The lockdown weight has started to bother you, and you wanna get rid of it — I understand. Apps are great tools to help you do that, depending on whether or not they’re actually good.
This Body Coach review will look at the Body Coach app, how it works for weight loss, and whether or not Joe Wicks’ methods really work.
What is Body Coach?
The Body Coach app is a highly personalized app designed to make the process of losing weight and building muscle a lot easier than it’d typically be. It was designed by Joe Wicks, who’s also a British fitness coach, TV presenter, social media personality, and author.
Joe is known for using HIIT workouts and food plans to help his clients lose weight. Furthermore, Joe has had a pretty decent impact on the fitness world, including:
- Publishing a best-seller cookbook “Lean in 15: 15-minute Meals”
- Started a YouTube channel called “PT with Joe” to help keep children active during the COVID lockdown (he was awarded his MBE in the Birthday Honors of 2020 for this)
- Hosting a Channel 4 TV show called “The Body Coach”
And, of course, he made his own app:
- Monthly subscription: £14.99 per month
- Special Offer: (Yearly) £5.00 per month, or pay £59.99 for 12 months
- Apple Store Rating: 4.9
- Google Store Rating: 4.5
As mentioned, this app is extremely focused on tailoring plans to your wants and needs. But everything starts with a few simple steps.
First, you’ll answer a few quick questions to give the app’s program all the data it needs to formulate a plan. Then, you’ll be issued a plan for nutrition and training as well as general guidelines (including recipes). After that, your program will be updated monthly to allow for consistent progress (this helps you lose body fat each and every week).
This is a pretty simple approach, and similar apps follow a similar method. Being able to tailor plans to specific people means no more cookie-cutter programs and no more time spent altering a workout in the gym.
I appreciate this greatly, especially if I were a beginner-intermediate type of person. Sometimes you just need an answer, not an option.
Body Coach App Details & Features
From the very first week (or first cycle), you’ll be given everything you need to allow for progress. Let’s split the program up into the main sections to see how they look:
Workouts
Joe advises that you stick to at least four to five workout days per week, seeing as this gets the best results for most people. That said, he also mentions, “… but all movement is good so do what you can to fit with your lifestyle.”
You’ll also have the opportunity to tune in to two live workouts to follow along with, just in case you don’t feel like working out alone.
The workouts all differ from one another, but most are based on three main principles:
- Keeping it short and sweet to save you some time. This allows you more freedom and energy for living and creates the positive affirmation that workouts shouldn’t control your life.
- HIIT (or high-intensity interval training), which will keep your heart rate up. There’s limited evidence that this burns more energy (or body fat) than other styles of training, but people feel it does — and that matters. It’s also known to be quite good for overall health.
- Strength training will also be included on most training days. Contrary to popular belief, you won’t be turning into a bodybuilder overnight, and — in reality — strength training principles are some of the best ways to work out. More muscle burns more fat; it just makes sense!
The workouts are on par with what you’ll find on some of Joe’s other mediums or what you’d expect, to be honest. They include a lot of cardio, circuits, and Tabata.
The workouts can be done at home, but Joe does advise that you should probably invest in an exercise mat, adjustable dumbbells, and kettlebells.
These won’t cost you an arm and a leg, but they can be hard to justify if you’re a beginner. This is why you can choose your difficulty level, which changes the quick workouts while usually changing the equipment as well.
Workouts won’t always be the same, either. Joe uses various types of training styles, including GVT (German volume training), ladder workouts, and massive circuits. Workouts will also be totally changed every cycle (which lasts a month), so even if you get a bit bored by day 25, you needn’t wait too long before doing new exercises.
Now, this is kinda a red flag.
Workouts are supposed to be about progression. You need to get good at something before you get strong at something, and when it comes to weight loss and muscle gain, only the latter matters.
If you’re introduced to new workouts and movements each month, then you’d need to spend a good 2 – 3 workouts getting used to them and learning how to do them. Compared to someone who’s been doing the same workouts and also progressing, you won’t be doing as well — simple as that.
That said, I understand that some people will want something new come the next cycle. But even then, you have to weigh what you want now vs. what you want the most…
Food Plans
The main part of weight loss is your diet. I wish it weren’t so, but the facts are the facts. You have to be willing to spend some time cooking healthier foods in the kitchen to allow for fat to be used as energy.
The meals are based on the information you give the app, seeing as each plan is personalized.
So the plans are based on the following:
- Your weight
- Goals (weight loss or gain)
- Activity levels
- Current health condition
Each day consists of three main meals as well as two snacks that are a wee-bit smaller. Recipes are also saved for you to use later.
Reports about the dieting aspect show the meal plan is actually pretty good. It doesn’t seem too restrictive, but it certainly helps people reach their goals. The tailored meal plan makes it easy while also teaching you about healthier food options, how to combat sugar cravings, and more.
Who is Body Coach Good for?
There’s no doubt that this plan works. All the workouts are good enough, the meal plan will help you lose a few pounds, and the app is easy to use.
However, there are some people who will excel with this app more than others, including:
- Beginners, who might be a bit scared to go to a real gym. Training at home and training with a coach makes it a lot easier on your mentality and easier to learn.
- Women have reported finding the app really helpful, far more than males it would appear. Joe isn’t your typical male health influencer and might seem more approachable than others.
- People on the go will also be able to benefit from the training methods used. You don’t need to go to a real gym to do the workouts, and with unlimited access to so many, you have something for each of the fitness levels.
Who is the Body Coach Not for?
Serious people. I don’t mean to step on toes, but if you’re at the most advanced level of training or you wish to get there ASAP, then you shouldn’t be bothering with this app. I don’t think you should be bothering with any app.
If you’d like to get in the best shape you’ve ever been, this app might work. But if you want the best body you’ll ever have, then there are far better coaches and methods for helping you get there.
How Much Does the Body Coach Cost?
The Body Coach app works on a monthly sub-system. That said, they do run specials that make it cheaper if you buy more at once. There’s a monthly subscription of £14.99 per month and a special offer: (yearly subscription) for £5.00 per month — or you can pay £59.99 for 12 months.
The Body Coach FAQs
Is The Body Coach App Free?
No. The Body Coach app is free to download from your respective store. However, it works on a subscription service, and payment is £14.99 per month as of May 2023. They do run frequent specials that you can also make use of, though!
How Does The Body Coach Work?
The system works on a cycle basis. You’ll spend one cycle (or four weeks) on certain training and nutrition plans. Once those four weeks have been completed, your nutrition and training will be updated with new workouts and meals for you to follow for another four weeks. This is a change from the normal 90-day plan that Joe is famous for.
Can You Drink on The Body Coach?
According to the app, yes, you can. However, you have to remember that alcohol still has calories in it and also impairs fat loss as well as muscle growth. Thus, while it is okay, it’s advised that you limit the number of drinks and the type of drinks you consume to hopefully lessen the blow to the body.
The Body Coach App Alternatives
Body Fit by Bodybuilding.com
Body Fit is an app that gives you access to several different training plans, each with its own videos, nutrition approach, and workouts. This not only beats Body Coach, but it beats it substantially.
It’s not that much more expensive, and when you compare all the benefits of being able to learn from 30+ coaches vs. 1 coach, it’s a no-brainer. Body Fit also has a few workouts for those that are far past the beginner or intermediate stages.
SWEAT
SWEAT was created by women, for women. The training plans created all revolve around what a woman in today’s age might need, such as workouts designed for pregnant women, busy women, etc.
Now, this does narrow down who can use the app substantially, but that’s what people want these days. So, unless you aren’t a woman, SWEAT might be better… but only marginally so.
The Movement Athlete
The Movement Athlete is another high-niche app that was specifically designed for bodyweight workout folks. There’s minimal use of weights and even less mention of nutrition.
If you’re someone who wants to see what the human body can do, go for it. If you just wanna be healthy and happy, then Body Coach is far better.
The Body Coach App Reviews
Let’s look at reviews we found online from some Reddit users:
“I’ve been following the app for over a year and a half now and I can’t imagine life without it if I’m completely honest ☺️”
“I did end up buying the app, unfortunately, I found it way too intense and unsustainable for the long term :/”
Overall, most of the reviews are pretty darn good. The only negative feedback is that it seems to be too intense for some people. The combination of HIIT and strength workouts seems to be too much for those who are severely overweight.
4 Body Coach App Pros
- Easy to use because of its excellent UX and UI. Some apps are far too complicated to use due to information overload, but Joe hit the sweet spot.
- Updates regularly, which means every four weeks, you’ll get a different general meal plan as well as new workouts. This keeps things interesting for those who get bored easily.
- Joe Wicks’s enthusiasm is shown throughout the plan. The normal workouts and the live workouts are all energetic and don’t seem too monotonous.
- The meal plans are easy to follow, meaning they aren’t too intense, either. You’ll get a refuel meal every now and then but also diet enough to allow for sufficient weight loss.
1 Body Coach App Con
- Itself. The app was designed for a certain group of individuals—- those that want some success but not the most success. And that’s okay! If you want the kind of program that’ll get you healthier without destroying you or taking over your life, then go ahead. If, however, you want the best results, the best gains, and want the best shape you’ll ever achieve, this app is not for you. There are better means of achieving that goal.
Final Thoughts
Joe Wicks’ Body Coach app is actually really good for what it is. Not all of us want this hardcore training plan that doesn’t have cool-downs or an off switch. This hits a happy medium of helping you achieve your goals while also being approachable.
That said, if you’re severely overweight, then even this app might be a bit too intense. Overall, it’s a great app and one you won’t be mad about trying.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5
