We all know the old cliché, “you make time for what’s important,” but after an early morning start to work, an everything-but-peaceful freeway journey to school, and five hours of lecture, the last thing I want to do when I get home is work out. I just want to flop my un-toned ass onto my sofa and pick up where I left off on Netflix. And I’m sure I’m not the only woman out there who feels this way. Am I right? Working out is something I’ve done for the past six years now. But let’s be honest here, it hasn’t been a consistent six years, or I’d be in the best physical shape of my life, and that is certainly not the case. I work out four times a week, but there are times when it gets extremely difficult to find the time to do it.

My lack of motivation used to stem from my hatred of public gyms. It’s not just the narcissists that flex and stare at themselves constantly, or the grunters you don’t need to see to know their presence, or the girl who wouldn’t dare break a sweat in fear of ruining her contour, no. It’s the germs. Gym-goers sweat all over the equipment, sneeze into their hands, use the bathroom and come back to it, set weights on the ground where people walk, spit, fart and whatever else, and then put them back on the rack for the next incubus of viral plague to fondle. Just the other day, I stumbled across a new study that found that free weights have 362 times more bacteria than a toilet. You’d have a less chance of catching something if you went and washed your hands in the toilet bowl. Um, ew.

Before coming across at-home workouts, I felt that the gym was the only place I could get a proper workout. My lack of equipment at home made me feel like a gym was my only option, but there are so many other ways to work out besides in a public gym with sweaty circulated air. You could hike, go for a bike ride, and so much more!

Discovering Kayla Itsines’ Bikini Body Guide (BBG) was a dream come true for me because I don’t ever need to step foot into a gym. I can do my entire workout in my bedroom. The program is a 12-week body transformation that challenges you more than just physically. It combines resistance exercises with cardio and helps kick-start your metabolism. I completed my first round of BBG back in 2015, and I recently started it again. Is it challenging? Oh yes. Will you be completely sore? You bet! Is it totally worth it? Yes. This particular program is one of the many you can do from the comfort of your own home; no gym required! It was a big accomplishment for me, and it boosted both my confidence and my ass cheeks.

Here is a quick teaser video just to give you an idea of what you’re in for! Go get sweaty!