The Lyss Method V2

TLM was recommended to me by my physical therapist as a great alternative to working with a personal trainer and I am so glad I followed up on it. I LOVE this app. For lifting, it meets me where I am, equipment wise (set of dumbbells, resistance bands, and KBs), but can take me further should i decide i want to go there (barbells, etc). The running programs are the first ever that didn’t push me too hard or too fast (hello, Runna), as can be attested by the fact that i have now trained for a half marathon without landing back in the PT’s office. I feel stronger than I’ve ever felt, extremely well-supported by the trainers who check in with me and are available for questions and form checks, and encouraged by the other users who participate in the optional group forums…this is a seriously positive and uplifting group of people. All that said…there’s a pretty steep learning curve with just figuring out how the app works, where to find resources within it, and generally acclimating to the interface. Probably took me about a month of daily use before I felt like I had the lay of the land. Also, I’m not sure this is a good fit for the complete novice or person interested in a couple moderate workouts/week. There are short (fantastic) technique videos to support every program, and expertly designed training programs for all levels, including beginners…but there are no video classes. This is not the place to go if you’re looking for a fully guided, 30-60min workout video, à la Apple Fitness+ or Peloton. This is a place to go for science-backed, serious, long term training programs. That’s what I needed and I’m done shopping around.

I’ve been a happy TLM member since 2020 in the days you’d have to set a reminder to sign up because spots were limited. Since using TLM, I’ve successfully ran my first half marathon in 2021, hiked many miles across the country, started strength training, & built the fitness to say “Yes” to different things in life. The coaches are super helpful making sure you’re set up with the correct programming & making adjustments if necessary. They’ll also provide form feedback to ensure you’re doing your lifts correctly. Community spaces allow you to ask questions & get answers for different fitness related things. There’s also a vast list of resources. If you’re considering TLM, I’d tell you to try it out!

I had three months of access to The Lyss Method (TLM) and, as a seasoned and consistent exerciser who has tried many different programs, I couldn’t make it past four weeks. I tried two of the programs offered—METCON and LIFESTYLE—but neither met my expectations. Although TLM is marketed as an “at-home workout” program, it requires an extremely robust home gym setup to follow along properly. Equipment like barbells, lots of plates, hex bars, benches, and other items are often necessary—none of which I have. I own 12 sets of dumbbells and a bench, which I believe is a solid foundation for home workouts, but it still wasn’t sufficient for these programs. The cardio programming was another letdown. For the METCON program, the “cardio” warmups often consisted of a 5-minute video of someone biking on a stationary bike or similar instructions like “ROW for this long” or “RUN for this many minutes.” The cardio “library” was similar—while there were a few actual follow-along cardio classes, much of it was uninspiring and felt like filler. Watching someone bike for five minutes as “programming” felt underwhelming and unhelpful. The LIFESTYLE program also felt inaccessible without all the equipment required for the at-home version. Despite the hype surrounding TLM, I found the programs overcomplicated for a home gym setup, overhyped in terms of what they deliver, and overpriced for what you actually get. Overall, I was disappointed with TLM and would not recommend it, especially to those looking for truly accessible and functional at-home workouts. There are other programs out there that offer much more value, flexibility, and thoughtfulness in their design.