Part 1: Week One
Today is the start of a 3 Part Blog Series, where I will share some of my 21 Day Fix experiences and results from the prior week - the high's, the low's and everything in between.
I have officially completed my first week of the 21 Day Fix program. After 7 days of drinking SHAKEOLOGY daily, completing the 30-MINUTE daily workouts and following the portion controlled EATING PLAN, I am down 8 pounds and FEEL AMAZING!
I have officially completed my first week of the 21 Day Fix program. After 7 days of drinking SHAKEOLOGY daily, completing the 30-MINUTE daily workouts and following the portion controlled EATING PLAN, I am down 8 pounds and FEEL AMAZING!
A Fresh Perspective on Food
A couple weeks ago, my husband and I went to New Jersey for a friend's wedding. We decided to make a little VACATION out of it, since I had never been to New York City. It was an incredible experience, one that I will never forget. I was amazed by the parks, the culture, the FOOD. We took the subway into the city almost every day we were there, and once we got off we walked everywhere! We saw Ground Zero, the Freedom Tower, Times Square, Macy's (I couldn't help myself!), Rockefeller Plaza, the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park. Within less than 4 days, we walked a total of 40 MILES!
Before we left, I had made significant CHANGES to my diet. I was eating more healthy (about 75% clean), exercising regularly, and drinking less soda (only a few times per week, rather than daily). I was finding my RHYTHM, averaging a loss of 1 pound/week and had lost almost 5 pounds total before we left.
Well, I went hog wild on vacation! I enjoyed New York pizza and bagels a bit too much! I basically broke every single "rule of thumb" I had established for myself. I OVERINDULGED throughout the entire trip - sweets, soda, high-calorie foods, and alcohol.
What was my EXCUSE? Not only were we on vacation, but we were walking our booties off! I was burning so many calories, I could eat whatever I wanted...right? Wrong!
Instead of focusing on what my stomach NEEDED, I was focusing on what my eyes WANTED. Everything looked delicious and there was so much variety everywhere I looked! If I would have been more concerned about my overall health and nutrition, I would have seen the benefits of all those calories burned by walking all over the city. However, I ended up putting those 5 pounds back on that I had worked for weeks to lose. To top it all off, I was SICK for a full 24 hours after we got back home!
I never realized the POWER OF FOOD until that day. Within a matter of a few days, I polluted my body with bad-for-me foods after I had worked for weeks to clean up my stomach and habits.
Before we left, I had made significant CHANGES to my diet. I was eating more healthy (about 75% clean), exercising regularly, and drinking less soda (only a few times per week, rather than daily). I was finding my RHYTHM, averaging a loss of 1 pound/week and had lost almost 5 pounds total before we left.
Well, I went hog wild on vacation! I enjoyed New York pizza and bagels a bit too much! I basically broke every single "rule of thumb" I had established for myself. I OVERINDULGED throughout the entire trip - sweets, soda, high-calorie foods, and alcohol.
What was my EXCUSE? Not only were we on vacation, but we were walking our booties off! I was burning so many calories, I could eat whatever I wanted...right? Wrong!
Instead of focusing on what my stomach NEEDED, I was focusing on what my eyes WANTED. Everything looked delicious and there was so much variety everywhere I looked! If I would have been more concerned about my overall health and nutrition, I would have seen the benefits of all those calories burned by walking all over the city. However, I ended up putting those 5 pounds back on that I had worked for weeks to lose. To top it all off, I was SICK for a full 24 hours after we got back home!
I never realized the POWER OF FOOD until that day. Within a matter of a few days, I polluted my body with bad-for-me foods after I had worked for weeks to clean up my stomach and habits.
Food is nourishment. Fuel for our bodies. Nothing more.
I have heard "food is fuel" so many times, but it never really held any meaning for me. I had to EXPERIENCE it, internalize it. It's taken me years, but I now accept this as MY TRUTH. After spending the last week eating clean on the 21 Day Fix Eating Plan and drinking Shakeology daily, I feel like a million bucks again.
The reality is that food is delicious. I love food, we all do. Food is not the enemy here, but our PERSPECTIVE on food can be destructive. We use food for comfort in bad times and for a reward in good times. There's an excuse every time. The sooner we TRANSFORM the way we think about food, the sooner we can start living a HEALTHY and more satisfying life!
The reality is that food is delicious. I love food, we all do. Food is not the enemy here, but our PERSPECTIVE on food can be destructive. We use food for comfort in bad times and for a reward in good times. There's an excuse every time. The sooner we TRANSFORM the way we think about food, the sooner we can start living a HEALTHY and more satisfying life!
Listen to Your Body, Not Your Head
Although I haven't really struggled this week with the Eating Plan (other than the occasional french fry craving of course), I have had to really PUSH THROUGH the workouts this week. The first 3 days of a new exercise regimen are always the toughest for me, but I have been pretty sore this whole week. In addition, my husband and I also started waking up at 5am this week to get our respective workouts in before work. It was quite an adjustment.
On Wednesdays, I attend a TurboKick Live class here in town. I didn't want to miss it this week, but I was not prepared to do both the 21 Day Fix workout and Turbo (maybe Week 2). I decided to sub out Lower Fix for TurboKick, which is a 60-minute intense cardio kick-boxing class! It was not the easy way out, believe me. I was pleasantly SURPRISED at what my body was capable of doing despite the pain I was experiencing. Just to be clear, I was not injured. My body was just sore. I could have made excuses, but instead I TRUSTED THE PROCESS knowing that I would be glad I did pushed myself.
The MIND is such a powerful tool. If you watch "The Biggest Loser," you've probably heard Trainer Dolvett's saying. "Tell your mind to get out of your body's way!" When you really think about what he's saying, it's so motivating. We don't like to struggle, so when we hit a wall we start telling ourselves that we can't go any further. The truth is our BODIES ARE CAPABLE of so much more than we think they are. We have just CONDITIONED ourselves to believe that we can't do it.
Instead of listening to the negative and self-limiting thoughts in our heads, we should LISTEN TO OUR BODIES. Our bodies will let us know when enough is enough. You will be surprised at what your body can accomplish when you have your thoughts in line. Start BELIEVING in yourself, replace the negative with positive, and listen to your body!
Living with purpose,
Danielle
On Wednesdays, I attend a TurboKick Live class here in town. I didn't want to miss it this week, but I was not prepared to do both the 21 Day Fix workout and Turbo (maybe Week 2). I decided to sub out Lower Fix for TurboKick, which is a 60-minute intense cardio kick-boxing class! It was not the easy way out, believe me. I was pleasantly SURPRISED at what my body was capable of doing despite the pain I was experiencing. Just to be clear, I was not injured. My body was just sore. I could have made excuses, but instead I TRUSTED THE PROCESS knowing that I would be glad I did pushed myself.
The MIND is such a powerful tool. If you watch "The Biggest Loser," you've probably heard Trainer Dolvett's saying. "Tell your mind to get out of your body's way!" When you really think about what he's saying, it's so motivating. We don't like to struggle, so when we hit a wall we start telling ourselves that we can't go any further. The truth is our BODIES ARE CAPABLE of so much more than we think they are. We have just CONDITIONED ourselves to believe that we can't do it.
Instead of listening to the negative and self-limiting thoughts in our heads, we should LISTEN TO OUR BODIES. Our bodies will let us know when enough is enough. You will be surprised at what your body can accomplish when you have your thoughts in line. Start BELIEVING in yourself, replace the negative with positive, and listen to your body!
Living with purpose,
Danielle