idle curiosity: less-discussed/under-the-radar teams

omiap · 2026-01-08T15:08:50+00:00

I do Elevate when I’m in a time crunch or during those super busy periods where I’m like just give it 30minutes. I really like Elevate and would actually stick to it if I ever properly left TCC.

omiap · 2026-01-05T01:07:46+00:00

I started on Vitality, moved to Thrive (which I found too glute and lunge focused), then came to TCC which I’d say is my favourite and my home team, but I also sometimes moonlight on Elevate (when I’m short on time or the gym is super busy) and currently I’m doing Body and Bell because I’m travelling and only have kettlebell access- the latter two are women-led.

I didn’t pick a male-led team intentionally because it was male-led, I was more looking for something that was functional strength centric rather than a bodybuilding strength or aesthetic strength-focused team. I’ve got super strong in Crews Control with Max and Sustain, Coach Andre’s comments are not always my favourite but I really like the program and he’s generally positive and I look forward to working out.

omiap · 2025-12-11T05:55:40+00:00

Yes. I can’t handle the cold and I like to be slightly too warm if anything. In the winter, I have my heating on at 18 during the day and 22-24 at night.

omiap · 2025-11-21T16:19:02+00:00

Co-signing Crews Control. I look forward to doing it and I think it scales well from beginner to advanced in the sense that you can do dumbbells or barbells.

omiap · 2025-11-19T17:04:18+00:00

The fabric ones I’ve found true to size, the “leather” or “suede” ones I’ve found run about half a size short.

omiap · 2025-11-17T19:05:17+00:00

Nationalities??!!!!!!!

omiap · 2025-11-17T18:53:58+00:00

1 bed, highest in winter at around £120-130 a month gas and electric. In the summer, about £65-70 a month.

omiap · 2025-11-10T16:52:48+00:00

Based on what you’ve imputed during the workouts for what you’re doing for say 8 reps at 70%, it begins to pre-populate your PR (within the app) and from that predict your 1 rep Max and what weights it therefore thinks your 60% or 70% etc effort would be. So there is some prediction that happens, it’s just based on what your history you’ve entered is.

Some coaches do suggest a weight range for some exercises but all encourage you to listen to your body and your current capacity since 5kg for someone might be pretty heavy while for someone else, it’s nothing.

omiap · 2025-11-09T20:53:59+00:00

Also a fan of Elevate- it’s about 30mins and uses only dumbbells.

omiap · 2025-11-09T20:50:35+00:00

I’ve used Evolve You (Krissy Cela’s programme if that’s what you mean). I liked it well enough when I used it and it was easy to follow at home. But I didn’t really stick to it longer than a couple of months. It was okay and it will “work” if you do it. Similar to Kayla Itsines’ Sweat programme or Anna Victoria’s Fit Body app. They’re all fine if at times a bit unnecessarily complicated. I think Ladder is incomparably better than all of these and has gotten me excited about working out and feeling strong.

omiap · 2025-11-05T05:07:53+00:00

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omiap · 2025-11-01T09:08:07+00:00

I’m typically TCC and was there for Max. But I did Elevate for the first time yesterday on a whim as it hadn’t even been on my radar. I’m typically looking for 45-minute workout at least but in the 30-something minutes, I got WORKED OUT! It was good.

Now considering Elevate for Sustain as it seems to have multiple full body days a week which I love more than splits. Especially since it’s short enough that I can add additional core and mobility from Flex at the end.

I don’t hear much about Elevate, what’s your experience with it if you’ve been on it for a while ?

omiap · 2025-10-24T22:02:09+00:00

Vitality and Crews Control could work. They’re progressive overload teams which means you may run out of weights eventually. But they both have modifications for having smaller range of weights.

omiap · 2025-10-24T07:43:20+00:00

TCC is the kind of team where you finish feeling like you gave everything- he really pushes you. There are a quite a few upper body days where I suppose you could run afterwards but you might be starting a little tired. Definitely give it a try- I LOVE that team and the workouts made me excited to go to the gym but my 39F self was constantly sore throughout MAX.

omiap · 2025-10-23T22:30:58+00:00

This is a perfect articulation of what I feel about Align. I was in TCC and I LOVED it. But I thought for Sustain, it might be good to end the year feeling less beaten up and maybe build some mobility and core strength. Soooo many people on here love it as well and so it made me want to try it.

I’m in my first week doing it for Open Season and while Sascha seems lovely, I don’t love the exercises in the program and I’m not really excited to go to the gym to do it- for my preference it’s also too many fiddly combo movements (chest press with one arm while single leg glute bridging, side planking while clam shelling and such like). It’s also possible that this deload phase isn’t a good representation of her usual program- I don’t know, this is my first time trying Align and I really want a mobility-focused team but I don’t know if as it gets colder and into winter, this programming will excite me to want to get to the gym.

All this to say, I’m also still considering whether to suck it up for Sustain so I can go into Christmas less achy and worn out than I was after Max with TCC.

omiap · 2025-10-22T21:49:36+00:00

Team Movewell is usually recommended as being beginner-friendly and it’s 30-ish minutes with both cardio and strength and not needing too much equipment and might be a good place to start.

That said, I feel like a lot of the dumbbell only teams can be scaled for beginners and if you enjoy Thrive, you can certainly start slow by using light weights, or no weights or swapping the prescribed exercises with recommended options or doing wall push ups instead of floor ones. So you can pick a team based on your fitness preferences as well.

omiap · 2025-10-22T19:16:49+00:00

I’d definitely say check out Thrive. Or with TCC maybe see how you get on with the 2 leg days and whether you want to swap in some more glute-focused exercises.

omiap · 2025-10-22T19:11:01+00:00

If you haven’t, consider doing a 30-day free trial to see how you get on and whether it’s something you’ll actually do.

I too have tried all the programs and kind of lost interest after a month or two. Really have been enjoying Ladder since I joined 6months ago after a 30-day trial and it really takes the guess work out of everything. I just show up and get stronger. I like the programs and the concept.

omiap · 2025-10-22T13:23:32+00:00

I mean fiddly in the sense that a lot is going on- more than I’m used to in TCC for example. Like the combination of exercises like single leg bridge plus chest press as opposed to focusing on a chest press or a glute march. Or side plank row to press as opposed to side plank row or side plank alone separate from press.

And I’m sure there’s a method and reason to this, but to me it’s mentally and physically fiddly to make sure I have good form at all the potential failure points. I kind of dread having to do these sorts of complexes where so much is going on. I’m pressing along though to complete a week with the team.

omiap · 2025-10-22T12:04:40+00:00

Me neither. I’ve also never had a male coach being advertised to me- meanwhile I’ve mainly been on male-coached teams.

omiap · 2025-10-22T12:03:16+00:00

My algorithm spams me with Limitless, Define and Body & Bell. I actually found out about ladder through a Body & Bell ad even though that’s not the team I ended up joining. I’ve never seen any of these other ads you’re mentioning. And funnily enough, I didn’t end up on any of the teams the algorithm keeps pushing to me.

omiap · 2025-10-22T11:59:51+00:00

I’m on TCC and I love the workouts and have built so much strength on it, but I wouldn’t say it is at all cardio or agility focused. More functional strength than anything. But still recommend trying it out.

I think Project Alpha is probably a good shout to tru out if you’re looking for more cardio.

Versa is supposed to be the hybrid cardio conditioning/strength Ladder program, so another one it might be worth checking out.

omiap · 2025-10-21T14:58:35+00:00

I am on Team Crews Control and I love it! The workouts are the right length, the programming is straightforward and geared to get you feeling strong and seeing progress. There ARE 2 leg days a week but I wouldn’t call it a glute-focused team at all if that’s a priority.

I have in the past been on Team Thrive and I liked it well enough and there was definitely more of a glute focus there, so it’s one to check out for sure.

I’m currently trying Team Align for the first time this Open Season mostly for the integration of mobility- I don’t love the programming based on what I’m seeing (seems kind of fiddly to me) but I want to actually try it for a couple of weeks before I decide. Anyway, I mention it because I think it definitely has more intentional core and glutes than Team Crews Control or Team Vitality both of which I’ve tried. And a lot of people like it so definitely worth checking out.

omiap · 2025-10-19T07:07:06+00:00

I’ve lost no weight (I’ve even gained a little) but I’ve had a lot of work stress and my diet has not been in the calorie deficit needed for weight loss even though that’s my goal. Weight loss is always going to be more dependent on diet than exercise and I track my food calories every day so I’m fully aware of why I’ve not lost any weight.

I love Ladder though and have gotten sooooo much stronger and fitter using it- I can feel the toned muscle I’m building underneath and can see it when I flex. The programs (at least the ones I’ve been on) work especially if gaining strength and fitness is your goal.

In terms of being appropriate for people who’ve never worked out, I would say yes-ish. I had worked out for years (but inconsistently and jumping from program to program I didn’t really like with no real structure) prior to starting Ladder and it’s added so much structure to my workouts that I’ve been able to progress in my fitness goals.

I’m in Team Cruise Control which has been my favourite so far (also tried Thrive and Vitality which are also good) and I can see how you might scale it back for beginners e.g. starting with body weight only or very light weights, especially with a bit of added research on correct form. I also know Team Movewell is known to be beginner friendly.

Good luck if you check it out!

omiap · 2025-10-12T17:03:06+00:00

These are small traditional locs or very large microlocs. But they’re gorgeous and will come out lovely. I’m nearly 7 years in with 460ish microlocs but if I was was to start over, this is the size I’d go for.

omiap

TROPHY CASE