Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Why I love the 21 Day Fix

Every where you look on Facebook, you see people either promoting the 21 Day Fix as a Beachbody coach or you know a friend who is doing the 21 Day Fix....but why is it so popular??? 
 Personally, I owe a lot to this program. This program taught me how to eat. I don't diet anymore, I eat to fuel my body so it can perform at its best. The Fix workouts introduced me to weights and so I began to see the changes they were doing to my body. It's the total package. You get a meal plan, workouts and tools you need to stay on track. It teaches you everything you need to know about taking care of your body and getting healthy. 

I feel strongly about this product, because IT WORKED for me. It is the reason I became a fitness coach and the reason I am expanding my fitness career.
For those that know me, know that I am genuine.  I would never try to sell something to someone that didn't work. It's not who I am. I am here to help people.  I am here to work with those who want to get healthier and live a sustainable lifestyle.  
I know what it's like to be unhappy and unhealthy.  I also know what it feels like to be healthy and happy.  I want everyone to reach that feeling. That is my goal and the reason I do what I do everyday.



So now, let's get into the meat and bones of the program!!!!


What is the 21 Day Fix Meal Plan and how does it work?

The 21 Day Fix is a 21 Day Fitness plan (Just 3 weeks!!). In these 3 weeks, you learn how to portion out your food without having to weigh everything or track calories. Once you learn the meal plan, the need to use the containers tends to decrease. You just begin to learn the portion sizes and foods needed to sustain a healthy lifestyle.


21 Day Fix teaches you how to eat healthy – it is meant to fix unhealthy habits. Once you are done with the program, you will know how to eat a well-balanced diet that is roughly 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fat. This also happens to be the magic macro-nutrient ratio I always suggest people to follow when they make the decision to get healthy. While you can definitely skew the diet ratios one way or another, this is the healthiest option and the most sustainable for your lifetime.


Now I must admit, I rarely use the containers anymore....and I am no longer doing the 21 Day Fix workouts. I did the program for 4 months and lost 35 lbs., so although I still use the macro-nutrient ratio of the 21 Day Fix (40% Carbs, 30% Protein and 30% Fat), I am now able to track it on my own from what I learned.  My calories are increased, due to my increased workouts and I am able to sustain my healthy and fit lifestyle.

The program comes with those famous color coded containers that you see plastered all over the internet. They are as follows:


It also comes with a formula you use to determine how many of each, you get each day.  You may get 4 Greens (Vegetables), 3 Purple (Fruit), 3 Yellows (Carbs) and so on.
So each meal throughout the day can have a protein, vegetable and carb.  The other awesome thing about the challenge pack, is that you get 1 month of Shakeology. The super nutrient dense meal replacement shake. This shake is an automatic red container, which helps me because protein is the hardest portion of my diet to fill.  Check out the "Shakeology" tab above for additional, detailed info on it!! 

So many people shy away from this program because they think they have to be this super meal prep person, but that is totally up to you. Is it easier?... yes, but meal prep is really what everyone should be doing whether on this program or not. It saves time and saves money!!  Is it a make or break...no.
Some weeks I meal prep and others I just wing it!  I just make sure I am stocked with all the right foods, so no matter what, I have foods that are "fix approved".

One thing I can promise you and can't stress enough is that THIS IS NOT A DIET. Most of my clients actually complain that this meal plan is an increase to their normal food intake and that they find it hard to eat all the food required. So many people have that stigma that you need to eat a 1000 calorie diet to lose weight and it's the exact opposite...you NEED to fuel your body with the proper nutrients!





Ok, so now that we went over the meal plan...let's dig into those scary workouts that come with it!!


The 21 Day Fix consists of seven, 30-minute workouts and a 10-minute ab workout that you can add into any day if you’re feeling up to another quick workout. You workout out seven days a week, but remember, this is short-term, although it is healthy to exercise daily.

There is a modifier in each workout, Kat, who you can follow if you’re just beginning to exercise after a long time away or you’re feeling overwhelmed at any point during the workouts. Plus, each workout has a nice warm-up period and, which I really like.

With only 30 minutes of workouts, you knew they wouldn’t be easy!! 
Here’s a short breakdown of each ones included in the regular program:
  • Cardio Fix: This 31 minute workout is based on the HIIT principle (High Intensity Interval Training). One minute bursts of higher intensity exercises, followed by 20 seconds. There are two sets of two exercises with each round followed by the rest period. Think classic moves like jumping jacks and push-ups mixed with not-so-classic moves like skater jumps.
  • Upper Fix: This 30-minute workout has you working your upper body – plain and simply. The only equipment necessary are weights or resistance bands and a mat. This time, she has you doing two sets of five different exercises with 20 seconds of rest in between. It includes everything from classic movies like a plank and chest presses to scissor twists.
  • Lower Fix: You’ll only need weights and a mat for this workout. In this workout, you’ll be doing two sets of two exercises with the 20 second rest period. You’ll be working every part of your lower body from your calves to your butt.
  • Pilates Fix: You’ll only need a mat for this 33-minute workout, since it’s all floor exercises much like Pilates would be. Its Pilates-based movements include everything from the classic hundreds to c center.
  • Total Body Cardio Fix: You’ll need weights and a mat for this workout, which includes four rounds of two exercises and a 20 second rest period. It covers your entire body with an emphasis on cardiovascular conditioning and muscle toning.
  • Dirty 30: This workout has a distinctive name, but with the dirty thrown in there, it has to be a little gritty. You will need weights and a mat for this one, but my advice would be to be VERY careful with the moves you have to do. There are lots of advanced, compound movements where you could really hurt yourself if you don’t pay close attention to your form. So…make the most of Kat if you find yourself having difficulty hitting the moves!
  • Yoga Fix: The only thing you’ll need for this workout is yourself and your mat. This half hour workouts was designed to help you stretch out and elongate those muscles you worked all week. It is a nice addition for the seventh day, since you will really need it. It combines classic yoga moves and has you following a series of moves. I enjoyed it very much, but then again, I love yoga.
  • 10 Minute Fix for Abs: This 10-minute workout has you doing all of Autumn’s favorite ab exercies. Granted, they are mostly crunch variations with the bicycle move thrown in there, but it is tough and will definitely hit your abs in good way. This will leave you with ab definition by the end of the program, since you can add it to your daily workouts if you want.
  • Plyo Fix (bonus): This 30-minute bonus workout that you will only receive if you purchase through Team Beachbody can be added in whenever you feel like it, whether it’s in place of Cardio Fix or just as an added bonus to another workout day. It is tough and will have you torching calories with its six rounds of plyometric-based movements. It’s intense, but easy-to-follow and will build strength and endurance to get you a lean, toned physique.
It comes with a workout schedule, so everyday you know exactly what you're doing with no guess work.


Each workout has modifier moves you can follow, which is really great for beginners or when you’re feeling like you can’t keep up. That means even if you’re a couch potato, you can still follow this program and get yourself on the fast track for eating healthy and losing weight.


Now here's my personal input on the workouts!!
They are tough, I used the modifier for a while, I stopped on some of the moves, I cursed a lot...but what I didn't do...was quit. Every time I did a workout, I saw my improvements and it motivated me.

I rarely used weights prior to the 21 Day Fix. I had NO idea what to do with them!  
I started using just a pair of 5 lb. weights and gradually increased to using 5's as my "low" weight and 8's as my heavy set.  After just 1 round of the 21 Day Fix workouts, I saw something different...I saw muscles!!!  In my arms, my legs...it was amazing!!!

I used to be that girl doing 45 minutes on the treadmill or elliptical and not seeing huge changes in my body.  These 21 Day Fix workouts are 30 minutes, weight and cardio mixed and make changes to your body!!!!




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