I’ve had loads of excuses for not getting fit before but Les Mills’ ‘The Works’ bundle means I can’t stop exercising

I DON’T think I’m someone to look for excuses but… I’ve had so many excuses why I struggle to get – and stay – fit. Can’t find the time to get to the gym, too busy looking after two kids, same old exercises get boring after a while, I never seem to be getting any fitter, I’m always getting injured… the list goes on. The Works bundle includes the adjustable Smartbar and Smartstep The range of classes available in the bundle is endless and covers everything from strength and cardio to flexibility and recovery Credit: Photographer: Finn Cochran But I think I’ve found something that destroys pretty much every obstacle to getting fitter – whatever your lifestyle, fitness levels or preferred way of working out. Les Mills’ The Works bundle has changed the way I exercise – and it’s so versatile my partner has been converted too (even the kids join in sometimes). Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Most people who have been to a gym will have heard of the international fitness giant, named after the late New Zealand athlete Les Mills. Their Body Pump classes are legendary, combining carefully choreographed weights and cardio routines, led by teachers whose enthusiasm cannot fail to inspire you. The Works bundle allows you to carry out those classes at your home whenever you fancy, and so much more besides. The equipment consists of a “Smartbar” – a durable barbell with Les Mills’ unique “gator” teeth design that makes switching different weight plates seemless and rapid – vital for classes such as Body Pump where lots of weight changes are needed. There is also 17kg of various weight plates which you can interchange for the seemingly endless list of programmes available. My first impression was that I would need more weights if I was to get buff. Most read in Sport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS QUICKFIRE Q&A How much is The Works bundle? It is now available for £679.99, down from £921.82. Delivery is free and it can be paid for in installments. Who is it best for? The beauty of The Works and all the different classes mean there is something for everyone, whatever your starting level of fitness and your exercise goals. What we loved about it: So many things – the equipment feels reallly robust and well built, and is perfect for the classes when you need to switch weights a lot. And the range of classes, it’s phenomenal how much you can do. What we didn’t love: The initial cost is high, and you may need to add more weights if you’re looking to ultimately build massive muscle. But after trying numerous classes, including the specific Strength Development Programmes, the plates provided (in 1kg, 2.5kg and 5kg plates) are plenty to make a huge impact due to the high volume of reps that is key to Les Mills training. There’s also the Smart Step box, which has three different heights and can be used as a bench – it even inclines – or for step-up exercises. The Works also includes a reversible yoga mat – which can be flipped over for more intense exercise – and a clevely designed Smartband that is perfect for the huge range of flexibility classes on offer (Yes, it’s not just about strength and cardio, the range of classes for helping tired muscles recover and stretch means you could get use out of the Works pretty much every day of the year if you wanted to) Crucially, the package includes a year’s subscription to over 2,000 Les Mills workouts, which can be accessed via the app or on the website, meaning you will never get bored or lack fresh inspiration. There is no doubt the Works’ £679.99 price tag – now of offer from the usual price of just over £900 – is a huge initial outlay. But when you consider that the average UK gym membership is around £50 a month, this can work out as brilliant long-term value. The equipment is yours forever, and the range of classes mean your whole family could save on gym fees. I must admit, the sheer volume of options can seem overwhelming at first. But the clever filter systems means you can easily find classes that target your fitness goals, fitness levels and suit the time you have to work out. The instructors will push you to the limit… but still leave you coming back for more Credit: Photographer: Finn Cochran The patented Smartbar makes swapping weights during classes effortless Credit: Les Mills Being pretty much a novice to exercise classes, bar a few circuit training and yoga sessions years ago, I doubted if I could benefit from remote video sessions. I was also sceptical having been a child of the 80s and watching my mum and sister struggle with Jane Fonda VHS tapes. (I was never going to get a pair of leg warmers on). But before diving into the full workouts with for example Body Attack – brutal cardio depending on how crazy you want to go – Body Balance or Body Pump, you can complete the instruction videos that talk you through every move in tiny detail. It means the worries I had about not getting feedback from an actual human on my form and posture soon evaporated. And even when you kick off the classes for real, the instructors constantly remind you of the correct methods and dangers to avoid. I was quite amazed how they can simultaneously find the right tone for absolute beginners and hardened gym bunnies. That’s not to say they won’t push you to the limit, whoever you are. I nearly collapsed with their cries of “Time to fight for your fitness” ringing in my ears during one Body Attack class. Part of the beauty of the Works bundle is that its not just about pushing yourself to the limit every time. It also offers brilliant recovery opportunites through, for example, the yoga and stretch programmes using the Smartband and mat, while the cardio options seem to grow every time I log on. And the instructors will encourage you to mix it up too, ensuring the body is given time to recover, even if you’re mind is telling you to log on to another Body Pump the next day. The yoga mat is reversible and can be used for heavy duty exercise too Credit: Les Mills The versatile Smartstep is adjustable and can be used as a bench as well And if having to choose different classes all the time seems frightening rather than fun, you can instead pick one of the many specific programmes that you can follow to fulfill your own personal goals. For those with limited time and hectic, irregular schedules, having these classes at your fingertips means you can almost always find a way to squeeze in some type of exercise when you need it. You can even filter sesssions by how long you have, or which part of your body you want to work out. The flexibilty and variety of classes mean there really is no reason not to exercise, while the equipment makes it so easy and fun to perform the required routines. The quick returns in terms of physical improvement also inspire you to keep pushing. Yes, the intial price seems a lot, but the cost can be spread out in installments. And yes, the instructors’ singing can be a bit much. But the bundle will not just get you fit for the summer. It will get you – and your whole family – fit the whole year round. There really are no excuses anymore…. Comment now