Have you been seeing the Better Me Calisthenics Challenge all over your social media ads? Wondering if it’s as good as the adverts make out? In this UNSPONSORED BetterMe reviews, I’ll share my personal experience with the Better Me workout program. I spent my own money so that you don’t have to.
Better Me is a health app that offers a wide range of workout routines, from intermittent fasting, chair yoga, wall pilates, you have probably seen a lot of them too if you are here checking out reviews.
I decided to join the calisthenics challenge as it’s a type of exercise I have been wanting to come back to and as someone who also qualified as a calisthenics coach I felt it was something I could look forward to training again to mix things up a little from my normal gym sessions.
Calisthenics is a form of exercise that uses your own body weight to build strength, flexibility, and endurance. The Better Me Calisthenics Challenge attempts to capitalise on the concept of Calisthenics. Though its a training modality that has really been around for many years it’s started gaining popularity again and this programme seems to specifically target women in their marketing.
Throughout my journey with the Better Me Challenge, I’ll provide an honest and I always aim to be as unbiased as possible, but of course this review will be based upon my own personal experience opinions and experience as a health coach that is also a certified Calisthenics coach. I’ll be going in depth and sharing the pros and cons, my experience and overall impression of the program.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to get started or an experienced fitness enthusiast seeking a new challenge, this review will give you a look into the Better Me Calisthenics Challenge and to see if it’s the right program for you.
What is Calisthenics and Its Benefits
Calisthenics traditionally is a form of exercise that primarily relies on using one’s body weight for resistance. The work Calisthenics comes from the Greek words meaning beautiful (kallos) and strength (sthenos) which I think beautifully encompasses the true meaning of this exercise form and I have always associated it with similarities to gymnastics. As someone who also used to love pole fitness, I found there are great similarities between the two and they compliment eachother so well.
When I was doing both pole fitness and Calisthenics I was at my strongest and also my leanest, these forms of exercise become fun, more of a hobby because not only do they require strength but also skill, balance, body awareness and control.
I haven’t been training using these methods for a number of years now but I always loved this style of training, and when I recently completed my MovNat qualification it was clear some of my skills still lingered and was excited to get back to it. Calisthenics traditional encompasses a wide range of movements, including push-ups, pull-ups, squats, and lunges as well as static holds, among others.
Malin Malle is one of my favourite female calisthenics atheletes and this video encompases on what calisthenics is about at the advanced level.
I have always loveThis type of training, and it’s always been the dream goal to get a muscle up. But I never quite got there. But you know, never say never lol. Calisthenics is incredibly versatile and can be performed virtually anywhere, making it an excellent choice for those who may not have access to a gym or prefer to work out at home, though it does take time and patience to build up to more of the advanced moves which can be a barrier for many people especially those starting out.
What really sets calisthenics apart from traditional weightlifting is its focus on functional strength, flexibility, and endurance, rather than just merely increasing muscle mass or having to count sets and reps. Calisthenics has always felt like play to me and why I initially fell in love with it.
The benefits of calisthenics go way beyond physical strength. Performing these style of exercises is going to improve your overall fitness level, enhance your coordination, and increase your body awareness, and it also looks pretty cool too if you ask me. Because calisthenics often involves compound movements that engage multiple muscle groups, you can work on strength and cardiovascular endurance simultaneously.
Additionally, many calisthenics exercises require balance and stability, which can help improve your core strength and posture. When we look at longevity (living longer) balance and co ordination are key parts of that. Having also got certified in MovNat it’s this emphasis on natural movement that I love, the feeling of getting back to how our bodies were designed to move and also reconnecting with the body. We often get stuck in restrictive movement patterns and to me this is a whole part of what calisthenics and natural movement is about for me and I do wish more people would try it out.
Calisthenics at the advanced level can look intimidating as per above video, but it can be broken down strategically. Beginners can start with modified versions of exercises and gradually progress to more complex movements as their strength and confidence grow.
Overview of the Better Me Calisthenics Challenge
After watching the slew of Better Me Ads that would pop up on my social media feed ads promising to help me transform my body by February (as we are currently in the midst of new year new me BS). It states it’s full of bodyweight exercises that will help me to put on strength and lean muscle without leaving my house. Now I’m not sure strength is something you can put on, but ok.
So going into the sign up process you are taken into the regular upsell page. It’s really common to see options to purchase extra add ons to your programme. Now during this part I made a real schoolgirl error (I’m usually super careful about this because I know the tactics) but I didn’t realise that I was signing up to an auto renew programme. My bad! ALWAYS be aware of what you are signing up to on fitness apps as this is a really common practice. So I did end up paying for 2 months in the end.
Was also quite unique to see the ‘toned private parts plan’ on the upsell list, not a programme I have seen or ever considered before. Erm ok
Now though it said in the ad I only have to do it 3 times a week to transform my body. Once inside the plan it was setting me up with a 28 daily workout routine and the workouts are 20 minutes per day.
Now my first bug bear is with the ads themselves. They make out as if this super lean person has achieved that body in 28 days doing this programe.
I assure you, they have not. Bodies like that come from either good genetics or years of consistent training, or very often, a bit of both.
They also make out as if the person you are watching is the instructor, when the instructor in the app of these programmes are AI generated, they are not even real people.
One of the standout features of the Better Me Calisthenics Challenge is its clear and organized structure. It displays a very clear and well-defined schedule that outlines daily workouts, and I did really love the clear layout of the app and how it integrated with calorie tracking that can be done right from within the app.
As well as a nutrition to follow alongside the workouts with a recipe guide and done for you meal planner. I think this is a super helpful feature, especially for beginners who are just starting out.
Because physical transformation is not just about the workouts, the Better Me Calisthenics Challenge often emphasises the importance of nutrition and I think that’s a really important part. You get guidance on how to fuel your body encouraging a well-rounded approach to health and fitness.
My Personal Experience with the Better Me Calisthenics Challenge
Maybe I went into this with my expectations too high. I knew from the style of the adverts that there was going to be some very questionable red flags with this app, but I was really looking forward to a gentle reintroduction to a style of training and workout that I used to love.
Let’s start with the positives…
1. Affordable Starter pricing.
Making health and fitness accessible for people is key and I do think they offer affordable pricing. This programme was €15.95 for the first month which was on offer. But then of course I had signed up to a subscription without realising and was charged €46.77. SO yeah the first month is affordable, but then the continual subscription model price is way too expensive as I believe there are a lot better apps out there than this that are actually supported by real humans.
2. App Format & Layout
I do like the layout and clear formatting of the BetterMe app. It’s easy to see workouts, meal plans and recipes and also track your meals to help you make progress towards your goal that you share upon sign up. Pictures. The meal plans were super basic but I think for beginners this can be a good thing. To just learn how to make some really basic meals whilst working out what your body needs. I would say that at 1500 calories is a lot fewer calories than I would usually eat for my usual activity levels, however if I was solely doing this program then maybe it would be about right. They are short easy workouts and I didn’t feel as though I was working that hard at a any time.
3. Mindset component
I am a huge believed that a key part of any well rounded fitness programme should address the mindset of health and fitness and that you are practicing healthy habits that are also supportive to your mental health. As a millenial I have been brought up around and have even participated in some pretty messed up messages around what it means to be fit and healthy. How it’s not just about will power but challenging your behaviours and habits around food. How to not just focus solely on the number on the scale and how to break down existing belief systems so you can create new more positive thought patterns around yourself and your behaviours.
4. Achievable For Beginners
I think a lot of fitness programmes can feel intimidating for beginners or people just coming back to exercise. These workouts are super short at just 15-20 minutes long, the movements are fairly beginner level and I feel are achievable for most able bodied people. I did find that they throw in the odd one that is really challenging and felt a bit out of synch, but I will cover that more in the cons. But generally I feel like most people could do this as an introduction back to movement.
The Cons
Now I feel that the cons are very much linked to my own personal preferences and biases but there are some issues I wanted to highlight.
AI coaches
I know some people will say we need to move with the time and this is the future. Maybe this is my bias as a fitness coach in fear of my own job being taken away. But the problem with an AI trainer is that even as they were demonstrating some of the moves I was just left scratching my head as I was like my body doesn’t move like that. The AI generated instructors are super human looking but there were just a few things that wernt quite right.
2. Boring
I personally found the workouts boring, uninspiring and too easy for me personally. At the end of each workout it does ask you if you feel like you had done enough and if not it will direct you to another workout. But I just couldn’t face another of their sessions so opted to do my own thing instead. I did around two weeks of the workouts before I completely lost interest. I wouldn’t like to say that this is not Calisthenics, because I suppose you could call any bodyweight movement calisthenics as per my description in the begining, but I would say that these workouts we more Pilates style that anything
As the wall pilates is also another one of their programmes that I see highly promoted. I would guess that there is a lot of crossover between these workout programmes
Inconsistencies In The Programming
I can see that there were starting to see some slight progressions in the programming but it didn’t feel like it was well thought out or structured. It’s literally AI generating a basic and not very good workout. As mentioned above some of what was being said didn’t always match what was being shown on screen.
Sign Up To Subscription
I know a lot of apps do this and you have to watch out for it. I’m honestly annoyed with myself for missing it, it was only when I saw the charge to my credit card on the second month. But hopefully we learn to ALWAYS read the subscription terms,
Terrible Marketing Messaging
As with many programmes like this that pump a hell of a lot of money into ads with really shitty marketing messages. Unfortunately people still believe that dramatic weight loss transformations are achieved in 30 days and then you will stay that way forever. And I get it, the truth that lasting health and fitness is long and boring and doesn’t come tied up in a fancy bow is not all that sexy. People want a quick fix and ads like this prey into that need
Comparison with Other Calisthenics Programs
When comparing with other Calisthenics programs its good to have some clarity around what your health and fitness goals are?
Are you looking for body transformation and weight loss? Or are you looking to learn the skills fo calisthenics which are not only cool and fun to do, but will actually form the body transformation in the long run.
If you are simply looking for something to follow that is beginner friendly, will help you navigate some of the mindset pitfalls that often go hand in hand with any focus on improving health and fitness then this could help, keeping in mind that this is closer to Pilates than true calisthenics.
But if you are wanting to truly learn calisthenics I would look else where as this is really not it. I actually had a look for alternative Calisthenics programmes but they are not that easy to come across with a simple good search. But I would recommend going to someone like Gold Medal Bodies. I would say this is a mix of calisthenics mixed with natural movement and is a programme I have done many years ago and love their work. Though you likely wont get a nutrition programme with this.
Or one of my favourite female calisthenics creators is Carmel Rodriguez on Instagram and it looks like she is about to release a new programme, though also has a program on Bodi (formally known as Beach Body) though Bodi Beach Body could probaby do with their own program review. Maybe I should do this one?? Let me know in the comments as this company has it’s own red flags. Or I did recently find a few people on TikTok if you go search on there, lots of people on there offering real callisthenics programs such as Chloe Mac on TikTok
This video shows what I would expect to be a true Calisthenics workout for beginners and as you can see you can progress the levels BEGINNER CALISTHENICS WORKOUT
Conclusion of My Unsponsored Better Me Reviews
In conclusion, my experience with the Better Me Calisthenics Challenge has not been amazing. I like the format of the app, I love that you get support with nutrition, meal planning and how to create simple, healthy meals from scratch. I also think that the mindset work from within the app is also a really valuable tool.
But…..
The programme it’s self was very basic and though it could be good for beginners, people just starting out with exercise, especially as the workouts are just 15-20 minutes long meaning that even with a busy schedule and people that don’t have much time, the BetterMe program feels doable. That is achievable for many people starting out and it’s also accessible for people who don’t have any access to equipment. Though it was not enough of a challenge for me personally and so I didn’t really get much from it as it didn’t really have much of an impact on my physical health.
Any plan that helps people move towards living a more active lifestyle is a good thing. But I wholeheartedly believe that as a health coaching app, there are far better ones out there. With real instructors, real people who have mastered the art of body control and calisthenics.
Better Me just did not hit the spot and if I was to give it a score it would be a 4/10.
It did however inspire me to come back to some actual calisthenics training. So if you are interested in joining me on my journey to some real calisthenics then come and join me over on TikTok as I add this style of training back into my life, but for reals this time though.
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