no more complicated than a guided series of resistance circuits combined with cardio. The circuits require virtually no equipment and can be done anywhere. The cardio is broken down into two types: low intensity steady state (LISS) exercise such as power walking and high intensity interval training (HIIT) such as a run or a spin class. The proposed number, length and intensity of each resistance and cardio session per week gradually increases over the course of the plan. Simple.
…affordable
I first discovered Kayla back in July 2016 when a PDF copy of her e-books BBG was sent to me by a friend living in Sydney. This e-book is still available and costs around $55 USD which means that if you don’t have permanent internet connection or a device to stream the app you can still workout. However if you are fortunate to have internet and a smartphone or tablet you can enjoy the full suite of on-demand content which now includes thousands of workouts beyond the original 12-week plan for as little at $9.99 USD per month. Because no fit-fluencer is complete without their own You Tube channel, you even can try before you buy and work out with Kayla for free.
As the plan is designed for the home or the gym, minimal equipment is required and a huge number of the workouts are body weight only making it even more accessible if you’re on a budget or short of space.
It’s effective
SWEAT is designed by women for women. Kayla is on a mission to help ‘women achieve their ideal body, their confidence and their happiness’ and you need look no further than her Instagram page to see that it’s working.
Looking like a Greek goddess herself, you might forgive Kayla for filling her page with aspirational pictures of herself, but that’s not what it’s about. Instead, Kayla showcases highly motivational before-and-after pictures of her #bbgcommunity — women who have transformed their bodies and confidence with her plan. Evidence of progression and personal testimonials are clear to see and that’s what sold it to me. I can honestly say that when I stuck to the plan, it really did work!
Thank you for the challenge Kayla. #ChooseToChallenge #IWD2021
