I have completed Phase 1 of Jamie Eason’s LiveFit 12-Week Trainer from BodyBuilding.com. I can’t believe how quickly this first month has flown by. I feel stronger, more energetic, and ready to KILL Phase 2! Since Phase 1 is complete, I thought it would be a good time to re-cap what I’ve learned about the program so far.
Jamie Eason Livefit Trainer Phase 1 Review – Workout
The workouts for phase 1 of the LiveFit Trainer program can really be broken down into 2 segments, Weeks 1-2 and Weeks 3-4. Weeks 1-2 really focuses on getting you used to going to the gym and lifting weights. It requires you to workout 4 days per week and allows you to rest for the last 3 days of the week. I started each week on a Monday and used Friday through Sunday as my rest days. The goal for each exercise was to do around 12 reps, with the last rep being difficult but not impossible to complete. Although this is not my first time in the gym, some of these exercises were new to me. I found that during this portion of Phase 1, especially during the first week, I was discovering for the first time what weight was ideal for me to burn out at 12 reps for the exercises. By Week 2 I had it pretty much figured out, and by Week 3 I had a good grasp on what I should be lifting.
For Weeks 3 and 4, some new exercises were added in, and rep range decreased to around 10. An extra workout day was also added in, and Jamie’s suggestion was to work out the body part you feel is your weakest. I decided to work out my legs, since this is such a large organ, and nothing is sexier than having nice legs! I tried to really push myself during these 2 weeks, and had some days where I may have gone too heavy and burned out at 8 reps for some sets. I don’t feel bad about this, as I would rather push too hard than not hard enough!
Pros:
I feel that the workouts were a good starting point for someone that is new at the gym, or for anyone trying to build a good routing and good gym habits. I learned a ton about where my strengths and weaknesses are with the different exercises. I feel like going to the gym has become more routine than ever before because of this program. It’s nice to not have to think about what I’m going to do, because this program has a plan already in place for you.
Cons:
There are a couple of cons I found with Phase 1 of this program. Like with any lifting program you find online, your gym may not have all of the equipment needed for the exercises. I found this to be true with just a few of these exercises, and had to improvise by replacing some of them. I also felt that there were too many machine exercises in this program. I prefer compound movements and using dumbbells whenever possible.
Jamie Eason Livefit Trainer Phase 1 Review – Diet
You definitely will not starve during Phase 1 of the LiveFit Trainer program! Phase 1 has you eating 5-6 times per day, and by eating I mean eating MEALS, not snacks! Luckily, this girl loves to eat, so I didn’t have many complaints. Reading through the message boards on BodyBuilding.com, I did notice quite a few people saying they were having a hard time consuming this much food. I’m kind of ashamed to say I didn’t really have this problem, and actually enjoyed being able to eat this much during the day! If you are not used to eating a lot, this may be a little difficult to adjust to. Just stick to the plan, you really do need this much food to ensure that you body has enough nutrients to accommodate these workouts!
Most meals for Phase 1 consisted of 1 starch, 1 protein, and unlimited vegetables. I spaced mine out to where I ate every 2-3 hours. I had one meal in the morning, 3 during work, and then would hit the gym right after work at around 5:30. I used my protein shake for my 5th meal, which I drank immediately after working out. My 6th meal was always consumed sometime in the evening when I got home.
Pros:
I have yet to feel hungry on this program. This is a big plus, because eating this often has really curved any cravings that I have for bad foods. I love that I am eating clean every day, and getting adequate nutrition to meet my body’s needs to be healthy and lift heavy.
Cons:
It can be very difficult to find time to make so much food. My strategy has been to use Sunday as a meal prep day, and I have tried to keep it simple. I also came up with a few items to keep in my fridge at all times, in case I don’t have much time to cook. See my review of Week 1 and 2 for tips on convenience food items to buy for Phase 1. The only other con was that buying this much food can be expensive, especially here in Honolulu where groceries are three times the price that they are on the mainland!
Jamie Eason Livefit Trainer Phase 1 Review – Results
I feel like my progress is slow but steady for Phase 1. If you are thinking about taking on this program, don’t be surprised if you gain weight in this phase! I read through a lot of comments on the LiveFit Forum at BodyBuilding.com, and a lot of people gained weight during Phase 1. My weight constantly fluctuated throughout this phase, with my lowest weight being at 124.6 and my highest being 127.4. I ended Phase 1 at 125.8. During Phase 1 you are predominantly putting on muscle, which is why a lot of people gain weight. Just remember the number on the scale doesn’t matter, it is not a great indicator of how you will actually look. The best way to see what results you are getting is to constantly take progress photos of yourself.
You may not be able to tell much because of the poor photo quality, but in person I definitely see more muscle tone and definition and have gotten comments from people at the gym that my arms are looking more toned. I’m not anywhere near where I want to be, but there is undoubtedly progress from where I started. I also have been tracking all of my workouts and see that I am getting stronger and am able to lift a little more weight each week.
Another change is my confidence level when going to the gym. I always struggle with my shyness and feel a little insecure working out where there are so many people. As I’ve gone through Phase 1 and have been going to the gym more consistently and with a plan, I feel myself getting more and more comfortable and focused on the workout, and less worried about what people around me are thinking. This is, perhaps, the biggest gain of all from Phase 1!
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