FITNESS ZONE
Parrot Review: SHIFT SHOP
New to the Beachbody lineup is Chris Downing who makes his grand entrance with Shift Shop, a workout that is as fun to do as it is to say three times fast.
So far it’s been a good round checking out Beachbody on Demand…the camel excrement known as YouV2 notwithstanding. Shaun Week, while a great system, still had a made for BOD feel to it. Shift Shop looks to appeal to the online-streaming and DVD consumer alike.
What you get:
I’m viewing this on BOD so all materials are online. The floor markers are available as a printable item so absolutely go that route because at $20 US ( not including shipping ) you would have more money than brains to buy what is effectively 4 plastic plates you could get at a dollar store.
Pay specific attention to the diet guide as carb reduction is key to the success of this system which leans heavily into Paleo-diet territory. It is split into 3 weeks: Week one you eat good clean food. Week two cuts back the starch and increases proteins. Week three is starch/legume free and your odds of committing a violent felony increase exponentially.
Speed 25
Immediately the set and style hearkens back to Asylum days with having to put markers on the ground in lieu of an agility ladder. The set too has a track and field vibe to it but the similarities with Asylum don’t go much beyond that.
SS kicks off with a general potpourri of running, slide stepping, crawls and mountain climbers. No repetition of moves and each one lasts for 60 seconds. None of the motions are particularly inspired and should be within the skill set of most people. I would put the difficulty level of this one on par with T25 Alpha Cardio or Hard Corps Cardio 2.
Strength 25
Take care of what you choose for a weight as each move goes for a solid minute. This goes from top to bottom with push ups, squats, rows, curls, planks…yup, total body folks. As such this had a very 22 Minute Hard Corps vibe to it. Be prepared for a cardio workout as a sweet byproduct. Chris makes a comical reference to his calves and how the make him look like SpongeBob. All things considered, he’s probably got little to worry about.
Speed 35
For week two we begin to add some intensity and move from one round to two. Also, the two markers on the floor are increased to three.
Keep in mind that there is also some behind the scenes action going on with your decreased carbohydrate intake, so the fact that this might not be up to Max 30 standards is probably a good thing. Dropping carbs when you’re accustomed to higher levels can turn one into a raving nut-job during transition. I already eat less carbs than normal, but even then I could stand to cut back on the occasional banana smothered in peanut butter and home-made chocolate crafted by my wife’s loving hands and…AARRRGH!!!! Outta my way!!
Strength 35
Two rounds so grab a light and medium set of weights. The first round moves are 1 minute whereas the second are 45 seconds. They seem to want to drop weight for second round, but I would think just the opposite should be done. Then again, I’m just a guy on the Internet.
The motions are also more complex. Instead of just curls or squats, you now have combo moves such as Squat Curl Presses and Push-up Rows.
Speed 45
It is here where we begin to have what I consider to be serious workouts for the Speed series. Speed 35 was good and 25 was well…pretty darn easy all things considered. Now we add better plyo and more time making Speed 45 worthy of the Shift Shop mantle.
Strength 45
Three rounds of work with one minute moves that alternate between upper and lower body: Lunges, rows, curls, planks, kickbacks. The format is almost a spitting image of 22 Minute Hard Corps circuit training style.
Shift Core
Time: 13 minutes
Nine 1 minute ab workouts. I have mixed feelings about 60 second ab moves. On one hand, it’s a goal to aspire to so that get to be the cool Dad with the six-pack at the next beach party I’ll never be invited to. Yet on the other, I find myself conking out early and waiting for the next move as the clock ticks.
Shift Mobility
Sweet, Chris has a warm-up outfit almost as dorky as mine. So get comfy and prepare to do a little yoga, a little stretching and have a break from the grind.
Bonus: Super Speed 50
4 markers and a sandbag for a circuit cardio butt whooping that will target the chest and legs above all. While the fast motions are hard enough, adding weight to plyo takes it to another level. Without the weight it’s great for someone needing to modify, but with it the heart works overtime. While the sandbag would have certain advantages, if you’re careful and creative you can get away with some common dumb-bells.
Bonus: Super Strength 50
Hope you ate your Wheaties because you’re in for a long haul.
I can see how maybe having the sandbag AND some good old dumb-bells on standby would be an asset. Weights allow for better progress tracking while the sandbag allows the opportunity to spend hard earned money on a bag of dirt. Either way, you’re going to alternate between upper and lower for a good while.
Bonus: Super Shift Core
Time: 15 minutes
Take everything you like about planks and crunches then add a sandbag to the mix. Sixty second moves that will make you feel like you got sucker-punched in the gut by a rouge motorcycle. A dumb-bell or medicine ball can substitute in a pinch if need be.
CONCLUSION
I initially assumed Shift Shop would be a more focused workout series rather than an intermediate-level total body circuit program. As it turns out it, despite its appearance it has more in common with 22 Minute Hard Corps than Asylum; although it certainly uses ideas from both. From a difficulty perspective it falls between the two. That means if you’ve finished 22MHC or something equivalent yet don’t feel quite ready for a Shaun T-level ass kicking, this will fill the void nicely.
Chris is a capable trainer with an effective communication style. Not a lot of joking like Tony, no double negatives like Shaun T and not talking about himself in the third person like Sagi. In other words, he speaks like an articulate human being. I rolled my eyes a few times over the “not judging you” pep-talk that I’ve been seeing pop up with increasing regularity amongst trainers. My advice: knock it off already. If I get to the point where I need to be treated like a Berkeley snowflake then just use your best bullet to put me out of my misery.
So, the big question: Does Shift Shop work? Yes, it absolutely excels at total body functional fitness. It does not however provide huge strength gains due to weights never getting past a medium range. So if you want to be all-around strong, fit and lose weight then this will do that. If you want to add some mass to your guns, maybe create a hybrid with heavier weight training.
Also a huge factor is the diet. The general consensus out there is that going Paleo is probably not a bad idea…especially for a carbohydrate obsessed Western culture that would benefit by stepping away from the chips. Shift Shop moves you into hard core territory fairly quick as by week 3 carbs are limited to fruits and vegetables only. Even if you cannot commit to going hardcore, I would feel safe to say even a 60% reduction will transform your life ( and midsection ) all by itself. So do what you can.
The score for Shift Shop is 4.5 Feathers out of 5. I see this as a very promising start for Chris Downing and predict him becoming a rising star among the Beachbody roster. Shift Shop is a solid circuit-style workout series and I would absolutely like to see Chris tackle something a bit more resistance focused with his next outing.
Jenny Germain
December 11, 2017 at
Hi! How do you feel this compares to 21 Day Fix Extreme? I have about 25 pounds to lose and I’m trying to decide between Shift Shop and 21DFX. I completed 1 month of Insanity Max 30 but had to stop because it was too much on my knees. Thanks.
Dysfunctional Parrot
December 11, 2017 at
Although Shift Shop has a flashier appearance, I would almost think 21DFX would have the better results. There’s more resistance training in 21DFX so I give it the edge. Yes, Max 30 can be a bit rough on the knees. If it’s much don’t even consider the original Insanity as it had no mercy on the joints whatsoever.
Ktb
November 10, 2017 at
I am currently giving this a try and I honestly just don’t like it. I feel like BB workouts are becoming a reach, especially trying so hard to come up with innovative moves and workouts. But there’s only so much variation until it becomes either too hard or just not fun. I really like Chris Downing, but not liking this workout. And yes, kind of a recycled 22MHC. All the planks, bear crawls, mtn climbers etc just get annoying along with the yelling to push harder, keep going etc etc. In fact, I gave Slim in 6 a try in late summer and ended up doing it for over 90 days because of the amazing results in endurance and strength I got. And the sweating!! Dear God gallons with every workout. I thought it was going to be an easy beginner workout, but I was SO wrong. Definitely not a workout if you want to build jumbo muscles, but if you want to lean out while building a decent amount of muscle, it’s a great workout. But…..BB has to try to stay relevant and fresh so clearly things like 80 Day Obsession and other HIIT and tricky move filled workouts are going to be the thing now.
Karoline Bendix Bräuner
October 28, 2017 at
Love your reviews! Do you think this would suit as follow up after Insanity Max 30 (on my second round). I’m gonna do Autumns “A Little Obsessed” between month 1 and 2 of Max 30, but before 80 Day Obsession i will have some time on my hands. Concidered Shift Shop, but i dont like the huge amount of space it needs. I have also done Asylum, so I’m in pretty good shape?
Thanks in advance :)
Dysfunctional Parrot
October 30, 2017 at
I think it would be a good way to shake things up after a Max 30 round. You certainly won’t loose any gains that’s for sure. Despite its appearance, you can shrink the footprint required for Shift Shop quite a bit if you modify slightly.
Karoline Bendix Bräuner
October 30, 2017 at
Would you recommend this over 22 Min Hard Corps for Max 30 grads? :) And thx for reply
Dysfunctional Parrot
October 31, 2017 at
Yes. 22MHC is probably not going to challenge you like Shift Shop will, especially if you came out of Max 30.
Anass Cherkaoui
September 18, 2017 at
Hi Mr Parrot!! First off all i want to thank you for all the great work that you’re doing i’m a huge fan of all your reviews.
I have i question and i hopre that you’re going to help me, i’m overweighted (+45LBS) and i just knew that we gonna have a baby and i want want the fastest solution to get in shape, wich workout could you recommend to me i want my son to be proud of me.
i will really appriciate your help. i have access to all the programs that you reviewed on you site
Bonnie
September 26, 2017 at
Would love to know your comment on this as well…..I basically need someone to tell me what to do and what to eat….However, I am NOT rich and would cry if someone smacked food out of my hand….I too really appreciate your input and its BONUS you aren’t a coach pushing to make a buck……
Dysfunctional Parrot
September 26, 2017 at
That’s the real rub with paleo…it’s expensive. Proteins as a rule are far more expensive than carbs. The only way I find to get around it is to find some farmer friends where you can get eggs and meat for wholesale prices rather than getting gouged for retail. I see it as either eating well and spending the money on food, or eating bad and spending it on prescription drugs down the road.
Amanda Schroeder
September 17, 2017 at
Off-topic comment: I love your phrase “A Berkeley snowflake” – I haven’t heard such an apt description in a long time; it made me laugh out loud!
Elchupinazo
September 15, 2017 at
Does anyone else feel like BB’s getting kinda… lazy with their products? The older, DVD-based programs seemed like you got a ton of different workouts, usually around 12 and even more in P90X3, I think. But everything after MHC seems like you get 2-3 workouts and that’s it. P90 is especially guilty of this, as is 22 Min HC. And now, this. 2 workouts to do over and over again until the next step, and then it’s the same thing all over again.
The variety was what kept you (or at least) me sane over the course of a program. I have BOD now, so I can do my own thing, but I would go nuts if I were trying to complete P90 all the way through, for example. The feature weeks have been pretty good so far (Sagi Week is killer but God, what a mess those productions are), and Autumn’s 80 day pilates/barre program looks promising for those who are into that. If it’s actually 80 different workouts (which I think it might be, since they’re saying they’ll be released one at a time), that would be an impressive feat.
I understand that it’s hard to reinvent the wheel over and over, and there’s so much on BOD that it’s impossible to say it’s not a phenomenal value. It would just be nice if BB didn’t completely give up on their commitment to thoughtful, high quality, effective workout programs.
Here’s hoping for Body Beast 2, someday.
Dysfunctional Parrot
September 15, 2017 at
I do have a bit of a concern that productions might take a “straight to streaming” approach. Shaun Week for example was good, but no way the production values were on par with Max 30.
Elchupinazo
September 15, 2017 at
Agreed, the production values don’t (for me at least) affect the quality of the workouts themselves. Shaun week I think had some good takes on older concepts, and I could care less that the set was a little shoddy or that Shaun has gray in his beard (!!) now.
If you haven’t gotten to Sagi week yet though, whew. Great workouts, but he’s all over the place and clearly doesn’t always know what’s coming next or where he’s at in the workout. I read somewhere that he’s dyslexic and has ADD, so maybe it’s tough for him to follow a polished script. Still, not comforting when he forgets how much weight he’s supposed to be using.
Raj
November 7, 2017 at
I don’t mind the repeating within week style–the older 90 days workouts would repeat week to week, change for month 2, and then do a hybrid for month three. This is a progression week to week. This is six workouts meant to be done over three weeks–p90x was 10 workouts over 13 weeks (I’m excluding the short abs/core and stretch that both have, and Cardio X which isn’t part of the schedule and no one seems to like). Basically, you can combine this with Shaun week or hard labour to get P90x level number of options. P90X3 admittedly is remarkably diverse in its offerings, but even that was just a hybrid of previous weeks in its third month. You compared to P90 and 22MinHC and they are all similar programs with a resistence/cardio alternative scheme–except p90 was meant to be done over 90 days, and 22MHC over 60 days–shift shop is only 21 days despite having similar numbers of workouts to the other two programs. The good thing is that they are very easy to combine together, giving you a total of 12 circuit resistance and 12 varied cardio options (when you add the bonus workouts) as well as some core options.
Bonnie Worrick
September 14, 2017 at
Would you recommend this over T25 and Max 30? Did you see results? Noticeable ones
Dysfunctional Parrot
September 15, 2017 at
I didn’t see results per se, but there’s probably a reason for that.
I work out pretty regularly so doing another system isn’t going to shake my body up that much. The last system that rocked my world was P90X2 as I saw noticeable results. Live to Fail by Dailyburn was pretty badass too. I also already eat a mostly paleo-ish diet so there’s not a lot of change there either. Honestly, my food intake is more unique than a Koala bear.
More often than not I concern myself with workouts that are fluff and waste several weeks of my training. YouV2 was almost like doing nothing at all and had to find time to get my regular workouts in to compensate.
BONNIE
September 26, 2017 at
Would LOVE to hear your take on paleo-ish diet….I have more food sensitivity then any average person it seems and I went Whole 30 and wow – the bloat disappeared and I was SOOOOO close to flat stomach again in like well FOREVER…..
pLUS — 21 DAY (WHICHEVER) VS SHIFT SHOP???
Dysfunctional Parrot
September 26, 2017 at
I’m a fan of paleo eating as for the most part I think it gets it right. I too have food sensitivities that can be a serious pain. Gluten makes me feel swollen, soy will make cysts grow on my face ( yeah…fun ). Paleo seems to be the one diet that covers the bases for me. Thankfully my wife is a wizard in the kitchen and has saved my bacon.
Speaking of bacon, I’m also kosher so that’s another level of complexity. However, despite these obstacles I eat amazingly diverse food with fresh spices, quality meats and a lot of home grown garden produce. I’m a total pain in the ass to have over for diner though.
Bonnie Stewart Worrick
November 10, 2017 at
that is rich….No one likes when I tag along for dinner….I have to inspect all aspects of the dinner….Thanks for your input….I have gone paleo and the bloat and all out feeling of grossness is almost a gone deal….I really enjoy your inputs – Thanks.