Week One of 21 Day Fix Results!

Week one of the 21 Day Fix is officially in the books!

I am down a fantastic 3.6 lbs and Nicholas is down 5.6 lbs (or so we think... he cannot remember what he weighed on day one). Either way, we are both down in weight and feeling ecstatic about our results. I remember from last round that week one was the hardest and believe me, it has not changed!

Couple pointers for those starting or thinking about starting the program:

1. Plan Your Meals! - Sit down sometime during the week and plan your meals for the week. Make a list and go grocery shopping. Set yourself up for success! Make sure if you are supposed to be having a delicious salad with cauliflower and hot peppers - make sure you have cauliflower and hot peppers! I am not the type of person who can just look in my fridge and whip up a healthy lunch on the fly. Plan, plan, plan!

2. Prep Some Foods - I do not prep everything for the week but lots of things can be made in advance. Two big items for Nick and I were eggs and chicken. Hard boiled eggs can be made on day one and last all week. We actually ran out this first week so today I am headed to the store to get three dozen eggs and going to boil away! This allows us to get a quick serving of protein at our finger tips. Chicken is another item that can be made and portioned for the week. Bake six, eight, ten chicken breasts, let them cool, chop up, and place in sandwich bags. That way you can toss them with pasta, lettuce, wrap in a tortilla, or just grab and munch. And cut that fruit! A big bowl of watermelon is easy and delicious to eat on a daily basis! 

I let a cantaloupe sit on my counter too long and it went bad. Never again! Cut it up!

3. Use Those Containers! - Obviously you want to use the containers to measure all of your food but a little thing I noticed was how wonderful cheese is. You get one blue container each day. Use it! Unless you are a cheese hater, it is a delicious food. And it makes healthy food even better! Cheese on my salad, cheese on my pasta, cheese on my vegetable. It is not cheating but it sure does feel like it. Healthy food does not have to be sad food. Also make sure to try the seasoning mixes that Autumn recipes for in the start up book. They are 'all you can eat' and even have a little salt! We did a pot roast last week with the Mediterranean Seasoning and it was great. We demolished that dish. I plan to use the Smoke Southwestern Seasoning for Chili this week. 

One last thing I have to say is that I hate Shakeology. 

Gasp!

I know that we are supposed to drink one a day but I have to plug my nose and chug it just to get it down. Yuck. I rather just eat another protein in place of it. 

I decided to try a different routine with the Chocolate Shakeology and make some Peanut Butter Brownie Bites. They were ok. I would not say that they were good but adding peanut butter on top makes anything edible. 

Shakeology Peanut Butter Brownie Bites

2 Scoops Chocolate Shakeology

Water

1 Tsp Peanut Butter

Add 2 scoops of Shakeology to bowl. Add water till the texture of brownie mix (approximately 2 TBSP). Mix well. Drop small scoops onto foil, topping with small amount of peanut butter. Freeze for one to two hours (or more if needed). Eat!

I am going to test them out on Nicholas when he gets home. 

Ok now my meal plan for this week!

Little Nicholas is getting baptized on Sunday so there is a big opening there. Family and friends are coming over to celebrate so it is hard to say exactly what is going to be eaten and when. It might just be breakfast and dinner that day!

Ok, here is to week two! Good luck!

21 Day Fix - Round 2

With the encouragement from some wonderful work friends, I have started the 21 Day Fix - Round 2. 

For those that read my first 21 Day Fix post, you already know that it is a meal portion and workout package that allows you to lose up to 15 lbs in 21 days. I roped in my husband and started my meal planning last week. I don't remember it being this difficult... although he throws in an extra curve ball. I have to plan for the both of us and make sure the foods are similar. A hungry husband is an unhappy husband. So my meal planner for this week has a lot of the usual foods we would normally eat (the 21 Day Fix makes it easy to modify as needed!), as well as spaces for his extra containers. He is in the next up calorie bracket so gets an extra green. purple, and yellow container. 

I am hoping to try some different recipes and post as I go. Stuffed peppers and 21 Day Fix Chili are at the top of my list! For now here is my planner for this week:

Bedroom Switcharoo

Let me say first that my blog hits have freaking skyrocketed lately because of my 21 Day Fix posts from a while back. So everyone that is here for that, sorry I went and got knocked up. BUT I did see that there is a new 21 Day Fix Extreme coming out in February. Um hello! Baby is due in January so I will definitely be looking into this as soon as I hear more about the program. I can guarantee that it is not going to be easy but it was so amazing the first time around, I am sure it is only going to get better! 

Any who, since we found out that we are adding a baby boy to the family, we needed to do some bedroom reconfiguration. We do not have enough room in this house for the family size we have now (let the house search begin!) so adding another child to the madness is going to need a little finesse. We decided to move Isaac to Marlee's current room and move Marlee to the bigger room which allows us to put Marlee and baby Nicholas together. We finally finished almost finished painting both rooms (small touches still need added) this weekend so decorating and some small touches should make the rooms perfect for Isaac and the babes. I gathered a ton of inspiration from Pinterest so before I share the final outcomes, I thought I would share some of those ideas first. 

Isaac's room is almost complete. The number one thing with his room was to declutter and reorganized without making it 'boring' or 'too simple'. I wanted to keep it kid friendly but with Isaac turning 10 next month, he really is not a kid anymore. He is not into toys or legos or coloring or dinosaurs etc etc. He loves sports, video games, and movies. So we either donated all this old toys or placed them in the basement. Then Nick and I decided on a baseball theme and really ran with it. So far, I am loving his room. I will post pictures as soon as it is complete.

My original inspiration started with this dresser. I was not able to find a source for the picture but I just fell in love with the look of it! My mother-in-law just finished painting her bedroom furniture so had some paint left over and offered to tackle this task. 

Then things just exploded from there. What would I do without Pinterest?

I loved the clean, organized look of these pictures. Something we were missing with his room before. I hate clutter!

I loved these prints from Wunder Kammer on Etsy so I ordered them and placed them in frames for above Isaac's bed. They are baseball patents which really gave it an 'old baseball' feel. 

Then I found this tutorial for painting a baseball wall and I was hooked. I cannot draw. Or paint. Or even color for that matter. I pretend to be crafty but really fail about 80% of the time. Simply Mom makes it look so easy and amazing though so I am going to give this a try once the dresser is complete. 

Isaac is thrilled with his new room and it makes me so happy to see him adjusting so well to the new arriving this winter. He really is a great big brother. 

The babies room on the other hand is going to take a little bit longer to complete. Since it is a boy and girl room, I wanted things to be separate but still have a cohesive look to it. I choose gray for the main color of the room and rug. It gives it a neutral feel and then I was going to jazz it up with accents. Nick is not completely thrilled with all the gray but I think once it comes all together, it won't be so bland. Some of my Pinterest inspiration is as follows;

Source

Source

I love the look of each of these rooms. They all had a great flow to them but it was very obvious that they were shared rooms. I am in the process of looking for wall decor to give each side a boy vs girl feel.

These plaques from Pottery Barn are perfectttt but spending $120 dollars on two pieces of wood is just beyond me. And I am pretty sure Nick would give me that look he gives when I do too much shopping... Look at these though! Adorable!

I will probably end up buying a couple of prints like these and then heading to Marshalls to get some cute frames to place them in. 

Source

Source

Etsy is an amazing place for all things nursery related!

Ok now to head out to the craft store to buy some fabric for curtains. I am looking for a gray, blue, pink fabric to attempt to make some roman shades. This might push my patience to the edge but I am going to attempt it anyway. I am so excited to post some pictures of the rooms once they are complete!

Results from 21 Day Fix

21 Day Fix

So I have officially completed my first round of 21 Day Fix.

I hate to sound like I am a selling the program but I am really thrilled with my results and would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting fast and easy results. Honestly, there is no secret to the program. It is basic fitness and nutrition. Apart from drinking Shakeology everyday, it is exactly what anyone trying to loose weight should be doing to get lasting and solid results.

Eat clean. Exercise daily.

Let me just say that as soon as I ordered the 21 Day Fix, I started eating clean. I did not have the portion sizes yet but I knew that I had to cut out sweets, fried foods, and heavy snacking. I lost 5 lbs that first week that I wasn't even on the Fix. If that does not stress the importance of diet, then nothing else will. I always read that diet was 80/20 to exercise and this really proved it. Yes, I am sure a lot of this was water weight, but the weight loss continued after I officially started the Fix.

While on the 21 Day Fix, I lost a total of 6 inches (which includes 2.5 inches from my waist) and 4.8 lbs. So combined with the 5 lbs from the first week I started purging my diet, I am down 9.8 lbs and finally over the 150 pound hump that I have been stuck on for months. And I honestly feel great. More energy, clothes fitting better, and even had a couple girls at work tell me that I looked thin! Is there anything greater then hearing that? I think not.

Don't get me wrong, I had every intention of eating apple pie for breakfast my first day off the Fix but was craving an english muffin with peanut butter and bananas... same thing I would eat on the Fix. Is it possible I am changing my ways!? Not entirely, (I do love my sweets) but I am definitely more aware with how many carbs and sweets I consume. The last thing I want to do is gain back everything that I just lost.

Apart from the number results, I also took before and after pictures. I have to admit that I am not going to post them. Trust me, it is for the best. Don't get me wrong, the results are very visible, but I still have some way to go. And putting my underwear clad picture up for the world to see is just not a top priority at this moment. It is the internet after all. 

I plan on doing another round after Easter and hopefully after that be down to pre-baby weight! 9 months to put it on and 9 months to take it off! Depending on how I feel, I might even do another round after that. Just to make sure I am nice and toned for vacation in July. 

So bottom line, if you are interested in a Beachbody program, I would definitely recommend the 21 Day Fix. I loved Autumn, the workouts, and even the meal plans. It was easy to follow and results are visible! It is hard to ask for more from a program. 

Week 2 of 21 Day Fix Complete!

This is actually a really late post considering Thursday is my last day of the 21 Day Fix but with work and becoming ill for a couple days, I have not exactly given the blog a lot of priority. 

I am feeling so much better though and the sun is even shining! Shining! I was starting to think we moved to Alaska in my sleep. Even my mood has improved at the sight of the sun. It is nice to actually want to be productive and get off the couch. 

Ok but back to the 21 Day Fix. Week 2 was 100% better then week 1. I can tell that I am getting better at the meal planning and it really helps. My meals are more balanced and actually look/taste delicious. For example, on Friday I had salmon, brown rice, and green beans for dinner. All portioned. Topped with lemon and a little hot sauce. 100% 21 Day Fix approved and it was fantastic! I was not hungry afterward and it really made me feel like I was making progress. It also helps that the hot sauce makes me extra thirsty which increases my water supply. Water was definitely key in week 2 also. I was drinking a TON. And it showed.

I lost more weight (and inches!) during week 2 and I honestly felt better. I don't know if it was necessarily thinner but  my clothes were a little more comfortable and I felt I looked more tone. I take my final pictures on Thursday and am really interested to see if I have really changed or its all in my head. 

I have plans to do another round after a short break and I am hoping this will put me at my pre-baby weight. How exciting is that! Probably not so much for you but I am thrilled. 

I did a handwritten meal plan this week but once I get it on Excel, I will post it. 

One more week!

Week One of 21 Day Fix Complete!

I have officially made it to the end of week number one on the 21 Day Fix and would like to share some of my experiences on the program so far.

1. You will not starve to death - I really thought at the beginning of this challenge that it was all about starvation. The less I eat, the less I will weigh. Even putting together my food plan was tough to stomach because I knew that I would be unsatisfied at the end of the day. I will admit that the first couple of days, I was hungry and a little low on energy. My body adjusted though and I realized that I was not drinking enough water which is also a filler. Now I am on day 7 and I honestly feel great. I even had a couple days which I did not eat all of my portioned food. Sticking with it is definitely going to be an accomplishment to be proud of.

2. Coffee is my downfall - At this point in the challenge, I have noticed my biggest downfall is coffee. I am a huge coffee (with cream and sugar) drinker and the cream and sugar is a no-no while on the Fix. I will be honest and say that I have snuck in a couple cups of coffee here and there but no where near the amount I was drinking before. I am a mother and I work midnights - I need a caffeine crutch every now and then.

3. Portion control - I have actually been doing great with the portion sizes and with trying my best to portion everything out in advance. The bottom drawer of the fridge is the 'me only drawer' and everyone in the house knows it. I portion out cucumbers, boiled eggs, cheese, celery, chicken, lettuce etc etc. so it is all there for me to grab and go. I have actually been pretty good with eyeing portion sizes and it is getting easier to know how much lettuce or chicken or oatmeal I can have. This will be important on Saturday when Nick and I go out to eat. I am not cool enough to bring my little containers along for measuring...

4. Working out with Autumn - Amazing. I absolutely love these DVD's. They are short, sweet, and to the point. The added weights make it a little harder and I definitely break a sweat during the half hour. Plus the DVD's are new everyday so I don't get bored throughout the week. I have been 100% with my workouts and plan to stay that way. No cheating here!

5. Weight loss - I will say that I have lost a little weight so far on the 21 Day Fix. Not as much as I had hoped but it could have just been a bad weigh-in. I lost inches too so I am going to stay positive and work extra hard this week. I am sticking with my goal of loosing 5 lbs but deep down I am hoping for more. One day at a time!

I completed my meal plan for week two since Marlee was a peach and took a nice long 2 hour nap.

It is not perfect but I think I am getting the hang of it.

Ok now to breakup all the fitness talk, I will leave you with the cutest darn picture I have seen all week.

Love these two!

Ohio Weather

Three days ago we had a nice terrible little snow storm and yesterday it was 64 degrees and sunny. 

Today it is cold and rainy to be followed with snow tonight. 

Friday it is supposed to be 55 degrees. 

If mother nature would make up her mind, it would be great. 

Regardless, I spent the one nice day we had with my mom and enjoyed a great lunch followed by a walk on the Towpath. It was glorious! The sun felt so good and we had a perfect breeze so Marlee didn't get too hot. I will definitely be making it part of my spring/summer routine. 

Marlee was in toy land at Grandmas. 

And she loved the walk so much that she fell asleep. 

So the 21 Day Fix officially starts tomorrow and I finished my Meal Plan for the first week. This was my homework for the last three days and it literally took me that long to finish it. It was a lot harder then I thought! I mean just thinking that far in advance is difficult. And with work days, I have to plan a little differently as far as when I eat 'breakfast' and 'dinner'. I tried to figure in breakfast to be eaten at 4PM and my 'lunch' to be my big meal at midnight. Then do some small snacking till morning. We will see how this goes and adjust as needed next week. 

Cheers to the next 21 days! 

Package Arrival

I just received my 21 Day Fix pack in the mail and I just want to say that there is a large possibility that I am going to starve to death. The containers are small.

Really small.

Challenge now doesn't start till Thursday so everyone in my group can get things prepped and ready to go. I am filled with nervous energy but staying optimistic.

I will say that I had my first Shakeology with some almond milk and it was pretty good! Still has the taste of a protein shake but I would have no problem drinking them on the daily. Add some peanut butter or a banana in there and it could honestly be a little addictive. Assuming it does what it is supposed to!

Even Marlee was fascinated with my new containers!

Sorry for blinding you with the flash ol' big eyes!

Ok now to do some meal planning for the next couple weeks!

I will leave you with a video of Marlee and Isaac. She loves her brother so much!

Have a great week everyone!

21 Day Fix

I am embarrassed that I have even gotten to this point but after mentioning to my husband that I am ready to sell my soul to the devil in return for being thin, I needed to do something.

After much debating and another failed attempt at Insanity (damn you three day weekend!), I went and found myself a Beachbody coach. She convinced me to buy the 21 Day Fix which included a month of Shakeology.



Rippedclub.net

 

This is the bottom of the bottom for me and my weight-loss journey for a number of reasons. First, I wanted to do things the way I did it before my wedding. I worked out and ate right. Not all the time, but enough to work toward my goal of feeling beautiful in my wedding dress. It was a no brainer. Yes I did enough calorie counting to make any sane person rip their hair out but it was relatively simple - lower calories and more exercise = results.

But I digress.

After convincing my husband that this is exactly what I needed to jump start my weight loss again (yes dear, they are expensive containers and no, they do not come with food in them), he agreed to help with my goal and even said he would join in! As long as he could still eat chocolate cake and drink beer.

I have not received my order yet but I am just so full of nervous energy. The second reason this is do or die (not really) is that I am pretty firm in my beliefs that exercising is free and meal replacement shakes, pills, etc are not the answer so I am completely going back on everything that I have ever said. Eating my own words if you will but I am determined to make this work. Portion sizes are my biggest problem and I think this program will get me back on track.

 

The general idea behind the 21 Day Fix is that you workout using the DVD's for 21 days. Combined with the workouts are portion control containers which pretty much spell out exactly how much a person should be eating in a day. Add in the meal replacement Shakeology and you have yourself the 21 Day Fix. Oh and I should not forget my coach Janet and the awesome group of moms she put together for encouragement!

 

Onehealthynut.com

 

I am not expecting miracles here. I would like to loose 5-10 lbs. I am not expecting abs and to be back to my pre-baby size in one cycle. Actually, I do not want abs. Ever. Why would a mom need abs anyways? I am pretty sure a teenage Marlee would appreciate her mother keeping her stomach covered at all times and not showing the world her creepy mom abs.

Once again, I digress.

I would like to stay focused and actually complete this program. I want to show myself (and my doubting husband) that I am capable of staying strong for 21 days and getting results to be proud of. I am ready to get over this weight loss plateau!

 

So the reason I take the time out of my busy schedule to type this (ha!) is because one thing I read was to commit publicly. The article stated that no one wants to look bad in public which is so true! So here I am committing to 21 days. And I will give a weekly update of my progress.. which is a whole 3 posts so I won't overdue it!

 

Starts on Monday so wish me luck!