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Peloton Review: Is it Worth it?

Peloton ReviewNope.  No fancy pic of me and my Peloton. This is a fashion blog. The best you’ll get is my street style fitness shoot with Photography Yours and Mine

Okay, I know what you’re thinking.  This is a fashion blog.  Why in the world am I talking about fitness?

At the beginning of the year I shared my 2020 goals with you.  One of them was to wake up early to exercise.

I started the BBG program twice in 2020 and after 3 months of actually staying consistent, it became too repetitive and too difficult for me.  It was also competing with our newest purchase, a Peloton.  The Peloton clearly won and while there are tons of reviews out there, I want to share my thoughts with you.

First, my backstory

I loathe working out.  I’m not good at it, I run out of steam VERY quickly and I’m simply just not that motivated.  My dream is to have a dancer’s body (so strong!) but I will never, ever, ever have one.  I eat carbs.  And chocolate.  And drink wine.  And not just as “special occasion treats.”

So I want you to understand that this review is coming from a woman who is not very fit, not very motivated and extremely mediocre when it comes to athletic ability.

When I started using the Peloton it was HARD.  And it’s still hard.

But I’ve used it every single day since it was delivered.  And I’m HOOKED.

Pros 

Convenience
No more commuting in traffic, parking, signing-in, waiting for class to start. I was never huge on in-person classes anyway.  The best part of doing an in-person workout, for me, was getting to have coffee with my friends afterwards.

Variety
There are TONS of classes in the Peloton app.  It’s not just cycling. They have yoga, meditation, dance, etc. Plus, you can select workouts as short as 5min all the way up to 90min.  There are tons of musical genres too.  When I work out, it’s ALL about the music so this is key for me.

Camaraderie and Motivation
Peloton is truly one of the most supportive communities I’ve experienced. You can “high five” people and see the leaderboard of where you stand in the pack. I find this to be incredibly motivating.

During an in-person class when I would see people killing it on the bike next to me while I huffed and puffed like I was dying, it made me feel like crap.  Now when I see names on the leaderboard in my same rank, I high five them and really strive to keep up with them.  It’s enjoyable, not de-motivating.

Your calories, miles ridden and consistency are tracked and you earn badges for accomplishments. This isn’t something I’ve found in any other workout class.  It really pushes me to the next level to see my progress.

Cons

The cost.
A $2500 bike plus $40/month for the app is a significant investment. But we’ve already broken even based on how much we’ve used it. (Comparing the cost of a cycling class in San Diego to the number of rides we’ve done on the Peloton)  

Favorite Instructors

Robyn Arzon and Cody Rigsby.

Robyn spontaneously laughs throughout rides and it’s lovely and genuine and just endears you to her.  Plus she has a knack for motivating you in a really friendly, “I believe in you!” way.  Absolutely no pushy, tough-love here.  Robyn is all love.

I wish Cody were my real life BFF.  I just did an 80s ride with him and he gave the entire ride a plot – shopping at the mall with your girlfriends.  There were so many spot-on references I was not only cracking up laughing but I was SO sad when it was over.  I truly felt transported to another time.

What about the people who have a Peloton and dislike it?

Besides knowing we were not going to step foot in a gym again in 2020 (coronavirus), we pulled the trigger on the Peloton because of the many friends who gave us rave reviews.

I do, however, have one friend who dislikes it.

She said the number one reason for her not liking it is because she thrives on the energy and camaraderie from an in-person class.  She wants to feel the energy from the person cycling next to her.  That was not replicated for her in the Peloton and she told me she is going to return hers.

Final Thoughts if You’re Still on the Fence

I’ll be honest.  Had we purchased the Peloton when life was normal I don’t know if I’d be this dedicated.  Because of the coronavirus, it has become my savior.  The Peloton has truly changed my life.

Since the gym is closed (and I’m not personally comfortable going back until our world has stabilized), I need to have an exercise outlet at home.  This is not just about physical health, but mental health as well.

When I started, I did 20-minute rides for the first 2.5 weeks.  But starting in week 3, I felt my endurance go up a notch and now do 30min rides.  I know I could easily do a 45-minute ride now, but 30 minutes is my preferred workout.

The quality of the bike is superb.  It’s very substantial and the video screen is high definition giving you a “I feel like I’m there” vibe.

If you have any questions about the Peloton, please comment or email me!  This is honestly the best purchased we’ve made all year and probably EVER!

Life Lately

AGOLDE Parker Black Jeans AGOLDE Parker Black JeansAGOLDE Parker jeans // Pharaoh tee // Roxanne Assoulin necklace // YSL bag
Golden Goose sneakers // Le Specs sunglasses

Like the rest of the world, my daily scenery consists of the rooms in my house and a dog walk/toddler nature excursion.  Despite the change in schedule, I wanted to give you an update on my life lately.

Binge-Worthy Shows

I finished The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and adored it.  If you love fashion, comedy and New York City (three of my loves) you’ll adore this show.  I love how meticulously put together Mrs. Maisel is while also serving up some loose-cannon zingers.  Her father, played by Tony Shalhoub, has me rolling on the floor laughing.  My husband said it’s been so nice to see me laugh while watching this how.  If you need some refreshing escapism, this show is for you.

I also tried Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn’s new show, Making the Cut, and sadly had to scrap it after 3 episodes.  It’s Project Runway 2.0 without the grit.  The producers obviously identified a favorite in the first episode, and I don’t think I need to continue watching to know who will have the next global fashion empire.

Next on my list is Cheer and Schitt’s Creek.  What are you watching?

Workouts

I’ve been consistent with BBG (the Bikini Body Guide).  I do four resistance workouts per week – legs, arms, full body and abs.  They are 7-minute circuits that get repeated 4 times for a total of 28 minutes of exercise.  You need minimal equipment – I use 3 lb weights and resistance bands – and it’s done through the Sweat app.

The cost is either $20 per month or $120 for a yearly membership.  Clearly, I went with the yearly membership and think it’s SO worth it.

My husband and I also decided to invest in a Peloton because we don’t think we’ll be able to return to the gym anytime soon.  It arrives on April 25, so once I’ve had a chance to test it out, I’ll write a review.

The Peloton app (which has yoga, meditation, dance classes, etc.) is free for 90 days.  You don’t need the bike to do these other workouts, so jump on the freebie while it lasts!  You must sign up by April 30 for the 90-day free trial.

Fashion

I’ve honestly only put on jeans once since self-quarantine began.  These jeans are my hero pair.  I wrote about them here.  They run TTS (size down if you are in between sizes) and come in several different washes.

I recently upped my loungewear game because my collection only consisted of two pairs of joggers.  Clearly with life as it is, I need more!

I’m going to update this loungewear review once all my new picks arrive.  Stay tuned!

New Obsessions

Okay, I don’t know that I’d go so far as to say I’m obsessed, but I am really enjoying Tik Tok.  I started creating videos.  Check them out here.

No, I will not be doing sexy dance videos.  I do have some ideas for a twist on my Fashion Friday series, so stay tuned!

Life Lately

This was the last photoshoot we did before self-quarantine began.  We shot right outside Copa Vida coffee shop, which is adjacent to Petco Park.  I remember feeling so excited for opening day at the Padres (I love a sunny day of baseball, beer and good friends).  It still blows my mind how much has changed.

Interestingly, I ran into two friends while doing this shoot.  It was so nice to randomly run into people and chat for a few minutes.  I long for the days when that reality starts again.

Yes, this is a hard time, but I know we’ll get through it.  Let’s continue to support each other, open the lines of communication and be thankful for the many blessings we have.  Sending you all well wishes for health, happiness and comfort!

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