80 Day Obsession: What is it & is it realistic for weight loss?

Author: Stephanie Santoro

If you’re tapped into the world of diet and exercise, you’re probably familiar with a program called 80 Day Obsession. What’s it all about? Do you literally have to become obsessed to do it? Is it realistic for healthy weight loss? 

As we’ll see, the answers to these questions are mixed. The 80 Day Obsession program is a product put out by Beachbody that requires extreme dedication to a prescribed workout regimen and strict portion control eating for 13 weeks. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect: 

80 Day Obsession meal prep

Meal preparation is a huge part of the 80 Day Obsession plan. Get ready to set aside time for serious meal prep each week, and mentally prepare yourself for the proactive steps required to make this happen. First off, if you’re not already a Beachbody customer of some sort, you may not know about the color coded portion control containers. You’ll need to order a set or pick one up from a Beachbody sales representative. After that you’ll need to use the 80 Day Obsession meal prep guidelines and containers to plan your weekly trips to the market. 

Once you have your containers in hand, it’s important to do an initial review of the overall guidelines to ensure you’re ready for your first week. There’s also a timing aspect to properly synchronize portioned meals and workouts. And all of it needs to be understood in advance to avoid mistakes and setbacks. 

Extra gear you’ll need for 80 Day Obsession

In addition to the $99 subscription fee for 80 Day Obsession and the color coded portion control containers, the program requires you also have Beachbody’s meal replacement shakes and some light exercise equipment. Beachbody provides a bundle option for a couple hundred dollars that includes the extras if you need them. 

It’s called 80 Day Obsession for a reason

Check out their website and they’ll tell you upfront: The 80 Day Obsession program requires you to obsessively commit to 80 Day Obsession to fully succeed at it. The 80 days of workouts are anywhere from 45 minutes to one hour each and work hand-in-hand with the “timed-nutrition” concept of eating at strategic times to complement the workouts.  

80 Day Obsession is not for beginners

The 80 Day Obsession program requires a certain level of fitness ability. If you’re not already intermediate-to-advanced in your exercise routine, you’ll struggle to participate. You’ll need to follow the prescribed workouts six days per week with one day of rest day until you’ve done 80 workouts – and they are increasingly more challenging from day to day and week to week. Modifiers for certain moves and routines are available for the workouts, but they do not lower the intensity to a beginner level. 

In addition to the high level of intensity and commitment to working out six days per week for this 80-day program, the 80 Day Obsession eating method is also quite challenging. You have to be organized and prepared to base your whole lifestyle around the schedule you’ll adapt while on this program.

The program wasn’t developed by a registered dietitian

Expert celebrity trainer Autumn Calabrese developed 80 Day Obsession. Unfortunately, that means the meal planning element of the program is not backed by any scientific stamp of approval. 

RDs have extensive scientific research-based schooling and fieldwork in nutrition. They also go through rigorous testing and continued education to qualify for and maintain their license. In addition to being the most scientific and extensively trained nutrition professionals, the RD license is the only one recognized by the United States federal government. In other words, if you’re going to follow a diet or nutrition program, you’d be smart to find one that’s RD-approved.

What happens when the 80 days are up?

80 Day Obsession is a quick-fix intensive program that promises results if followed down to every detail. You’re likely to be left with more tone, definition, and weight loss. But what about after that? The Beachbody brand will undoubtedly try to sell you another weight loss management system or lifestyle scheme to keep you as a subscriber and offer various solutions that aren’t personalized to your needs.

Unfortunately, this means that finishing the 80 Day Obsession plan will probably result in you gaining back any weight you lost. That’s the problem with diets – eventually they end, and you’re back where you began. What diets can’t do is tackle the behavior or psychological matters that can lead to weight gain in the first place. For that, you need Noom.

Long-term, sustainable results

At Noom, we can support any diet or weight loss strategy you choose (even the 80 Day Obsession). But what we really want is to see you achieve your health goals in a sustainable way. For us, that means doing away with dieting and quick-fix, obsessive schemes that ultimately lead to problematic yo-yo dieting. 

With personalized coaching, meal planning help, certified experts on staff, and the support of an entire community behind you, Noom can create the long-term change you’re looking for. At heart, it’s about transforming your relationship with food and your own body. Come learn what we have to offer – no obsession required.