These 8 weeks have felt like the shortest and longest time of my life. This was so much more than just a physical change for me, and I am so proud of how far I have already come. Now if you’ve seen and read one of my latest Instagram you will know why I am not posting my progress photos. If I’m honest right now, I feel very down. Bloating is normal and it happens to everyone, but you must notice the difference of bloating from a large meal to abnormal bloating. I’m bloating at least 5 out of 7 days a week, my belly is over double the size it normally is, my clothes are tighter, and I don’t feel confident in my own skin. Trying to tell myself that it is not who I am, even if it was, the size of your belly, or anything for that matter does not define you. But right now, it does get me down, it makes me feel like all the work I do is for nothing if my body decides to turn against me and balloon up. I won’t go into it too much as this is a shreddy review and not a post on bloating after all.
Onto the actual challenge. Shreddy has helped me in so many ways, more ways than I ever thought it would. Starting off with the workouts, I can’t believe how far I came within 8 weeks, from struggling on week one day one, to now being able to complete week 8 workouts without the constant struggle for breath or feeling too weak. Don’t get me wrong the shreddy workouts are killers and continue to up their game each week, but I don’t feel weak anymore. I feel strong, I feel confident when I work out. I may still be a sweaty mess after 10 minutes, but I feel good. My upper body feels stronger, I can do more push ups than I ever could before. Since 2014 I have been going to the gym on and off, moving to Bournemouth and attending university definitely changed my fitness activity, like it does many people. Unfortunately for me the gym I signed up for was nowhere near the standards of my last gym, it put me off going and I slowly stopped. As most students my diet of frozen food and alcohol didn’t help at all. I signed back up in February to get the ball rolling again however lockdown soon cut that off. Shreddy not only gave me amazing workouts but it was also really motivating. Even with a gym membership getting off my butt and getting to the gym was a struggle. I must admit sometimes I will skip a workout or will put it off for hours, but shreddy has been the only workout app to actually keep me interested and keep me going!
The physical changes apart from the extra strength aren’t really there. I know it’s hard for me to tell at the moment because of my bloating. I’ve seen some changes in my face, my jawline is more defined. My upper back looks more defined and I’ve definitely lost fat up there. But everything else is still a bit meh. I know things like this takes months, even years. It doesn’t bother me, I know this is a journey, I’m on the right track and moving along it, that’s all that really matters.
Now onto the mental changes, wow. I never thought a workout app could’ve improve my mental state of mind. Obviously, it’s a known fact that exercise helps the brain and can improve moods, but regardless of this, shreddy made me feel more confident who I am, I feel happy. Working out during lockdown gave me something to fill up an hour or two, I spent less time wallowing in my head and more time being active and clearing my mind. I ventured out and started things I never thought I could like roller skating. I also started doing yoga which is such a great stress relief.
My shreddy challenge review wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t mention the community. I honestly don’t think I could’ve done it without the community. Everyone is so empowering, supportive and welcoming. I’ve found some amazing friends in this community, they inspire me, they help me. I can be myself without any worry now. I am so grateful to have had the most amazing women connecting together and being there.
Overall, this was an exhausting 8 weeks. It was a real eye opener and only the tip of the iceberg for finding my inner self and who I truly am. All I know right now is that I feel more myself than ever, I am continuing the shreddy app and can’t wait to see what the future has for the community and myself.
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