21 Day Fix Results!!

This 21 day experience was pretty amazing.  I learned so so much about myself, my eating habits, how nutrition truly makes the biggest difference in results, and how food is surrounding us in our day to day lives without us even realizing it.

Week 2 was a bit of a struggle as I will flat out admit I cheated several times. The media surrounds us with food and I was weak and gave in. But week 3 I was STRONG and DETERMINED as I knew I had a trip to Florida just days away.  I stuck to it, did the 3 day quick fix at the end, did the double workouts and nailed it! It is more about what I learned than my "number" results but at the same time I am so happy with how much toning and how hard the actual workouts are. I thought there was no way a 30 minute workout could kick my ass...WRONG!

Things learned:

• I used to eat SO MUCH EXTRA food during meal prep
• I ate too much carbs
• I used to crave sweets and fruit all the time
• I would eat too close to bed time
• I didn't hydrate enough
• I worked out too much and did not match my efforts in the kitchen

After this 21 day fix, I will now take it into round two after a few days away in Florida to get some sun and relaxation time.  I will still hold myself accountable while away by knowing how much of each kind of food to eat, even when I am out to eat. SERIOUSLY those few bites of bad, unhealthy food is NOT WORTH THE GUILT AFTER! I will get my workouts in before hitting up the beach, and you better believe I am taking my shakeology with me!  I already looked up that the hotel had a gym before we booked it...have to sweat it out before putting the bikini on.

So the results.... Lost 7 pounds, 4 inches.  I am told my booty looks a lot smaller but that isn't one of the measurements I took haha so add a couple inches to that total lost! Waist is smaller, I FINALLY lost inches off of my soccer legs, and toned up my back and abs.  Beyond excited!

This program was by far the best way to learn how to eat properly.  It truly SIMPLIFIES NUTRITION, and CHALLENGES YOU IN 30 MINUTE WORKOUTS!! The color coded portion controlled containers were awesome!  If you are thinking about this program, JUST DO IT!

And always ask me Lynng258@gmail.com if you have any questions about the program!

Week 1 OVER! Heading into Week 2 of 21 Day Fix

Wow did this week go by so fast!  I was prepared for a week of starving and got just the opposite.  The 21 day fix is no joke...you are NOT starving, but instead are fueling your body with what it needs.  I was shocked that my body handled it so well.

DOWN 4 pounds so far--have yet to measure inches. But it isn't even about that, it is about how amazing I feel and how much more energy I have!

Things I have learned:

1. You can take the 21 day fix on the road!  I traveled out of state to North Carolina to visit my best friend.  I was scared because I had only been on the fix for 2 days and traveling was definitely a major concern.  Honestly, it was so easy to stay on track.  As long as your meals are packed and you are prepared then there is NO reason not to succeed!

2. WOW did I eat a lot of carbs before the FIX.  I used to eat wayyyyy to many, and crave them all the time.  I was probably over eating carbs because my body was still hungry due to lack of protein in my previous meal plans before the fix.

3. I used to eat fruit too close to bed time.  I will admit...I love my sleep. I have the habit of at least getting 8 hours a night so that I am not cranky.  Before the fix I would eat too close to bed time AND be eating fruit before bed. (Plus I was choosing the fruits highest in grams of sugar!)  All those sugars were bad for my body to break down.

 

4. 30 minutes of working out is definitely enough!  I LOVE being in the gym for hours.  Not sure if its the people interaction or what but it is fun and enjoyable to me.  But I have A LOT more time to do other things I love AND be caught up on all my work emails.  Plus working out from home is so convenient..no travel time around crazy Boston. TOTAL BONUS!



Looking into Week 2...

Meal planning was SO MUCH EASIER and I was SO MUCH MORE CREATIVE in the meals.  So excited for some of the foods this week!!  I may even substitute some healthy pancakes in for a breakfast planned!  And yes, there will be some edits for some "treats" which replace a yellow container in there twice this week because seriously those recipes in the 21 Day fix book are AMAZING!!  Here is the meal plan.

21 Day Fix Begins!

So some of you have heard about this new program by Beachbody called the 21 Day Fix.  Well yesterday started my journey on this challenge to see what it is all about.

First things first...what does it entail?

• 30 minute home workouts (with Autumn Calabrese who is an awesome motivator!)
• Portion control eating...NOT A STARVATION DIET (Color coded containers as shown!)
• Eating the right amount of different kinds of foods...based on your current weight
• Proper hydration (seriously make it exciting and mix it up a bit with some ideas shown below...live a little people!)
• Eating 5 meals a day, about every 2-3 hours

Can I Cheat?...Can I have a drink?

• Sure you can substitute one purple container for a 4oz glass of wine 3 times a week
• Autumn gives you "TREAT" recipes that you can use to substitute for one yellow container

But what about my SHAKEOLOGY?!?
Don't you worry shakeology lovers....you can still have your shake!  And personally I prefer it because it is an easy meal to "plan" and it substitutes as a protein. Protein for me is always a weak area because I just never eat enough of it.  A great tool they give you in the book is the tally sheets to make sure you are hitting all of the proper containers throughout the day. The first week was hard to plan, I will flat out admit that, but even after a day of doing it, it is so easy to follow through!







FREE FOODS....say whattttttt?
Yeah I was so excited to hear there were free foods too!  Mustards, vinegars, fresh or dry spices are just amongst a few under this category.  And thank goodness for this because I love my condiments!







What am I looking forward to the most?

• I am only on day two and yes I already lost a pound on the first day so clearly weight loss is a motivator!
• I am also looking forward to learning so much more about my nutrition.  It is crazy to me that I already realized how often I was eating TOO BIG of portion sizes.  I used to eat so much oatmeal in the morning and put minimal fruit in it where now it is the opposite way around!  
• 30 minute workouts!  I am a gym rat through and through.  I love being there, love being around people who share a health and fitness passion...but hell I can't pass up 30 minute workouts AT HOME!  I hate traveling to the gym in the snow so this will help!

 Have more questions on the 21 Day Fix?? Just ask!! 

SPAGHETTI SQUASH PASTA WITH SAUCE AND CLEAN TURKEY MEATBALLS

Step 1: To cook Squash cut it in half, take out the seeds, and place cut side down in a baking dish.
Fill with about a 1/2 inch of water and cook on 375 degrees for about 45 minutes or until tender.

Step 2: Let cool and then using a fork scrape the squash out.  It will look like long strands of pasta!

Step 3: Make homemade sauce or choose a clean eating one off the shelf.  Sorry no sharing my family's recipe!


Ingredients for Meatballs:
1 1/2 lbs lean ground turkey
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 egg lightly beaten
1 cup oat bran
3 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped
3 Tbsp fresh basil chopped
2 cloves of garlic mashed
1 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 tsp black pepper
red pepper flakes to taste (optional)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Combine egg and oat bran.  Add spices and mix.
3. Add remaining ingredients and mix.
4. Make into little meatballs and place on a cookie sheet sprayed with pam
5. Cook for about 20 minutes, turning them half way through.

ENJOY ALL THE ABOVE!!!!

BLUEBERRY CORNBREAD MUFFINS

INGREDIENTS:
2/3 cup corn meal
1/2 cup oat flour
1/4 cup flour of your choice (I used oat flour)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3-4 tbsp honey (or I used agave)
2 eggs
1/3 cup +1 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup almond milk
1/3 cup blueberries (or add more like I did!)

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Mix all ingredients together except blueberries.  You can mix by hand or use a blender
3. FOLD in blueberries OR if you prefer, pour batter into muffin tins sprayed with Pam, and press a few berries on top of each muffin.
4. Bake for about16-22 minutes (makes 10 muffins)

Macros: 127 calories, 22 carbs, 5 protein, 2g fat

CHICKPEA BASIL PESTO

INGREDIENTS:

1 can chickpeas rinsed and drained
1 cup fresh basil
1 Tbsp olive oil
Juice of one lime
3 Tbsp water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1 tsp natural sweetener

DIRECTIONS:
Mix all ingredients in a food processor. Store in the fridge!

YOU WILL LOVE THIS ON EVERYTHING!

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE WAFFLES

THESE TASTE AMAZING!!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup oats, grind into a flour in a food processor
1 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp granulated sweetener
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 Tbsp pumpkin puree
3 Tbsp almond milk
2 Egg whites
A couple chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:
Mix all ingredients together and put on the waffle griddle.

I topped with a little syrup. ENJOY!!