After 6 weeks together, I’m officially a Shaun T fan. He pushed me, motivated me, cheered for me, and even CRIED with me for 6 weeks. I’ve always loved Shaun T’s enthusiasm and attitude (and love that he’s a fellow twin parent), but as a runner, I’ve been on the fence about his programs as they’re pretty cardio focused and high impact. I also love weight lifting and most of Shaun T’s programs don’t have weights. BUT, I went all in anyway because I love a challenge and nothing motivates me more than doing a program for the first time! Plus, let’s be honest 20 minute workouts sounded AMAZING after 60 minute 80 Day Obsession workouts!
What is Transform:20 Like?
To give you a high level summary of what Transform:20 is, here are the facts:
- 6 week program
- 20 minutes a day
- 36 unique workouts
- High intensity moves – squats, lunges, plyometric jumps, burpees, push-ups, etc.
- No equipment needed except an exercise step (which you don’t have to use, but I would recommend)
- 2 optional weight-training bonus workouts available that you can swap out for 2 workouts per week, or add on (plus optional ab workout, you wouldn’t need it though)
- Split screen modifier view if needed (the modifier goes slower and takes most of the impact out)
- Simple nutrition plan and daily tracking journal included.
- Read more details on Transform:20 here.
Transform:20 Nutrition
The nutrition plan for Transform:20 has two options: follow the Beachbody Portion Fix program or use 2B Mindset. I chose to follow the portion fix.
The program comes with an awesome journal for tracking your daily workouts, food, water, etc. I tried to track my food and stay within my containers (plan B plus an extra fat, as I always do) during the week days but didn’t always keep up. Overall, I’d say I followed the nutrition about 80% of the time. I also did Dry January and did not drink for 30 days in January (but started drinking again about 2 days a week in Feb). Considering the workouts are just 20 minutes, I think that the nutrition is a big part of my weight loss results.
How I Combined Transform:20 With Running
Transform:20 came out on January 14th, 2019 and that Sunday I ran a half marathon. I’d been training over the past 3 months while doing a modified version fo 80 Day Obsession. I considered waiting to start Transform:20 until after the race, but instead I did the first two days and then just ran the rest of the week, ran my race, and then gave myself a rest day the Monday after the race. I picked back up with day 3 of program on that follow Tuesday, so I was 6 workouts behind. Since the workouts are just 20 minutes a day, I figured I could catch up eventually ( I ended up catching up on the Wednesday of the last week!).
Since I started getting up early in the new year, it wasn’t too hard to fit Transform:20 in with my running. I did almost all Transform:20 workouts in the early morning (5:30-6 AM). If I ran in the early morning instead, I’d either do the Transform:20 workout later that day (it’s so much easier to squeeze in 20 min) or I’d double up the next day (which wasn’t always easy, these workouts are INTENSE). Toward the end, as I got more fit, I was able to double up more to catch up and finish with the group.
I also ran a 5K while doing Transform:20 and did not take any rest days leading up to the race. I ended up surprising myself with a really solid race at a pace much faster than I expected! I’m signed up for another 5K in April and can’t wait to see how I improve even more.
I was a little worried my legs would be very tired for running but I never noticed that they were extra sore or tired and that it affected my running. If anything, I felt even better on my runs during this program. I think it helped that they are so short!
Is Transform:20 a Good Program for Runners?
YES! I was skeptical, but I saw a massive improvement in my running after doing this program (and one of the girls in my group who did it qualified for Boston for the first time during it!). I wouldn’t recommend this program for someone who runs 5-6 days a week, but if you’re like me and can only really get out for a run about 3 days a week, you’re most likely going to see some great improvement in your running due to the high intensity cardio.
The week after I finished Transform:20 (last week), I had 3 breakthrough runs. The first was a great run on the coast on Tuesday and on Wednesday morning I went for a 6 mile run with my friend and finished at a 8:45 pace without feeling like it was pushing (normally the would feel a bit fast for me). Then, on Thursday I was convinced that my running improved with Transform:20. There is a giant hill near my house that is a Strava segment. I’ve been testing my fitness up it periodically for about 8 months now. This past Thursday I did an upper body P90X3 workout with my husband and was feeling energetic so I decided to go for a run. As I neared the hill, I decided to test it and go up it as fast as I can. Later, when I checked my Strava stats, I was impressed to see that I not only PR’d this segment, but I dropped 30 seconds off of my time (my previous PR was 3:45 and this was 3:17), and now am in the top 11 women on that segment!!! I felt SO strong! I also PR’d the other segment on this route by quite a bit on the same run.
Transform:20 and Running Hybrid Plan
I often modify Beachbody programs to work with running by creating a hybrid plan. However, because the workouts are just 20 minutes and I was just running 3 days a week, I didn’t modify Transform:20, I just added the workouts on to my running. That being said, if you are running more frequently or don’t have time to do both a Transform:20 workout and a run in the same day (or do back to back Transform:20 workouts to catch up), I’d suggest modifying the program using the Transform:20 and running hybrid calendar below.
My Transform:20 and Running Results
I completed 33 out of the 36 Transform:20 workouts (I skipped week 2, 3, and 4’s recovery workout, called Balanced as I was trying to catch up) and ran on average 3 days a week (averaging about 15 miles a week).
I lost 5.5 pounds and 3 inches. This program pushed me through a 3 month weight loss plateau (basically since I finished LIIFT4) and I reached my pre twin pregnancy weight (but I’m even stronger). I feel SO strong! I saw the greatest physical change in my core and legs. If I’m honest, I felt like I lost some strength in my upper body, but that’s not surprising after the heavy weight lifting in both LIIFT4 and 80 Day Obsession.
I am going on an all expenses paid cruise with Beachbody that I earned as a coach in 3 weeks so I was very excited to try on my new bathing suit and felt so confident in it. I spent so many years of my life feeling embarrassed and self conscious in a bathing suit and it felt good to rock it!
My Clients’ Transform:20 Results
Here are some of the results from my very first Transform:20 accountability group!
“I lost 12 pounds and took 10 minutes off my marathon time and qualified for the Boston Marathon!” – Gabby, who did Transform:20 during marathon training (she took the week before the race off of the program).
“Can’t believe I finished and didn’t miss 1 workout! The accountability group really helped to keep me on track and didn’t allow my excuses to win. In the end I ended up losing 7 inches with the majority of the loss in my middle section, which I cannot believe!” – Betsy
“I only lost 2 pounds but 9 inches!” – Kim
“Finished this program while traveling and so glad I had that stability while not home to keep my regular routine. I haven’t been on the scale but I lost 12.5 inches overall! Loved that the workouts were short but effective.” – Chelsey
Want to Try Transform:20 & Be Coached By Me?
Whether you plan to do the program on it’s own or combing it with running, Transform:20 is a great program for busy people who want to lose weight and tone up in just 6 weeks. My next virtual accountability group starts on March 11th and I’ve got 5 spots left (you can also choose from any other Beachbody program). Please fill out this form to get more info and enroll!
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