I Tried BetterMe Wall Pilates for 14 Days: Here’s What Happened (2024)

For over a decade, I’ve reported on health and fitness, and more recently, I became a boy mom. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, I have refused to wake up earlier than six o’clock in the morning to do my workout before I start getting my son and myself ready for school and work, respectively. It is this lack of early-morning prowess (of which I used to be so proud) that has caused my training to change.

In summer, I take advantage of increased free time to bask in cardio and weight workouts—logging miles each day and lifting weights for 20 to 30 minutes at least four times a week. Then, when fall comes, my workouts Monday through Friday consist of 20 to 30 minutes of yoga each morning, and then longer cardio sessions with a bit of weight training on the weekend. This has been working to keep me fit but not well. By the time summer break returns, I have lost some of my strength, and my cardiovascular fitness isn’t where I want it to be.

So when I was asked to try the BetterMe: Health Coaching App for 14 days, I agreed to shake up my lackluster fitness routine. I was looking for an easy way to try to maintain some of the strength gains I had made over the summer, but adding dumbbells to my small New York apartment wasn’t in the floor plan. Maybe the BetterMe app would be the school-year workout I needed? The only way to tell was to try it out.

The Setup

After downloading the app, I created my profile by stating my goal (remaining fit), what my diet is like (traditional; I eat almost everything), my fitness level (advanced, not quite pro, but I like to think I’m in good shape), my basic data (age, weight, height), and three activities of interest (I chose wall Pilates, Pilates, and yoga). I was also able to set up reminders to exercise each day (check), to read a chapter about good-for-you body behaviors and mindset (sure, why not?), and, if I wanted, to fast or eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner (hard pass).

After that, I was presented with my first workout of approximately 10 minutes. It was simple enough, and I easily completed it, but there was no wall involved. I was confused; maybe I’d start the wall Pilates program tomorrow?

Day 1

When I logged in, I was greeted with a daily plan page, and when I clicked to start my daily workout, I was prompted to start the 28-Day Wall Pilates program. This was more like it. I like knowing where I am and what I am doing. If an app is confusing, I get frustrated. I have to navigate enough mazes in my life already—I don’t want my workout time hijacked as well.

My first workout was a 13-minute full-body conditioning routine, and this time the wall was the major workout tool. Four exercises done for 30 seconds each—think mobility movements like side bends and thoracic rotations—served as a warm-up. The workout followed, nine exercises, each performed for 40 seconds, and was followed by a cooldown that mimicked the warm-up in number and duration of exercises. During all of the above, I was touching the wall in some way, either for alignment, balance, stability, or strength.

At the end, I was asked whether the workout had been too hard, too easy, or just right. I had never experienced this in an exercise app, and I hoped my answer (in this case, “too easy”) would effect some change in my program, though I was not sure I would be able to tell.

Days 2 Through 7

The following days’ workouts were similar to the first. They ran between 13 and 18 minutes each, with the core-focused ones being longest. After my day-five workout, aka the “Ultimate Wall Workout,” I was finally able to rate my workout as “just right.” The repetition of the program fatigued my lower-body muscles, and I finished with my legs wobbly. This was a good sign in terms of my goal.

I Tried BetterMe Wall Pilates for 14 Days: Here’s What Happened (2)

Each workout is summarized for you before you begin. When you do an exercise, it is timed, and the app shows you what your next move will be.

At night the app reminded me to read chapters about holistically approaching my body goals, specifically my mindset and my beliefs, and how they contribute to how I move through the world. I read the chapters as I was cooking dinner. If I had been someone new to the mind-body connection, I would have found these chapters helpful, but they were lost on someone who has been writing about this connection on a regular basis for over a decade.

Days 8 Through 15

Most of my workouts continued the same way. I noticed that my core remained strong and my shoulders and triceps were keeping their shape. As for the difficulty of the workouts, they varied between too easy and just right. I appreciated the straightforwardness of the instruction and how the design of the workouts kept my heart rate elevated—moving from standing to the floor and back again accomplishes that.

This week, while exploring the nutritional section of the app (I had been focusing my attention on the workouts), I discovered the meal plans, and felt like I had opened a portal out of the food rut that my household was in.

What made the plans so great was that they suggested variations on foods that my family and I were already eating. For instance, we eat tacos for dinner at least twice a week, and they are always the same: ground turkey, homemade taco seasoning, cheese, corn tortilla. The app suggested tacos made with chicken breast, a variation on the seasoning, and a mixture of vegetables. I realize that none of this was groundbreaking, but it was delivered at a time I needed it and wasn’t willing to seek it out on my own—so instead of spending hours meal-planning, I used the suggestions BetterMe provided. For the first time in a long while, my family and I didn’t have to dread yet another turkey burger or taco. I found myself looking forward to what BetterMe had planned for me (and us) in the weeks to come.

I Tried BetterMe Wall Pilates for 14 Days: Here’s What Happened (3)

Your plan outlines all the different steps you can take toward your health goals, including meal plans and recipes based on your nutritional preferences.

Bottom Line

I tested the app for 14 days, despite it being a 28-day Wall Pilates Program. That was my assignment. Using the wall as a training tool was a new thing for me, and it helped with my balance, especially when I was doing deep reverse lunges. Over the last two weeks, I also rediscovered my childhood dancer’s posture, which had become hunched over a bit from years of desk work and motherhood duties. Making sure my body was touching the wall helped bring this postural awareness back into focus, both during the workouts and away from them. Because of this (as well as the meal-plan help), I plan to complete the 28-day program—and see what other surprises BetterMe adds to my life and fitness.

Take a 1-min quiz to get a Wall Pilates Plan.

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

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Health and Fitness Routine

The individual in this article has undergone a significant change in their fitness routine due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and their responsibilities as a parent. They have transitioned from early morning workouts to adapting their training based on the seasons, incorporating cardio, weight workouts, yoga, and Pilates. Additionally, they have explored the BetterMe: Health Coaching App for 14 days, aiming to shake up their fitness routine and maintain their strength gains over the summer. The app introduced them to a 28-day Wall Pilates Program, which they found to be beneficial for their balance and posture. Furthermore, they discovered the app's meal plans, which provided them with new variations on familiar foods, enhancing their overall experience and motivation for fitness.

Concepts Used in the Article

The concepts used in the article include:

  1. Fitness Routine Adaptation: The individual has adapted their fitness routine due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and their responsibilities as a parent.
  2. BetterMe: Health Coaching App: The individual explored the BetterMe app for 14 days, focusing on the 28-day Wall Pilates Program and meal plans provided by the app.
  3. Wall Pilates Program: The individual engaged in a 28-day Wall Pilates Program through the BetterMe app, which involved exercises utilizing the wall for stability, resistance, and balance.
  4. Meal Plans: The individual discovered meal plans within the BetterMe app, which offered variations on familiar foods, enhancing their meal-planning experience.

Additional Information

The individual's experience with the BetterMe app and the 28-day Wall Pilates Program has positively impacted their fitness routine, particularly in terms of balance, posture, and meal planning. This demonstrates the effectiveness of incorporating technology and structured programs into one's fitness journey to achieve specific goals and maintain motivation.

I hope this information provides a comprehensive understanding of the concepts used in the article. If you have any further questions or need more details on any specific aspect, feel free to ask!

I Tried BetterMe Wall Pilates for 14 Days: Here’s What Happened (2024)

FAQs

I Tried BetterMe Wall Pilates for 14 Days: Here’s What Happened? ›

I noticed that my core remained strong and my shoulders and triceps were keeping their shape. As for the difficulty of the workouts, they varied between too easy and just right.

How long does it take to see results from Wall Pilates? ›

"Strength gains take 4-6 weeks for the nervous system to improve the efficiency of activating muscle, and more like 12 weeks to actually see changes in the muscle size itself," she says. "This is when you are stressing the muscles at least 60% of their max ability.

Can you see Pilates results in 2 weeks? ›

While individual experiences will vary, many people begin to notice physical improvements within a few weeks of consistent Pilates practice (usually the initial results within about 3 weeks) This is because even in the first few weeks, your ability to activate the correct muscles and be aware of your posture begins to ...

Does BetterMe Wall Pilates actually work? ›

It's Just as Effective as Traditional Pilates

Just because the wall is used as a prop does not mean it detracts from the effectiveness of the workout. In fact, wall Pilates can provide similar benefits to traditional Pilates in terms of improving strength, flexibility, and posture (8).

How many times a week should you do Wall Pilates? ›

As a beginner, it's recommended to practice wall pilates at least twice a week, but many find three times a week to be more effective.

Can you see results from Pilates in 4 weeks? ›

Research has shown it can take people 2-4 weeks or 8-12 weeks to build strength. It could take anywhere from 2 to 12 weeks to see results from Pilates.

Why am I not seeing results from Pilates? ›

One of the main reasons you may not be feeling or seeing the results of your Pilates workouts is your consistency, or lack thereof. While you may be getting some benefits from yo-yoing from 5 classes one week, to a two week break, you'll find far greater results from building a solid foundation from the get go.

Does 28 Wall Pilates really work? ›

The 28-day wall Pilates program did wonders for my back pain — more than meds, heating pads, or ice packs had ever been able to accomplish. Whether this was a result of all the targeted core work, the dedicated days to full body stretching, or a combination of both, my lower back felt better than it had in years.

Can Pilates change your body shape? ›

Pilates Sculpts Long, Lean, Strong Muscles

Balance postures, deep core movements, and small, repetitive exercises that test endurance will transform your body and build strength by lengthening, toning, sculpting and strengthening. You will be able to see visible muscles along your arms, abs, and legs—long and lean.

Which Wall Pilates app is best? ›

Top 10 Wall Pilates Apps of 2024
  • Wall Pilates: Fit Weight Loss. ...
  • Sweat: Fitness App for Women. ...
  • Centr, by Chris Hemsworth. ...
  • Peloton – Fitness & Workouts. ...
  • Lumowell – Ego360. ...
  • Pilates & Barre by Fittbe. ...
  • Pilates Exercises at Home. ...
  • 30 Day Pilates Challenge.
Apr 15, 2024

How much does BetterMe Wall Pilates cost? ›

We chose the "Better Me Wall Pilates Challenge," which promises a customized plan for about $15. Brown just has to fill out a quick questionnaire with Hayes standing by, and then her 28-day Pilates roadmap is delivered.

Is there a free Wall Pilates app? ›

Ready to embark on a rewarding fitness journey? Download our app today and immerse yourself in the 28-Day Wall Pilates Challenge for free.

What is the difference between Pilates and Wall Pilates? ›

Wall pilates is a twist on traditional pilates that includes a wall – where traditional pilates mainly involves exercising on mats or using machines like reformers; wall pilates adds a new dimension by incorporating the use of (you guessed it) a wall to press upon with your feet, arms, back, or side.

Will 20 minutes of Pilates a day make a difference? ›

If you're following the right workouts, absolutely! 20-minutes a day is plenty to get you in Pilates shape.

Does Wall Pilates work for beginners? ›

Wall pilates is a fantastic way to enhance your workout routine without fancy equipment. Whether you're a beginner or dealing with issues like back pain, or even rehabbing an injury, it's an effective workout for your core that you can easily do from home. Give it a try and see the benefits for yourself.

Does 28 day wall Pilates really work? ›

The 28-day wall Pilates program did wonders for my back pain — more than meds, heating pads, or ice packs had ever been able to accomplish. Whether this was a result of all the targeted core work, the dedicated days to full body stretching, or a combination of both, my lower back felt better than it had in years.

Is the 28 day wall Pilates challenge any good? ›

"It's incredibly effective for the body and mind," shares Buttler. One of the biggest benefits of this particular challenge is that it'll help to build a sense of consistency and commitment to your workout routine.

How long should I do Wall Pilates? ›

There is no set time for how long you should do wall Pilates. You can do it for as long or as short as you like, depending on your fitness level and goals. However, most people spend 30-60 minutes doing wall Pilates, 3-5 times per week.

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