Now, you may be wondering what 21 Day Fix is. Simply put, it's "Simple Fitness. Simple Eating. Fast Results. Now there's an easy-to-follow nutrition and fitness program that makes learning eating and portion control for weight loss simple. 21 Day Fix takes all the guesswork out of weight loss. There's no counting, no guessing, and no wondering. Just easy-to-follow portion control of clean, whole foods and one 30-minute workout per day." When I heard the part about not having to count calories or weight my food, I was in. I hated logging my food every day and being worried about going over my calorie limit. With 21 Day Fix, that wasn't an issue. As long as what I wanted to eat was on the list that corresponded with the container I was filling, and the food fit in the container, I could eat it! I was a little hesitant about the whole "portion controlled" aspect, but once I started planning out my meals, I realized I had A LOT of food to each every day! There ended up being days where I was shoving cottage cheese down my throat as I was getting ready for bed just so I could meet my quota for the day! So. Much. Food. Not complaining in the least, though!
The 30-minute workouts were also a huge selling point. I could start working out at 9 p.m. after the kids went to bed and by 9:30 I was done. I loved that idea! Insanity was fun, but I wasn't a big fan of working out for almost an hour at 9 p.m., sometimes later. I also liked the idea of starting to use Shakeology. I'd heard great things about how much it helps curb cravings and how amazingly healthy it is, so I decided to just go for it and give the whole thing a shot.
The 30-minute workouts were also a huge selling point. I could start working out at 9 p.m. after the kids went to bed and by 9:30 I was done. I loved that idea! Insanity was fun, but I wasn't a big fan of working out for almost an hour at 9 p.m., sometimes later. I also liked the idea of starting to use Shakeology. I'd heard great things about how much it helps curb cravings and how amazingly healthy it is, so I decided to just go for it and give the whole thing a shot.
So, on March 17th, we started our 21 Day Fix journey. Day one was exciting and I had no real problems avoiding things like sweets and coffee with sugar. Day two was a bit harder. The temptation to eat the cookies and gobs my grandma made was strong, but I stuck it out and turned them down. Day three was the hardest. However, I knew it was hard because my body was detoxing from all of the artificial sugars that I'd been consuming on a regular basis before, and I was essentially going through withdrawal. Day three was a dark day in my world, but as the days went by, it gradually got easier and easier to pass up things like chocolate chips and ice cream. I realized that I felt SO good about myself when I fought temptation and didn't cave. Each time I refused to cave, I got a little bit stronger and I slowly got to where I would briefly think about eating something unhealthy, then immediately dismiss the thought. The temptation was no longer there. By the end of the first week, I'd lost 3 pounds! Seeing those kind of immediate results were enough motivation to keep me going. It also helped having the challenge group to fall back on. I could go to them and post about feeling weak and having those cravings, and they would encourage me to stay strong and let me know that I wasn't alone in my dark little corner of "I-Need-Chocolate-Or-I'll-Die"ville. Knowing there were others struggling with me gave me the push I needed to walk away from the temptations. Having a whole group of people to hold me accountable turned out to be the whole reason I stuck with it the way that I did. Knowing I wouldn't just be letting myself down, but letting them down too was a huge motivator!
The nice part was, if the temptation was just too great and I HAD to have something sweet, the food plan allowed for that (within reason). It's specifically written into the plan that you can substitute one carb (yellow container) for a treat like chocolate chips or a glass of wine, and that can be done up to three times a week! So when I was feeling like I wouldn't survive without chocolate, I just rewrote my meal plan for the day and gave up my half bagel with peanut butter snack and had a small serving of mini dark chocolate chips instead. I felt satisfied that I got to have a treat, but not guilty or like I was somehow "cheating".
The nice part was, if the temptation was just too great and I HAD to have something sweet, the food plan allowed for that (within reason). It's specifically written into the plan that you can substitute one carb (yellow container) for a treat like chocolate chips or a glass of wine, and that can be done up to three times a week! So when I was feeling like I wouldn't survive without chocolate, I just rewrote my meal plan for the day and gave up my half bagel with peanut butter snack and had a small serving of mini dark chocolate chips instead. I felt satisfied that I got to have a treat, but not guilty or like I was somehow "cheating".
Shakeology quickly became my newest addiction. I honestly feel like I wouldn't know how to function without having it for breakfast every morning now. I did have to go a few days without it toward the end of the month, as I used the last of my month's supply on the day my new supply was shipped, so there were a few days' overlap. Those days I felt miserable. Just...awful. I was moody and tired and STARVING. I had next to no willpower when it came to food. Everything was fair game. Coming home to see that green box sitting on my kitchen table easily ranks as one of the greatest days of my life. Not really. I'm mostly kidding. Mostly. The best part of the Shakeology is all the different recipes I can make with it! I've made everything from pina colada, to strawberry shortcake, to salted caramel mocha, all in my blender! The salted caramel is probably my all-time favorite, with "Thin Mint" coming in a close second.
By the end of the 21 days, I felt amazing. I *feel* amazing. I've essentially cut out all processed foods and artificial sugars. My diet consists of mainly vegetables (salads) and proteins (chicken, venison, turkey) with some fruits and very few carbs mixed in. I have SO much more energy now, and my mood has improved considerably. I still have moments where I'm irritable and impatient, but I'm overall a much happier person than I was before (and I'm sure Doug and the kids are glad for that!).
So now onto the numbers portion of our program, because I'm sure you're curious what my final results were:
Beginning weight: 136
Ending weight: 127,
Total loss: -9 pounds
Beginning chest(bust) measurement: 34 inches
Ending: 32 in.
Total loss: -2 in.
Beginning waist (at narrowest point): 30 in.
Ending: 27 in.
Total loss: -3 in.
Beginning abdomen (just below navel): 37 in
Ending: 34 in
Total loss: -3 in
Beginning hips (where top of underwear sits): 38 in (I like big butts and I cannot lie...)
Ending: 35.5
Total loss: -2.5 in
Beginning thighs (right and left): 22 in.
Ending: 21 in
Total loss: -1 in
Beginning arms (biceps, unflexed): 12 in
Ending: 11 in
Total loss: -1 in
Total inches lost: 12.5!!
Now, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, right? Well, here's my proof:
So now onto the numbers portion of our program, because I'm sure you're curious what my final results were:
Beginning weight: 136
Ending weight: 127,
Total loss: -9 pounds
Beginning chest(bust) measurement: 34 inches
Ending: 32 in.
Total loss: -2 in.
Beginning waist (at narrowest point): 30 in.
Ending: 27 in.
Total loss: -3 in.
Beginning abdomen (just below navel): 37 in
Ending: 34 in
Total loss: -3 in
Beginning hips (where top of underwear sits): 38 in (I like big butts and I cannot lie...)
Ending: 35.5
Total loss: -2.5 in
Beginning thighs (right and left): 22 in.
Ending: 21 in
Total loss: -1 in
Beginning arms (biceps, unflexed): 12 in
Ending: 11 in
Total loss: -1 in
Total inches lost: 12.5!!
Now, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, right? Well, here's my proof:
I apologize for the strange coloring. This is an Instagram screenshot, so it's a little off. But, you can see for yourself, that this program really is effective. And it's SO. EASY. I literally felt like the weight and inches were just melting off with next to no effort. The workouts were challenging enough to keep me interested, but didn't make me so sore I couldn't walk the next day. Pilates turned out to be my absolute favorite, so it was nice having that to look forward to each week. Leg Day made me curse the gods and Autumn Calabrese, and Plyo Fix was pleasantly reminiscent of my beloved Insanity. I actually looked forward to working out because I really enjoyed the routines!
Overall, I can't say enough good things about 21 Day Fix. The really great part about it is, now that I'm a Beachbody coach, I can provide you with links to purchasing your very own 21 Day Fix! I honestly LOVE sharing this program with anyone who'll listen. I'll rave about it as long as they'll let me. So, if you think you're up to the challenge, click HERE to fill out an interest form and get started!
Overall, I can't say enough good things about 21 Day Fix. The really great part about it is, now that I'm a Beachbody coach, I can provide you with links to purchasing your very own 21 Day Fix! I honestly LOVE sharing this program with anyone who'll listen. I'll rave about it as long as they'll let me. So, if you think you're up to the challenge, click HERE to fill out an interest form and get started!
No comments:
Post a Comment