After committing to cross training this Spring, I was thrilled to find myself actually hitting a weekly goal of multiple strength workouts.Of course, while I enjoy the repittion of running, when it comes to strength training I’m all about variety.
When Fitfluential reached with an opportunity to test out the Daily Burn Black Fire workout program with Bob Harper, I thought “All right time to get serious”.
What is Daily Burn
Let’s start with an overview of the platform and the available programs before diving in to the specifics of the Black Fire program.
Apparently it’s called Black Fire because you will walk around with a burning sensation in every muscle of your body for days on end, while your heart turns to stone so you can keep going.
Turns out no amount of dirty looks or crying will get Bob to go easy on you.
Daily Burn is an online platform that allows you to stream workouts, no need to mess with DVD’s! You’ll find a variety of trainers and workout types, which you can select or allow their quiz to help you find the one that’s best for you.
There are currently two monthly subscription options you have and both will initially start you off with a 30 day free trail so you can test it out before you start paying for it.
- $14.95/month – access to all 20 programs, watch on any device including TV
- $26.95/month – additional access 365 previous workouts
What kind of workouts are on Daily Burn?
As you’ll see there are intense training programs like Black Fire, Live to Fail or Inferno. These workouts utilizing high intensity interval training with often a specific 21 or 30 day plan to not only blast fat, but increase strength.
Additionally, there’s Pilates, Barre, Core training and mobility focused training plans. You could intermix them with the cardio programs like Cardio Sculpt or Let’s Move (dance) or you can do them as stand alone programs.
The benefit to the variety is that you always have options for however you’re feeling on a given day! Plus no more excuses about going to the gym or a trainer cancelling or traveling.
What is HIIT or Tabata?
The truth is 90% of what is being called a Tabata is not, it’s a HIIT…and most HIIT’s are…just a fancy way of saying intervals.
TABATA
20 seconds maximum intensity
10 seconds recovery
Total duration no longer than 8 minutes
HIIT
30-90 seconds of near maximal effort
Equal recovery
Total duration can be up to 30 minutes
It doesn’t really matter what you call it at the end of the day, these are both workouts designed to maximize your intensity and calorie burn within a short time frame. They can be done with body weight exercises or weights and are an increasing favorite of people who feel short on time.
My Daily Burn Experience
Remember I don’t like HIIT workouts or tabatas…it’s why LHR training and I go together like rama lama ding dong. The very first workout left me with arms trembling and an immediate fear of doing the same thing again the next day.
With that in mind, you might be surprised by what I have to say…so after all my Instagram comments about Black Fire, let’s break this down!
Black Fire is a 60-day total-body workout program that combines strength and power movements with high-intensity metabolic conditioning exercises. During your 20-minute training sessions, you’ll burn hundreds of calories by moving rapidly through a variety of exercise sequences, while working to build muscle tone and definition.
Day 1
”This sucks…why am I still going? Not much time left now, might as well finish. Huh…that was kinda cool, it went really fast and I feel really strong now.”
Day 2
After finishing the second day workout, I realized I would likely be unable to move my arms the following day. I haven’t done burpees two days in a row in years.
Gahh maybe this is good for me.
Day 3
Thank goodness it’s just a mobility workout…wait a second why are we moving so much, my arms are on fire, my arms, my arms. Admittedly I think this is an extremely awesome thing for them to add in the training because it really worked on loosening up joints and breaking down scar tissue…still I thought it was going to be more Zen.
Day 4
I’ve lost my damn mind, why am I doing this?
Oh…David just mentioned that my arms are looking really great from my recent commitment to strength workouts…damn him, now I have to finish this. Here we go diamond push ups, jumping, something like a burpee with a different name to trick me.
Yeah it takes very little to convince me to flex what I think are my new muscles.
Day 5
I should really consider not doing these workouts right after a run, but thus far every one has been after a run because that’s the only time mentally I will do it.
I don’t have the cool looking crossfit box they do for jumps, so I pull out my good old aerobics step {hello 80’s workout} and guess what it works just fine.Think we will ever laugh at our current workouts like we do the old one’s??
Day 6
Hallelujah yoga. And I love that it’s available through the app, so I can do this on my phone or iPad in the gym after my run.
Day 7
Have I mentioned I have NEVER, no not ever, bothered to actually follow an online workout plan for 7 days straight…maybe there is some kind of subliminal message in this workout program. And in other news I was actually way worse at doing the video by itself without a run first.
Day 8
Well there goes the streak! After we travelled all day to the beach to do my long run, I didn’t have a tabata left in me, but I did switch over to another DailyBurn program for Pilates. I am hand down in love with that program and you’ll be seeing more of it.
Day 9
Nope didn’t get my HIIT workout in today either instead I used the DailyBurn full lower body mobility video which was phenomenal after my run and followed it up with the TRX.
Day 10
All righty, back on track, look at that! Having finished up today, I can now say I am actually enjoying these workouts in a very weird painful way, but they aren’t a good fit with a high volume running plan for me personally.
I think we all want to believe we are going to stick to a program exactly as designed and want to push our boundaries, which his why these keep being created. But I also believe we have to find what best works for our personality and life.
Daily Burn BlackFire FAQS
How much is Daily Burn per month?
Would I recommend it for runners?
Yes. I just wouldn’t recommend it during the middle of a training cycle. I think if you are doing some easy runs, you can still do these workouts without overtaxing the body…doing speed workouts and long runs on this schedule is a little harder.
Who should do it?
While I bemoaned how hard it is, the truth is it will be hard for everyone from a beginner to an advanced athlete, which is exactly the beauty of body weight and HIIT workouts. The intensity level is driven by you and for whatever reason a burpee is just always F**king hard.
What does it involve?
Burpees, lunges, squats, push ups, plyometrics <<< these in a wide variety of variations to keep your brain and body in a complete state of meltdown. HA! Bob does a great job of keeping you motivated throughout the entire workout, whether it is a HIIT or tabata style.
Will I be doing it?
Yes, I’m going to throw some of these workouts in as cross training. BUT I’m going to use the Pilates program that DailyBurn has after my runs now instead of Blackfire. I mean I hated it and loved it, which I still have yet to figure out…it’s actually a little reminiscent of how I felt when I first started running!
Burpees – love or hate??
How well do you stick to online programs?
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