Okay, so, I’ve been seeing Pamela Reif’s workout videos all over the internet, and everyone’s like, “Oh, they’re amazing, they’ll change your life!” So, naturally, I had to give them a try. The title? “Pamela Hurts.” Yeah, that’s the vibe. Spoiler alert: it’s accurate.
Day One
I started this whole thing on a Monday, because why not begin the week with a little self-inflicted torture? I didn’t have much time, so I picked her classic six-minute six-pack workout. I vaguely remembered trying it a year ago and feeling the burn, so I thought, “How bad could it be?” Famous last words. I hit play, and let me tell you, those six minutes felt like an eternity. Each move was simple enough – crunches, leg raises, planks – but doing them back-to-back with no rest? Brutal. By the end, my abs were screaming, and I was pretty sure I’d made a terrible mistake.
Day Two
Woke up on Tuesday, and guess what? My abs were still on fire. But, I’m no quitter, so I decided to go for round two. This time, I found a 10-minute lower ab workout and even added some ankle weights. I mean, go big or go home, right? This workout was even more intense. The weights added a whole new level of pain, and I was seriously questioning my life choices. The moves were a mix of slow, controlled leg raises and rapid-fire pulses that just destroyed my core. I managed to finish, but I was a sweaty, shaking mess.
Day Three
Day three rolled around, and my body was not happy. I suffer from a bit of sciatica, so I gotta be careful with my lower back during ab workouts. I picked a different video, hoping it would be a bit gentler. Nope. This one had some moves that were definitely not sciatica-friendly. I modified a few exercises, but it was still tough as hell. Think long holds, slow burns, and a whole lot of shaking. My abs were feeling it, and so was my back. Not the best combo. But we had to go on.
Day Four
By Thursday, I was feeling the effects of this challenge big time. Even my morning run was a struggle because my core was so sore. But, in the name of experimentation, I powered through. I grabbed a dumbbell and picked another ab circuit. This one involved a lot of twisting and reaching, which, combined with the weight, was just killer. I was starting to feel like a human pretzel, and not in a good way. Every move felt like it was tearing my abs apart. I finished the workout, but I was pretty sure I was going to be sore for a week. Even after that five mile run, I still did it with a 7kg dumbbell! That was insane!
Day Five
TGIF, right? Wrong. It was time for another 10-minute ab workout. This one was all bodyweight, but don’t let that fool you. It started with crunches, which, by this point, felt like a cruel joke. Then it moved into a series of planks, leg raises, and other core-crushing moves, all with no breaks. It was like Pamela was trying to break me, and honestly, she was succeeding. I finished the workout, but I was pretty much dead inside.
- Takeaway #1: Pamela Reif’s workouts are no joke. They’re short, but they’re intense.
- Takeaway #2: Listen to your body. If something hurts in a bad way, modify or stop.
- Takeaway #3: Consistency is key, but so is rest. Your muscles need time to recover.
So, would I recommend these workouts? If you’re looking for a serious challenge and you’re already in pretty good shape, then yeah, give them a try. But if you’re a beginner, maybe start with something a little less intense. And whatever you do, don’t say I didn’t warn you. These workouts hurt, in the best and worst way possible.
Honestly, the stretching part after all the workouts was sometimes the best. The signature style of Pamela is so iconic, she just do it in her living room, and we follow her on screen, no matter you are on the train or on a yacht.
For the firmware update, I didn’t care that much. Although they say the new expanders will be available soon, I don’t really care that much.
HIIT is the ultimate time-savers if you want to burn fat fast, everyone says that. I just want to keep the exercise short and simple, so I can stick to it.
Will I keep doing Pamela Reif workouts? Maybe. But I definitely need a break first. My abs are still crying.
