21 Day Fix Review – My Life Is Changing

Ok, perhaps not a review, but more my thoughts on the 21 day fix.


I just completed Round 1 of the 21 Day Fix and I must say the past 21 Days have been truly life changing.

I know, that is a pretty powerful statement, but it is true.  And keep in mind this is coming from the girl who is a [past] binge eater, loves food, hates working out and has NEVER been able to stick with a diet.

But of course, this isn’t a diet.  This truly is a lifestyle change.

The past few weeks have been emotional, busy and I have been far from perfect with the program.  Good thing the program is not seeking perfection.

Did I work out every day?
Nope, but as many days as I could and FAR more than I have in the last 5 years. (maybe missed 4)

Did I ever “cheat” with my food? 
Yep, I may have had a couple bites of cake or a few bites of cheese dip one day.  But the majority of the time, I was spot on with my eating.  And actually loved what I was eating! (pics below)

But honestly, none of that matters to me anymore...the "did I follow everything exactly".  (Big change!)  I am not trying to feel guilty for my choices of working out or what I eat, because when I put the guilt with food, or any emotions for that matter, then that is when I eat poorly.  I am doing the best I can and focusing on all my healthy choices.

What matters to me now is HOW I FEEL.

Plain and simple. 

And eating whole foods and working out regularly makes me feel amazing….and I haven’t felt amazing in a long time in regards to my body.

I have waited a few days to write my recap because I wanted to see what I did after the program was done.  I didn’t want to check in with the group that is still open.  I didn’t want to plan.  I didn't want accountability.  I know it sounds weird or backwards, but I wanted to see what I DID, back in my “normal” life. Would I go back to my old ways or would I stay with it naturally.

As it turns out, I am naturally gravitating towards the healthy way of eating/living because it really does make me feel better.

Yes, I will admit, I haven’t worked out the past few days (and I notice it and am going back to it) and I have strayed from the meal plan a couple times, but folks I am actually craving that lifestyle.  I want my salads and containers of WHOLE food and packing it for lunch EVERY day.  I actually am still drinking coffee with raw sugar….YEAH, the girl who bitched and complained and cried, literally, about giving up her creamer is still drinking black coffee with raw sugar.

Boom.  Changed.

Yes, I had a piece of pizza Tuesday, but I had a huge salad with it. AND, I didn’t have four pieces of pizza like before.  I am learning to incorporate this into my life and make the healthier choices.  You know that "binge" mentality of not being able wanting to stop, being obsessed with eating as much as I can and if I can't I get mad.  Nope, I just wanted a taste.  I enjoyed the food, but I wasn’t obsessing over it like I have always done in the past.  Same when I had a few bites of a cake, that was enough.  I didn’t need a piece of cake and then another later that day.

To some this may not seem like a success.  But for an emotional binge eating, overweight, food obsessed person….it is HUGE.

This program has done far more for me than I ever expected.  I went into thinking, I really hope this helps me get over this plateau and lose weight and is the quick fix I need.  But instead, I came out feeling like it truly changed my life.

It changed how I feel.  I have more energy.  I feel healthier and not weighed down by the processed foods.

It changed my desire to workout.  I still dread working out simply because finding time to do it can be more of a challenge and is not ideal, but I know I can workout now.  I feel myself and see myself getting stronger.  I am doing moves I couldn’t do three weeks ago.  When I go a day without working out, I am excited ready to get back at it.

It changed how I look at food.  This may be the biggest.  Right now marks the healthiest relationship I have ever had with food.

Yep, that is worth repeating.

At 35, I have the healthiest relationship with food I have ever had.

I respect how the “right” foods can fuel my body and the wrong foods make me sluggish.  I am looking at portions differently.  I am cutting those emotional ties that I have towards food.  I am learning (yes still learning) the difference between my needs vs my wants.  And I am learning how to control my desire for those wants.   Now, I am not giving up all those “wants", no, we like those things in moderation.  But I am carefully choosing what I prefer to put in my body instead of putting it ALL in. The 90/10* rule folks...well, it may be more like 80/20 for me, but I am working on it.

Here is what I got to eat....still great food, but in the right amounts and HEALTHY/WHOLE foods.

It changed what I thought I was capable of doing.

It changed what I thought was healthy and what I now realize is healthy. 

It changed my body and my mind.

I am seeing myself for ME.  Something I have always struggled with.

Was this easy?  No.

Does the group help? YES.  They keep you accountable and are amazing!

Am I still learning? Of Course.

Do I still have a long way to go? Duh….but focusing on the NOW.

Does the program make sense? Yes.

Can I follow it and stick with it? You bet.

Can I do this for me?  Absolutely!!

I am currently down 9lbs and 18 inches (counting arms, chest, waist, hips, thighs and calves) in the past three weeks.

You guys.  That is 28lbs total since I started in January.

 (from January - August)

So with all that said, why do I say this is life changing? 

Because, this is my life and it needed changed and this is the program that is finally helping with that.

I am not just doing the 21 Day Fix to look great in bikini or tone up a bit (which are still great reasons to try it!).

But for me it is so much more.

It is about my health now and as I get older.

It is about my future.

It is about how I feel.

It is about no longer missing opportunities with my son because I am too embarrassed with the way I look to go somewhere or do something with him. (this one makes me cry all the time)

It is about no longer worrying if I will be able to fit in a seat or something, because of my weight.

It is about no longer not going places with my husband because I am embarrassed that he will be embarrassed (though that has never given me reason to think that, I still do because of my own insecurities).

It is about me not getting so angry with myself about the way I look and feel that I take it out on those around me.

It is about not feeling guilty when I eat, especially in public, and instead learning to appreciate food and feel comfortable eating so i don't want to hide and binge.

It is about so much more than just losing a few pounds.

It is about finally feeling LIKE ME and not this person “trapped” in this body.

So would I recommend this program? YES.

Is it tough? YES. But a good tough.

Is it worth it? Without a doubt.

Can YOU do this? YES!!  If I can, you can!

If you put in the work and time.  Plan your meals.  Workout. You will not only see results, but FEEL the results!!!

I will be starting my second round in September!!  The group dynamic is truly amazing...all about the accountability and probably the only way I got through this with the results I did!


What are YOUR thoughts of the Fix? Has it changed YOUR life yet?

.....

Other posts on the 21 Day Fix from me HERE and HERE.



I am at the point where in the next few months, I want to be a coach and continue my journey while also supporting those who are on a similar journey.  I want to inspire those who are in a similar place and have tried everything to lose weight and continue to BE inspired as I move forward with my weight loss journey.  I truly feel this is a program that can do that.

*90/10 Rule - if you eat healthy and workout 90% of the time, it allows for that other 10% of the time to have that leeway and enjoy those times where you do not follow the healthy eating.

21 Day Fix – Week 1 Complete

So I completed my first week of the 21 Day Fix and I couldn’t be more THRILLED with the results and how I am feeling.

You guys.

This program is legit!  IT. WORKS.

I have been trying some sort of diet on and off my entire life.  None work, or at least they only work short term.  And you already know of my struggles the past four months not losing weight and being stuck at the same spot.  So going in I had this weird ying and yang of positive and negative thinking. (“Maybe this will actually work!!  Maybe like everything else, this won’t work for me either.”)

And as someone who has struggled with weight issues my entire life and has a hard time losing weight because I love food so much and most diets restrict all foods, I wasn’t sure what sort of results I would see.

But this is NOT A DIET.  It is a lifestyle change.  A program to reset not only your body but the way you look and think about food.

I admit, going into it I was a bit overwhelmed.  I meal plan, but I felt I needed to OVER plan.  I wasn’t sure how much food would fit into the containers so I didn’t know how much to buy.  Would I be hungry?  Would I have time for this? And working out EVERY DAY, seriously, I can barely workout ONE day.

But I needed to try.  I wanted to try.

Day one my biggest issue was my coffee.  I believe I literally thought about my coffee and creamer 85% of the day. Addicted much?!?!  I talked about this in my previous post HERE.

My husband’s insightful words, really stuck with me: “Stop thinking about the coffee and think about how much better you will feel in a few weeks, let alone a few months.”

I have repeated this to myself nearly every day.  And it wasn’t just in reference to the coffee it was in reference to everything.  It was about working out.  It was about clean eating.  It was about taking care of MYSELF.

I want this.  Oh, you have no idea how bad I want to succeed and get this extra weight off.

So I just did it and did the best I could.

My fears were quickly put to rest by one simple thing…..the facebook group I am involved in.

This is key. 

They are going through the SAME THING. 

They have days where they do not want to workout or their bodies are so sore they can’t walk.  They have days where they eat that cheeseburger or scone instead of their containers of food.  They have days where they do not want to prep One. More. Meal.  Holy shit...they are just like me and I am not the only one thinking these things!!!  

They also have days where they shine!  They fit that workout in, even at 9:30 at night.  They follow their meal plan exactly!  They lose weight and/or feel better!  

We encourage, motivate and inspire each other to keep going.  It is amazing.  Even after only a week, you feel that comradery and genuine support.

So instead of getting discouraged after day 1 (no coffee and a very hard workout) and putting my DVD’s back on the shelf with all my other dust collected DVD’s I only used for a short time…I pushed through.  I felt like I needed to push through for them…I didn’t want to be the ONLY one not doing the workout!!  I mean, we all felt like shit after a hard workout, why should I be the only one who didn’t.

I committed to 21 days. 

It is only 21 days. 

I can do this. 

WE can do this.

One week in, you wouldn’t believe how much easier* things have gotten!!

I am getting through my workouts out with more strength!  I still modify almost all the moves, but I am doing it and I feel stronger!  Even daily tasks around the house seem to come easier.  Yes, I have been pretty much sore since last Monday…but that shows I am working hard, right!!

I have energy!  I am drinking HALF the amount of coffee I was before I started and with only a teaspoon of raw sugar.  I drink one cup in the morning and one after lunch.  And I still have FAR more energy than I have had in YEARS!

I am eating well and following the program!  I haven’t been craving salts and sugars nearly as much as I thought I would.  I think because I AM eating and eating a lot, I am not hungry.  That processed sugar isn’t making me want more food, I have natural sugars in my body that are keeping it energized and sustained throughout the day.

I am losing weight and inches!  This is no joke, the first week I lost 6 lbs and 10.5 inches.  Stop it.  JUST STOP.  I didn’t believe it at first, even though I can feel the changes.  I think that right there speaks for the program.  And I know this won’t continue at this drastic of a pace, but still it happened and I hope to see some continued results!

So that is WEEK ONE!! 

Some may ask (because I have already asked myself the same things):

“Your only one week in, you are just trying to sell things, that is why you are so enthusiastic about a program.” (Nope. I am not a coach!  And even if I was or become one, what I am “selling” is the happiness and excitement that comes with making HUGE changes in your life after decades of struggling to make those changes.  This is someone who is very overweight and finding something that is working and I am beyond thrilled.) 

“Ok, how can you really love this so much if you have only done it for one week??”

(Because I FEEL and SEE the difference!!  If this is how I feel after ONE week, I can only imagine how I will feel after three weeks or three months!!)

“You won’t feel like this in a couple more weeks, the newness will wear off.”

(I think the hardest part is over.  That first week.  That isn’t at all to say this still isn’t hard, because it IS and will be.  But from this point on every week will get a little better and I am seeing that now!  Even if I plateau again, I am working out…the thing I have been dreading and avoiding since, well forever.)

And believe, I know the excitement will wear off a bit and I will want real pizza and not a pita pizza like I am having tonight.  I know I will want that slice of cake or a hot fudge sundae and not banana "ice cream".  I know there will be days I don’t work out.

But that is the beauty of this…if I can maintain this for at least 90% of the time and have 10% for those extra treats then it is still great and I am still moving forward and being as healthy as I can be!! (90/10 philosophy HERE)

Here are some things I ate this week!!

Look at this weekend lunch!!!

Typical work lunch. 

Went out to eat and made the "right" choices!  tasty! 

Fajita night!!  Limited the oils and had an amazing and filling meal!

Breakfast on the weekend done right!!!  

Goat cheese omelet with sauteed spinach and mushrooms and turkey bacon...with a side of fruit!)

Dessert...YES PLEASE!  

Banana "ice cream" with peanut butter, cocoa powder and mini chocolate chips!

Portabella mushrooms with an egg INSIDE!  

Spinach and grilled chicken, pita and some hummus.  Delicious.

I will post before and after pictures and my final thoughts after the program is over in two weeks!!!

*I say easier, but this is not easy.  I am just getting better with every passing day.

Day One – The 21 Day Fix!!

Yesterday I started the 21 day fix.  More about it HERE.

As you may have read previously, I have been in a bit of a rut and my weight loss has stalled.  So I thought this could be the kick start I once again needed.  I also have the encouragement of a dear friend who is the Beach Body coach and about 20 people in our group who are also doing similar “fixes” for the next 21 days!!  So that coupled with the continued support of family and other friends I thought, I NEED TO DO THIS FOR ME!!!

Note: A support group is priceless.  I never use to think that, now I am all like…the more the merrier!  (Online of course.  Never in person.  Can't take that social interaction.)

Now I get I am ONE day into the program, but still here are my initial impressions of what the 21 day fix is all about.  I wanted to write them down now and then go back and see what I think after 21 days.

The 21 Day fix is all about changing your habits (it takes 21 days to make new habits, so they say)  It is about clean eating, working out, learning about proper portions, keeping your body properly fueled, and making a lifestyle change.

Let me say while this program does say you will lose weight and inches, and in many cases a large amount in a short period of time, I would not consider this a diet.  Or at the least a fad diet.  This program could (and should) easily be incorporated into your daily life when you are at the fitness level you wish to be at.  It is VERY well balanced between food and exercise and is more of a kickstart to healthy living.