21 Day Fix (Review)

This is the program that started me on my journey. 

It has taught me so much about fitness & eating right for my body. 

Celebrity trainer, Autumn Calabrese created this program to not only help you get fit in your own living room but it was also created to help you understand how to eat right with correct portion sizes that your body needs to lose weight....do it the healthy way....and enable you to create habits so that you keep the weight off. This is a 21 day program, however, I see it as a tool to jumpstart new habits and a new lifestyle. 

When I first purchased the 21 Day Fix challenge pack, I jumped in an online accountability group so that I had accountability everyday. I learned quickly that in order to stick with a new lifestyle, having accountability is key. I've created a video about what the expect from the 21 Day Fix challenge pack & what it's done for me, here: 

Here's what you can expect from the 21 Day Fix challenge pack: 

 - 30 minute workouts (you will need to purchase your own hand weights) with cardio & strength training, with an option to do low impact modified versions -7 workouts per week + bonus workouts

- colored portion control containers

- a shaker cup

- 1 month supply of my favorite & healthiest meal of the day: Shakeology

- simple control nutrition guide (plus, Autumn has released a new cookbook strictly for the 21 Day Fix called Fixate - order here!)

- yours truly as your coach, holding you accountable and enduring the pain, sweat, and love every single day right along side you (online)

Here are my side by side results from my latest round of the 21 Day Fix. 

My favorite things about the 21 Day Fix: 

- This program targets every part of the body
- Before this program, I was on my own to figure out what to eat & how much to eat
- I learned just how much nutrition effects weight loss

- Everyday, there's a new workout that triggers different parts of the body
- The workouts are ONLY 30 minutes each
- I can take it with me on the go using Beachbody On Demand and use a resistance band instead of weights
- The meal plan has changed the game for me. We know that nutrition is SUCH a huge part of weightloss. This plan is simple to follow - no calorie counting, no fake sugars, no point system, just simple colorful containers and a guide. (There are even apps to keep track throughout your day)
- I can still drink wine & eat chocolate...AND lose weight...what??!
- It's truly for any age person

The Meal Plan: 

Each colored container represents different types of food and depending on your weight, you're allotted a certain amount of containers per day. You can even drink wine on the 21 Day Fix...who wants to lose weight & go out for a glass with me!?

To make things even easier, Autumn created a cookbook with 101 recipes for the 21 Day Fix. You had me at chocolate chip cookies & easy pizza, Autumn. 

Workout Descriptions: 

- Total Body Cardio Fix:  Gets your heart rate up and keeps your metabolism revved

- Upper Fix: Targeted resistance training to shape your chest, back, shoulders, arms and abs

- Lower Fix: Tones your entire lower body while blasting fat and burning calories

- Pilates Fix: Develop long, lean muscles while you target your hips, thighs, and core

- Cardio Fix: Exactly what it sounds like. Heart pumping cardio in just half an hour.

- Dirty 30: 4 rounds of fat burning moves in a mix of cardio and strength!

- Yoga Fix: Improve your balance, flexibility and strength (and get a tiny bit of a break)!

Seeing results from my challengers are a huge motivation, however, seeing what the 21 Day Fix has done for me and my challengers on the inside, is truly what matters to me most. 

I have seen my challengers/teammates....

- break sugar/fake sugar addictions

- have freedom in life 

- increase energy levels

- build confidence

- improve health in blood work results

- break free from arthritic pain

- gain self control

- no longer need a cane/wheelchair

- lower blood sugars

- no longer in need of medications 

- drop sizes, inches, and weight

- influence their family & friends to lose weight and be healthy

To purchase the 21 Day Fix challenge pack & join an accountability group, click here!

Summer in a Cup!

Summer in a cup! ☀1 scoop strawberry Shakeology ☀Ice ☀2 tsp shredded coconut ☀1/2 cup almond milk ☀1/2 cup water (or no milk and 1 cup water). Blend. Daily vitamins and nutrients, check!

To order your superfoods in form of a Shake, click here. 

I make the most progress in my own home...

Chicken with Avocado Cream Sauce

Prep time:10 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4

What you need: 

For chicken: 

4 4oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 tbsp blackened seasoning

2 tbsp green onion, sliced

For cream sauce: 

1/3 cup plain, non-fat Greek yogurt

1/2 avocado, sliced

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

To make:

In large Ziploc bag, add blackened seasoning to chicken. Shake bag to coat chicken. 

Lightly coat large frying pan with non-stick spray. 

Cook chicken for 7 minutes over medium-high until cooked through

Meanwhile, prepare cream sauce by blending Greek yogurt, avocado, lemon juice, garlic powder, and salt in food processor

To serve, place 2 tbsp of avocado cream sauce and 1/2 tbsp green onion on each chicken breast 

ENJOY.

Recipe found from Skinny Mom, here. 

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

Almost all of my recipes are born by mistake! I had run out of vegan chocolate Shakeology (Oh, the humanity!!!) and I wanted dessert! I've added avocado to my shakes before to make them creamy. I had created a chocolate pudding (recipe here) before and though I'd give it a go with strawberry. 

Prep time: 5 minutes

Serves: 2

What you need: 

1.5 scoops of strawberry Shakeology

1 ripe medium avocado

1.5 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 cup ice

To make: 

Combine all ingredients in blender until smooth. 

It's all sorts of fun (and maybe scary) colors before it's done. 

Enjoy this summer treat and get all of those incredible nutrients in!

Paleo Steak Lettuce Wraps

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Serves: 6 lettuce wraps

What you need: 

1 lb fajita steak strips, diced into 1/2" bites

1 diced large onion

3 garlic cloves diced

2 tsp Paleochef sriracha (for a homemade recipe, click here)

2 tsp coconut aminos

sesame oil

green onions (for garnish)

handful of pea shoots

large lettuce wraps

To make:

Add oil and heat until simmering in a hot pan (30 seconds to a minute)

Add steak meat and cook on high for 2 minutes, toss occasionally

Add onion & peppers. Continue on high, occasionally tossing until browned (about 5 minutes)

Add garlic, sesame oil, sriracha, coconut aminos, then pea shoots

Remove heat once steak & veggies are well coated and liquid has been absorbed

Spoon into lettuce wraps and top with green onions

Serve warm & enjoy!

Found from Sweet C's Designs, here. (not paleo)

Blueberry Delight

There are so many benefits of eating blueberries...

- good for digestion

- lowers risk of heart disease

- improves vision

- regulates blood sugar

- improved memory

- lowers cholesterol

- slows breakdown of bones

 - filled with antioxidants

I throw them in my oatmeal, put them in a salad, and I most certainly incorporate them in the healthiest meal of the day....

I used to devour those Brookside dark chocoalte acai with bluberry candies. They come in the giant bag at Costco and they taunted me every time I shopped. I stopped eating them when I decided to eat cleaner to avoid all the nasty ingredients (like corn syrup)...but I stumbled upon their substitute (and it has a ton of superfood nutrition)!

Enter: Chocolate blueberry delight Shakeology 

To make: 

one scoop Chocolate Shakeology

1/2 cup almond milk

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup ice

handful of blueberries

Blend & enjoy! 

Nail Strength Tip

I've never been able to get my nails to grow long; they'd always break and chip away. I noticed this week that they were all particularly long (for me) and it made me so happy! What changed? Drinking superfood vitamins (that happen to taste like a milkshake) daily! With over 70+ superfoods, Shakeology® is keeping my nails strong & healthy....this is just one more way to show that if you treat your inside with the right things, it'll shine to the outside! That's definitely a non-scale victory!