My 21 Day Fix Experience
- Rachael Mora
- Feb 28, 2017
- 10 min read
So – I recently jumped with both feet into 21 day fix. Most of you who know me know I’m a weight watchers lifetime member and loved that program – it helped me reach and maintain a healthy weight for almost 7 years now. It’s super easy to follow and seriously workable with an everyday/busy lifestyle – requires very little prep, teaches you to make better choices, etc. I don’t have enough great things to say about the program.
However – I’m to the point where I actually needed something more regulated with more rules, and more emphasis on workouts. I have a coworker who has been doing amazing sticking with 21 day fix and decided to give it a try – a committed try, with the shakeology shakes and beachbody on demand membership. I opted for the streaming to device membership because I’m all about convenience and that has already proven to be the best decision ever!
Note: I worked really hard to get to a point in my life where I’m not obsessive about the number on the scale or exercise, and I never want to go back to being that girl (yes – the girl who weighs herself multiple times a day, obsessed over a .2 lb difference, skips meals, refuses coffee creamer, doesn’t go out socially for fear of “temptation”… that life wasn’t healthy for me and I’m so happy with where I am now. However, we all need a wake-up call every once in a while because when you are eating badly, you feel crappy. We got so busy last fall and had no time for planning, it seemed like every day when we were leaving work (at 6:30 or 7:00) we’d then start thinking “okay – so I’m starving. What’s for dinner?”. We’d stop by the store and I’d get a snack for the ride home because I didn’t want to wait, or I’d grab a snack from work because I was hungry at 5… I just wasn’t planning my days ahead of time and it showed. I felt stressed and crappy and wasn’t making any time to take care of myself. I decided to do 21 day fix to “re-start” – but also because though it focuses on portion control, it doesn’t feel like a “counting” program. You get certain types of food and as much as you can put in the containers, you’re just being more conscious of balancing what you eat – which is exactly what I needed.
So on that note – here’s a summary of my experience with the program! *
* Will update by week until I’m done.
WEEK 1
I planned out all my meals on the Friday before I started and got all my groceries/did a lot of prep the Sunday before starting Monday morning. We didn’t stick exactly to the list (some made more servings than I thought), but this helped me a TON in getting my mind wrapped around what I’d eat each day, how to balance my meals, and actually sticking with it instead of ending up hungry with no planned snacks and quitting.
Woke up at 6:00am to workout. This has never happened before :p. (okay it did once, but that was because my best friend/workout buddy/gym addict is crazy).
I actually messed up and did total cardio first instead of total body cardio (they’re different). According to my sponsor, this is the hardest one. My body agreed. Keep in mind it’s been AWHILE since I did any type of jumping around cardio exercise, so I made it through but felt tired for sure. Still, I was super glad to have woken up and proud of myself for doing it!
I had my first shakeology that morning too and it was pretty yummy. Also, getting up at 6 was nice because I had time to make a shake, pack lunch, play with the dogs, etc. and wasn’t rushed getting to work! I didn’t wake up at 6 every single day and didn’t always finish my workouts before work, but I did finish my workouts every day. 30 minutes really does give you no excuse.
Here’s a breakdown of my week’s eating. One thing I unexpectedly loved was the beachbody support group – it’s a separate app and you have to have an active shakeology subscription to be a part of it. Shakeology tastes yummy and I’m not a nutritionist so I’m not even going to try to speak to whether it’s the best shake out there, but it tastes good, is filling, convenient, and is part of this program so I feel like it’s a pretty good value. You could always have a normal breakfast and not a shake, I just 1. Love sweets and shakes and smoothies and anything of the sort and 2. Love convenience. Shakes are convenient.
Back to the app. Super fun. You add your workout and shakeology each day and can share a sweaty selfie and photo with your shake. It’s fun because it’s a private space, you can share your day’s eating, photos, etc., and it really feels like you have awesome people rooting for you to succeed! Plus, that “Add workout” icon that is gray until you’ve added is GLARING and really makes you want to get it done. I really like the app, and thins it’s a similar idea to the support at weight watchers meetings but daily, with a little more accountability, and mobile/super accessible (kind of essential for me).
Recipes:
Greek lentil soup – click here!
Greek yogurt chicken salad – click here!
Apple & Greek yogurt dip – click here!
Chicken pad thai – DIY recipe – just chicken, pasta, and peanuts with some Sriracha. Seriously yummy.
Rustic turkey & veggie soup – click here!
Burrito Bowl – click here!
Ranch chicken skillet – click here!
Week 1 Takeaways:
Prep is EVERYTHING. When you have a plan and stay organized it’s so much easier. I used the anylist app to insert my recipes, plan out my meals by day, and added all ingredients to a shopping list for Kroger. I love technology. (You can also integrate with a web platform – which I did – for $11.99. I got an itunes gift card for Christmas over a year ago, so I figured why not. TBD on whether I think it’s worth the $11.99, but I have used it a few times and it’s more convenient for adding things and getting organized so I’m leaning towards yes. The free app is still awesome though, and can sync with multiple devices so Felipe and I can both have access to the same list and cross things off as we get them! Check out the anylist app here!
Waking up early helps – but what I really love about these workouts is that I actually haven’t had trouble getting them in even when I wait until night! They’re only 30 minutes and it’s broken down into 4 rounds/2 workouts per round which is really easy to stay motivated and not bored. Finding a workout or exercise that is not only do-able, but not something you dread – makes staying on track much easier.
The support group! It’s so weird and I definitely didn’t think I’d like it as much as I do – when I did weight watchers, I did go to the meetings but was pretty much of a loner and a lot of times just went to weigh in. Maybe because I’m more of an online communicator anyway – but I’m sharing sweaty selfies and liking everyone’s posts and loving it. It’s been really helpful and motivating (and good for meal ideas because everyone posts their day’s eating).
Week 1 Results:
4.8 lbs down! WHAT?!? How is that even possible? Granted I came back from a 7 day cruise a week before starting and felt like I weighed heavy when I started but 4.8lbs in a week?!? AMAZING! I already feel better and like the workouts are easier, and yesterday I was actually looking forward to working out which is pretty strange. Even though I’ve been pretty into fitness on and off throughout my adult life, it’s usually something I want to “get over with” and not something I necessarily enjoy doing. So that’s exciting and makes it WAY easier to stick with!
WEEK 2
Week 2 flew by - I used many of the same recipes and it was pretty easy to stick to. I did have my cousin in town, so on Friday night I may or may not have had more than my 2 glasses of wine and then drunkenly snacked on crackers, hummus, and almonds. You know you can tell you're doing 21 day fix when your go to drunk snack is crackers, hummus, and almonds :p. I also woke up to an almost full glass of wine in the fridge because apparently semi-tipsy Rachael had decided the calories weren't worth more wine and I needed the snack instead. Is this what being grown up feels like? The no-hangover still mostly on track version of me says I hope so, and welcomes adulthood :p.
I did my workouts every day - yet again, I messed up the order (twice!) so switched the upper and lower fix days, and also did my cardio a day early (silly me!). I was especially proud of myself for making the time to work out even when I had company in town, and I've noticed the workouts are already getting easier for me to do and I'm doing less modification! I don't know if I've mentioned, but I have zero shame in modifying when I feel I have to, or switching back and forth between modified and non if it's feeling like too much. I do push myself, but know and respect my limits. That being said, it's exciting when you feel okay and can stop relying on modifications for so much! (BUT NOT PUSH UP PLANK DAY omg - that one is pretty rough :p.)
Lets see.. drank tons of water, drank my shakeology, and even tried a chocolate/coffee shakeology which was pretty much the bomb.
Recipes:
See above in Week 1 - I reused my favorites for this week!
Week 2 Takeaways:
This was easier - I didn't have a chance to do the crazy over the top meal plan I had for the prior week, but we did okay pulling from the recipes and lessons learned from Week 1. The only issue I have is actually getting in enough containers - when I don't plan ahead I end up saving a lot for late at night, which isn't great. So this week I plan to be better about planning full days in advance and making sure to space all my food out!
Workouts are still awesome and I'm loving them - I did them all after work this week, while Felipe started on dinner or went to the store in some cases to grab a few missing ingredients. I'm so lucky to have him helping me!
Week 2 Results:
1.2 lbs down! A total of 6 lbs overall in 2 weeks, and my workouts are getting easier. Super pumped about this unexpected development and excited to continue challenging myself and getting stronger through Week 3! Apparently it's optional double week.... so We'll see how that goes :p. Stay tuned!
WEEK 3
So…. Week 3/Final Week!
Lots of thoughts and feels on this one.
Workouts:
So I didn’t realize it was optional doubles all week the last week, then decided Monday to try to go for it. Tuesday was my wedding anniversary, so I ended up skipping the workout and just counting my double from the day before – so I stuck with single workouts for the rest of the week. Still worked out 21 times in 21 days which is PRETTY awesome to me :D. (Actually 22 because I threw in the 10 minute ab fix one day but that’s basically like half a workout… so lets say 21 ½.)
I pushed myself harder in the workouts this week and tried to really focus on my form and my muscles while doing the workouts, and I think it made a difference! Looking forward to doing that more in the next cycle.
Eating:
By Thursday I was feeling AWESOME and to end up the fix I decided to do the 3 day quick fix. It is boring, but I’ve never been one too picky about eating the same thing. It’s basically a ton of meat and veggies, with one sweet potato and one steel cut oatmeal a day. You have to eat every 2 hours which was way harder than it sounds, and I found myself eating closer together than that at the end of the day because I had to fit meals in, and I almost always was eating a meal super late at night. I weighed in on Sunday and was down .6 from the prior Sunday – It could all be in my head but I may have actually GAINED weight on the 3 day fix! I felt full and bloated on it and didn’t really love it – which would have been worth it to me if I’d seen some crazy result, but based on the lack of result and feeling crappy I decided halfway through the last day to go back to the regular plan. Then I ate cereal and halo top that Felipe picked up at the store :p. There could be worse things to “cheat” with!
So takeaway – didn’t love the 3 day quick fix, probably won’t be doing it again. Super happy to be back to the regular 21 day fix eating plan with all the yummies :D.
Final Thoughts:
I’m done with the first cycle and loved it – it was a success for me for sure! Really helped me to get back on track with my eating and exercising and I’m happy with what I accomplished plus being back into my good habits – you just seriously feel so much better when you are eating right and exercising.
Here are my stats for the 21 day fix:
Weight: 6.6 lbs lost
Inches Lost: 3.5”
Water Intake: An estimated 2310 oz, or 18 gallons.
Glasses of wine consumed: 8 (large – Rachael sized glasses :p)
Workouts completed: 21 ½
Also – 21 days without diet (or any) soda – longest I’ve gone in my adult life, and I didn’t even miss it! I had one just for kicks after the 21 days were up and was like “Um this isn’t as yummy as I remember” lol.
Side note on the 3 day quick fix: I don’t think we realize how much the food we eat impacts our mood. When on the 3 day fix I just seriously missed having options – even healthy options. And I loved the meals themselves – the taste is good, I love chicken and veggies… but having no options is strange! I feel like that’s why people fail a lot on super restrictive diets – it’s so hard to follow when you have zero flexibility. That’s what I loved about 21 day fix and weight watchers – once you get the hang of things, you really do have lots of options an can eat food you love while also being healthy.
Overall - super recommend and absolutely loved it. I'm doing another "cycle" and the same workouts, then I'll probably mix it up using the same eating plan and a different workout program to keep things exciting! If you're ever interested in trying it, shoot me an email at pluckyandpoised@gmail.com or check out my beachbody link here!
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