21 Day Fix vs 21 Day Fix Extreme

My bad guys!  Someone asked me this the other day and I, of course, popped over here to find my post about it to send along and found…

Nothing!

There are my results and thoughts scattered about, but no comprehensive posts.  So here we go.  What is the difference between the 21 Day Fix and 21 Day Fix Extreme programs?

First, the official comparison…

So that’s official…but what is my opinion?

The original plan is a true lifestyle plan.  The eating is how I eat almost all times.  I love it because it is so much food (wait for more on that), but still allows a little wiggle room.  The workouts are super adaptable, and you can modify them both easier and harder…it grows with you.

This program is so amazing to me because it can last you for so long.  Adding Shakeology in makes it such a complete plan – curb cravings and have a super filling meal to help you adjust to a new plan.

The Extreme program is perfect if you want an extra challenge, but I couldn’t eat without treats forever, so I don’t think of it as a lifestyle plan.  The workouts are a bit more advanced, with the modifier at a more intermediate than beginner level.  I take it back to the Extreme workouts pretty often, and have also done a hybrid plan of the two workouts.

You can see my personal results from each here and here.  I love them both!

Now, about all that food.  Here is my lunchbag from yesterday.  I was expecting to be gone from about 7:20 am to 7:20 pm, teaching a fitness class in the evening.  Outside of this, I had my coffee with coconut oil in the morning and Shakeology in the evening, plus Energize, Hydrate, Recover and Recharge from the Beachbody Performance line.

“lunch bag” is a loose term

So, what was in my bag?

Breakfast – 2 hardboiled eggs, oatmeal, almond butter, grapes
Lunch – tilapia, spinach, dressing, sweet potatoes, cherries
Snacks – Sweet roasted nuts, 1/2 a PB sandwich, Brussels sprouts
“Dinner” (at about 4 pm) – Tofu, grapes, butternut squash (ate those later actually though)

Does that make you think “I’ll be too hungry”?

What are your questions?  I want to hear them so I can answer them!

 

21 Day Fix Misconceptions – 3 Things I Hear Often

Sticking with the 21 Day Fix theme, here are the three things I hear people think about the program!

What have you heard?  No question is too crazy, weird, what have you!

Your First Week on the 21 Day Fix

This could be written about almost any program where you’re trying to get healthier and fitter.  But in honor of the 21 Day Fix and 21 Day Fix Extreme packages (plus Body Beast! Links go to my personal results on each) being discounted this month, this one’s going to be Fix specific!

So, you are getting started.  It’s a bit overwhelming, right?  Things to learn, things to figure out how you’re going to work into your life, and maybe adding workout times if you’re new to exercise…yikes!!  I get it.  It can be hard.  But I want to make it easier for you!  You are worth the effort, but lets use the effort where you need it.

Tip 1! Get excited!!  You are going to start on something new!  With pretty colored tupperware!

Tip 2! If you don’t have support, get it!  You can get a coach (me if you like!), join an accountability group, grab friends to do it with you, or tell people you’re starting it!

Tip 3! Make your mindset positive!  Think about all food you CAN eat, not what you’ll be avoiding.  This is a 21 day fix to your habits and a lifestyle plan…not 21 days until you go back to old habits.  This is a diet…where the definition of diet is “the foods you eat.”  You have a diet.  You aren’t on a diet.

Tip 4! Follow the program!  It was written by experts to get you results…that’s why you got it, right?  So eat your containers, drink your water and do your workouts!

Tip 5! Really a part of tip 4, but I see it so often that it gets a tip to itself. Eat your healthy fats…blue, orange and teaspoons.  Don’t skip these!  I know “fat is bad”, but that mindset is so outdated!  Fats in your diet (healthy ones that is!) don’t make you gain weight.  They keep you feeling full, help digestion…lots to list, so don’t skip them!

Tip 6! Don’t get caught up in perfection!  Perfection is great.  Strive for sticking to the plan 100%.  But don’t let that stop you from getting right back to usual after a slip or not getting started because you have dinner plans next week!  Do it.  Do it as well as you can.

Tip 7! Plan it out!  Knowing what you’ll have for a meal is half the battle.  So go through the food lists and find things you like.  Eat those things!

Tip 8! Spread out your containers.  A lot of people try to finish their yellows (carbs) and purples (fruits) before 6pm.  I’m one of them.  But don’t feel like you have to have all your greens in one meal!  You can even split a container over two meals.

Tip 9!  To start, you don’t need too much equipment and there is NO SHAME in following the modifier!  Move your body and work to your level…challenge yourself.  Not someone else.

Tip 10! Drink Shakeology!  I can’t tell you a better way to stay on track while fueling your body with nutrients!  Amazing!

Most of all…Smile!  You’ve got this.

For all of this month’s deals, click through your awesome motivation below!

 

Vanilla Chai Oatmeal

Had you come over for breakfast the other day, you might have wondered why I had a bowl of tea brewing on the counter…

 

Not exactly your typical tea vessel!  But I had been inspired to make this oatmeal recipe, so tea in a bowl it was!

This is almost a non-recipe.  But it was something I never would have thought of!  I haven’t gotten all of the measurements down yet (mainly tea to oatmeal ratio!) but I wanted to share.

So, you brew chai tea…so far 4oz or 1/2 cup worked best for me.  Let it steep, then add 1/4 cup of oats.  I used quick oats, but I want to try with regular oats too!  Let that sit for a minute.  Then add cinnamon, vanilla extract and your sweetener of choice to taste.  And viola…

breakfast!  This is 1 yellow on the 21 Day Fix.

If you try it out, let me know!  I want to hear about it.

Teeth!

Usually, when someone posts about teeth near Halloween, it’s costume related…not here at AGF though!

My teeth have always been a bit problematic.  Maybe it’s from sucking on lemons as a kid.  Maybe it was my terrible braces.  Genetics? Who knows.  But the dentist has never been a pleasant experience for me!

So when we moved, I hoped to put off meeting a new one for a little.  Then I chipped a tooth (eating a salad!).  It didn’t bother me and I had some unexpected busy times with an end in sight, so I didn’t worry too much.  Then I lost a crown (hard boiled egg…that was weird). So I had to go.

Fast forward two appointments, and I’m down a tooth and plus some extra bone.  Eventually, I’ll get a post and a new crown.  Four days later, I’m still a little swollen and have slight discomfort…but much better than even last night.  Here’s a little story in pictures for you!

 

right after

 

icing with a smile!

 

a day later

 

third day…tried to Cize

I didn’t workout Saturday or Sunday and have been taking it a little easy on myself, but I’m hoping to get back to Insanity Max 30 tomorrow…modifying more than usual I’m sure!

Tell me your dental story! Or do you not have one?

 

Is Halloween tough for you?

I get it! One of my tactics for staying on track is to keep candy, etc out of the house.  But no matter what, now that I have a little trick-or-treater here, there will be some for at least a little while!

So I’m taking the initiative to prepare for moderation during and getting back to usual after though…and I want you to join me so we can help keep each other accountable!

We’ll start with a week talking tricks about treats and then get back to basics with portion controlled eating and 30 minute workouts until Thanksgiving!

If you’re looking for a way to stay on track, fill out this form and let’s do it together!!

Meal Prep – For Reals!

So so so many people ask me about meal prepping!

Do I spend all day Sunday cooking?  Is my refrigerator full of portioned out meals?  Do I cook every day?

Nope.  Nah.  Not usually!

So how do I do it?  I’ve spoken before about my “method” that I refer to as the garanimals of eating, and that’s part of it.  But a big part of getting the food into the fridge is my other…secret?  If it can be called that, it’s not going to be one anymore!

Don’t cook more often, cook more at a time!

Making chicken?  Make a bunch!  Making sweet potatoes? Bunch!  Oatmeal?  You know it…bunch!  Cutting up vegetables?  Cut more!

You’re already making stuff, dirtying dishes, etc..make it worth it.  You’re probably thinking that this is the same as what we all think of as meal prep, but it takes very little extra time to make more of something!  I’m not saying to make all of this at once.  I’m saying that when you cook, make extra.

It’s all about the leftovers!

What are some of your secrets?

TastyKake Minis #TASTYKAKEMINIWINS

Sometimes, I indulge (sometimes more than I plan to, which is another story).  One of the things that I do is to not buy things that will tempt me, and if I do want something, buy it in small servings.  Hi, whole sleeve of Thin Mints!  So when I got the chance to review these TastyKake mini cupcakes, I took it!

Little bitty cupcakes…clocking in at 180 calories for the 3, but I have a little cutie who doesn’t mind sharing with me, so I don’t think I’d have all 3 at once…enough for us both to have a treat without getting too crazy.  She also liked the box and hat…I liked the coupons that came with it!

While I waited to have mine on a weekend, my husband and daughter tried these peanut butter and chocolate Minis and loved them!

By the time I decided to indulge a bit, I was excited to taste them myself!  I really enjoyed them!  I love that they’re bite size and packaged…I know if I’m opening another pack, I probably went too far!  And they taste more decadent than they seem without getting to cloying.

While I might not keep these stocked, I definitely will purchase them when I’m in the mood for cupcakes.  Much better plan than a big cupcake but satisfies the sweet tooth!

Disclosure: I received this product complimentary for testing purposes. However, the opinions expressed in this post are solely my own.

Hey, is that Pumpkin Pie?

It is!!

I found this recipe here, but I’m updating the recipe to a) make it easier to not mess up and b) make it in one bowl 😉

This is super good, does not taste like you’d be able to call it a green (vegetable) purple (fruit) and 1/2 a red (protein) container on the 21 Day Fix program and is easy to make!  It is cooked in the microwave in just 5 minutes too! [Edit!!  Autumn posted a video that pumpkin puree is a purple!  Cubed pumpkin would be a green.]

Ingredients:
– 1 green purple pure pumpkin puree
– 1 egg
– 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
– 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
– pinch of salt
– optional sweetener of choice

Method:
– coat a large bowl/ramekin with cooking spray of choice.  I use a pure coconut oil one.
– crack the egg into the bowl and beat.
– add remaining ingredients and mix well
– microwave for 5 minutes.
– enjoy!

I’ve added some chopped walnuts on top when I’ve had an orange left over when I had this!  So good for a vegetable dessert!