A while back, I posted about my first impressions of The Body Coach’s 90 Day SSS Plan after I had received Cycle One, part one of the three month plan. A lot of you were intrigued to see how I’d get on, were contemplating signing up to the plan yourselves and were wondering if the incredible transformations he posts were too good to be true. I agreed to blog about my progress and be a ‘guinea pig’ of sorts for you all to see if the plan is worth signing up to and whether my transformation would be just as impressive as everyone else’s. I started Cycle One in September which means I should have completed Cycle Three in December, ready to rock my Christmas Party Dresses with a honed and sculpted bod. Did I complete the plan? In a word, no. Let me explain…
Why I didn’t complete The Body Coach’s 90 Day SSS Plan
To put it simply, I struggled with the meals provided in the plan. Exercise wise, Cycle One is based on HIIT cardio only, no strength training, nor Low Intensity Steady Sate cardio. This I struggled with at first because I am not a cardio bunny, I much prefer lifting weights but I adapted. Food wise, Cycle One focuses on low carb meals with one higher carb meal directly after your workout. I have done low carb before so I knew I could do it again, it was the meals themselves that I struggled with. The low carb options included muscle mince, which is mince fried in coconut oil and seasoning, topped off with a fried egg and a side of broccoli or some other steamed greens. Another meal was chicken cashew curry, again served with a side of steamed greens. It was purely a mental barrier for me; the food tasted all well and good, but the pairings didn’t make sense to me. A bowl of curry shouldn’t be served with a side plate of broccoli, I can eat grilled chicken breast or salmon with broccoli but if I was going to have a curry I’d want to pair it with brown rice. I couldn’t get past this mental barrier and I stopped looking forward to meal times which was a huge deal for me.
I contemplated eating my own low carb meals as long as I stuck within the guidelines of the plan, but that felt like cheating. I already knew how to do HIIT cardio and eat low carb, I bought The Body Coach’s plan because I wanted his guidance and it didn’t feel like I was following it 100% if I didn’t eat his meals. I reached out to Joe and he was ever so helpful, yet I still struggled. I contemplated having my higher carb meal at lunch as that was when I was hungriest and I preferred the higher carb meal options, but technically, as I workout after work my higher carb meal should be my dinner. I just couldn’t seem to make the meals work for me and then my workouts started to suffer. All in all, I only managed to spend a week completely on plan. The rest of the month I was on and off, trying to find how to make it work for me.
Related: How to Pick a Workout Plan that’s Perfect for You
I realise these are excuses and if you really want something you go after it and make it work for you. I don’t really know why but I just couldn’t seem to stick to it. Cycle One wasn’t for me. I believe I would have done better on Cycle Two as that is when The Body Coach introduces strength training and you get to eat more higher carb meals, including some of the #leanin15 meals he posts on his Instagram and always look delicious. I do believe the plan will work and I believe the transformations Joe posts are real as low carb meals and regular HIIT workouts will get you results. Joe is responsive, supportive and helpful and I’m sorry it didn’t work out for me. I might return to it one day, but for now I’ve found a new plan and I’m already on week six, pretty good going for me given my track record!
My plan now: Train Eat Gain
I found out about Train Eat Gain on Twitter, the trainers Rob and Ben have created tailored fitness and nutrition plans. Like The Body Coach they offer support via social media and email and there is a community of others who are all following the Train Eat Gain plans and supporting each other. Before receiving the plan I had to fill in details about myself, including selecting my body type – I am an Endomorph. This weekend I found my stats from this time last year and compared them to my stats now. Over the past year I have gained 14.2lb (1 stone) of muscle but only lost 0.8lbs of fat, meaning I’m 13lbs heavier now than I was last year. This is all whilst trying to lose weight! I’ve accidentally gained muscle and not shifted the fat. I read into what it means to be an endomorph and I finally understand where I’ve been going wrong. As an endomorph I store fat and put on muscle easily, it seems I gain weight just by looking at a cake and it is difficult to lose fat. Endomorphs have some degree of sensitivity to carbs and insulin, meaning I need to watch my carb intake and a mix of cardio and weights is the best type of exercise. All this time I’ve been focusing on weight training as that is what I enjoy the most but I need to up my cardio. Train Eat Gain’s plan already has me on a higher fat, lower carb macronutrient split, but I am now going to eat carbs for lunch only (sounds like The Body Coach’s plan, right? Except I can make my own lower carb meals that I’ll actually enjoy eating, as long as it fits my macros).
I’m using my FREE Weekly Meal & Workout Planner to stay on track with my food and workouts. Both The Body Coach & Train Eat Gain give you meals but not a structured meal plan so having this planner is so helpful.
I feel good finally understanding what I need to do for my body type. This, along with cutting out the foods I may be intolerant to should lead me to finally being able to shift the fat and show off all this muscle I seem to be building. Both The Body Coach’s 90 day plan and Train Eat Gain’s plans are available to purchase if you choose to. I can’t really say which plan I prefer, I really like Joe Wicks but not his plan – Train Eat Gain’s plan definitely seems to be a much better fit for me!
Thank you for this post, Cantara – I completed cycle 1 of the Body Coach and couldn’t agree more with your experiences! I’d been telling people that I couldn’t continue with the plan because it was too much like “boy food”, but you’ve broken that sentiment down and articulated it much better! :)
I wasn’t the biggest fans of the meals in cycle 1, but I found it okay to stick to. It was actually when it got to the “mix and match” part of cycle 2 that I struggled, because all the options given to satisfy different components of the meal didn’t make sense to me. I’d end up with a mismatch of food on my plate that just didn’t satisfy me beyond stopping physical hunger. The plan has such a strong focus on eating to fuel your workouts and it might have been doing my body good, but it was doing nothing for me mentally. Eating meals became like a chore which, for me, is unheard of! I personally think that to life a balanced, healthy lifestyle that’s right for me, I need to enjoy food – preparing and eating it. I also didn’t personally feel comfortable excluding so many other nutritious fruits and vegetables from my diet because of having such a heavy focus on the same few green vegetables.
I’ve learned a lot from the plan and have definitely made changes as a result of it. I’ve upped my protein and fats and I’m more conscious of what carbs I’m eating and when. I am now all over HIIT, too! I lost body fat and thanks to the lessions I’ve learned I’m still losing body fat off the plan, so I’m glad I signed up for it even though I haven’t seen it through in its entirety. Like you, I could have continued with the plan if I’d wanted it enough – but it just wasn’t right for me. Seeing the transformation photos, I still believe it can be right for loads of other people, but seeing your blog post has made me feel much better about my decision to step away from it.
I love your honesty in this blog, and your posts really get me thinking. Thank you!
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I’m so glad I’m not the only one!! Haha I completely understand what you mean by “boy food”, the mismatch of foods on my plate was such a struggle for me too! And yes, it stopped my physical hunger, but mentally it wasn’t satisfying so I was constantly thinking about food. Thank you so much for commenting and letting me know it’s not just me who felt like this!
I think eating clean would be better for you as it is far less restrictive and there are sooo many delicious meals you can have that make sense physically and mentally. Have a google for Clean Eating Blogs as there are too many for me to list here. I hope this helps. Thank you so much for your kind words! :) x
PS – sorry for the essay..!
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Haha – essays are welcome! :)
Great post!
I completed the full plan in December but stuck to it about 80% as I think it’s too restrictive to stick to 100%. I enjoyed it and learnt a huge amount but it’s not massively sustainable.
I wasn’t big before I started it but wanted to tighten up and just didn’t know if I was eating the right things. I’ve taken a lot of principles from the plan where I’m conscious of when I’m eating carbs as I’ve always been a carb-monster. I now prep my weeks lunches at the weekend so I have proper meals rather than a sandwich which lead to snacking.
The plan definitely works and my weight and stats have pretty much stayed the same since I finished (lost 8 inches all over and 9lbs). It is expensive though and made me wonder if there’s other cheaper and similar plans around.
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That’s a great result – well done Laura! I agree it is very restrictive and not really sustainable, but there are definitely things you can learn from the plan to continue with, just as you have done. Well done for maintaining your results. I’m really pleased for you Laura :) x
Great post. It is so important to find what works for you. I’m half way through cycle 3 of 90 DaySSS Plan. Cycle 1 took some getting used to with the meals – especially the amount of eggs as I don’t usually eat as many. Though I did love the Peanut Butter Chicken and the Build Up Bagel. HIIT was good but I really missed my weights!
C2 I found hard for meals as I had to be more creative to ensure that the meals were suited to my tastes and therefore I actually wanted to eat them. Thankfully I could reduce the egg intake too! I have been finding it better with the weights added in to C2 and C3. The combined weights and cardio has always worked better for me (as a true endomorph). Christmas added additional challenge so I extended C2 with a combination of C1 and C2 principles as I was away for 3 weeks with no gym and all the temptations of home (Australia). So C3 has been a struggle to maintain the motivation, but the meals are delicious (and more reasonable portion sizes) and the training is hard but rewarding.
I’ve been seeing a lot about the Cutting Challenge and would be great to hear how you find it as it progresses.
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Oh wow, you must be finished by now then – how did it go? Were you happy with your results and the plan in general? The Peanut Butter Chicken was tasty and I missed weights too. Sounds like you did the right thing with extending C2 when you got back from Australia. Looking forward to hearing how you got on! What is your plan for now, will you follow the principles, repeat the plan, do your own thing? x
Can you share the 90 day SSS plan you were given? No point us all paying for a new one right? Would be very grateful!! Thanks.
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I’m afraid I can’t do that. The 90 Day SSS Plan is sold by The Body Coach, if one person bought it and then shared it with everyone for free it would put The Body Coach out of business!! Plus, the plan is tailored to me so it might not be suitable for others. There are plenty of free plans online so I’m sure you’ll be able to find one you’ll like but The 90 Day SSS Plan is a paid plan.
Hey, I signed up for the plan around the same time as you. I only managed it for about 2 weeks, which really disappointed me. Ive always thought id get going again but I have never managed it… The workouts were fine, I dont mine cardio, but I had been doing strength training previously and missed it (or got lazy and didnt want that feeling of being so out of breath/dying, and used “i lift weights now” as an excuse). I really struggled with the food. I live with my fiancee and we both like to eat healthy but theres no way i can cook 2 separate meals every day, or serve him the same food every day. He also pretty much shot down my sudden uptake of meat and eggs (2-3 x a day) and said it wasn’t healthy and that I would make myself ill. (He is mediterranean and they only eat meat once or twice a week, with protein from fish and legumes and eggs as well). He was right and mid week 2 my digestion was pretty much stopped. Took about 3 weeks to get back to normal. Im now trying to “eat healthy, low carb” and combine weights and cardio. mixed results. but ill keep going…
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Hi Katie, I can relate to this soooo much! I too didn’t mind the cardio but had also been strength training previously and missed weights. Running is just not my thing, although I was willing to do it for the plan. The food was a big issue for me and was why I couldn’t get started. I personally eat meat a lot; up to twice a day most days so that wasn’t an issue for me, but I can see why it would affect your digestion if that is not what you’re used to. I’m also going down the healthy low carb route with weights and cardio because previously I was high carb and no cardio! It meant I’ve put on muscle mass which is great, but now I want to strip the fat. I wish you the best of luck! Keep me updated with how you get on. Hopefully we’ll both find a way of eating and working out that works out for both of us xx
Hey… After looking at his Instagram I was thinking of joining the 90 day sss club. I love protein so think I could survive cycle 1 lol. However, is it true you only have to do one 25 min HIIT session a day with no weight training at all??? Surely that’s not enough?x
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Hi Tayo. Yes, you ONLY do HIIT workouts for Cycle 1 which is one month. But in Cycle 2 he introduces weight training and in Cycle 3 the weight training increases. HIIT training is great for fat burning, it is a really good workout. Let me know if you do decide to join the plan. I hope you cope better than I did! x
I am doing the 90 day sss plan and I have only one week left of cycle. I really stuck to it but unfortunately it has not worked out for me the way I was expecting.
I have gained muscles on my upper body, which I did not want to and, it did nothing for my lower body. I have gained inches all over and although I know it is not important, weight too. I wonder if it is related to my body type now?I will be checking out the TrainEatGain’s 6 , let us know if it works for you!
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Oooh that’s an interesting result, especially as the transformations that Joe posts show people really trimming down and bulking up. Did you lose any weight in Cycle One when you were doing just HIIT cardio? I really like how tailored TrainEatGain’s plan is – you eat according to your body type and calorific needs. Maybe this will work better for you? x
Loving your Blog Cantara!
I followed The Body coach on Instagram for a little while and while trying to decide if it was the right thing for me, I stumbled across your blog… Since reading this and the previous article a couple of weeks ago I’ve been following both him and the Train Eat Gain guys and think I am starting to veer more towards the latter.
I’m really interested to find out how you got on with the TEG plan, are you still on it? Or did that one run it’s course too? How did you find it?
I desperately want something to help me get my arse in gear and get over my body worries, it’s just hard to part with the cash when you feel like you should already know the right thing, you know?
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Hiya Kylie, welcome! At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I didn’t complete TrainEatGain’s plan either, BUT I stuck to it for 2.5 months and stopped because I moved house, changed job and went on holiday for 3 weeks. I stopped because of circumstances, not because of the plan. Compare that to The BodyCoach’s plan which I could only stick to for 1 week. The TEG plan was a lot more tailored, I was allowed to make my own meals so I could pick delicious, nutritious meals as long as it fit my macros. It is more effort to log all of your food in MyFitnessPal, but I had a great satisfaction whenever I hit my macros. I enjoyed the workouts too. I made some good progress too, for example, in one week I lost 4.1lbs of fat and gained 1.1lbs of muscle, meaning my weight went down 3lbs down that week. The TEG plan was definitely a better fit for me. My boyfriend has been doing the plan and has managed to stick to it, he has one month left and he’s made fantastic progress! I highly recommend it and hope to get back to the plan once I’m settled into my new job & home. I hope this has helped Kylie x
I’ve just found your blog whilst looking for reviews on the 90 day SSS plan, and i’m REALLY glad i found it! I’ve been sampling the trial version of TEG Bikini plan for the last few weeks but then came across The Body Coach and haven’t been sure which plan to sign up for. Like you, i’m an endomorph and prefer strength training to cardio, so i’m going to sign up for the TEG Bikini plan. Wish me luck!
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Aww I’m glad you’ve found my blog too! I wish you the BEST of luck! I’ve fallen off plan because I moved house, left the gym, got a new job and went on a 3 week holiday! I’m going to start again in July. Let me know how you get on, I’d love to track your progress xx
thank you for the post, its nice to know i am not the only one who is struggling with the meals. i signed up for bodycoach and i was ok the first few days and then i found i was getting headaches was still really hungry, the meals aren’t enough and some are giving me tummy aches and making me feel ill and bloated :-( after 10 days i feel like i want to give up but at the same time i want to find a way to complete the days so i can get to cycle 2. it is frustrating and feels like i have wasted my money :-( not a happy customer.
Hi there – I’m really shocked that people are hungry on these plans! I was eating LOADS throughout cycle 1 and did really well. My snacks were protein shakes from Discount Supplements and Cycle 2 has you eating 3 carb rich meals on ur workout days. Sitting here reading this with a big bowl of pasta! The curry is delish on cycle 1 and when served with a big dollop of yoghurt and kale it’s beautiful! I think ultimately it comes down to mind over matter. I appreciate people have their ideas about what they think goes with what but if you want to shift the fat, who cares if your curry doesn’t look right with broccoli? Honestly, stick to plan and it will work for you. The build up bagel is great and try to do all your exercise first thing! Good luck and keep going!
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Hi Hannah, what works for one person doesn’t mean it will work for another. Not everyone can eat for fuel. Weight loss is definitely mind over matter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your meals anymore. I’m glad the plan has worked for you, good luck with it all x
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Hi Aneeka, I’m so sorry I missed your comment on here. The one good thing about The Body Coach is that he gives ample portions, I often found I couldn’t finish the meals. Are you sure you measured and weighed the food to the amounts he specified? The first recipe I made I didn’t measure it and when I actually checked the amounts he’d given, I hadn’t made enough! You definitely shouldn’t go hungry on this plan. The Body Coach promotes eating more of the right foods and not starving to lose weight x
Yep. Getting headaches also, and only been doing this for one week. Pathetic I know. I will continue but I dont fancy putting on weight. I have also had tummy aches (last night). I am disappointed with the instruction on my so called personal plan, the recipes are time consuming and sometimes not clear. But, I cannot carry on being overweight.
Hallelujah! I found the body coach bloody awful and absolutely fuming that I can’t get my money back. Do this plan if you hate carbs, enjoy eating meaty breakfasts and don’t get bored to death of Hiit training everyday- not to mention his squeaky voices exercise videos which get very tedious! I’ve found much better results just going back to basics – taking treats in moderation, enjoying daily exercise with running and yoga and ensuring that I have a big portion of veg with everything I eat. All these plans are unsustainable gimmicks and I’d be amazed to see if anyone is still in the same shape a year later. Do what feels good
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Haha Kirsty, your comment made me chuckle. I actually really like The Body Coach, but I agree with you on the hating carbs and meaty breakfasts bit. I’m glad you’ve found what works for you, good luck! x
I agree! I think there should be a refund option or half the money back option. Many businesses are so confident you’ll like the product they’ll offer a refund if you don’t. I asked for a refund as I actually found the weighing of food quite mentally disturbing. I have only just got over the fear of bananas being too ‘carby’ almost a year later! I asked for a refund on there grounds but wasn’t granted one.
Agreed Sophie! What normal fun person weighs their food?! I actually read a really good article a while ago by a PT who was slating “nutritional experts” who were encouraging normies to eat chicken and broccoli everyday and weigh everything they ate. He said that unless you’re training for a competition, this way of living is completely unsustainable and can cause health issues due to malnutrition! Wish I remembered who wrote it – everyone should read it!
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I agree with the PT that severely limited allowed foods, like chicken, white fish, broccoli etc, is only good for competitors and not for us regular folk! Instead we should focus on filling our plates with colourful vegetables, complex carbs, good quality proteins and enjoying our food. Everything in moderation! Personally I do sometimes weigh my food as I grew up with larger portion sizes, so I’ve had to teach myself what a healthy portion is and weigh my food every now and then to keep my portion sizes in check x
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Oh Sophia, I’m sorry this plan wasn’t great for you and they wouldn’t give you a refund. Being too strict can be harmful to some people and I’m glad you’ve realised weighing food just isn’t for you. Please don’t ever do something that you don’t feel is right for you if it triggers you to feel negativity towards certain foods. I hope you’ll find what works for you x
I think the thing with this plan is that it challenges our beliefs about food and exercise. You don’t have to eat grains for breakfast. You don’t have to slave away for hours in the gym. You should eat fats (the right kinds). And carbs aren’t the Devil! Just because food is fuel, doesn’t mean it also can’t be tasty. If you think you already know it all about diet and exercise, you won’t like this plan. But if you’re prepared to open your mind a little, you will see results. Things like headaches in the first few days are normal because you’re having sugar and caffeine withdrawal, but it passes if you stick to it. And how you do your HIIT is up to you. You don’t just have to just do Joe’s videos – there’s plenty of other videos to choose from. Or do treadmill sprints, skipping, boxing and rowing – all ways of doing your HIIT. There’s also a Facebook community of over 11,000 people on this plan who help and support each other and it’s invaluable. The majority of people on this plan struggle with some element of one of the cycles – be it the food or the exercise. But similarly, you’ll probably also find a cycle you totally love. Ultimately, this plan isn’t a diet. It’s an education that can give you the tools to lead a fit and healthy lifestyle long after the plan has ended. You just have to have willpower.
Hi there, great blog! I’m interested in doing the lean in 15 but like you I’m no cardio
bunny! Would it be possible if I could take a look at your sss plan to read through and see if it’s suited to me? I don’t want to pay all that money and it be worthless. Thanks. Steph
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Hi Steph! You don’t have to run to do the HIIT if you don’t want to as you can do bodyweight HIIT workouts, for example burpees, press ups etc. I can’t send you my plan as it’s copyrighted to The Body Coach but if I was you I would email their support team and see if they can give you a preview. Good luck!
Thank you :) – i’ll post back in here after the first month. wish me luck!
I paid for the body coach plan in October. What a waste of money. Cycle 1 I could do, cycle 2 and 3 i did bits of when i could because time wise the workouts took so long. The workouts in cycle 3 are weights focussed doing 100s of lunges, bicep curls whatever the body part focus for that day was. It was so boring and took more than an hour sometimes. With this plan you were supposed to get personalised support, your own “support hero”. I had 3 different people by the time i got to cycle 3! And they only contact you if you contact them, no emails saying hows it going? The final thing that annoys me is that Joe has basically given the plan away in book form. Book 1 is out (cycle 1), book 2 out in June (cycle 2) and i guess there will be a book 3 at some point. People who have followed book 1 have done just as well as people who brought a plan. My graduate report was a complete joke. Its supposed to give you a personalised training plan to carry on with. Mine just said be a hiit hero and heres your macros. They were the same for rest day as training day! The problem is Joe has lost sight or has left the plan side of the business for someone else to take care of. There is no consistency from the support hero’s ( i know this from a body coach facebook group i joined) and the whole plan set up needs to be looked at and improved. If you want to do this plan, just buy the books. I’m now doing Emily Skye FIT programme. I love this lady! Cannot recommend her workouts enough! Thanks for this blog, really interesting.
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Oh that’s so sad. I bought Joe’s plan back in 2014 and although I clearly didn’t get on with it, I did feel like the support and the care was there. Of course he was a lot smaller and lesser known in 2014 than he is now but his team should be well trained to give consistent support. I haven’t bought his books but I didn’t realise they were basically the different cycles – that’s so frustrating to those of us who have bought his plans for over £100! Good luck with Emily Skye xx
I am (still) on cycle one, having had several false starts (cycle one arrived 2 days before easter and 1 week before my birthday…poor timing on my part!) I am finding that I have had similar issues to Cantara, although I am 42 and possibly a bit more knackered?! I really couldn’t face dropping my strength work entirely as I was worried that would undo any of the work I’d already put it, I also haven’t entirely dropped my running, its more for my head than my waistline. I have created my own meals at times, guided by the balance of macronutrients in the recipes, mainly because I was slightly horrified at the amount of meat (expensive and for me, this just felt wrong / unhealthy). I think the recipes given provide ample portions (I am a big eater!). Overall, having reduced my carb intake considerably, exercising daily (a combination of mainly HIIT, then strength & trail running), I figure, there has to be a positive impact! I can honestly say that I look more toned from just a few weeks ago. I have dared to step on the sad step and there hasn’t really been a change but I know thats fairly irrelevant just yet. I feel stronger, fitter, better. I imagine that if you really stuck with it, results would show.
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Hey Lucy, that’s great that you’re seeing results, keep at it! There’s no harm in adapting the recipes to make it suit you. It’s more important that you’re able to stick to a healthy way of eating long term, rather than sticking 100% to the plan – does that make sense? Stay away from the scales because it can take time to see a difference on there and it can demotivate you. Keep going Lucy, you’re doing a far better job than I did! x
Thanks Cantara, I will let you know! x
I graduated from the 90 SSS plan in April, and I was very disappointed with my results, I only lost 1.5 pounds in total and like you put on loads of muscle.
Interestingly, once I graduated, Joe’s team sent me my recommended daily calorie intake which was 50% more than I have been told previously. This made me realise why I hadn’t lost the weight! Not impressed with this plan at all! The only upside was that I finally stuck to a diet for 3 months!!
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Well done for sticking to it for 3 months – that is not easy! But that sucks that you weren’t eating enough the whole time and are disappointed with your results. Putting on muscle isn’t a bad thing though, it will help to increase your metabolism and help your body to burn calories. So hopefully it’s built a good foundation for you. Good luck Lauren! x
I signed up for the plan in February after debating for quite some time, following him on Instagram and buying the first Lean in 15 book. I only just managed cycle 1, got the info for cycle 2 and gave up. The portion sizes were just too big from the word go. I am a vegetarian who doesn’t eat eggs, which I stated on my sign-up questionnaire. Unfortunately loads of the recipes came back containing eggs and they seem to be the main source of breakfast protein. The other thing I found is that they just seem to have substituted the meat for a Quorn equivalent. One recipe was for burgers. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to form Quorn mince into a burger but it really doesn’t work! The texture is completely different. Like for like doesn’t always work. I was exhausting myself trying to plan and think about food and got so bored of the HIIT exercises. I love Body Pump and was initially excited to see that you could use it as part of your workout in cycle 2. However, after speaking with my personal advisor (who I’d had very little contact with) she informed me that I shouldn’t do that? When I submitted my results from cycle 1, I didn’t offer any feedback, as I didn’t really have anything nice to say and I’d lost about 1lb. She asked me why I hadn’t written anything, so gave her some feedback. I basically said I didn’t eat eggs, the portion sizes were too big, the HIIT was boring and not varied enough and actually hurt my back. The response – just try and stick to what your plan says. Not helpful at all. My friend, also a vegetarian, signed up to the plan on the same day. It was identical to mine and we couldn’t have more different body shapes. You do not get a personalised service and it’s expensive. In my opinion, this plan is great for people who are already very much into fitness and just want to get really lean. It is not for people like me who are about 2-3 stone overweight (not obese) who really just want to lose some weight and don’t actually want a 6 pack.
Hello! I’m just about to start the SSS plan… At first glance I think my main worry will be making the effort to weigh everything, and then taking time to eat the mammoth meals! My bagel yesterday had 10 slices of meat in! I’m a bit confused by some of the comments around sticking to HIIT because there’s an option to stick to your own training plan, which I’m doing (i couldn’t give up my CrossFit/Oly lifting sessions – the thought of losing strength terrifies me!). So my macros have been worked out on that basis. Tough times ahead but I’m determined – willpower around crisps is not my strong point! x
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Hi Sam! Oooh best of luck with the SSS plan! I’d recommend meal prepping one or two nights a week, as weighing and preparing all your food for 2 hours once or twice is a lot easier than trying to do it every day. Invest in a set of electronic kitchen scales and some tupperware boxes – I’ve just found these containers from Amazon and I love them. When I bought the plan (back in 2014 now!) there was no option to do other workouts besides the HIIT so it’s good to hear they’re more flexible now. Good luck with it all xx
Interesting read. I have had the same experience… gained loads of muscle over the last year but have lost any fat (probably gained some fat too!). It’s a bit demoralising. I’m on week 2 of cycle 1 of the SSS plan. Can’t say I’m seeing results but I’m going to hang in there. I actually quite like the recipes and find them easily adaptable by adding my own herbs and spices. Some meals are more apt to leave me less satisfied than others.. yesterday I was riddled with hunger headaches. But today i’m fine and struggling to even eat the snacks. Actually the more active I am, the easier it is (I do CrossFit for my HIIT components and walk a lot during the day, encouraged by my trusty canine). My biggest challenge is booze. In the last 2 weeks I’ve probably had 5 beers (bloody weekends!) but this is actually an improvement from my prior ways so I’m trying (semi successfully) not to beat myself up about it. I second the advice about meal prep – it’s totally key. I set out my week’s meal plan on Sunday night and do my shopping on Monday. I’ve been stocking the freezer as I go.
Also, my “support hero” is kind of lame… I emailed with some of my concerns and the responses seem like they’ve been cut and pasted from a manual. Anything I can do about that one?!
And can someone please remind me to stop weighing myself every day? I’m think I’m using the wrong metric to measure progress! ;)
Alcohol my problem too. And its about my one big vice. Weekends pretty dull without it. Being good so far!
Check out ‘sessionplanjam’ on instagram Suzannah!
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Hi Monica, I’m sorry I didn’t see your comment sooner! How are you finding the plan now? Are you still doing it? Alcohol can be tough to cut out if you’re used to having it socially. Try swapping beers for lower calorie drinks like vodka, lime soda, then eventually cut down. Or try telling your friends you’re challenging yourself to cut out alcohol for 1 month and ask them to support you. Once you get to the one month tell them you’re going to see how long you can last for. If you don’t want them to know it’s because you’re trying to lose weight, tell them it’s because you’re trying to save money, or that you’re sick of the hangovers and wasting your Sundays. Find what makes it easier for you. Meal prep really is key so well done for doing that! I’ve heard other people say the same about the ‘support heroes’. That really is a shame, I guess they have so many people doing the plan they don’t have enough heroes to give real support. I hope they change that. Please, please stop weighing yourself! Take pictures once a week or once a month and give up your scales for a while. At most you should only weigh yourself once a week, no more than that. But I would recommend giving them up until you’re not so addicted to getting on them. Good luck Monica! Let me know how you’re getting on xx
Hey Monica! I also troubled with the lack of (or the inability to enjoy) alcohol! You should check out ‘sessionplanjam’ on instagram!
Which of the TEG plan did you opt for? They are pretty expensive. But, I am just not in sync with the Joe Wicks plan. It is expensive, time consuming and I am craving things which never happens usually. I am craving things I do not even usually eat. I am bored with the food and dread meal times. The only good thing is that at least there is plenty to eat. The HIIT training is hard for me, I get out of breath as I am asthmatic and unfit. I will keep going. But, how is TEG better for you? Which plan? Will I feel less isolated from the rest of the family at meal times? Because right now I feel as though I am on my own. A
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Hi Suzannah, I’m so sorry I didn’t see your comment sooner! I’m sorry you’re struggling with The Body Coach’s plan. It sounds like it’s not a good plan for you, just like it wasn’t for me. Have you tried anything else? I like Train Eat Gain’s Trinity plan. It is expensive, but the trainers Ben and Rob are with you every step of the way for three months, or longer if you choose. They reply personally to your emails if you need support. They gradually reduce your calories so that you don’t feel hungry and there’s not a set meal plan that you have to follow. Instead you track your food intake and your macros, but you choose your own meals so you won’t get bored at meal times. They have a lot of recipes in their library so there’s lots to choose from plus you can make your own as long as it fits your macros. If you want to find out more about their Trinity plan, you can find it here x
Thanks for your reply. I have gone back to the plan that worked for me many years ago and the original workout and trainer. I have already lost weight and diet suits me, no weighing! Unfortunately, my workout and trainer are obviously local to me, so will not be much use to other people reading this. But, I think my point is for anyone struggling with The Body Coach, is that there are other ways of getting the same results! Its just a matter of finding the method that suits your particlar criteria.
I had a look at Train Eat Gain and would have opted for that, had I not spent out on The Body Coach. TEG did look more expensive, but the service looks very good to me and the two coaches seem genuinely to be doing all they can to keep regular contact with members. Obviously, The Body Coach does not offer this service and seems to be ‘out there’ just promoting himself all the time. His third book is already out now, so he will be doing lots of book signings etc. Not that he would have been availabe anyway, he has a dedicated team for that. And they dont get back straight away.
It is worth bearing this in mind for those who are undecided on who to go for because none of these options are cheap, so sites like these are valuable and I only wish I had read your comments before I wasted my money.
But great site and very honest and unbiased review. Thank you.
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I’m so glad you’ve found the right plan for you! I completely agree, there is a plan/method out there for all of us and it’s all about finding what suits us. Thank you so much for the compliment of my site – that means so much to me! Good luck Suzannah xx
Hi Cantara, what a great find your blog on the 90 SSS plan is! I have just started the vegetarian Cycle 1 and likewise am struggling due to headaches, nausea, odd food combinations and the lack of alcohol. i will persevere for a few weeks and see how I feel. It would be great to hear your feedback on other more sustainable plans.x
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Hi Jane, I’m sorry I didn’t see your comment earlier! How are you getting on with the plan? Are you on Cycle 2 now? I hope the headaches and nausea have stopped! Let me know how you’re getting on. Personally I think the Train Eat Gain plan is more sustainable in the long term than The Body Coach. You can find out more about their plan here x
Hi Jane – I also struggled with the lack of alcohol. However, there’s recently been a plan created that caters exactly for that need! You should check out ‘sessionplanjam’ on instagram!
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Hi Jamie, I have removed your comment – please ask me first before using these comments to promote your plan.