Why sweat-it-out in the gym when you can workout at home?
January: the month every man, woman and their dog decides to bundle down to their local gym to fight over fitness machinery. Forgetting their towels, sweating on the seats and overcrowding the changing rooms. If the crowds, the sweat and even the effort of the after-work gym commute all sounds too much to master in 2018, then breathe. Put your feet up and stick the kettle on. Because thanks to the prowess of online fitness superstars, you can get a decent workout without even leaving the house.
Introducing the online gym – a subscription-based service that lets you get all hot and bothered in the comfort of your own home. Forget putting on sweat-proof makeup or caring what you workout in, for these fitness services use bodyweight and basic equipment in your own home to stay fit.
From Joe Wick's latest offering to YouTube fitness stars, these are the online subscriptions that will make this year the year you finally stick to those NYR.
My Peak Challenge – $136.95 per year (roughly £99)
With community at its core, My Peak Challenge is a digital fitness model for those who want to help others as much as themselves. As well as a great range of workouts designed to push you to your limits, Scottish actor and company founder Sam Heughan donates 50% of all membership fees directly to Bloodwise, a UK charity dedicated to fighting blood cancers. Programmes are levels-based, meaning you can find a workout whatever your experience or fitness level. Day-by-day nutrition plans offer a healthy diet to support your workouts, whilst a private Facebook group offers support and access to the MPC community. There's even an official free t-shirt included in the price. The 2018 programme starts on Monday 5th February - sign up here.
Results with Lucy Mecklenburgh – From £14 per month
Lovers of reality TV stars will recognise the flawless physique of ex-TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh. Since leaving the reality show, the 26-year-old has worked hard to establish a fitness presence with her online subscription service. A digital revamp of reality stars’ exercise vids, Results With Lucy membership offers access to 300+ workout videos and tailored options for expectant mothers as well as a budget service for students.
Joe Wicks 90 Day SSS – £49 per month or £147 for 3 months
The brains behind ‘lean in 15’ and The Body Coach has done it again with another catchy workout. ‘Shift, shape and sustain’ are the three key S’s behind Wick’s latest fitness offering, a programme that promises to be more of an “education in fat loss, nutrition and macronutrients” rather than a traditional starvation-style diet. The new programme starts with an online questionnaire, offering a personal touch to the subscription, before a personalised nutrition plan and training programme is emailed to you.
Gym Cube – From £15 per month
If you’re after the buzz of a fitness class without the phaff beforehand, then GymCube could be the answer to your fitness needs. For as little as £15 a month, membership lets you unlock exercise videos and live classes, meaning you can enjoy a full gym workout without even leaving the house. Designed by Kevin Foster-Wiltshire, a personal trainer with over a decade’s experience in fat loss, toning and programming, the subscription is designed to blast problem areas and tone-up. Membership includes access to a nutritional academy with 30 new tasty recipes released every month.
That Girl London – From £59 for 12 months
Ever scrolled through the hordes of skimpy selfies and bikini shots on Instagram and thought ‘god I wish I look like that?’ Us too. Fortunately, Personal Trainer to the stars Christina Howells has created an online subscription that lets you get influencer-fit – no filters or dodgy photoshop apps involved. That Girl London is a no-nonsense online programme that promises more than just a quick fitness fix – it’s a ‘lifestyle change’. A series of short gif videos offer easy-to-follow exercise regimes using bodyweight and basic movement, which are then repeated and changed over 2-week blocks. Though the gym-ambitious may find the workouts repetitive, the workouts are more strenuous than the flawless faces of the models let on.
Blogilates PIIT 28 Programme – From $39
With 3.9million subscribers tuning in to watch her Pilates-based workouts, Blogilates founder Cassey Ho could easily be one of the world’s top health and fitness influencers. And thanks to the popularity of her POP Pilates programme – a unique, equipment-free workout designed to sculpt yourself a dancer’s bod - the fitness blogger has launched an online programme to get you fit and fabulous. The PIIT workout stands for Pilates Intense Interval Training – think HIIT but with Pilates-inspired moves. The workout takes a very precise 28 minutes and 40 seconds, which is perfect for squeezing in during a hectic day, and is recommended 6 days a week. The rules are simple; 45 secs of all-out workout followed by 15 secs of rest, then repeat four times for each move. For commitment-phobes with busy lifestyles and little room for fitness, this could be the subscription for you.
Julia Buckley Fitness - £9.96 per month
If you hated PE at school but want to embrace working out, then Julia Buckley’s fitness programme is right up your street. Journalist-turned-personal-trainer Buckley is living proof that you don’t need to have a fitness background to achieve a killer bod. A firm advocate for the importance of exercise for mental health, Buckley’s fitness programme includes motivational pep talks and Q&A videos alongside workout videos and nutrition advice. Buckley also offers a 10-day free trial of the service, so you can try the workout before you commit.
UP Fitness Online Personal Training - £349 per month
If you want the bespoke experience of a personal trainer but your local gyms are lacking, then UP Fitness’ premium service could be the answer. Whilst online subscriptions can often offer generalised plans, the UP Fitness model gives you access to your own private personal trainer to create a workout tailored exclusively to you. An initial consultation with your personal trainer will dissect your current dietary and lifestyle plan, before your PT works 1-2-1 with you to create your desired results. Pricey though it may be, the bespoke service offers a level of detail that can be hard to come by online.
