Full disclaimer earlier than we start: I have been on a little bit of a health rut. Throughout lockdown I liked dwelling coaching (opens in new tab) – extra particularly, sweaty, pulse-inducing HIIT coaching (opens in new tab) – however not too long ago I have been skipping my sweat classes altogether.
Why? Properly, as a result of I spotted that I have been going via the motions each time I’m going to the health club, sticking to the identical previous excessive knees and burpees as an alternative of progressing in my classes. Feeling low on vitality and torpid, I used to be decided to stay up for figuring out once more – so once I was provided the chance to attempt Stef Match’s raved about health app, WeGLOW, I jumped on the probability.
I had spent a number of months doing low-impact exercises like pilates and yoga, however did not love them fairly as a lot as I did HIIT exercises. I wished to rekindle my love for HIIT however had no thought the place to start out till I met Stef Williams.
A bit of background for you: Stef is a professional private coach, founding father of the activewear model SEFI and creator of the favored coaching app WeGLOW. So in style, in actual fact, that it has had over 150,000 downloads with 14 million minutes of train accomplished in 2022. Spectacular, proper? (And that is earlier than we point out her random 1.9 million Instagram followers…).
To rejoice her new line of activewear, I used to be fortunate sufficient to be invited alongside to a coaching session led by Stef herself. By the top of a fast 20-minute HIIT session, I used to be dripping with sweat and had pushed myself tougher than I had within the final six months. Not solely that, however I actually loved making an attempt some new strikes. So once I bought dwelling, I made a decision to obtain the WeGLOW app and take a look at it out for 4 weeks. Hold scrolling to learn my sincere assessment.
WeGLOW app assessment: “The exercises are difficult and I all the time felt like I labored up a very good sweat”
What’s WeGLOW?
To begin with, what’s WeGLOW? In brief, it is an app designed by Stef that gives quite a lot of exercises, recipes and meal plans. It additionally has a bit the place you may monitor your personal health journey by importing progress images.
“I based WeGLOW in 2020 as a result of I wished to create an app that offers girls the instruments and help they want of their well being and health journey to construct constructive, sustainable habits and outcomes that truly final,” mentioned Stef . “WeGLOW is an inviting, accessible and inclusive health app that does not take a ‘one dimension suits all’ strategy; well being and health look completely different for everybody and WeGLOW ensures that everybody feels good about themselves and their journey .”
Do you should know: the app can be utilized each at dwelling and within the health club, so you may tailor the exercise to fit your environment. There are many choices, with plans starting from one to twenty-four weeks lengthy (these map out your weekly exercises for you, providing 4 to 5 completely different exercises per week), to on-demand one-off exercises that span yoga poses (opens in new tab)HIIT, ab exercise (opens in new tab)warm-up workouts (opens in new tab)and extra.
As a substitute of making a information, I selected to pick the exercises myself to attempt a bit little bit of all the things and see what labored for me.
Is WeGLOW appropriate for individuals of all health ranges?
Brief reply: sure. “At WeGLOW, we want to teach our neighborhood alongside the way in which to allow them to perceive the ‘why’ behind what they do and construct confidence in themselves,” explains Stef once we converse. “We’ve got a whole ‘Be taught’ part within the app devoted to educating our neighborhood and serving to them separate fable from reality. Whether or not you are an lively gym-goer or it is your first time figuring out, WeGLOW caters to all skills and schedules.”
There are three completely different ranges of coaching on the app; newbie, practiced and practiced. You may as well filter to see solely exercises beneath 20 minutes and exercises that do not require any tools.
How a lot is WeGLOW?
The app presents a free trial, which I’d suggest doing to see if it is best for you.
After your free trial, you may join quite a lot of choices as listed beneath:
- Pay month-to-month – £15.99
- Pay quarterly – £38.99
- Pay yearly – £99.99
What do you want?
As above, you should utilize the app at dwelling, however I would say it is best fitted to the health club, as some exercises require weights, resistance bands, and extra. #
However for those who plan to make use of it at dwelling, you would possibly wish to put money into some necessities like top-of-the-line train mats.
Though not obligatory, I’ve additionally invested in some new coaching equipment. If you understand me, you may know that I really like aesthetically pleasing exercise gear. I all the time discover that I really feel extra motivated once I like what I am sporting. (Learn our edits of the very best exercise garments (opens in new tab) and finest matching coaching equipment (opens in new tab)right here, and scroll my go-to’s beneath).
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Lululemon Ladies’s Strongfeel Coaching Sneakers
Once I was figuring out on the health club, I liked sporting my Lululemon Strongfeel sneakers. Designed with train in thoughts, they’re tremendous light-weight, with a supportive higher that helps with leaping and lifting.
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PE Nation is considered one of my favourite activewear manufacturers and I have been loving their new Arcade Tank. It is supportive and sweat-wicking with a flattering minimize, however I would suggest sporting a sports activities bra beneath for extra high-intensity classes.
Is the WeGLOW app value it?
General, I actually appreciated Stef’s app. The coaching was difficult and I all the time felt like I used to be working up a very good sweat. One of many greatest standouts was with the ability to select from so many choices, from low-impact exercises to intense cardio classes and even yoga.
One other massive plus was the flexibility to trace my progress through images on the app. Whereas I used to be figuring out to really feel good, not look good, it was good to see my physique get stronger and extra outlined because the weeks glided by.
Though I did not observe a meal plan per se, I liked looking via all of the completely different recipes on the app once I was caught for inspiration – the banana pancakes, shrimp curries and burritos have been my private favourites.
That mentioned, I did discover the quantity of equipment wanted for coaching to be a bit off-putting at instances. Typically I’d load a session at dwelling solely to search out I wanted particular weights I did not have (though it was helpful that when you choose a exercise it reveals you ways lengthy it’s, what every motion can be, and what tools you want earlier than you get began). I used to be fairly shocked at how a lot tools you have been anticipated to have – all the things from a full bench to kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands and extra. Understanding at a health club would not be an issue, however I had a tough time utilizing the app at dwelling. (When this occurred, I used to be both improvising or doing the strikes with my physique weight, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly one thing to remember for those who’re pondering of making an attempt it your self).
One other factor that I struggled with is that the trainers do not speak you thru every transfer like they’d on a YouTube video, for instance. As a substitute, there is a silent video you may watch, which could be tough once you’re making an attempt to work out on the identical time. I’d advise you to look at the movies earlier than you apply to familiarize your self with the actions.
That mentioned, I am a fan and will certainly be incorporating WeGLOW exercises from the WeGLOW app into my weekly routine, and I could not suggest it sufficient to anybody seeking to change up their sweat classes.
Obtain to Apple (opens in new tab) or Android (opens in new tab) now.