***UPDATE 3/12/15: SADLY, LES MILLS PUMP HAS BEEN RETIRED & IS SOLD OUT***
Les Mills Pump is awesome. After 90 days and completing the entire program, I am certain. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had working out at home. Right now I’m in a transition week getting ready to start something new on Monday and I’m feeling so lost! Les Mills Pump is a workout I will definitely be coming back to. Since the Pump workouts are only 3x per week, it’s super easy to do a hybrid with other programs – especially cardio-based programs.
(I’ve included a video + written review)
Les Mills Pump 90-Day Journey
The Results
Total weight loss: 7.8 pounds!
I did NOT go into Les Mills Pump with the goal of losing much weight. I wanted to lean out and build muscle.
Total inches lost: +.25
You’re probably thinking, well whoop-dee-dooooo, right? No inches lost? How can that be? Truth is, after losing a few pounds of fat I am more defined now than I ever have been even though I didn’t “lose” any inches. All of my measurements changed and pretty much just got redistributed. My waist stayed the same (though around my belly button shrunk by an inch), I lost over an inch in my upper chest, .5 to 1 inch off of each arm and I added 1.5 inches around my hip/thigh area. You can bet that’s from all the lunges and squats! My legs build up very quickly and easily. Still though, they feel more solid which is awesome.
Total body fat % loss: 2.1%
I measured my body fat percentage with my EatSmart Precision GetFit Digital Body Fat Scale. Love this thing. I haven’t had a professional body fat testing done but I simply measured at the same time of day using the same tool so that’s accurate enough for me!
What Contributed to My Results
- Eating clean 80% of the time. I did NOT follow the Nutrition Guide. It’s a great resource for recipes and things but I just figure that I want my results to LAST. I don’t want to follow a meal plan 100% and get results because I know personally that I will never follow any meal plan 100% forever. I did eat a lot of veggies, yogurt, baked meats, lean beef (sloppy joes, spaghetti, hamburgers), tuna and even some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
- Eating 5-6 meals throughout the day. I figured out how many calories I should be eating and simply divided it by 5 or 6. Simple! You don’t have to really “count calories” if you’re eating healthy foods. The reason? The stuff that’s really good for you isn’t calorie-packed so you can eat a lot of food.
- Combining protein, carbs and fats with each meal. For fats, I added things like flaxseed, nuts or almonds to my meals. I also take a fish oil supplement – on the days I remember. :)
- Adding in HIIT. Cardio exercise for Pump is walking 40-60 minutes. I can’t do that. The Deluxe version of Pump does come with cardio workouts and a step – highly recommend the upgrade. I upped the intensity and shortened the workout time with HIIT workouts. This included treadmill sprint/walk intervals, TurboFire’s Greatest HIITs and Insanity Fast & Furious. To be honest, I didn’t do much cardio at all during the first 2 months (not purposely, just something I struggle with). I added HIIT 1-2 times per week during the last few weeks.
The Photos
I did not take “before” photos. I was terrified of getting into a swimsuit and I’m kicking myself now for not doing it. I did take a couple of pics along the way and I also took “after” photos. I never thought a bikini could have such a hold on me. I had a number of physical reactions when it came time to take pics. My heart rate went up, I started to sweat, I was genuinely completely uncomfortable with the idea of putting a bikini on and taking pics in it. I don’t even wear bikinis around my yard. I just started feeling comfortable in shorts 2 summers ago. It was so traumatic. Isn’t that ridiculous??
I’ve had 2 babies via c-section and we have 4 kids all together – there should be none of that traumatic-ness!! …I’m a work in progress. I have an entirely new admiration for all those “before/after” pics you see from people who have lost weight or simply improved their physical condition. Seriously, it takes A LOT of courage to slip into almost nothing and snap photos for the world to see. If you’ve done that, or have even taken progress photos for yourself, YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!
- 6 Weeks into Les Mills Pump:
*Couldn’t see those lower abs before I started! Still work to do there but I can see um!
- 9 Weeks into Les Mills Pump:
Les Mills Pump Results After All 90 Days:
ALL DONE!!! =)
Overall
I had so much fun with this program – it’s well worth the $$$ in my opinion. It’s introduced me to a whole different kind of workout which is apparently what my body needed. I had completed the first 2 phases of LiveFit trainer just prior to this and didn’t have these results. I attribute that to have been pretty much doing the same type of lifting workouts for the past 3.5 years and just being burnt out.
LIVEFIT TRAINER IS A GREAT PROGRAM. I am not denying that fact. For me personally, I needed something different at the time and so thankful Les Mills Pump came along. The timing was PERFECT. When it comes down to it, DO WHAT YOU ENJOY SO THE WORKOUTS GET DONE!
If you’re interested in Bodypump workouts you’ve got to check out Les Mills On Demand! They have all kinds of fun workout programs to try!
Thanks so much for reading!
xo Mindi
Tiffany says
Great job! I may have to try this when I get some extra money!
jessie says
Great job and congrats. I love the beach body products and I recently used the Insanity program to lose 45 pounds. Check out my site for the pics. I was so impressed by the results that I wanted to show everyone how awesome the products are. Keep up the great work.
Amy says
Dang, girl, looking good! I may just have to keep that program in mind for later down the road. I just started Body-for-Life a few weeks ago and so far, I haven’t seen a ton of changes, but i’m workin’ and hopin’! I took before pictures in my bikini and was absolutely horrified, so there is no way I will be posting those until I get a body like yours ;)
Melinda F says
Thanks so much Tiffany! Worth every penny. :)
Melinda F says
Thanks Amy! I was completely uncomfortable taking those photos. I’m glad I took em and am super proud but I feel naked. Lol! You can see so much more in photos than just by looking in the mirror but I still hate taking pics. Good luck with Body for Life!
Melinda F says
:) I didn’t have any other option when I first started and I’ve fallen in love with it, so I’m stickin’ to it.
chris s says
I want those arms! Very impressive results, congrats!
Mandy L. says
I just found your blog today and enjoy seeing your transformation with Les Mills Pump. I see that you are starting ChaLean Extreme next…have you started it yet? I started ChaLean on April 1st so I am not quite done yet with the burn phase. I unfortunally did not take my measurements on the first day but I am going to take them on the 30th day to compare with the 60 and 90 days. I did take before photos so I am very excited to compare in the end! This is my first time with strength training or training at all, so it is all new to me but I have to say that I LOVE strength vs. cardio. Your an inspiration seeing you work out with your kids either working with you or running around (I have only one child who is three)!! Thank you for the blog! I am thinking of having you as my trainer…how would I go about doing that?
Melinda F says
Thank you Mandy! I’m emailing you. :)
Melinda F says
Thanks Chris!!
Lula says
I love your blog! I will be following it. You just started chalean extreme and that was next on my to do list after I complete les mills pump. I hope to see great results too!
Melinda F says
Thank you Lula! :)
Jill says
I am really interested in ordering the LMP and am very inspired by your website. What is the difference of ordering the program from you verse Beachbody website. Thanks!!!
Melinda F says
Hey Jill!
The main differences are that Beachbody.com has more expensive shipping and if you purchase from the BB site you’ll get a coach assigned to you at random, instead of ordering through one that you choose. :) Coaches also get a commission from their sales but are there to support you as long as you need/want it. Hope that helps!
Paula says
Hi Mindy,
Found your site searching the internet for reviews of Les Mills Pump. I started it this week and am really encouraged by your results. Your results look amazing!! Did you have much muscle definition before you started or do you think some/most of it came from doing the workout for the 90 days?
I have been an avid workout fiend for 18 years but have never been able to get the kind of muscle definition I’m dying to have. For alot of years, I was the cardio queen, but have mixed in alot of weight training over the last few years. I still haven’t been able to achieve the muscle definition I would like, but I’m really hoping if I stay committed to the program for the 90 days, I wll get the results I’m looking for.
You look fabulous!!
Melinda F says
Hey Paula!
Thank you! :)
We already talked in the group but I’m happy to see your comment here too. I did have some muscle definition beforehand but LMP brought it out even more – especially in my arms and legs. It’s the most fun I’ve had doing a home workout – I hope you enjoy it!
CM says
Hi Mindy, I’m seriously thinking about buying les mills, but I’m still kind of hooked on free yourtube exercises such as Zuzana Light, and another site lovingfit.com. They’re free so what can I say :) I’m not looking for wieht loss, just fat loss(tighten up, tone up) you say your legs got bigger… well I wouldnt mind losing an inch or so on my legs so I dont know if this is for me. Did it really firm up your butt and legs and arms? I have TF but I dont do it regularly, it made me get really slim but no muscle tone. I could ad the HIIT workouts on the walk days.
Melinda F says
Les Mill Pump definitely firmed me up. I didn’t think it would but I was pleasantly surprised! And yeah, free workouts are always a good thing. I love LMP because it has a serious “fun factor” for me. Lifting to music is something I’ve always done but it’s so fun when the tempo matches the movement. Adding in HIIT is definitely what I would do – that’s what I did for the last 4 weeks of it. I should’ve done it throughout but…I struggle with cardio sometimes, even HIIT. :)
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